Let them all perish !—And if one be found Then be his doom as theirs! Why gaze ye thus ? Brethren, what means your silence? Gui. Be it so ! If one amongst us stay th' avenging steel Rai. Our faith to this! No! I but dreamt I heard it !—Can it be? My countrymen, my father!—Is it thus That freedom should be won ?-Awake! Awake [A pause. On the crown'd heights, and to the sweeping winds, And shall not ours be such? Mont. Fond dreamer, peace! Fame! What is fame ?-Will our unconscious dust Start into thrilling rapture from the grave, At the vain breath of praise?—I tell thee, youth, Our souls are parch'd with agonizing thirst, Which must be quench'd though death were in the draught : We must have vengeance, for our foes have left No other joy unblighted. Pro. Oh! my son, The time is past for such high dreams as thine. Thou know'st not whom we deal with. Knightly faith, Rai. Procida, know, I shrink from crime alone. Oh! if my voice As knights, as warriors! Mont. Peace! have we not borne Th' indelible taint of contumely and chains? Rai. I leave you to your counsels. Why, then farewell; He that still Would hold his lofty nature undebased, And his name pure, were but a loiterer here. SECTION XIV. SIR JOSEPH BANKS-PETER.....John Wolcott. Sir Joseph. YOUR meaning, friend, I easily divine! Peter. Yes, quit for life the chair-resign, resign. Sir J. No, with contempt the grinning world I see, And always laugh at those who laugh at me. Pet. To steal a point then, may I never thrive But you must be the merriest man alive. Sir J. Good!-but, my friend, 'twould be a black November, To lose the chair, and sneak a vulgar member; Sunk from a lion to tame tom cat: Just like a schoolboy trembling o'er his book, And more than flesh and blood can well endure ! Let them all perish !—And if one be found Then be his doom as theirs! Why gaze ye thus ? Brethren, what means your silence? Be it so! Gui. Rai. Our faith to this! No! I but dreamt I heard it !-Can it be? My countrymen, my father!-Is it thus That freedom should be won ?-Awake! Awake [A pause. On the crown'd heights, and to the sweeping winds, And shall not ours be such? Mont. Fond dreamer, peace! Fame! What is fame ?-Will our unconscious dust Start into thrilling rapture from the grave, At the vain breath of praise?—I tell thee, youth, Our souls are parch'd with agonizing thirst, Which must be quench'd though death were in the draught: We must have vengeance, for our foes have left No other joy unblighted. Pro. Oh! my son, The time is past for such high dreams as thine. Thou know'st not whom we deal with. Knightly faith, Rai. Procida, know, I shrink from crime alone. Oh! if my voice As knights, as warriors! Mont. Peace! have we not borne Rai. I leave you to your counsels. Why, then farewell; He that still Would hold his lofty nature undebased, And his name pure, were but a loiterer here. SECTION XIV. SIR JOSEPH BANKS-PETER.....John Wolcott. Sir Joseph. YOUR meaning, friend, I easily divine! Peter. Yes, quit for life the chair-resign, resign. Sir J. No, with contempt the grinning world I see, And always laugh at those who laugh at me. Pet. To steal a point then, may I never thrive But you must be the merriest man alive. Sir J. Good!-but, my friend, 'twould be a black November, To lose the chair, and sneak a vulgar member; Sit on a bench mumchance without my hat, Just like a schoolboy trembling o'er his book, And more than flesh and blood can well endure ! |