To grace the noble fervor of an hour;- To thrill the world with echoes!-But I talk The duties of my youth; pray you forgive me. Agen. Welcome to the morn! The eastern gates unfold, the priest approaches; Medon. God of light and joy, Once more delight us with thy healing beams! Ion. Say'st thou in blood? Medon. Yes, Ion !-why, he sickens at the word, Yet holds his crimson revel, whence the roar Flaunting o'er shapes of anguish, made them ghastlier. Tim. And canst thou pity him? Dost thou discern, Amidst his impious darings, plea for him? Ion. Is he not childless, friendless, and a king? He's human; and some pulse of good must live Within his nature-have ye tried to wake it? Medon. Yes; I believe he felt our sufferings once, When, at my strong entreaty, he despatched Phocion, my son, to Delphos, there to seek Our cause of sorrow; but, as time dragged on Without his messenger's return, he grew Impatient of all counsel,-to his palace In awful mood retiring, wildly called The reckless of his court to share its stores, And end all with him. When we dared disturb His dreadful feasting with a humble prayer That he would meet us, the poor slave, who bore The message, flew back smarting from the scourge, And muttered a decree that he, who next Unbidden met the tyrant's glance, should die. Agen. I am prepared to brave it. Tim. And I Ion. O, sages, do not think my prayer Ion. Forgive me, if I seemed To doubt that thou wilt mourn me if I fall; But that high promptings, which could never rise Thus boldly for the mission. Medon. My brave boy! It shall be as thou wilt. I see thou art called To this great peril, and I will not stay thee. Ion. Now. Medon. If thou wouldst have it so, thou shalt. Your prayers wait on my steps. The arm of Heaven I feel, in life or death, will be around me. [Exit.] [Exeunt.] Ex. CCXXXV.-SCENE FROM VIRGINIUS. LUCIUS, VIRGINIUS. KNOWLES. [Lucius comes to inform VIRGINIUS that his daughter is claimed as a slave by CLAUDIUS.] Enter LUCIUS to VIRGINIUS. Luc. 'Tis well you 're found, Virginius! Luc. You are wanted In Rome. Vir. On what account? Luc. On your arrival You'll learn. Vir. How! is it something can't be told At once? Speak out, boy! Ha! your looks are loaded Can not unburden them? Your brother left Luc. He is both safe and well. Vir. What then? What then? Tell me the matter, Lucius. Luc. I have said It shall be told you. Vir. Shall! I stay not for That shall, unless it be so close at hand Virginius.-hear me then with patience. I am patient. Luc. Your Virginia— [Going. Vir. Stop, my Lucius! I am cold in every member of my frame! Give me such token as her tomb would, Lucius— Luc. You are still Vir. I thank thee, Jupiter! I am still a father! Vir. What, is she sick? Luc. No. Vir. Neither dead nor sick! All well! No harm! Nothing amiss! Each guarded quarter safe, That fear may lay him down and sleep, and yet This sounding the alarm! I swear thou tell 'st A story strangely.-Out with 't! I have patience For any thing, since my Virginia lives, And lives in health! Luc. You are required in Rome, To answer a most novel suit. Vir. Whose suit? Luc. The suit of Claudius. Vir. Claudius! Luc. Him that 's client To Appius Claudius, the Decemvir. Vir. What! That pander! Ha! Virginia! you appear Beside lasciviousness! His suit! What suit? Luc. He has claimed Virginia. Vir. Claimed her! Claimed her! On what pretence? Luc. He says she is the child Of a slave of his, who sold her to thy wife. Vir. Go on ;-you see I'm calm. Luc. He seized her in The school, and dragged her to the Forum, where Appius was giving judgment. Vir. Dragged her to The Forum! Well?-I told you, Lucius, I would be patient. Luc. Numitorius there confronted him! Luc. I was dispatched to fetch thee, ere I could learn. I see the master-cloud-this ragged one, That lowers before, moves only in subservience With its own mischief break it and disperse it, [Exeunt. Ex. CCXXXVI-SCENE FROM RIENZI. RIENZI, ANGELO, AND PEOPLE. MISS MITFORD. [ANGELO, incited by RIENZI, joins the conspiracy.] FRIENDS, Rienzi. Strong in some hundred spearmen-only great In that strange spell—a name. Each hour, dark fraud, |