MARY R. MITFORD.-ADDISON. Why, in that elder day, to be a Roman 299 MARY R. MITFORD. 44. SPEECH OF SEMPRONIUS FOR WAR. My voice is still for war. Gods! can a Roman senate long debate, May reach his heart, and free the world from bondage. Or share their fate! The corpse of half her senate If we should sacrifice our lives to honor, ADDISON 45. SPEECH OF LUCIUS FOR PEACE. My thoughts, I must confess, are turned on peace. The gods declare against us, and repel That drew our swords, now wrests them from our hands, Unprofitably shed. What men could do Is done already heaven and earth will witness, ADDISON. 46. SPEECH OF CATO. LET us appear nor rash nor diffident : Are grown thus desperate: we have bulwarks round us ; ADDISON. ALBERT G. GREENE. 301 47. THE BARON'S LAST BANQUET. O'ER a low couch the setting sun had thrown its latest ray, The stern old Baron Rudiger, whose frame had ne'er been bent "They come around me here, and say my days of life are o'er, That I shall mount my noble steed, and lead my band no more; They come, and, to my beard, they dare to tell me now that I, Their own liege lord and master born, that I-ha! ha!—must die. "And what is death? I've dared him oft, before the Paynim spear; Think ye he's entered at my gate-has come to seek me here? I've met him, faced him, scorned him, when the fight was raging hot; I'll try his might-I'll brave his power; defy, and fear him not. "Ho! sound the tocsin from my tower, and fire the culverin ; An hundred hands were busy then: the banquet forth was spread, And rung the heavy oaken floor with many a martial tread; While from the rich, dark tracery, along the vaulted wall, Lights gleamed on harness, plume, and spear, o'er the proud old Gothic hall. Fast hurrying through the outer gate, the mailed retainers poured, On through the portal's frowning arch, and thronged around the board; While at its head, within his dark, carved, oaken chair of state, Armed cap-à-pie, stern Rudiger, with girded falchion, sate. "Fill every beaker up, my men,-pour forth the cheering wine! There's life and strength in every drop-thanksgiving to the vine ! Are ye all there, my vassals true?—mine eyes are waxing dim: Fill round, my tried and fearless ones, each goblet to the brim! Draw forth each trusty "Ye're there; but yet I see ye not. sword, And let me hear your faithful steel clash once around my board. I hear it faintly. Louder yet!-What clogs my heavy breath? Up all, and shout for Rudiger, Defiance unto Death!" " Bowl rang to bowl, steel clanged to steel, and rose a deafening cry, That made the torches flare around, and shook the flags on high. "Ho! cravens, do ye fear him ?—Slaves, traitors, have ye flown? Ho! cowards, have ye left me to meet him here alone? "But I defy him :-let him come !" Down rang the massy cup, While from its sheath the ready blade came flashing half-way up; And, with the black and heavy plumes, scarce trembling on his head, There, in his dark, carved, oaken chair, old Rudiger sat dead. ALBERT G. GREENE. 48. BERNARDO AND KING ALPHONSO. WITH Some good ten of his chosen men, He came in reverend guise, And flame broke from his eyes. "A curse upon thee," cries the king, But what from traitor's blood should spring, His sire, lords, had a traitor's heart,- May think it were a pious part "Whoever told this tale, The king hath rashness to repeat," J. G. LOCKHART. No treason was in Sancho's blood,— Below the throne, what knight will own "Ye swore upon your kingly faith, But, curse upon your paltering breath! "The king that swerveth from his word, No Spanish lord shall draw his sword But noble vengeance shall be mine ; "Seize-seize him!" loud the king doth scream: "There are a thousand here; Let his foul blood this instant stream ; What! caitiffs, do ye fear? To move a finger dareth: Bernardo standeth by the throne, And calm his sword he bareth. He drew the falchion from its sheath, And all the hall was still as death :- And here's the sword that owns no lord, Fain would I know who dares its point,— King, condé, or grandee." Then to his mouth his horn he drew, It hung below his cloak; His ten true men the signal knew, And through the ring they broke. 303 |