O'er stock and stone, through watch and ward, Till past Clan-Alpine's outmost guard, As far as Coilantogle's ford:
From thence thy warrant is thy sword."— "I take thy courtesy, by Heaven, As freely as 'tis nobly given!"
"Well, rest thee; for the bittern's cry Sings us the lake's wild lullaby."- With that he shook the gather'd heart, And spread his plaid upon the wreath; And the brave foemen, side by side, Lay peaceful down like brothers tried, And slept until the dawning beam Purpled the mountain and the stream.
By Jove, I am not covetous of gold, Nor care I, who doth feed upon my cost; It yearns me not if men my garments wear; Such outward things dwell not in my desires! But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
Doge. I tell thee-must I tell thee-what thy father
Would have required no words to comprehend?
Hast thou no feeling save the external sense Of torture from the touch? hast thou no soul- No pride-no passion--no deep sense of honour? Bertuccio Faliero. 'Tis the first time that honour
And were the last from any other skeptic. Doge. You know the full offence of this born villain,
This creeping, coward, rank, acquitted felon, Who threw his sting into a poisonous libel, And on the honour of-Oh, God! my wife, The nearest, dearest part of all men's honour, Left a base slur to pass from mouth to mouth Of loose mechanics, with all coarse, foul comments, And villanous jests, and blasphemies obscene; While sneering nobles, in more polished guise, Whisper'd the tale, and smiled upon the lie Which made me look like them-a courteous
Patient-ay, proud, it may be, of dishonour.
Ber. F. But still it was a lie-you knew it false And so did all men.
Nephew, the high Roman Said "Cæsar's wife must not even be suspected," And put her from him.
Doge. What is it that a Roman would not suffer, That a Venetian prince must bear? Old Dandolo Refused the diadem of all the Cæsars,
And were the ducal cap I trample on,
Because 'tis now degraded.
Doge. It is it is :-I did not visit on
The innocent creature thus most vilely slandered Because she took an old man for her lord,
For that he had been long her father's friend
And patron of her house, as if there were No love in woman's heart but lust of youth And beardless faces;-I did not for this Visit the villain's infamy on her,
But craved my country's justice on his head, The justice due unto the humblest being Who hath a wife whose faith is sweet to him, Who hath a home whose hearth is dear to him, Who hath a name whose honour's all to him, When these are tainted by the accursing breath Of calumny and scorn.
Hail, sacred Freedom, when by law restrain'd! Without you what were man? A grovelling herd, In darkness, wretchedness, and want enchain'd.
Oh, Liberty, thou goddess, heavenly bright, Profuse of bliss, and pregnant with delight! Eternal pleasures in thy presence reign, And smiling plenty leads thy wanton train; Eased of her load subjection grows more light, And poverty looks cheerful in thy sight; Thou makest the gloomy face of nature gay, Givest beauty to the sun, and pleasure to the day.
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