the ocean, and the mighty chain of her wealth shall be broken, with which she has so long bound the European world to her chariot-wheels, and mustered the nations, from the banks of the Tagus to the banks of the Don, to march beneath the banner of her coalitions, that then there will be no unworthy descendant to catch her mantle; and that the rich treasure of her institutions and character, instead of becoming the unrescued prey of Huns and Vandals, and whatever uncouth name of barbarism laid waste of old the refinements of the world, will be preserved, upheld, and perfected in the western world of promise. SECTION XXVIII. WALLENSTEIN-COUNT TERTSKY.....S. T. Coleridge. Wallenstein. If there were yet a choice! if yet some milder Way of escape were possible-I still Count. Desir'st thou nothing further? Such a way Hence to the Emperor-kneel before the throne; Thou did'st but wish to prove thy fealty; Wal. For that too 'tis too late. They know too much I should but bear my own head to the block. Count. Art thou in earnest? I entreat thee! Canst thou Consent to bear thyself to thy own grave, So ignominiously to be dried up? Thy life, that arrogated such an height, To end in such a nothing! To be nothing, When one was always nothing, is an evil That asks no stretch of patience, a light evil : But to become a nothing, having been Wal. Show me a way out of this stifling crowd, Ye Powers of Aidance! Show me such a way As I am capable of going. I Am no tongue-hero, no fine virtue-prattler; Count. Or without justice is not now the question— Wal. Once was this Ferdinand so gracious to me: Count. So faithfully preserv'st thou each small favour, And hast no memory for contumelies? Must I remind thee, how at Regenspurg This man repaid thy faithful services? All ranks and all conditions in the empire H the ocean, and the mighty chain of her wealth shall be broken, with which she has so long bound the European world to her chariot-wheels, and mustered the nations, from the banks of the Tagus to the banks of the Don, to march beneath the banner of her coalitions, that then there will be no unworthy descendant to catch her mantle; and that the rich treasure of her institutions and character, instead of becoming the unrescued prey of Huns and Vandals, and whatever uncouth name of barbarism laid waste of old the refinements of the world, will be preserved, upheld, and perfected in the western world of promise. SECTION XXVIII. WALLENSTEIN-COUNT TERTSKY.....S. T. Coleridge. Wallenstein. Ir there were yet a choice! if yet some milder Way of escape were possible-I still Such a way Hence to the Emperor-kneel before the throne; Thou did'st but wish to prove thy fealty; Wal. For that too 'tis too late. They know too much I should but bear my own head to the block. Count. Art thou in earnest? I entreat thee! Canst thou Consent to bear thyself to thy own grave, So ignominiously to be dried up? Thy life, that arrogated such an height, To end in such a nothing! To be nothing, When one was always nothing, is an evil That asks no stretch of patience, a light evil : But to become a nothing, having been Wal. Show me a way out of this stifling crowd, Ye Powers of Aidance! Show me such a way As I am capable of going. I Am no tongue-hero, no fine virtue-prattler; Poor wretches, whom a day creates and crumbles, Count. Or without justice is not now the question- Wal. Once was this Ferdinand so gracious to me: He loved me; he esteemed me; I was placed The nearest to his heart. Full many a time We, like familiar friends, both at one table Have banqueted together. And is't come to this? Count. So faithfully preserv'st thou each small favour, And hast no memory for contumelies? Must I remind thee, how at Regenspurg This man repaid thy faithful services? All ranks and all conditions in the empire H my soul's up in Ant. O, thou hast fir'd me! Our hearts and arms are still the same. SECTION XXIV. arms, EXTRACT FROM MR. WEBSTER'S SPEECH IN REPLY TO MR. HAYNE. THE eulogium pronounced on the character of the state of South Carolina, by the honourable gentleman, for her revolutionary and other merits, meets my hearty concurrence. I shall not acknowledge, that the honourable member goes before me in regard for whatever of distinguished talent or distinguished character, South Carolina has produced. I claim part of the honor, I partake in the pride of her great names. I claim them for countrymen, one and all. The Laurens, the Rutledges, the Pinckneys, the Sumpters, the Marions-Americans, all-whose fame is no more to be hemmed in by state lines, than their talents and patriotism were capable of being circumscribed within the same narrow limits. In their day and generation, they served and honoured the country, and the whole country; and their renown is of the treasures of the whole country, Him, whose honoured name the gentleman himself bears→→→ does he suppose me less capable of gratitude for his patriotism, or sympathy for his sufferings, than if his eyes had first opened upon the light in Massachusetts, instead of South Carolina? Sir, does he suppose it is in his power to exhibit a Carolina name so bright as to produce envy in my bosom? No, sir; increased gratification and delight, rather. Sir, I thank God, that if I am gifted with little of the spirit which is said to be able to raise mortals to the skies, I have yet none, as I trust, of that other spirit, which would drag angels down. When I shall be found, sir, in my place |