Between the Earl Politian and himself, He doth decline your cartel. Pol. What didst thou say? What answer was it you brought me, good Baldazzar? No mortal eyes have seen!-What said the Count? Of any feud existing, or any cause Of quarrel, between your lordship and himself, Pol. It is most true When saw you, sir, All this is very true. A heaven so calm as this-so utterly free say ? Bal. No more, my lord, than I have told you, sir: The Count Castiglione will not fight, Having no cause for quarrel. Pol. Now this is true All very true. Thou art my friend, Baldazzar, He should have cause for quarrel. Bal. My lord-my friend! Pol. (aside). Tis he!-he comes himself! (Aloud.) Thou reasonest well. I know what thou wouldst say-not send the message. Well, I will think of it!-I will not send it. Now, pr'ythee, leave me hither doth come a person With whom affairs of a most private nature Cas. The Earl of Leicester here! Pol. I am the Earl of Leicester, and thou seest Dost thou not ?-that I am here. Cas. My lord, some strange, Some singular mistake-misunderstanding Hath, without doubt, arisen: thou hast been urged Thereby, in heat of anger, to address Some words most unaccountable, in writing, To me, Castiglione; the bearer being Baldazzar, Duke of Surrey. I am aware Of nothing which might warrant thee in this thing, Having given thee no offence. Ha!-am I right? "T was a mistake?—undoubtedly-we all Do err at times. Pol. Draw, villain, and prate no more! Cas. Ha!-draw?—and villain? Have at thee, then, at once, Proud Earl! [Draws. Pol. (drawing). Thus to the expiatory tomb, Untimely sepulchre, I do devote thee, • In the name of Lalage! Cas. (letting fall his sword, and recoiling to the extremity of the stage). Of Lalage! Hold off-thy sacred hand!-Avaunt, I say! Avaunt! I will not fight thee-indeed, I dare not. Pol. Thou wilt not fight with me? didst say, Sir Count? Shall I be baffled thus ?-now this is well.' Didst say thou darest not? Ha! Cas. I dare not-dare not: Hold off thy hand!-With that beloved name Pol. dare not! Now, by my halidom, I do believe thee !-coward, I do believe thee! [Clutches his sword and staggers toward POLI- It is it is-most true. Alas! my lord, Pol. (greatly softened). Alas!—I do—indeed I pity thee. Cas. And Lalage · Pol. Scoundrel!-arise and die! Cas. It needeth not be-thus-thus-oh, let me die Thus on my bended knee! It were most fitting For in the fight I will not raise a hand Against thee, Earl of Leicester. Strike thou home! [Baring his bosom. Here is no let or hindrance to thy weapon Strike home! I will not fight thee! Pol. Now 'sdeath and hell! Am I not am I not sorely-grievously tempted Even unto death. Before those whom thou lovestBefore all Rome, I'll taunt thee, villain,-I'll taunt thee Dost hear?-with cowardice! Thou wilt not fight me? Thou liest thou shalt ! Cas. [Exit. Now this, indeed, is just! Most righteous, and most just, avenging Heaven! POEMS WRITTEN IN YOUTH.* SONNET-TO SCIENCE. SCIENCE! true daughter of Old Time thou art! How should he love thee? or how deem thee wise, Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing? Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood, The Elfin from the green grass, and from me The summer dream beneath the tamarind-tree? * Private reasons-some of which have reference to the sin of plagiarism, and others to the date of Tennyson's first poems-have induced me, after some hesitation, to republish these, the crude compositions of my earliest boyhood. They are printed verbatim, without alteration, from the original edition, the date of which is too remote to be judiciously acknowledged.-E. A. P. His first publication, I believe, was as early as 1827.-ED. |