The freedom of our country; and the sword Searching, 'midst warrior-hosts, the heart which gave At dead of night. Rai. [Turning away.] There is no path but one For noble natures. Pro. Wouldst thou ask the man Who to the earth hath dashed a nation's chains, To that most bright and sovereign distiny Had led o'er trampled thousands, be it called A stern necessity, and not a crime! Rai. My soul yet kindles at the thought Of nobler lessons, in my boyhood learned Even from thy voice. The high remembrances Of other days are stirring in the heart Where thou didst plant them; and they speak of men Who needed no vain sophistry to gild Acts, that would bear heaven's light. And such be mine! Procida! is it yet too late to draw The praise and blessing of all valiant hearts On our most righteous cause? What wouldst thou do? Pro. Than hosts can wield against her?—I would rouse Pro. Ay! and give time and warning to the foe To gather all his might!-It is too late. There is a work to be this eve begun, When rings the Vesper-bell; and, long before Of the Provençal tongue within our walls, As by one thunder-stroke, be silenced. Rai. What! such sounds As falter on the lip of infancy In its imperfect utterance? Pro. Since thou dost feel Such horror of our purpose, in thy power Are means that might avert it. How would those rescued thousands bless thy name, Rai. Pro. [After a pause.] Thou hast a brow Clear as the day-and yet I doubt thee, Raimond! From a long look through man's deep-folded heart; I doubt thee!-See thou waver not-take heed! Ex. CCLII.-THIRD SCENE FROM THE VESPERS OF Raimond. PALERMO. PROCIDA and RAIMOND. My father!-wherefore here? I am prepared to die, yet would I not Fall by thy hand. Procida. 'Twas not for this I came. Rai. Then wherefore?-and upon thy lofty brow Why burns the troubled flush? Pro. Perchance 'tis shame. Yes! it may well be shame!-for I have striven Noting it thus. I have prepared The means for thy escape. Rai. What! thou! the austere, The inflexible Procida! hast thou done this, Deeming me guilty still? Pro. It is even so. Upbraid me not. There have been bolder deeds By Roman fathers done;--but I am weak. For the night wanes. Thy fugitive course must be In silence, and for ever. Rai. Let him fly Who holds no deep asylum in his breast, With death and infamy, that so thy choice Upon that shame wherewith ye have branded me, And part me, with its dark remembrances, Float in dim beauty through the gloom; but here, Pro. What high prerogatives belong to death. When I am gone, The mists of passion which have dimmed my name, Must pass without my fame-but yet, unstained Pro: Now, by just Heaven, I could be calm again. Look on me, boy! Guilt never dared to meet these eyes, and keep And tell me which is truth. Rai. I will not plead. I will not call the Omnipotent to attest Pro. We will not part in wrath!—the sternest hearts, Within their proud and guarded fastnesses, Hide something still, round which their tendrils cling When with her bright wings glory shadows thee, Yet might have soared as high! Pro. No, fear thou not! Thou 'lt be remembered long. The canker-worm Let me deem Again that thou art base!—for thy bright looks, Rai. Pro. Thou innocent!-Am I thy murderer then? A traitor!-What! the blood of Procida As death can make it. Rai. Yet hear me ! Pro. No! thou'rt skilled to make F'en shame look fair. Why should I linger thus? [Going-he turns back for a moment.] If there be aught!-if aught-for which thou needest Forgiveness-not of me, but that dread Power From whom no heart is vailed-delay thou not Thy prayer:-Time hurries on. Rai. I am prepared. [Exit Procida.] Pro. 'Tis well. Half the mind bears, and lives?-My spirit feels Hangs like a weight of earth. It should be morn; Ex. CCLIII.-SCENE FROM COMUS. [Place A Wood. Time-Night.] MILTON, ELDER and YOUNGER BROTHERS-the attendant Spirit, as THYRSIS. Elder Brother. Unmuffle, ye faint stars; and thou, fair moon, That wont'st to love the traveler's benison, Stoop thy pale visage through an amber cloud, And disinherit chaos, that reigns here In double night of darkness and of shades: With thy long-leveled rule of streaming light; |