Why flames the far summit? Why shoot to the blast For the blackness of ashes shall mark where it stood, Lochiel. False Wizard, avaunt! I have marshalled my clan, Wizard. -Lochiel, Lochiel! beware of the day! Now, in darkness and billows, he sweeps from my sight. 'Tis finished. Their thunders are hushed on the moors: But where is the iron-bound prisoner? Where? For the red eye of battle is shut in despair. Say, mounts he the ocean-wave, banished, forlorn, Like a limb from his country cast bleeding and torn? The war-drum is muffled, and black is the bier- Where his heart shall be thrown, ere it ceases to beat, With the smoke of its ashes to poison the gale Lochiel. Down, soothless insulter! I trust not the tale, For never shall Albin a destiny meet, So black with dishonour, so foul with retreat. Though my perishing ranks should be strewed in their gore, Like ocean-weeds heaped on the surf-beaten shore, Lochiel, untainted by flight or by chains, While the kindling of life in his bosom remains, Shall victor exult, or in death be laid low, With his back to the field, and his face to the foe! And, leaving in battle no blot on his name, Look proudly to Heaven from the death-bed of fame. X.—GLENALVON, NORVAL, AND LORD RANDOLPH.—Home. Glen. His port I love: he's in a proper mood To chide the thunder, if at him it roared.Has Norval seen the troops? Norv. The setting sun With yellow radiance lighted all the vale; And, as the warriors moved, each polished helm, Glen. Thou talk'st it well; no leader of our host Now prompts my tongue, and youthful admiration Of praise pertaining to the great in arms. [Aside.] Glen. You wrong yourself, brave sir; your martial deeds Have ranked you with the great. But mark me, Norval; Lord Randolph's favour now exalts your youth Above his veterans of famous service. Let me, who know these soldiers, counsel you :- Norv. Sir, I have been accustomed, all my days, Therefore, I thank Glenalvon for his counsel, Glen. I did not mean To gall your pride, which now I see is great. Glen. Suppress it, as you wish to prosper. Your pride's excessive. Yet, for Randolph's sake, I will not leave you to its rash direction. If thus you swell and frown at high-born men, Glen. Yes; if you presume To bend on soldiers these disdainful eyes, And said in secret, "You're no match for me!" What will become of you? Norv. Hast thou no fears for thy presumptuous self? Norv. Didst thou not hear? Glen. Unwillingly I did; a nobler foe Had not been questioned thus; but such as thou Glen. Norval. Norv. So I am— And who is Norval in Glenalvon's eyes? Glen. A peasant's son, a wandering beggar boy; At best no more, even if he speaks the truth? Norv. False as thou art, dost thou suspect my truth? I have no tongue to rail. The humble Norval And make thee sink too soon beneath my sword, I'd tell thee-what thou art! I know thee well! Glen. Dost thou not know Glenalvon, born to command Ten thousand slaves like thee? Norv. Villain, no more! Draw and defend thy life. I did design To have defied thee in another cause; But Heaven accelerates its vengeance on thee. Now for my own and Lady Randolph's wrongs! [Both draw their swords.] [Lord Randolph, as he advances.] Hold! I command you both! The man that stirs Makes me his foe. Norv. Another voice than thine That threat had vainly sounded, noble Randolph. Glen. Hear him, my lord; he's wondrous condescending! Mark the humility of Shepherd Norval! Norv. Now you may scoff in safety. [Sheathes his sword.] Taunting each other, but unfold to me The cause of quarrel; then I judge betwixt you. Norv. Nay, my good lord, though I revere you much, My cause I plead not, nor demand your judgment. I blush to speak-I will not, cannot speak The opprobrious words that I from him have borne. Hence as he came; alone-but not dishonoured! Lord Ran. Thus far I'll mediate with impartial voice. XI. The ancient foe of Caledonia's land Now waves his banner o'er her frighted fields: The private quarrel. Glen. I agree to this. Norv. And I. Glen, Norval, Let not our variance mar the social hour, Nor wrong the hospitality of Randolph. [Lord Randolph retires.] Nor frowning anger, nor yet wrinkled hate, Shall stain my countenance. Smoothe thou thy brow; Norv. Think not so lightly, sir, of my resentment; When we contend again, our strife is mortal. GESLER, SARNEM, WILLIAM TELL, AND HIS SON ALBERT.— Sar. Down, slave, upon thy knees, before the governor, And beg for mercy. Ges. Does he hear? Sar. He does, but braves thy power. Down, slave, [To Tell] And ask for life. Ges. [To Tell.] Why speak'st thou not? Tell. For wonder. Ges. Wonder? Tell. Yes, that thou shouldst seem a man. Tell. A monster. Ges, Ha! Beware!-think on thy chains. Tell. Though they were doubled, and did weigh me down Erect, with nothing but the honest pride Ges. Darest thou question me? Ges. Beware my vengeance. It cannot take away the grace of life— Its port erect, with consciousness of truth Its rich attire of honourable deeds Its fair report that's rife on good men's tongues :- Than it can pluck his brightness from the sun, Or with polluted finger tarnish it. Ges. But it may make thee writhe. Tell. It may, and I may say, "Go on!" though it should make me groan again. Ges. Whence comest thou? Tell. From the mountains. Ges. Canst tell me any news from them? Tell. Because they look for thee. The hurricane The torrent breaks, and finds them in its track- Tell. They thank kind Providence it is not thou!- That never smile, though wanton summer tempt Tell. But they do sometimes smile. Ges. Ah!-when is that? Tell. When they do pray for vengeance. Ges. Dare they pray for that? Tell. They dare, and they expect it, too. Ges. From whence? Tell. From Heaven, and their true hearts. Ges. [To Sarnem.] Lead in his son. Now will I take Exquisite vengeance. [To Tell, as the Boy enters.] I have destined him To die along with thee. Tell. To die! for what? he's but a child. Ges. He's thine, however. Tell. He is an only child! Ges. So much the easier to crush the race. Tell. He may have a mother! Ges. So the viper hath And yet who spares it for the mother's sake? Tell. I talk to stone. I'll talk to it no more! Ges. But first, I'd see thee make A trial of thy skill with that same bow. Tell. What is the trial? Ges. Thou look'st upon thy boy As though instinctively thou guessest it. Tell. Look upon my boy! What mean you? Look upon my boy as though I guessed it!- A trial of my skill upon my child? |