A scion worthy of the stock he grafts on;
No factious mouther of imagined wrongs,
To sting and goad the maddening multitude,
And set the monster loose for desolation.

ALASCO.

Is this to me?-has slander gone so far,
As dare to taint the honor of Alasco?

WALSINGHAM.

How suits it with the honor of Alasco,
To plot against his country's peace, and league
With low confederates, for a lawless purpose?
Manoeuvring miscreants in the forms of war,
And methodizing tumult?

ALASCO.

Have I done this?

'WALSINGHAM.

How must it soothe thy father's hovering shade,
To hear his name, so long to glory dear,
Profaned and sullied in sedition's mouth,
The countersign of turbulence and treason?

ALASCO.

"Shade of my father hear! am I so far Degenerate from thy virtues-fallen below "The standard of thy worth, that I should thus,

66

Reproached and rated stand, a mark for scorn! "Have I in ought, beyond our nature's frailty, "Disturbed thy hallowed spirit in its bliss,

"Or stained the name thou gav'st me, with dishonour ?” [To Walsingham. The proud repulse that suits a charge like this, Preferred by lips less reverenced, I forbear.

WALSINGHAM.

"It was my pride to think thee brave and loyal—
"A cast from honor's ancient mould—a man,
"Made up of all the attributes that mark

"A noble race-that prove a generous blood,
"And justify its privilege.

ALASCO.

"I must grieve,

"That sanguine expectation should so far
"Outrun my feeble virtue-but when tried
"By humbler estimate of worth-when weighed
"In the just balance of all human weakness,
"Where have I failed in aught that honor claims,
"Or candour should require ?"

WALSINGHAM.

Are you not stained

With foul disloyalty—a blot indelible?

Have you not practised on the senseless rabble,
Till disaffection breeds in every breast,

And spawns rebellion?

ALASCO.

No! by Heaven, not so!

With most unworthy patience have I borne

"My country's ruin-seen an ancient state
"Struck down by sceptres-trampled on by kings;
"And fraud and rapine registered in blood,
"As Europe's public law, e'en on th' authority
"Of thrones-this, have I seen-yes, like a slave,
“A coward, have I seen what well might burst
"The patriot's heart, and from its scabbard force
"The feeblest sword that ever slumbered at
"A courtier's side-yet have I never stirred"
My country-never roused her sons to vengeance,
But rather used the sway their love allowed me,
To calm the boiling tumult of their hearts,
Which else had chaf'd and foam'd to desperation.

* This is the passage, as originally composed for this place; and though the author believes that there is not an honest man in the British empire, who will venture to assert that it is an overstrained or unjust reprobation of the event to which it alludes, yet, so desirous was he of avoiding all unnecessary animadversion on the conduct of sovereigns, that he altered the passage to the following lines in the copy, for the stage.

By Heaven, 'tis false,

With most unworthy patience have I seen
My country shackled, and her sons oppress'd,
And tho' I've felt their injuries and avow
My ardent hope hereafter to avenge them,

I never stirred, &c.

The author little suspected, that even this would be found too strong for the delicate stomach of the new examiner, and that it would be dashed out from his production, accordingly, as containing doctrines too dangerous to be listened to in a free country !!!

HOHENDAHL.

The state is much beholden to Alasco;

And we, her humble instruments, must bow,
And to his interference owe our safety.

ALASCO.

Tyrants, proud Lord, are never safe, nor should be ;
The ground is mined beneath them as they tread;
Haunted by plots, cabals, conspiracies,

Their lives are long convulsions, and they shake,
Surrounded by their guards and garrisons.*

HOHENDAHL.

Your patriot care, Sir, would redress all wrongs
That spring from harsh restraints of law and justice.
Your virtue prompts you to make war on tyrants,
And like another Brutus free your country.

ALASCO.

Why, if there were some sland'rous tool of state-
Some taunting, dull, unmanner'd deputy-
Some district despott prompt to play the Tarquin,

In the new political morality of the Chamberlain's office, the expression of sentiments like these, is considered a capital offence. The sagacious depository of its powers, generously throws his shield over all tyrants, abstract or particular, ancient or modern, living or dead-and will not allow a whisper to their prejudice, or a supposition that they can be insecure.

† The reader will observe, that the word despot is no longer to be tolerated on the stage.

And make his power the pander to his lust,

By Heaven! I well could act the Roman part,
And strike the brutal tyrant to the earth,
Although he wore the mask of Hohendahl.

HOHENDAHL.

Ha! dar'st thou thus provoke me, insolent!

[Draws.

WALSINGHAM (advancing between them.) Rash boy, forbear! My Lord, you are too hasty.

ALASCO.

This roof is your protection from my arm.

WALSINGHAM.

Methinks, young man, a friend of mine might claim
More reverence at your hands.

ALASCO.

Thy friend! by Heaven!

That sacred title might command my worship;
But cover not with such a shield, his baseness ;-
His country's foe can be the friend of no man.

WALSINGHAM.

Alasco, this is wild and mutinous;

An outrage, marking deep and settled spleen
To just authority.

ALASCO.

Authority!

Show me authority in honor's garb,

And I will down upon the humblest knee