V. 123. NORVAL. Enter first GLENALVON; and soon after, NORVAL. G looking off at some distant object. The latter seems LENALVON. His port I love; he's in a proper mood Norval. Glen. Thou talk'st it well; no leader of our host Norv. If I should e'er acquire a leader's name, My speech will be less ardent. Novelty Now prompts my tongue, and youthful admiration Of praise pertaining to the great in arms. Glen. You wrong yourself, brave sir; your martial deeds Have ranked you with the great. But mark me, Norval, Lord Randolph's favor now exalts your youth Above his veterans of famous service. Let me, who know these soldiers, counsel you. Norv. Sir, I have been accustomed, all my days, Therefore I thank Glenalvon for his counsel, Glen. I did not mean To gall your pride, which now I see is great. Norv. My pride! Glen. If thus you swell, and frown at high-born men, Glen. [Right.] Why yes, if you presume To bend on soldiers those disdainful eyes Nerv. Hast thou no fears for thy presumptuous self? Norv. Didst thou not hear? Glen. Unwillingly I did; a nobler foe Had not been questioned thus; but such as thou- Glen. Norv. Norval. So I am ; And who is Norval in Glenalvon's eyes? Glen. A peasant's son, a wandering beggar boy; Norv. False as thou art, dost thou suspect my truth? I have no tongue to rail. The humble Norval Is of a race who strive not but with deeds. [Crosses R. Did I not fear to freeze thy shallow valor, And make thee sink too soon beneath my sword, I'd tell thee—what thou art. I know thee well. Glen. [L.] Dost thou not know Glenalvon born to command Ten thousand slaves like thee? Norv. Villain, no mōre! Draw, and defend thy life. I did design But heaven accelerates its vengeance on thee. [Both draw their swords. Enter LORD RANDOLPH, R. Lord Randolph. Hold! I command you both! the man that stirs Makes me his foe. Norv. Another voice than thine That threat had vainly sounded, noble Randolph. Glen. Hear him, my lord; he's wondrous condescending! Mark the humility of shepherd Norval! Norv. Now you may scoff in safety. [Both sheathe their swords. Lord R. [R.] Speak not thus, Taunting each other, but unfold to me The cause of quarrel; then I judge betwixt you. Norv. Nay, my good lord, though I revere you much, Lord R. Thus far I'll mediate with impartial voice: The ancient foe of Caledonia's land Now waves his banner o'er her frighted fields; Let not our variance mar the social hour, Nor wrong the hospitality of Randolph. Shall stain my countenance. Smooth thou thy brow; Norv. Think not so lightly, sir, of my resentment: When we contend again, our strife is mortal. [Exeunt GLEN., NORV. HOME. JOHN HOME, author of "Douglas" and various other tragedies, was born at Leith, Scotland, in 1722. He entered the Church, and succeeded Blair, author of "The Grave," as minister of Athelstaneford. After writing "Douglas," so violent a storm was raised by the fact that a Presbyterian minister had written a play, that he was obliged to resign his living. Lord Bute rewarded him with the sinecure office of conservator of Scots privileges at Campvere, and on the accession of George III., in 1760, he secured a pension for the poet of £300 per annum. With an income of some £600, and the friendship of David Hume, Blair, Robertson, and other distinguished men, Home's life was passed in happy tranquillity. He died in 1808, aged eighty-six. VI. 124. SCENE FROM CATILINE. [In the Senate.] NICERO. Our long dispute must close. Take one proof mōre CICER this rebellion.-Lucius Catiline' Has been commanded to attend the senate. He dares not come. I now demand your votes! Is he condemned to exile? [CATILINE comes in hastily, and flings himself on the bench; all the senators go over to the other side. Cicero. [turning to CATILINE]. Here I repeat the charge, to gods and men, Of treasons manifold ;-that, but this day, 1 Lucius Sergius Catiline, the descendant of an ancient and patrician family in Rome, whose youth and manhood were stained by every vice and crime. He was prætor in B. C. 68, was governor of Africa during the following year, and returned to Rome in 66, to sue for the consulship. Disqualified for a candidate, by an impeachment for oppression in his province, and frustrated in a conspiracy to kill the new consuls, he organized the extensive conspiracy in which the scene here given occurs. The history of this conspiracy, which ended by the death of Catiline, in a decisive battle fought early in 62, has been written by Sallust. He was a man of great mental and physical powers, without moral qualities. A meeting of conspirators was held Catiline. [rising calmly]. Conscript fathers! Cic. [interrupting him]. Deeds shall convince you! Has the traitor done? Cat. But this I will avow, that I have scorned, The gates of honor on me,-turning out The Roman from his birthright; and for what? [Looking round. To fling your offices to every slave e; Vipers that creep where man disdains to climb; And having wound their loathsome track to the top Of this huge moldering monument of Rome, Hang hissing at the nobler man below. Cic. This is his answer! Must I bring more proofs ? [A cry is heard without-" More prisoners!" An officer enters with letters for CICERO; who, after glancing at them, sends them round the Senate. CATILINE is strongly perturbed. Cic. Fathers of Rome! If man can be convinced By proof, as clear as daylight, here it is! 1 Plebeian, (ple bè ́yan), one of the common people or lower ranks of men;-usually applied to the common people of ancient Rome. |