Ye weary me. No more of this. Colonna, And now A fair good-morrow. (Exit all but Savelli, Colonna, and Ursini.) Sav. Hath stern destiny Clothed him in this man's shape, that in a breath He deals out death and marriage? Ursini! Colonna be ye stunned? Col. I'll follow him! Tyrant! usurper! base-born churl! to deem Urs. Submit, as I have done, For vengeance. From our grief and shame shall spring The fatal moment Of our disgrace is nigh. Ere evening close, Col. I'll take thy counsel. SELECTION XVII. VANOC-VALENS.—Anonymous. Vanoc. Now Tribune: Valens. 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 purpose, Tribune. Val. Sent by our new lieutenant, who in Rome, And since from me has heard of your renown, I come to offer peace: to reconcile 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 Roman. 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. Both conspire Against my crown, against my fame, my life? Van. To moderate! What would you moderate-my indignation? Shall strangers, saucy intermeddlers, say, When I am tamed to that degree of slavery Make me a citizen, a senator of Rome. To watch, to live upon the smile of Claudius; And sell my country with my wife for bread. 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 your virtues, 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. Say that you once were virtuous-long ago 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 corruptors of mankind; Proud vagabonds!-who make the world your home, What virtue have you taught? Val. Humanity. Van. Oh, patience! Val. Can you disown a truth confessed by all? Far as our legions march they carry knowledge, Our conquests are indulgencies, and we Not masters, but protectors of mankind. Van. Prevaricating, false-most courteous tyrants ;- Come you then here, thus far through waves to conquer, Is it humanity that prompts you on To ravage the whole earth, to burn, destroy? It is a virtue-(so it seems you called it,) Val. I mean not to reproach your ancestors; Lions in spirit, cruel beyond men; Your altars reeking oft with human blood. Van. Hence, insulter; nor tempt me into rage; SELECTION XVIII. GUSTAVUS VASA-SIVARD-ARNOLDUS-DALECARLIANS. Brooke. (Gustavus disguised as a peasant.) Gustavus. Ye men of Sweden, wherefore are ye come? See ye not yonder, how the locusts swarm, To drink the fountains of your honor up, And leave your hills a desert!-Wretched men! To welcome your new guests, your Danish visitants? His courage scarce had turned; himself had stood, Sivard. And who art thou, That thus would swallow all the glory up That should redeem the times? Behold this breast, grief! Were you there-Oh Where liberty and Stenon fell together? Siv. Yes, I was there.-A bloody field it was, Conquered. Gust. Oh, Danes! Danes! You shall weep blood for this. Shall they not, brother ? Yes, we will deal our might with thrifty vengeance, A life for every blow, and, when we fall, There shall be weight in't; like the tottering towers, Siv. Brave, brave man! My soul admires thee. By my father's spirit, I would not barter such a death as this For immortality! Nor we alone Here be the trusty gleanings of that field, Where last we fought for freedom; here's rich poverty, Gust. Why, captain, We could but die alone, with these we'll conquer. Siv. Death! Victory or death! All. No bonds! no bonds!* Arnoldus. Spoke like yourselves.-Ye men of Dalecarlia, Brave men and bold! whom every future age Shall mark for wondrous deeds, achievements won |