Reflection interposed, and held your arm. But, should reflection prompt you to attempt it, And ask you which in heaven would shew the best,- Sir E. Tis plain I dare not take your life.-To spare it, I have endangered mine.-But dread my power: You know not its extent.-Be warned in time, Trifle not with my feelings.-Listen, sir: Myriads of engines, which my secret working Can rouse to action, now encircle you. Your ruin hangs upon a thread; provoke me, And it shall fall upon you. Dare to make The slightest movement to awake my fears, And the gaunt criminal, naked and stake-tied, Left on the heath to blister in the sun, Till lingering death shall end his agony, Compared to thee, shall seem more enviable Than cherubs to the cursed ! Wil. Oh, misery! Discard me, sir; I must be hateful to you. Sir E. Never! Fool! To buy this secret, you have sold yourself, Your movements, eyes, and most of all your breath, COLMAN. VANOC AND VALENS.-THE BRITON. Van. Now, Tribune : Val. Health to Vanoc. Van. Speak your business. Val. I come not as a herald, but a friend : And I rejoice that Didius chose out me To greet a prince in my esteem the foremost. Van. So much for words.-Now to your purpos Tribune. Val. Sent by our new lieutenant, who in Rome, Past enmities to strike perpetual league With Vanoc; whom our emperor invites To terms of friendship; strictest bonds of union. Van. We must not hold a friendship with the Romans. Val. Why must you not? Van. Virtue forbids it. Val. Once You thought our friendship was your greatest glory. Val. Believe me, Prince, your vehemence of spirit, Van. Oh, I have scanned it thoroughly.-Night and day I think it over, and I think it base; Most infamous! let who will judge-but Romans. Did not my wife, did not my menial servant, Val. At first the Romans did not interpose, Van. To moderate! What would you moderate? My indignation; Must I be taught to govern my own household ? Shall strangers, saucy intermeddlers, say, When I am tamed to that degree of slavery, Val. Prince, you insult upon this day's success, Van. Who shall confine it? The Romans? Let them rule their slaves. I blush. The trappings of the men seduced my virtue. Val. Blush rather that you are a slave to passion, Which, like a whirlwind, tears up all Did not the Romans civilize you? Van. No. They brought new customs and new vices over, Taught us more arts than honest men require, And gave us wants that nature never knew. Val. We found you naked. Van. And you found us free. Val. Would you be temperate once, and hear me out? Van. Speak things that honest men may hear with temper, Speak the plain truth, and varnish not your crimes. A frugal hardy people, like the Britons, Before you grew thus elegant in vice, And gave your luxuries the name of virtues. The robbers, the corrupters of mankind, Proud vagabonds! who make the world your home, L What virtue have you taught? Van. Oh, patience! Val. Can you disown a truth confessed by all? Van. Prevaricating, false,—most courteous tyrants. Romans! Rare patterns of humanity! Came you then here, thus far through waves to conquer, To waste, to plunder, out of mere compassion? Is it humanity that prompts you on To ravage the whole earth, to burn, destroy? : ANON. SCENES ARRANGED FROM DRAMATIC WRITERS. BARBAROSSA. BARBAROSSA AND SELIM DISGUISED AS ACHMET. Sel. Hail, mighty Barbarossa! As the pledge Of Selim's death behold thy ring restored, That pledge will speak the rest. Bar. Rise, valiant youth; But first no more a slave-I give thee freedom. Sel. I am. Bar. Then tell me how you sped.—Where found ye That insolent? Sel. We found him at Oran, Plotting deep mischief to thy throne and people. Sel. As we ought. While night drew on, we leaped upon our prey. Bar. Well hast thou sped : Thy dagger did its office, faithful Achmet! And high reward shall wait thee.-One thing more— |