Arv. Now on my soul this youth doth move me much. Not by such mode and rule, as Romans use, Elid. Gracious gods! Then there are hopes indeed. Oh, call them instant! Arvi. A thousand Britons, And armed! Oh instant blow the sacred trump, And let me head them. Yet methinks this youth Druid. I know what thou wouldst say, might join thee, prince. True, were he free from crime, or had confessed. Elid. Confessed. Ah, think not, I will e'er- Either thyself or brother must have wronged us: Elid. Hast thou a brother? no! Hear me, Druid: Though I would prize an hour of freedom now Though I would seize it as the gift of heaven, Druid. Excellent youth! Thy words do speak thy soul, and such a soul, As wakes our wonder. Thou art free; thy brother Shall be thine honor's pledge! so will we use him, Elid. I ask no other. Arvi. Thus then, my fellow-soldier, to thy clasp SELECTION XII. RAIMOND-PROCIDA.-Hemans. Raimond. When shall I breathe in freedom, and give scope To those untamable and burning thoughts, And restless aspirations which consume My heart in the land of bondage ?-Oh! with you, Ye everlasting images of power, And of infinity! thou blue-rolling deep, And you, ye stars! whose beams are characters But my thoughts This awful and majestic solitude. (Procida enters unobserved.) Procida. He is here. Rai. Now, thou mysterious stranger, thou whose glance Doth fix itself on memory, and pursue Thought, like a spirit, haunting its lone hours; Reveal thyself; what art thou? Proc. One, whose life Hath been a troubled stream, and made its way Through rocks and darkness, and a thousand storms, Of eve are gathering round me, and I come To this, my native land, that I may rest Beneath its vines in peace. Rai. Seekest thou for peace? There is no land of peace; unless that deep And voiceless terror, which doth freeze men's thoughts Back to their source, and mantle its pale mien With a dull hollow semblance of repose, May so be called. He were bold Who now should wear his thoughts upon his brow To wear a foreign yoke. Proc. It matters not To him who holds the mastery o'er his spirit, Rai. I deemed thee, by the ascendant soul which lived, For aught on earth.-But thou art like the rest. Proc. I would counsel thee. Thou must do that which men-aye valiant men- Where is he, whose heart Lies bare, through all its foldings, to the gaze Rai. Away, dissembler! Life hath its high and its ignoble tasks, Fitted to every nature. Will the free By which the serpent wins his spell-bound prey? Proc. (Exultingly.) Why, this is joy! Oppression hath not crushed.-High-hearted youth Rai. My father! what of him? Proo. In distant lands With him I've traversed many a wild, and looked Rai. Dost thou deem That still he lives?-Oh! if it be in chains, Say but he lives—and I will track his steps Proc. It may be that he lives: Though long his name hath ceased to be a word But its sound May yet be heard!-Raimond di Procida, Rememberest thou thy father? Raimond! doth no voice Speak to thy soul, and tell thee whose the arms SELECTION XIII. HAKON―ERLING.—Anonymous. (Hakon enters leading his son Erling by the hand.) Erling. 'Tis cold, my father! Hakon. "Tis yet early morning. Art thou so very chill? Erl. Nay, 'tis no matter. I shall behold the rising sun-how grand! A sight that I have never known before. Hak. Seest thou yon ruddy streaks along the east? Erl. What roses! how they bloom and spread on high! Yet father, tell me whence come all these pearls, Wherewith the valley here is richly strewn? How brightly they reflect the rosy light! Hak. They are not pearls, it is the morning dew! And that which thou deemest roses, is the sun! Seest thou? he rises now. Look at him, boy! Erl. Oh! what a beauteous whirling globe he seems: How fiery red! Dear father, can we never Visit the sun in yonder distant land? Hak. My child, our whole life thitherward is tending; That flaming ball of light is Odin's eye His other is the moon, of milder light, Hak. The sacred ocean That is old Mimer's deep and potent well. From the cool waves, At morning duly comes the sun refreshed, Erl. But now it hurts me It mounts too high. Hak. Upon his golden throne, The almighty father mounts, soon to survey In his meridian crown, our earthly sight May not contemplate. What man darest to meet The unveiled aspect of the king of day? Erl. (Terrified.) Hu! hu! my father-in the forest yonderWhat are those bearded, frightful men? Hak. Fear not They are the statues of the gods, by men Thus hewn in marble. They blind not with sun-gleams. And look upon them with untroubled firmness.. Erl. No, my father! I am afraid-seest thou that old man there! Hak. Child, it is Odin-wouldst thou fly from Odin? He is so good and beautiful, and calls The flowers from earth's bosom, and himself shines At least let me bring my crown of flowers. I left it there on the hedge, when first Thou broughtest me hither to see the sun i Then let us go home; Believe me that old man there means Hak. Go bring thy wreath, and qu A lamb for sacrifice is rowned. Need. |