Rate him not hardly, Torrismond What motive could he have for such remarking, Unless in friendship? Could he see thee lose, And know thy loss was heavy, nor look grave, He were no friend-no brother. TORRISMOND. Yet would I have no brother, Should think to school me with his graver prudence, Speak out thy thought, my friend. Would it be ready for him should he ask it? TORRISMOND. Ha! Could it have been?-Could he then suspect me?- BLONDEVILLE. I would not say it, sir For I would nothing censure of the motives Or barely wets his foot, when bolder spirits— Or, sink bravely! TORRISMOND. 'Tis thus I end thy speech, my BlondevilleFor my own moral! I must sink-I see itThe waters are before me, wide and deep, Which must engulph me. I am ruined quite, By that Italian; and he must have all— BLONDEVILLE. Thou hast it for him? TORRISMOND. Ay, that's the sorrow.- And this reminds me of Count Theodore I have it; if I take my sister's portionBLONDEVILLE (quickly.) But that thou must not. TORRISMOND. How! must not, sir! BLONDEVILLE. Mistake me not, oh! noble Torrismond I am your friend—would give up life to serve you; And as I feel your worth, and noble pride, I would not you should sacrifice unheeding, One atom of that god-like liberty, Which gives to speech its eloquence, to action Its loftiness; and to the cheek the colour That never feels a change. Should you employ Is the Count Theodore), you were sadly humbled TORRISMOND-(gloomily.) you will have it so But such I need not. Be it as you please,— No generous faith, no friendship-nothing gentle, I know not that. I played with dullest senses, BLONDEVILLE. Having his soul and body, I command His sister's also. GUICCIARDINI. A woman, Blondeville- Have women here a value-and with thee? Blondeville-(gravely.) Thou mistakest me, As thou mistakest woman! She has value, Thou art, for one so wise, at times, so wilful, Or, in the mountains, or among the woods, That glose and cheat the yielding and confiding- As of a useful animal that heeds, And can be worthy only at those moments And gazing in his eyes; and I thought then, She looked like all the rest, as lovely, smiling, And, to the full, as false. BLONDEVILLE. Did'st thou think that! I thank thee for the thought-I bless thee for it- Thou would'st not wed her, surely! Would I not!- Not wed Olivia!— BLONDEVILLE. GUICCIARDINI. No--I know thee wilful, But could not deem thee idly profligate'Twere a strange madness! Do not think upon it. BLONDEVILLE. I'd wed her, Guicciardini, even if life Were on the final gasp-though but an hour Ay, that were wiser. If thou art to wed, That you escape the punishment of folly With all its fruits. But what triumph mean you? BLONDEVILLE. Revenge-a sweet revenge GUICCIARDINI. Revenge! on whom? BLONDEVILLE. Count Theodore--who is betrothed to her-- And wherefore dost thou hate this Theodore?— 'Tis a tale, BLONDEVILLE. I would not dwell on; but-I had a sister— Having no wrong within her virgin heart- GUICCIARDINI. By my soul, Blondeville, I thought thee wiser. Woman's innocence ! BLONDEVILLE--( fiercely.) Silence, Guicciardini, Thy speech offends me! 'Tis enough for thee It seem unto thy reason. Let us part, For Torrismond now seeks thee, and should find thee, GUICCIARDINI. Thou talk'st of vengeance, Blondeville,―thy arm BLONDEVILLE. That's the damnable thought, And sad conviction. Were it otherwise- What wilt thou do? BLONDEVILLE. What should I do? Bethink thee-- Ah, Claribel! is thy voice singing now, CONSTANTINE: OR, THE REJECTED THRONE. BY MRS. HARRISON SMITH. Thy school-days frightful, desperate, wild and furious; Richard III. The Grand Duke Constantine received from nature a violent temper, strong passions, and ardent affections; an indomitable will, a bold and enterprizing spirit. Such qualities form the constituent elements of greatness, and according to the impulse and direction given them by circumstances, become the blessing or the curse of their possessor and of society. Had this prince, like his parents, been doomed to obscurity and retirement; like them, been secluded from the excitements, the intrigues, the excesses, the pleasures and vices of a splendid and luxurious court-had his dispositions been formed by the gentle influence of his amiable mother, his impetuous and headstrong temper might have been softened and trained into all that is good and great. But this unfortunate mother was deprived by the inexorable Catherine, of all the rights and joys of maternity: her children were taken from her immediately on their birth, and brought up without either father or mother having the least influence in their education, or authority over their conduct-thus usurping not only the sovereign, but the paternal rights of her son. There are characters that cannot endure the hard yoke of authority; they may be led, but not drivensoothed, but not forced into submission. Bucephalus, the proud charger, that neither veteran skill or power could subdue, yielded to the caressing hand of the youthful Alexander; its fierce nature became docile beneath his gentle guidance, while it was unmanageable under rein and curb. Thus might Constantine, who like this fierce and high spirited courser, spurned at all control, have become docile to the governance of affection. Spoiled in his childhood by pernicious indulgence, he was ill prepared to yield to the despotic authority assumed over him in his manhood; his resistance exasperated his naturally violent temper, without freeing him from subjection-for it was the hand of the imperious Catherine which held the rein, and submission became inevitable: yet arbitrary as was her character, Our childhood,-when my thoughts, like some stray she had a tender disposition, and was too fond of chil breeze, Roved wanton in the sunlight, and o'ercoursed ANCIENT WRITINGS. dren to govern them with the wisdom she exhibited in cases where her authority was unbiassed by her affections. She delighted in having them constantly around her-in becoming their playmate and companion; for she loved in their guilelessness to forget the artifices and selfishness of society-to lose the cares of sovereignty in the pleasures of nature: often too she became their instructor. Yes-the sovereign of a vast empire was lost in the At the Restoration of Letters, great ignorance pre-fond woman, and she even found time to write books vailed with regard to the ancient writings. A scholar of those days places one Valerius (perhaps Maximus) in the first rank of Latin writers-Plato and Tully among the poets-and makes Ennius and Statius contemporaries. for the instruction and amusement of her grandchildren. History, scientific tracts, moral and literary essays and interesting tales, by turns occupied the powers of that genius, that governed the destinies of nations. Nothing could exceed her indulgence to them while children, |
