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near and dear to him, the influence and the benefits of this liberty, and of these institutions. Let us, then, acknowledge the blessing; let us feel it deeply and powerfully; let us cherish a strong affection for it, and resolve to maintain and perpetuate it. The blood of our fathers, let it not have been shed in vain; the great hope of posterity, let it not be. blasted.

5. It cannot be denied, but by those who would dispute against the sun, that with America, and in America, a new era commences in human affairs. This era is distinguished by free, representative governments; by entire religious liberty; by improved systems of national intercourse; by a newly awakened and an unquenchable spirit of free inquiry; and by a diffusion of knowledge through the community, such as has been before, altogether unknown and unheard of. America, America, our country, fellow-citizens, our own dear and native land, is inseparably connected, fast bound up, in fortune and by fate, with these great interests. If they fall, we fall with them; if they stand, it will be because we have upheld them.

LESSON XXVI.

SCENE FROM DOUGLAS. — HOME. *

[Characters.-GLENALVON and NORVAL. - See Personation, p. 202.1

Glen. Has Norval seen the troops?

Nor. The setting sun,

With yellow/radiance, lightened all the vale;

And, as the warriors moved, each polished helm,†

* Home, (John,) a clergyman and writer of Scotland, born in 1724, and died in

808.

+ Helm, for helmet, defensive armor for the head.

Corslet, *
or spear, glanced back his gilded beams.
The hill they climbed, and, halting at its top,

Of more than mortal size, towering, they seemed
An host angelic, clad in burning arms.

Glen. Thou talk'st it well! no leader of our host,
In sounds more lofty, speaks of glorious war.
Nor. If I shall e'er/acquire a leader's name,
My speech will be less ardent. Novelty
Now prompts my tongue, and youthful admiration
Vents itself freely; since no part is mine,

Of praise pertaining to the great in arms.

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Glen. You wrong yourself, brave sir! Your martial deeds

Have ranked you with the great: but mark me, Norval,
Lord Randolph's favor now exalts your youth
Above his veteráns of famous service.

:

Let me, who know these soldiers, counsel you:
Give them all honor; seem not to command;
Else, they will scarcely brook your late-sprung power,
Which, nor alliance props, nor birth adorns.

Nor. Sir!-I have been accustomed all my days

To hear and speak the plain and simple truth;
And though I have been told, that there are men,
Who borrow friendship's tongue to speak their scorn,
Yet, in such language, I am little skilled:
Therefore, I thank Glenalvon for his counsel,
Although it sounded harshly. Why remind
Me of my birth obscure? Why slur my power
With such contemptuous) terms?

Glen. I did not mean

To gall your pride, which now I see is great.
Nor. My pride!

Glen. Suppress it, as you wish to prosper :

Your pride's excessive! yet, for Randolph's sake,

*Corslet, armor formerly worn by pikemen in battle, to protect the body

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I will not leave you to its rash direction.

If thus you swell, and frown at high-born men,
Will high-born men endure a shepherd's scorn?
Nor. A shepherd's scorn!

Glen. Yes. If you presume

To bend on soldiers these disdainful eyes,

As if you took the measure of their minds,
And said, in secret,

"You are no match for me,"

What will become of you?

Nor. Hast thou no fears for thy presumptuous self?
Glen. Ha!- dost thou threaten me?

Nor. Didst thou not hear?

Glen. Unwillingly I did: a nobler foe

Had not been questioned thus. But such as thou -
Nor. Whom dost thou think me?

Glen. Norval.

Nor. So I am;

And who is Norval, in Glenal von's eyes?

Glen. A peasant's son, a wandering beggar boy,

At best,

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no more, even if he speak the truth.

Nor. False as thou art, dost thou suspect my truth? Glen. Thy truth! Thou 'rt all a lie, and false as fiends

Is the vain-glorious tale thou told'st to Randolph.

Nor. If I were chained, unarmed, or bed-rid old,

Perhaps I might revile; but as I am,

I have no tongue to rail. The humble Norval
Is of a race, who strive not but with deeds!

Did I not fear to freeze thy shallow valòr,

And make thee sink too soon beneath my sword,
I'd tell thee what thou art-I know thee well.

Glen. Dost thou not know Glenalvon born to rule Ten thousand slaves like thee?

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Draw, and defend thy life. [They draw their swords.] I did design To have defied thee in another cause;

But Heaven accelerates its vengeance on thee.
Now, for my own and Lady Randolph's wrongs!-

[Enter Lord Randolph.]

[They fight]

Lord Randolph. Hold!—I command

you both:

The man that stirs, makes me his foe.

Nor. Another voice than thine,

That threat had vainly sounded, noble Randolph.

Glen. Hear him, my lord, he's wondrous condescending! Mark the humility of shepherd Norval!

Nor. Now you may scoff in safety.

Lord R. Speak not thus,

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[Both sheathe their swords.]

Taunting each other; but unfold to me

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cannot speak

The cause of quarrel; then I'll judge betwixt you.
Nor. Nay, my good lord, though I revere you much,
My cause I plead not, nor demand your judgment.
I blush to speak, —I will not -
The opprobrious words, that I from him have borne.
To the liege lord of my dear native land,
I owe a subject's homage; but, even him
And his high arbitration, I'd reject!
Within my bosom reigns another lord, -
Honor, sole judge and umpire of itself.

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If my free speech offend you, noble Randolph,
Revoke your favors, and let Norval go

Hence as he came, alone

- but not dishonored.

Lord R. Thus far, I'll mediate with impartial voice:

The ancient foe of Caledonia's

land,

Now waves his banners o'er her frighted fields.

Suspend your purpose, till your country's arms

Repel the bold invader; then decide the private quarrel. Glen. I agree to this.

•Cal-e do ́ni-a, the ancient name of Scotland.

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Let not our variance mar the social hour,
Nor wrong the hospitality of Randolph ;
Nor frowning anger, nor yet wrinkled hate,
Shall stain thy countenance. Smooth thou thy brow,
Nor let our strife disturb the gentle dame.

Nor. Think not so lightly, sir, of my resentment;
When we contend again, our strife is mortal.

LESSON XXVII.

A RILL FROM THE TOWN PUMP. - HAWTHORNE.

[Humorous. See rule 9, p. 186. Scene, the corner of two principal streets. The Town Pump talking through its nose.]

water bubble and

Truly, we public And, among all the

1. Noon, by the north clock! Noon, by the east! High noon, too, by these hot sunbeams, which fall, scarcely aslope, upon my head, and almost make the smoke, in the trough under my nose. characters have a tough time of it! town officers, chosen at March meeting, where is he that sustains, for a single year, the burden of such manifold duties as are imposed, in perpetuity, upon the Town Pump?

2. The title of "town treasurer" is rightly mine, as guardian of the best treasure that the town has. The overseers of the poor ought to make me their chairman, since I provide bountifully for the pauper, without expense to him that pays taxes. I am at the head of the fire department, and one of the physicians to the board of health. As a keeper of the peace, all water-drinkers will confess me equal to the constable. I perform some of the duties of the town clerk, by promulgating public notices, when they are pasted on my front.

3. To speak within bounds, I am the chief person of the

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