CHORUS. Would too to heaven Ye reverenc'd the gods but e'en enough AULUS DIDIUS. The Romans fight Not to enslave but humanize the world. CHORUS. Go to, we will not parley with thee, Roman. AULUS DIDIUS. Hear it and thank us. This once our clemency shall spare your groves, If at our call ye yield the British king: Yet learn, when next ye aid the foes of Cæsar That each old oak, whose solemn gloom ye value, Shall bow beneath our axes. CHORUS. Be they blasted Whene'er their shade forgets to shelter virtue. Enter Bard. BARD. Mourn, mourn, Caractacus is captive! And dost thou smile, false Roman? Do not think The base Brigantian prince, hath sealed his fate The caitiff round, the brave Caractacus Seized his false throat, and as he gave him death him. I saw the slave that cowardly behind Pinioned his arms; I saw the sacred sword Writhed from his grasp; I saw what now ye seeInglorious sight-these barbarous bonds upon him. Enter CARACTACUS (guarded). Romans, methinks the malice of your tyrant Proud-crested soldier, Who seem'st the master mover in this business, Say, dost thou read less terror' on my brow (He sees his son's body.) Then I'm indeed a captive. My soul, my will, submits! Is it thus? Mighty gods! The ponderous load of grief ye heap upon it; AULUS DIDIUS. Droop not, king; When Claudius, the great master of the world, His pity CARACTACUS. Can a Roman pity, soldier? And if he can, gods! must a Briton bear it? Shall to thy tomb with annual reverence bring 1 Am I less terrible in my countenance. AULUS DIDIUS. The morn doth hasten our departure. Prepare thee, king, to go, a fav'ring gale Now swells our sails. CARACTACUS. Be it so, I know you Romans weep not for your children; AULUS DIDIUS. But thou wast still implacable to Rome CARACTACUS. Had neighing steeds to Had wealth, dominion. I fought to save them? Soldier, I had arms, whirl my iron cars, Dost thou wonder, Roman, To lord it universal o'er the world, Shall the world tamely crouch at Cæsar's footstool? W. MASON. WOODSTOCK PARK. (Alfred the Great, 849-901; Geoffrey Chaucer, 1328-1400.) HERE in a little rustic hermitage Alfred the Saxon king, Alfred the Great, H. W. LONGFELLOW. Alfred the Great translated into English the celebrated work entitled "The Consolation of Philosophy," written by the Roman Boethius. |