For this the hour is come, the sword is drawn. From small beginnings, because God is just. 15 DUTY TO ONE'S COUNTRY.-Hannah More. Born, 1744; died 1838. OUR country is a whole, my Publius, Of which we all are parts; nor should a citizen Loads him with comforts, and would make his state And from the sacred laws which guard those blessings, With kindred brutes one common shelter seek There let him live, and vaunt his wretched freedom, 16. ST. PIERRE TO FERRARDO.—James Sheridan Knowles. St. Pierre, having possessed himself of Ferrardo's dagger, compels him to sign a confession tom his own lips, of his villany. KNOW you me, Duke? Know you the peasant boy, You chanced to cross upon his native hills, his old father, Man could not rob him of, and Heaven would spare, [Ferrardo tries to rise As they did lay them down! I got the start Of my cotemporaries! — not a youth Of whom could read, write, speak, command a weapon, Or rule a horse, with me! You gave me all, All the equipments of a man of honor, But you did find a use for me, and made A slave, a profligate, a pander, of me! Ten thousand ducats? [Ferrardo rising. What, Duke! Is such your offer? Give me, Duke, I would not give them for it! Mark me, Duke! And on the head-stone read my father's name! Heaven can tell how far he wandered else! Upon that grave I knelt an altered man, And, rising thence, I fled from Mantua; -nor had returned, But tyrant hunger drove me back again - my body to relieve, At cost of my dear soul! I have done thy work,- Your signature Of vital moment is unto my peace! My eye is on the dial! Pass the shadow The point of noon, the breadth of but a hair, As can my eye discern - and, that unsigned, The steel is in thy heart! I speak no more! 17. WILLIAM TELL ON SWITZERLAND. - Adaptation from J. S. Knowles ONCE Switzerland was free! I used to walk these hills, With what a pride From end to end, from cliff to lake 't was free! In my boat at night, when midway o'er the lake, You know the jutting cliff, round which a track And I have thought of other lands, whose storms Have wished me there; -the thought that mine was free 18. WILLIAM TELL AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.-J. S. Knowles. YE crags and peaks, I'm with you once again! And bid your tenant welcome to his home Of awe divine. Ye guards of liberty, I'm with you once again! I call to you With all my voice! I hold my hands to you, Scaling yonder peak, I saw an eagle wheeling near its brow O'er the abyss: his broad-expanded wings Lay calm and motionless upon the air, Of measuring the ample range beneath And round about; absorbed, he heeded not The death that threatened him. I could not shoot! "T was liberty! I turned my bow aside, And let him soar away! 19. THE FRACTIOUS MAN.- Original Translation from Brueys. Monsieur Grichard. Blockhead! Would you keep me knocking two hours at the door? Lolive. I was at work, Sir, in the garden. At the first sound of the knocker, I ran to answer it with such haste, as to fall down on the way. M. Gri. A great pity it was you did n't break your neck, booby' Why did n't you leave the door open? Lot. Why, Sir, you scolded me, yesterday, because I did sc When it is open, you storm about it. When it is shut, you storm about it just the same. I should like to know what to do. you say 7? M. Gri. What to do, sirrah? What to do, did Lol. O, come now, master, how would you have it? Do уси me to leave the door open ? wish M. Gri. What, rascal, what! Do you presume to argue the point? Lol. But does n't it hold to reason M. Gri. Silence! Lol. I say, Sir, that a door must be either open or shut. Now, how will you have it? M. Gri. I have told you, a thousand times, you scoundrel, — I have told you, I wished it-wished it - but confound your impudence, Sir! Is it for you to ask questions? Let me only lay hands on you, I'll show you how I wish it! Have you swept the stair case? Lol. Yes, Sir, from top to bottom. M. Gri. And the yard? Lol. If you find a bit of dirt there big as a filbert, I'll forfeit my wages. M. Gri. You have n't watered the mule ? Lol. Ask the neighbors, who saw me pass, if I have n't. M. Gri. Have you given him his oats? Lol. Yes, Sir. Ask William if I have n't. He saw me do it. M. Gri. But you have n't taken those bottles of Peruvian bark where I ordered you? Lol. Pardon me, Sir; I took them, and brought back the empty bottles. M. Gri. And my letters? Did you take them to the Post Office? Hah? Lol. Did n't I, though? I took good care to do that! M. Gri. You villain, you! A hundred times I have forbidden you to scrape your infernal violin. Now, I heard you, this morning Lol This morning? Don't you remember you smashed it all to piece for me, yesterday? M Gri. Humph! I'll lay a wager that those two cords of wood Lol. The wood is all sawed, split, and housed, Sir; and since putting it in, I have helped William get a load of hay into the barn, I have watered all the trees in the garden, dug over three of the beds and was digging another when you knocked. |