ALASCO. In words, perhaps, He has not so expressed him, but 'tis plain, JEROME. It is most strange! He cannot, sure, forget Thy claims upon him-from thy earliest years, "Of leisure left him from the toils of war, 66 Employed with zeal, to form thee what thou art, "An honor to thy country, and thy name." Why, 'twas the favourite boon he asked of heaven, To see his daughter triumph in thy love, And safe beneath the shelter of thy virtues. ALASCO. Blessed be the pious foresight that secured JEROME. Let us, my son, more nobly deem of Walsingham; To wake my fears, and cloud him with suspicion; Though of an hasty, and impetuous spirit, I have ever found him open, just, and generous, ALASCO. “ To me, his guardian care has long supplied "A parent's loss; and 'twas my pride to think, "He meant to draw me nearer to his heart, "And bless me with Amantha." But see, she comes, the angel of my fate! Enter AMANTHA. The star that early lighted me to love, And warmed my heart with all the beams of beauty! But sure, some cloud has lately passed thy brow, And left its sombre trace-How! tears, Amantha? AMANTHA. Alas, my friend! I have much cause for sadness. But vague mischance, and undefined disaster. ALASCO. O! yield not to such visionary fears! "Heaven's smile is on thee-all good angels guard "The hallowed steps of innocence and virtue.” Art thou not mine beyond the reach of fate, E'en by thy father's early sanction mine, Tho' now he frowns and would withdraw his favor. AMANTHA. He would indeed; I fear some envious tale Has worked suspicion in his mind against thee. 66 Thy name, which he first taught my tongue to lisp, "And by his praises, stamped upon my heart, " Is grown distasteful to him, and he now "With rough impatience chides it from my lips :" Of late, he holds close conference with Hohendahl, An artful man, and not thy friend, Alasco. ALASCO. My friend, Amantha! no, the enmity Of knaves like him, an honest man may boast, And take it as a tribute paid to virtue. "I'm honoured in his hate." JEROME. Beware, my son, "Of Hohendahl; you've given him that offence "The wicked never pardon-thwarted his "Bad passions-baffled and exposed his practices, "Till rage and shame have rankled in his heart, "To fiend-like malice." ALASCO. "I regard him not." AMANTHA. A dread instinctive warns me to avoid him; ALASCO. Hohendahl ! Impossible! tho' now unjust to me, The generous soul of Walsingham would spurn AMANTHA. Then hear, my friend! and judge-with solemn air, Last night, my father called me to his chamber; And prefacing, as if with speech obscure, To sound my inmost thoughts of Hohendahl, He spoke of him, as one whose friendship claimed "The fruit of his own culture in our hearts," As proved I had nor power to change, nor will. ALASCO. And would thy father urge thee to betray me? AMANTHA. He is abused, my friend, and thou art slandered. A crime, with him, including all offence. ALASCO. I do. My country's wrongs have been the only string That ever jarred between us: but in his code, The soldier's spirit breathes, and all is mutiny That's not submission. JEROME. Do not fear, my children! We know that Walsingham is not unjust, |