For heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound! I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word, Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you, Hub. Go, stand within; let me alone with him. [Exeunt. Arth. Alas, I then have chid away my friend: Hub. Come, boy, prepare yourself. Arth. Is there no remedy? Hub. None, but to lose your eyes. Arth. O, heaven!-that there were but a mote in yours, A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair, Any annoyance in that precious sense! Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there, Hub. Is this your promise? go to, hold your tongue. Hub. I can heat it, boy. Arth. No, in good sooth, the fire is dead with grief, Being create for comfort, to be used In undeserved extremes: see else yourself; There is no malice in this burning coal; Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. That mercy which fierce fire and iron extend, Hub. Well, see to live: I will not touch thine eyes, For all the treasure that thine uncle owes : * Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy, With this same very iron to burn them out. Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised. Hub. Peace! no more. Adieu! Your uncle must not know but you are dead: Arth. O.heaven! I thank you, Hubert. Hub. Silence; no more. Go closely in with me, Much danger do I undergo for thee. SHAKSPEARE. * Owns. HORATIUS. LARS PORSENA of Clusium East and west and south and north Is on the march for Rome. The horsemen and the footmen From many a stately market-place; From many a fruitful plain; From many a lonely hamlet, Which, hid by beech and pine, Like an eagle's nest, hangs on the crest Of purple Apennine. Tall are the oaks whose acorns Fat are the stags that champ the boughs Is to the herdsman dear; But now no stroke of woodman Grazes the milk-white steer: The harvests of Arretium, This year, old men shall reap; This year, young boys in Umbro Shall plunge the struggling sheep; And in the vats of Luna, This year, the must shall foam Round the white fleet of laughing girls, Whose sires have march'd to Rome. To eastward and to westward Have spread the Tuscan bands; Nor house, nor fence, nor dovecote, In Crustumerium stands. Verbenna down to Ostia Hath wasted all the plain; Astur hath storm'd Janiculum, And the stout guards are slain. I wis, in all the Senate, But sore it ached, and fast it beat, In haste they girded up their gowns, They held a council standing, Short time was there, ye well may guess, "The bridge must straight go down; For, since Janiculum is lost, Nought else can save the town." Just then a scout came flying, All wild with haste and fear: On the low hills to westward And saw the swarthy storm of dust And nearer fast and nearer Doth the red whirlwind come; And louder still and still more loud, From underneath that rolling cloud, Is heard the trumpet's war-note proud, The trampling and the hum. And plainly and more plainly Now through the gloom appears, Far to left and far to right, F |