When in a nation, humbled by the will Like that bright bow the hand of the most High Of prosp❜rous change and interposing Heav'n. Alonzo. 7.—Alfred, and Devon returned successful.-Thomson. Alf. My friend returned ! O welcome, welcome! but what happy tidings Dev. My liege, Your troops have been successful.-But to Heaven Ascend the praise! For sure the event exceeds The hand of man. Alf. How was it, noble Devon ? Dev. You know my castle is not hence far distant. Resolv'd on death, disdaining to survive "Whole hecatombs of Danes."-As if one soul To hew a passage through the flying herd; The valiant Hubba bites the bloody field, With twice six hundred Danes around him strew'd. Alf. My glorious friend! this action has restor'd Our sinking country. But where, my noble cousin, are the rest Of our brave troops? Dev. On t'other side the stream, That half incloses this retreat, I left them. The spirit of the free! and with a voice That breathes success, they all demand their king. Alf. Quick let us join them, and improve their ardour. We cannot be too hasty to secure The glances of occasion. Alfred. 8.-The Quarrel of Brutus and Cassius.-Shakspeare. Bru. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case. Cas. I an itching palm? You know, that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for justice sake? What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, Cas. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it; you forget yourself, Bru. Go to; you are not, Cassius. Bru. I say, you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself— Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther. Bru. Away, slight man! Cas. Is't possible ? Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Cas. O Gods! ye Gods! must I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay more. Fret till your proud heart breaks; Go, tell your slaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say, you are a better soldier ; Cas. You wrong me every way-you wrong me, Brutus; I said, an elder soldier, not a better. Did I say better? Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me. Bru. Peace, peace, you durst not so have tempted him. Cas. I durst not! Bru. No. Cas. What! durst not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love; I may do what I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am arm'd so strong in honesty, That they pass by me as the idle wind, Which I respect not. I did send to you For certain sums of gold, which you denied me: For I can raise no money by vile means: By Heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring From the hands of peasants their vile trash, By any indirection. I did send To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, Cas. I deny'd you not. Bru. You did. Cas. I did not-He was but a fool That brought my answer back.-Brutus hath riv'd my heart. A friend should bear a friend's infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come Antony, and young Octavius, come! Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is a-weary of the world. Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; Bru. Sheathe your dagger; * Be angry when you will, it shall have scope; Cas. Hath Cassius liv'd To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, Cas. O Brutus ! Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour which my mother gave Makes me forgetful? me Bru. Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, "He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. Julius Cæsar |