FROM WILLIAM TELL. Melctal. Is 't the lake? Emma. But 'tis not that I fear. What is 't you fear, my daughter? No-no! The lake is rough, Chafed with the storm of yesternight-'tis rough; The lances in that bark? What business have What's that he does? He steers her right upon a rock!—'Tis in Despair, and there he'll die before my eyes!- Enter TELL from an eminence. Tell. Whene'er I choose, I have the speed of them. Nor dare they shoot: so oft as they prepare, If I but bend my bow, the terror of The deadly aim alone transfixes them, That down they drop their weapons by their sides, Stood quivering. I knew that beetling cliff Would cost them breath to climb. They top it now. again? I'll keep you there, to give your master time To breathe. Poor slaves! no game are you for Bring him to parley. (Ascends the crag.) me; Enter ARCHERS and SPEARMEN followed by Gesler. Wherefore do you fly? Ges. I took it, and they rear'd their heads no more, * The roaring of the angry thunder rose, Through which I bore you as through savage foes, What you did promise. Ges. To wait my time. Traitor, 'twas your place Tell. It would have been, had I Ges. At once. Tell. Ha! Transfix the slave with all your darts [Takes aim again-they drop their weapons, which they had half raised. Follow me! Keen huntsmen they The game itself must urge. Keep up the chase! Ges. You keep too close together. Spread yourselves, That some of you may hit him unawares. His quiver full of ducats to the man That brings him down. On, cowards-on, I say! [Exeunt. Julia. LOVE SEEKS CONTRAST. You're from the town; How comes it, Sir, you seek a country wife? Clifford. In joining contrasts lieth love's delight. Complexion, stature, nature, mateth it, Not with their kinds, but with their opposites. And breasts that case the lion's fear-proof heart, Hath Europe's priceless pearl been seen to hang, From The Hunchback. THE VAIN WIDOW. Widow Green. Thou 'lt find out better when thy time doth come. Now would'st believe I love not Master Waller? I never knew what love was, Lydia; That is, as your romancers have it. First, I married for a fortune. Having that, And being freed from him that brought it me, A man that is the fashion. O the delight Of a sensation, and yourself the cause! To note the stir of eyes, and ears, and tongues, My heart begin to flutter now-my blood fan Will be a month of triumphs!" Mistress Waller!” And but the widow had the wit to win! Why, it will be the talk of East and West, And North and South!-The children loved the man, For what is it to love, but mind and heart But what another wills!-Give up the rights Of mine own brain and heart!-I thank my stars I never came to that extremity! From The Love Chase. THE GROWTH OF DEVOTED LOVE. Lorenzo. I dare be sworn your passion As e'er they were before. How grew it? Come, And see how innocent a thing it is Which thou dost fear to show.-I wait your answer. Mariana. As my stature grew, Which rose without my noting it, until An avalanche my father rescued him, From beneath A long time Who wander'd through our mountains. For help, whence help alone could come, which I, Lorenzo. I perceive:-you mingled souls until you mingled hearts? You loved at last.-Was 't not the sequel, maid? Lorenzo. You loved, and he did love? Were to affirm what oft his eyes avouch'd, As some high contest there were pending, 'twixt Himself and him, wherein her aid he needed. Lorenzo. This spoke impediment: or he was bound By promise to another; or had friends Whom it behoved him to consult, and doubted; Or 'twixt you lay disparity too wide For love itself to leap. Mariana. I saw a struggle, But knew not what it was.-I wonder'd still, Lorenzo. To follow him, You came to Mantua? Mariana. What could I do? Cot, garden, vineyard, rivulet, and wood, Lake, sky, and mountain, went along with him,— Could I remain behind? My father found My heart was not at home; he loved his child, To Mantua! to breathe the air he breathed, To look, perchance, on him!-perchance to hear hiın, From The Wife. |