Doug. O, deeper than thou think'st, I've read thy heart. A gilded insect to the world you seemed; Per. O, partial friendship. Doug. Yet had I never guessed your brooded purpose. Rememberest thou the Regent's masque? the birth right?— Per. Well. Doug. That night you glittered through the crowded halls, Gay, and capricious as a sprite of air. Apollo rapt us when you touched the lyre; One bed received us. Soon, your moaning voice Per. Heavens ! Doug. 'Tis true:-and more than I can now remember. Per. And never speak of it? Doug. Inly I burned; But honour, pride, forbade. Pilfer from dreams! Thou knew'st the ear, arm, life of Douglas, thine— My troubled bosom, but my enterprise So rife with peril seemed to hearts less touched, How to thine aged sire? Armed proof I stand, To fate: come what will come-the wide earth bears No heart of kindred blood to mourn my fall. *Pronounced as the first syllable in wander. † Pron. forbad. Doug. The heart of Douglas beats not with thy blood, But never will I trust in mercy more, In justice, truth, or heaven, if it forsake thee. Per. Douglas, thy friendship is my choicest treasure ;Has been a radiant star on my dark way; And never did I doubt thy zeal to serve me. Lend, now, a patient ear.-While with my doom Alone, I strive, no dread or doubt distracts me. No precious fate with mine involved, my heart Is fearless, firm my step. Exposing thee, The adamantine buckler falls, and leaves me, Naked, and trembling, to a double death. Doug. Thou lov'st me not. Per. Let Heaven be witness there! The thought of bringing down thy father's hairs Doug. Lo have I wandered o'er the hills for this? Per. I would not wound thee, Douglas, well thou know'st ; But thus to hazard on a desperate cast Thy golden fortunes Doug. Cursed be the blood within me, Plagues and the grave o'ertake me, if I leave thee; Per. For thy father's sake— Doug. Peace! I'd not go if staying here would strew* His hoar hairs in the tomb-not stir, by heaven ! Must I toss counters? sum the odds of life, When honour points the way?-When was the blood Per. Nay, hear me, hear me, Douglas Doug. Talk to me Of dangers? Death and shame! is not my race Doug. By heaven, it grieves me, Harry Percy, Now tell me how thou stand'st; thy cause how prospered. What has been done? What projects are afoot? Acquaint me quickly.— Per. Gently; lest some busy ear Be near us. Little have I yet to tell thee. *Pronounced strow. Thinking my rival's coat would best conceal me, Doug. A keeper of his chase thy garb bespeaks. Roll down their reverend beards, and genuine love Doug. I long To press the sons, and tell them what a lord Per. When first I mixed among them, oft I struck, Encouraged thus, I sought its latent seeds; There, to high strains, the minstrel harp I tuned, Doug. That lulled them, as the north wind does the sea. The kindling impulse flew; till every hind, Scarce conscious why, handles his targe and bow; Doug. What lack we? Spread 'T'he warlike ensign. On the Border side, Per. What say'st thou! Doug. Sinews of the house; Ready to tread in every track of Douglas. By stealth. I drew them in from distant points, And hid amidst a wood in Chevy-Chase. Per. O, Douglas! Douglas! even such a friend, Doug. Straight, let us turn our trumpets to the hills; The Percy and the Douglas league in arms. Per. If he were all-Remember haughty Henry, The nephew of his wife, whose word could speed A veteran army to his kinsman's aid. Doug. Come one, come all; leave us to welcome them. [Exit Douglas. Per. Too long, too long a huntsman, Arthur comes Brooding o'er wrongs that haunted me for vengeance. My birth-right, home. Halls founded by my sires LESSON CLXIV. The Prodigal Son.. A CERTAIN man had two sons: and the younger of them said unto his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods *Pronounced ner'ew. that falleth to me." And he divided unto them his living. And, not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And, when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled himself with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him. And, when he came to himself, be said, "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough, and to spare ;—and I perish with hunger!-I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him-Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son :-make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and was coming to his father:-but, while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son sail unto him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." But the father said to his servants, "Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet;—and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:-for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again;—he was lost, and is found." Now his elder son was in the field-and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, “Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath re ceived him safe and sound." And he was angry-and would not go in: therefore came his father out and entreated him. And be, answering, said to his father, "Lo, these many years have I served thee, neither transgressed I, at any time, thy commandment; and yet-thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:-But, as soon as this-thy son was come, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf." And the father said unto him" Son, thou art ever with me; and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry and be glad: for this thy brother-was lead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." |