Tam. Why slept the thunder That should have armed the idol deity, And given thee power, ere yester sun was set, To shake the soul of Tamerlane? Hadst thou an arm To make thee feared, thou shouldst have proved it on me, Amidst the sweat and blood of yonder field, When, through the tumult of the war, I sought thee, Baj. Oh, blast the stars That fated us to different scenes of slaughter! Tam. Thou hadst then, As now, been in my power, and held thy life I bid thee live. So much my soul disdains That thou shouldst think I can fear aught but Heaven. -- This royal tent, with such of thy domestics As can be found, shall wait upon thy service; Nor will I use my fortune to demand Hard terms of peace: but such as thou mayst offer With honor, I with honor may receive. XVII.-FROM ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA-Shakspeare. ANTONY-VENTIDIUS. Antony. They tell me 'tis my birth-day; and I'll keep it With double pomp of sadness. 'Tis what the day deserves, which gave me breath. Why was I raised the meteor of the world, Hung in the skies, and blazing as I traveled, Till all my fires were spent, and then cast downwards Ventidius. I must disturb him. I can hold no longer. (Stands before him.) Ant. (Starting up.) Art thou Ventidius? Vent. Are you Antony? I'm liker what I was, than you to him I left you last. Ant. I'm angry. Vent. So am I. Ant. I would be private. Leave me. Vent. Sir, I love you, And therefore will not leave you. Ant. Will not leave me ! Where have you learnt this answer? Who am I? Shall that sound reach my ears. Vent. I warrant you. Ant. Actium, Actium! Oh Vent. It sits too near you. Ant. Here, here it lies; a lump of lead by day; And, in my short distracted nightly slumbers, The hag that rides my dreams Vent. Out with it; give it vent. Ant. Urge not my shame- I lost a battle. Vent. So has Julius done. Ant. Thou favorest me, and speakest not half thou thinkest; For Julius fought it out, and lost it fairly: But Antony- Vent. Nay, stop not. Ant. Antony (Well, thou wilt have it) like a coward fled, Fled while his soldiers fought! fled first, Ventidius. Vent. No. Ant. Why? Vent. You are too sensible already Of what you've done; too conscious of your failings; To fury, sting yourself in mad revenge. I would bring balm, and pour it in your wounds, Vent. I will. Ant. Sure thou dreamest, Ventidius! Vent. No, 'tis you dream; you sleep away your hours Up, up, for honor's sake; twelve legions wait you, Their scarred cheeks, and chopped hands; there's virtue in them; Than yon trim bands can buy. Ant. Where left you them? There may be life in these. Vent. They will not come. Ant. Why did they refuse to march? Vent. They said they would not fight for Cleopatra. Vent. They said they would not fight for Cleopatra... Ant. Ventidius, I allow your tongue free licence No word of Cleopatra ;-she deserves More worlds than I can lose. Vent. Behold, you powers, To whom you have entrusted human kind! And all weighed down by one light worthless woman! Vent. I take the privilege of plain love to speak. Vent. You may kill me; You have done more already; called me traitor. But had I been Vent. For showing you yourself. Ant. Forgive me, soldier; I've been too passionate. Vent. You thought me false; Thought my old age betrayed you. Kill me, sir, Ant. I did not think so; I said it in my rage: prithee forgive me. Thou only lovest, the rest have flattered me. Vent. Heaven's blessing on your heart, for that kind word. May I believe you love me? Speak again. Ant. Indeed I do. Do with me what thou wilt: Lead me to victory, thou knowest the way. Vent. And will you leave this Ant. Prithee do not curse her, And I will leave her; though Heaven knows, I love But I will leave her. Vent. That's my royal master: And shall we fight? Ant. I warrant thee, old soldier : Another soul; your looks are more sublime; Ant. O, thou hast fired me! My soul is up in arms! I won the trenches, while my foremost men Vent. Ye gods, ye gods! Ant. Come on, my soldier; Our hearts and arms are still the same. I long XVIII.-FROM THE PEASANT BOY.- Dimond. ALBERTI-JULIAN-MONTALDI-STEFANO-LUDOVICO-AMBROSE -VINCENT-GUARDS, &C. (Enter Guards, conducting Julian-all the Characters follow, and a crowd of vassals-Alberti advances to the judgment seat.) Alb. My people !-the cause of your present assemblage too well is known to you. You come to witness the dispensations of an awful but impartial justice ;—either to rejoice in the acquittal of innocence wrongfully accused, or to approve the conviction of guilt, arrested in its foul career. Personal feel. ings forbid me to assume this seat myself; yet fear not, but that it will be filled by nobleness and honor :-to Montaldi only, I resign it. Jul. He my judge! then I am lost indeed. (Aside.) Alb. Ascend the seat, my friend, and decide from it as your own virtuous conscience shall direct: this only will I say, should the scales of accusation and defense poise doubtfully, let mercy touch them with her downy hand, and turn the balance on the gentler side. Mon. (Ascending the seat.) Your will and honor, are my only governors! (Bows.) Julian! stand forth! you are charged with a most foul and horrible attempt upon the life of my noble kinsman—the implements of murder have been found in your possession, and many powerful circumstances combine to fix the guilt upon you. What have you to urge in vindication? Jul. First, I swear by that power, whom vice dreads and virtue reverences, that no syllable but strictest truth shall pass |