Even in this noon of pride, thy waning power Rie. Ay, there's the sting, That I, an insect of to-day, outsoar The reverend worm, nobility! Wouldst shame me In the Jews' quarter; my good mother cleansed Rie. Add, that my boasted school-craft Was gained from such base toil;-gained with such pain, Stolen at the body's cost. I have gone dinnerless For tattered vestments and lean hungry looks,) The roots delve deepest. Yes, I've trod thy halls, I have borne this-and I have borne the death, I seemed I was a base ignoble slave. What am I?-peace, I say!-what am I now? Ang. In an evil hour Rie. Darest thou Say that? An evil hour for thee, my Claudia ! Thou shouldst have been an emperor's bride, my fairest. In evil hour thy woman's heart was caught, By the form moulded as an antique god: The gallant bearing, the feigned tale of love— All false, all outward, simulated all. Ang. But that I loved her, but that I do love her, Than thy ambition-hardened heart e'er dreamed of, Rie. Go to, Lord Angelo; Thou lov'st her not.-Men taunt not, nor defy The bosom's idol!--I have loved!--she loves thee; Thy railing mother-in her eyes, are sacred. Ang. Come back, Rienzi! Thus I throw A brave defiance in thy teeth. Rie. Once more, Beware! Ang. Take up the glove! Rie. This time, for her [Going.] [Throws down his glove.] [Takes up the glove.] For her dear sake--Come to thy bride! home! home! Rie. Fear! Do I fear thee?-Tempt me no more.-This once Home to thy bride! Ang. Now, Ursini, I come Fit partner of thy vengeance! IX.-LOCHIEL'S WARNING.-Campbell. [Exit.] Wizard. Lochiel! Lochiel! beware of the day When the Lowlands shall meet thee in battle array! For a field of the dead rushes red on my sight, And the clans of Culloden are scattered in flight: They rally, they bleed, for their kingdom and crown; Woe, woe to the riders that trample them down! Proud Cumberland prances, insulting the slain, And their hoof-beaten bosoms are trod to the plain!-But hark! through the fast-flashing lightning of war, What steed to the desert flies frantic and far? "Tis thine, oh, Glenullin! whose bride shall await, Like a love-lighted watch-fire, all night at the gate. A steed comes at morning: no rider is there; But its bridle is red with the sign of despair. Weep, Albin! to death and captivity led! Oh, weep! but thy tears cannot number the dead: For a merciless sword on Culloden shall waveCulloden! that reeks with the blood of the brave. Lochiel. Go preach to the coward, thou death-telling seer! Or, if gory Culloden so dreadful appear, Draw, dotard, around thy old wavering sight, This mantle, to cover the phantoms of fright. Wizard. Ha! laugh'st thou, Lochiel, my vision to scorn? Proud bird of the mountain, thy plume shall be torn ! Say, rushed the bold eagle exultingly forth From his home, in the dark-rolling clouds of the north? 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, Their swords are a thousand, their bosoms are one; They are true, to the last of their blood and their breath: Wizard. -Lochiel, Lochiel! beware of the day! With the blood-hounds that bark for thy fugitive king! 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- And his blood-streaming nostril in agony swims! 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! 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 Norv. If I shall e'er acquire a leader's name, 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 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; 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. I owe a subject's homage; but even him Revoke your favours, and let Norval go Hence as he came; alone but not dishonoured! Lord Ran. Thus far I'll mediate with impartial voice; |