Theodore. What is that he brings with him? 2. Theo. So could I!-My heart hath oft Leaped at the sight of it. What comes he now (Sarnem enters with soldiers bearing Gesler's cap upon a pole, which he fixes into the ground; the people looking on in silence and amazement.) Sarnem. Ye men of Altorf! Behold the emblem of your master's power Tell. Have I my hearing? Ver. Away! away! Tell. Or sight ?—They do it, Verner! I'll herd with the baser animals! Look!-Look! Have I the outline of that caitiff His god did rear for him to heaven? Ver. Away, Before they mark us. Tell. No! no!-since I've tasted, I'll e'n feed on. A spirit's in me likes it. Sar. (Striking a person.) Bow lower, slave! Tell. Do you feel that blow-my flesh doth tingle with it. I would it had been I! Ver. You tremble, William; come-you must not stay. (Enter Michael through the crowd.) Sar. Bow, slave. Mich. I'll question now, perhaps not then obey. Tell. A man! a man! Sar. 'Tis Gesler's will that all Bow to that cap. Mich. Were it thy lady's cap, I'd courtesy to it. Sar. Do mock us, you Mich. Not I. friend? I'll bow to Gesler, if you please; But not his cap, nor cap of any he In christendon. Tell. Well done! To Gesler's cap! Mich. No! not to Gesler's self. Sar. Seize him. (Soldiers come forward.) Tell. (Rushing forward.) Off, off, you base and hireling pack! Lay not your brutal touch upon the thing God made in his own image. Sar. What! shrink you, cowards? Must I do Your duty for you? Tell. Let them stir-I've scattered A flock of wolves did outnumber them— For sport I did it.-Sport!-I scattered them With but a staff, not half so thick as this. (Wrests Sarnem's weapon from him—Sarnem and Soldiers fly.) Men of Altorf, What fear ye! See what things you fear-the show And see bold deeds achieved by others' hands? your thralls to fear? SELECTION XI. DRUID-ELIDURUS-ARVIRAGUS.-Mason. Druid. Say, thou false one! What doom befits the slave who sells his country Druid. No! lingering piecemeal death; ? Elid. That on my soul doth lie some secret grief, These looks perforce will tell: it is not fear, Druid, it is not fear that shakes me thus; The great gods know it is not: ye can never: For, what though wisdom lifts ye next those gods, Ye cannot like to them, unlock men's breasts, And read their inward thoughts. Ah! that ye could. Arviragus. What hast thou done? Elid. What, prince, I will not tell. Druid. Wretch, there are meansElid. I know, and terrible means; And 'tis both fit that you should try those means, And I endure them; yet, I think, my patience Will for some space baffle your torturing fury. Arvi. Stranger, ere this be tried, Confess the whole of thy black perfidy; So black, that when I look upon thy youth, Elid. Such a crime Indeed I durst not; and would rather be The very wretch thou seest. I'll speak no more. This youth has been deceived. Elid. Yet, one word more. You say, the Romans have invaded Mona. Arvi. 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! Though in my chains, and some way dash them round To harm the haughty foe. 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— Reflect. Either thyself or brother must have wronged us: Elid. Hast thou a brother? no! Else hadst thou spared the word. Hear me, Druid: Though I would prize an hour of freedom now Though I would seize it as the gift of heaven, I 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 With you my soul finds room, and casts aside The weight that doth oppress her. But my thoughts Are wandering far; there should be one to share 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 Beneath Sicilian skies. To wear a foreign yoke. And this it is |