Go! do but go. N. Should we be recognised.
T. In a despairing woman, a poor fugitive,
Will no one seek the daughter of Duke Friedland.
N. And where procure we horses for our flight?
T. My equerry procures them. Go and fetch him.
N. Dares he, without the knowledge of his lord?
T. He will. Go, only go. Delay no longer.
N. Dear lady! and your mother?
N. So much as she has suffer'd too already;
Your tender mother ah! how ill prepared
For this last anguish! T. Woe is me! my mother!
Go instantly. N. But think what you are doing!
T. What can be thought, already has been thought.
N. And being there, what purpose you to do?
T. There a Divinity will prompt my soul.
Thus the hard old king:
I took my leave: it was the point of noon :
The lists were ready. Empanoplied and plum'd
We enter'd in, and waited, fifty there
To fifty, till the terrible trumpet blared
yet a moment, and once more
The trumpet, and again: at which the storm
Of galloping hoofs bore on the ridge of spears,
And riders front to front, until they closed
In the middle with the crash of shivering points,
And thunder. On his haunches rose the steed,
And into fiery splinters leapt the lance,
And out of stricken helmets sprang the fire.
Part sat like rocks; part reel'd but kept their seats;
Part roll'd on the earth and rose again and drew;
Part stumbled mixt with floundering horses. Down
From those two bulks at Arac's side, and down
From Arac's arm, as from a giant's flail,
The large blows rain'd, as here and everywhere
He rode the mellay, lord of the ringing lists,
And all the plain,- brand, mace, and shaft, and
Shock'd like an iron-clanging anvil bang'd
With hammers.
497. Inhospitali Telephus regno impotens
Dum Mysiæ ferocis introitus negat,
Rudem cruore regio dextram imbuit,
Fortemque eandem sensit et mitem manum.
Cecidere Theba; vidit Eetion capi
Sua regna victus: clade subversa est pari
Imposita celso parva Lyrnessos jugo;
Captaque tellus nobilis Briseide,
Et, causa litis regibus, Chryse jacet ;
Et nota fama Tenedos ; et quæ pascuo
Fecunda pingui Thracios nutrit greges
Scyros, fretumque Lesbos Ægæum secans,
Et sacra Phobo Cilla. Quid quas alluit
Vernis Caycus gurgitem attollens aquis?
Hæc tanta clades gentium et tantus pavor,
Sparsæ tot urbes, turbinis vasti modo,
Alterius esset gloria ac summum decus;
Iter est Achillis. Sic meus venit pater,
Et tanta gessit bella, dum bellum parat.
Ut alia sileam merita, non unus satis
Hector fuisset? Ilium vicit pater;
Vos diruistis. Inclytas laudes juvat
Et clara magni facta genitoris sequi.
498. R. Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave. E. No, I can better play the orator.
M. But I have reasons strong and forcible.
Y. What is your quarrel? how began it first?
E. No quarrel, but a slight contention.
R. The crown of England, father, which is yours.
R. Your right depends not on his life, or death.
E. Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now.
Y. I took an oath, that he should quietly reign.
E. But, for a kingdom, any oath may be broken.
R. No; God forbid, your grace should be forsworn.
Y. I shall be, if I claim by open war.
R. I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak.
Y. Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.
R. An oath is of no moment, being not took
Before a true and lawful magistrate,
That hath authority over him that swears:
Henry had none, but did usurp the place;
Then, seeing 'twas he, that made you to depose,
Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous:
Therefore, to arms.
499. I. No, Sire, not so! the crimson on my cheek
Is not the blush of bashful modesty.
Nought have I to this lady to confide,
Which in this presence I may not proclaim.
The choice of these brave knights much honours me,
But I did not forsake my shepherd-walks,
To chase vain worldly splendour, nor array
My tender frame in panoply of war,
To twine the bridal garland in my hair.
Far other labour is assign'd to me,
Which a pure maiden can alone achieve :
I am the soldier of almighty God,
And to no mortal man can I be wife.
A. To be a fond companion unto man
Is woman born; when nature she obeys,
Most wisely she fulfils high Heaven's decree!
When his behest who call'd thee to the field
Shall be accomplish'd, thou 'lt resign thine arms,
And once again rejoin the softer sex,
Whose gentle nature thou dost now forego.
I. Most reverend Sir, as yet I know not what
The spirit will commission me to do;
But when the time comes round, his guiding voice
Will not be silent, and I will obey.
500. There thousand birds, all of celestiall brood,
To him doe sweetly caroll day and night:
And with strange notes, of him well understood,
Lull him asleepe in angel-like delight;
Whilst in sweet dreame to him presented bee
Immortal beauties, which no eye may see:
But he them sees, and takes exceeding pleasure
Of their divine aspects, appearing plaine,
And kindling love in him above all measure,
Sweet love, still joyous, never feeling paine;
For what so goodly forme he there doth see,
He may enjoy from jealous rancor free.
There liveth he in everlasting bliss,
Sweet spirit, never fearing more to die;
Ne dreading harm from any foes of his,
Ne fearing savage beasts' more crueltie;
Whilst we heere wretches waile his private lack,
And with vaine vowes do often call him back.
But live thou there still happy, happy spirit,
And give us leave thee heere thus to lament:
Not thee that doost thy heaven's joy inherit,
But our owne selves, that heere in dole are drent.
Thus do we weepe and waile, and weare our eyes,
Mourning in others our owne miseries.·
Whose hateful presence ever dogs our steps,
I can with ease relate. O would that thou
Couldst with like ease, divine one, shed on us
One ray of cheering hope! We are from Crete,
Adrastus' sons, and I the youngest born,
Named Cephalus : my elder brother he,
Of savage temper grew, who oft disturb'd
The joy and concord of our youthful sports.
Long as our father led his powers at Troy,
Passive our mother's mandate we obey'd:
But when, enriched with booty, he returned,
And shortly after died, a contest fierce
For the succession and their father's wealth,
Parted the brothers. I the eldest join'd;
He slew the younger; and the Furies hence
For kindred-murder dog his restless steps.
But to this savage shore the Delphian God
Hath sent us cheer'd by hope, commanding us
Within his sister's temple to await
The blessed hand of aid. We have been ta'en,
Brought hither, and now stand for sacrifice.
My tale is told.
502. Know, then, it is your fault, that you resign
The supreme seat, the throne majestical
The scepter'd office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth,
The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemish'd stock:
Whilst, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,
(Which here we waken to our country's good,)
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs;
Her face defac'd with scars of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shoulder'd in the swallowing gulf
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion:
Which to recure, we heartily solicit
Your gracious self to take on you the charge
And kingly government of this your land:
Not as protector, steward, substitute,
Or lowly factor for another's gain :
But as successively, from blood to blood,
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