These terms of treason doubled down his throat. And let him be no kinsman to my liege, I do defy him, and I spit at him; Call him a slanderous coward and a villain : Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage, Disclaiming here the kindred of a king ; And lay aside my high blood's royalty, Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except. Norf. I take it up and by that sword I swear, I'll answer thee in any fair degree, Or chivalrous design of knightly trial: And when I mount, alive may I not light If I be traitor or unjustly fight! K. Rich. What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's charge? It must be great that can inherit us So much as of a thought of ill in him. Boling. Look, what I speak my life shall prove it true; That Mowbray hath received eight thousand nobles, In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers: The which he hath detained for lewd employments, (Or here or elsewhere, to the furthest verge That all the treasons for these eighteen years Complotted and contrived in this land, Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and spring. Further I say (and further will maintain Upon his bad life to make all this good), That he did plot the Duke of Gloster's death; Suggest his soon-believing adversaries; And consequently, like a traitor coward, Sluiced out his innocent soul through streams of blood: Even from the tongueless caverns of the earth, C K. Rich. How high a pitch his resolution soars Thomas of Norfolk, what sayst thou to this? Norf. O let my sovereign turn away his face, And bid his ears a little while be deaf, Till I have told this slander of his blood How God and good men hate so foul a liar. K. Rich. Mowbray, impartial are our eyes and ears: Norf. Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart, For that my sovereign liege was in my debt, Since last I went to France to fetch his queen. Now swallow down that lie.-For Gloster's death, To prove myself a loyal gentleman Even in the best blood chambered in his bosom. In haste whereof, most heartily I pray Your highness to assign our trial day. K. Rich. Wrath-kindled gentlemen, be ruled my me Let's purge this choler without letting blood: This we prescribe, though no physician : Deep malice makes too deep incision. Our doctors say this is no time to bleed. Good uncle, let this end where it begun : We'll calm the Duke of Norfolk; you your son. Gaunt. To be a make-peace shall become my age : Throw down, my son, the Duke of Norfolk's gage. Gaunt. When, Harry; when? Obedience bids I should not bid again. K. Rich. Norfolk, throw down; we bid: there is no boot. Norf. Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy foot: My life thou shalt command, but not my shame : The one my duty owes; but my fair name K. Rich. Rage must be withstood: Give me his gage : -lions make leopards tame. Norf. Yea, but not change their spots: take but my shame, And I resign my gage. My dear, dear lord, The purest treasure mortal times afford, Is spotless reputation: that away, Men are but gilded loam or painted clay. A jewel in a ten-times-barred-up chest Mine honour is my life; both grow in one: In that I live, and for that I will die. K. Rich. Cousin, throw down your gage: do you begin. Boling. O God defend my soul from such foul sin! Shall I seem crestfallen in my father's sight; Or with pale beggar-fear impeach my height Before this outdared dastard? Ere my tongue Or sound so basea parle, my teeth shall tear Where shame doth harbour, even in Mowbray's face. [Exit GAUNT. R. Rich. We were not born to sue, but to command: Which since we cannot do to make you friends, Be ready, as your lives shall answer it, At Coventry, upon Saint Lambert's day : There shall your swords and lances arbitrate The swelling difference of your settled hate. Since we cannot atone you, you shall see Justice design the victor's chivalry.— Lord Marshal, command our officer at arms Be ready to direct these home-alarms. [Exeunt. THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS'S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY. MDCCCXLIX. It will be remembered that, in the recent war between Austria and Hungary, the latter must inevitably have gained her cause, had not the former besought the aid of her potent ally-Russia. Together, these powers succeeded in their purpose of crushing Hungary, for it was impossible that she could sustain so unequal a conflict. The sequel? In contributing to the subjugation of Hungary, Austria has gained a loss. For, unsupported by Russia, the palm of glorious victory might have been awarded to her opponent, and, in appealing to her mighty friend, she has declared his supremacy. Henceforth, Russia is the acknowledged elder brother of Austria. I AM proud of ye, my children! Ye have fought as men should fight- Finding equity in might; It is generous and noble Against one gallant band; To waste whole towns and cities With the sword and with the brand! This have ye done, and nobly, In obedience to me; And the land, erewhile so happy, My children of the Russias! Thank God! the Hun's resistance My warriors! in the far-off isles This noble truth shall thrill:- Oh! the Austrians are brave, But the Russians-braver still!" Yes! our allied friends are noble, If they have right to glory, What glory may ye claim? I have dream'd a dream, my children, But a cloud was on the seraph's brow "Hear, O thou man of evil! Hear what an angel saith: Ere that He recalls thy breath; "The life-blood flows, the eyelids close, Ere thine eyes wax old and dim! "Rash sovereign! thy sweeten'd cup And the time draws nigh when thou wilt wish That thy deeds thou couldst recall! Give ear, O man! and smile not Thou art tott'ring to thy fall!” Thus dreamed I, my children, Spread abroad its beauteous wings Psha! the dream was but a dream, And I care not for such things! Brave soldiers of the Russias ! Ye have widen'd my dominions, And your hearts are staunch and true We have conquer'd Hungary, There is Switzerland in view! W. F. PEACOCK. Allusion is here made to the wife of an officer, who was publicly whipped by order of General Haynau. |