I will insure the White-Hoods, and the rest Thy father bore, when Flanders, prosperous then, Art. They may remember it; and, Van den Bosch, To which this People brought my noble father? From which their common weal had sprung and flourished. The blood of his they spilt is seen no more. How long he fought; how falsely came like friends Who slew my father; yea, who slew their own (For like one had he ruled the parricides), Even such a multitude thou 'dst have me govern. Van den B. Why, what if Jacques Artevelde was killed? He had his reign, and that for many a year, And a great glory did he gain thereby. And as for Guisebert Grutt and Simon Bette, If you be as stout-hearted as your father, And mindful of the villanous trick they played him, Of that, and of this base, false-hearted league They 're making with the earl, these two to us Art. They cannot render back The golden bowl that 's broken at the fountain, Their worthless lives, for his of countless price, And it were well to wring the payment from them Van den B. Then will I call the People to the square, And speak for your election. Art. Not so fast. Your vessel, Van den Bosch, hath felt the storm : And you would make a jury-mast of me, Whereon to spread the tatters of your canvas. Wherefore should this be added to the wreck ? Van den B. I pray you, speak it in the Burgher's tongue; I lack the scholarship to talk in tropes. Art. The question, to be plain, is briefly this: Shall I, who, chary of tranquillity, Not busy in this factious city's broils, Nor frequent in the market-place, eschewed The even battle, shall I join the rout? Van den B. Times are sore changed, I see; there's none in Ghent That answers to the name of Artevelde. Thy father did not carp nor question thus, When Ghent invoked his aid. The days have been When not a citizen drew breath in Ghent But freely would have died in Freedom's cause. Art. The cause, I grant thee, Van den Bosch, is good; And, were I linked to earth no otherwise But that my whole heart centred in myself, I could have tossed you this poor life to play with, Taking no second thought. But as things are, I will revolve the matter warily, And send thee word betimes of my conclusion. Van den B. Betimes it must be, for the White-Hood chiefs Meet two hours hence; and ere we separate Our course must be determined. Art. In two hours, If I be for you, I will send this ring In token I have so resolved. Farewell! Van den B. Philip Van Artevelde, a greater man Than ever Ghent beheld, we 'll make of thee, If thou be bold enough to try this venture. God give thee heart to do so! Fare thee well! [Exit Van den Bosch.] Art. [after a long pause]. Is it vain glory that thus whispers me, That 't is ignoble to have led my life In idle meditations? that the times Demand me, that they call my father's name? 42. THE WEATHERCOCK.-J. T. Allingham. Old Fickle. What reputation, what honor, what profit, can accrue to you from such conduct as yours? One moment you tell me you are going to become the greatest musician in the world, and straight you fill my house with fiddlers. Tristram Fickle. I am clear out of that scrape now, Sir. Old F. Then, from a fiddler, you are metamorphosed into a philosopher; and, for the noise of drums, trumpets and hautboys, you substitute a vile jargon, more unintelligible than was ever heard at the tower of Babel. Tri. You are right, Sir. I have found out that philosophy is folly; so I have cut the philosophers of all sects, from Plato and Aristotle down to the puzzlers of modern date. Old F. How much had I to pay the cooper, the other day, for barrelling you up in a large tub, when you resolved to live like Diogenes? Tri. You should not have paid him anything, Sir; for the tub I would not hold. You see the contents are run out. Old F. No jesting, Sir! this is no laughing matter. Your follies have tired me out. I verily believe you have taken the whole round of arts and sciences in a month, and have been of fifty different minds in half an hour. Tri. And, by that, shown the versatility of my genius. Old F. Don't tell me of versatility, Sir! Let me see a little steadiness. You have never yet been constant to anything but extravagance. Tri. Yes, Sir,- one thing more. Old F. What is that, Sir? Tri. Affection for you. However my head may have wandered, my heart has always been constantly attached to the kindest of parents; and, from this moment, I am resolved to lay my follies aside, and pursue that line of conduct which will be most pleasing to the best of fathers and of friends. Old F. Well said, my boy, well said! You make me happy, indeed! [Patting him on the shoulder.] Now, then, my dear Tristram, let me know what you really mean to do. Tri. I am most resolutely bent on following that profession. Tri. Absolutely and irrevocably fixed. Old F. Better and better! I am overjoyed. Why, 't is the very thing I wished. Now I am happy! [Tristram makes gestures as if speaking.] See how his mind is engaged! Tri. Gentlemen of the Jury Old F. Why, Tristram ! Tri. This is a cause Old F. O, my dear boy! I forgive you all your tricks. I see something about you now that I can depend on. [Tristram continues making gestures.] Tri. I am for the plaintiff in this cause Old F. Bravo! bravo! Excellent boy! I'll go and order your books, directly! Tri. T is done, Sir. Old F. What, already! Tri. I ordered twelve square feet of books, when I first thought of embracing the arduous profession of the law. Old F. What, do you mean to read by the foot? Tri. By the foot, Sir; that is the only way to become a solid lawyer. Old F. Twelve square feet of learning! Tri. I have likewise sent for a barber Well Old F. A barber! What, is he to teach you to shave close? Old F. You will excuse me if I cannot perfectly understand what that has to do with the study of the law. Tri. Did you never hear of Demosthenes, Sir, the Athenian orator? He had half his head shaved, and locked himself up in a coalcellar. Old F. Ah, he was perfectly right to lock himself up, after having undergone such an operation as that. He certainly would have made rather an odd figure abroad. Tri. I think I see him now, awaking the dormant patriotism of his countrymen, lightning in his eye, and thunder in his voice; he pours forth a torrent of eloquence, resistless in its force; the throne of Philip trembles while he speaks; he denounces, and indignation fills the bosom of his hearers; he exposes the impending danger, and every one sees impending ruin; he threatens the tyrant, they grasp their swords; he calls for vengeance, - their thirsty weapons glitter in the air, and thousands reverberate the cry! One soul animates a nation, and that soul is the soul of the orator! Old F. O, what a figure he will make on the King's Bench! But, come, I will tell you now what my plan is, and then you will see how happily this determination of yours will further it. You have [Tristram makes extravagant gestures, as if speaking] often heard me speak of my friend Briefwit, the barrister Tri. Who is against me in this cause Tri. But, as I have justice on my side Old F. Zounds! he does n't hear a word I say! Why, Tristram! Tri. I beg your pardon, Sir; I was prosecuting my studies. Old F. Now, attend Tri. As my learned friend observes attention. Old F. Well, my friend the counsellor Go on, Sir; I am all Tri. Say learned friend, if you please, Sir. We gentlemen of the law always Old F. Well, well, my learned friend Old F. Will you listen, and be silent? Tri. I am as mute as a judge. Old F. My friend, I say, has a ward who is very handsome, and who has a very handsome fortune. She would make you a charming wife. Tri. This is an action Old F. Now, I have hitherto been afraid to introduce you to my friend, the barrister, because I thought your lightness and his gravity— Tri. Might be plaintiff and defendant. Old F. But now you are grown serious and steady, and have resolved to pursue his profession, I will shortly bring you together; you will obtain his good opinion, and all the rest follows, of course. Tri. A verdict in my favor. Old F. You marry and sit down, happy for life, Tri. In the King's Bench. - run Old F. Bravo! Ha, ha, ha! But now run to your study to your study, my dear Tristram, and I'll go and call upon the counsellor. Tri. I remove by habeas corpus. Old F. Pray have the goodness to make haste, then. [Hurrying him off.] [Exit.] Tri. Gentlemen of the Jury, this is a cause Old F. The inimitable boy! I am now the happiest father living. What genius he has! He'll be lord chancellor, one day or other, I dare be sworn. I am sure he has talents! O, how I long to see him at the bar! 43. SALADIN, MALEK ADHEL, ATTENDANT.-New Monthly Magazine. Attendant. A stranger craves admittance to your highness. Atten. That I know not. |