The impulse of his nature may be read, Mal. 41. Go on, go on ; "T is but a little while to hear thee, Saladin, Sal. That were an end Too noble for a traitor; the bowstring is prove A more appropriate finish-thou shalt die! Mal. Ad. And death were welcome at another's mandate If that in all thy armies can be found Sal. Oh, doubt it not? They 're eager for the office. Perfidy, So black as thine, effaces from their minds All memory of thy former excellence. Mal. Ad. Defer not then their wishes. Saladin, If e'er this form was joyful to thy sight, This voice seemed grateful to thine ear, accede Sal. This very hour! (Aside.) For ho! the more I look upon that face, What ho! who waits there? (Enter Attendant.) Att. Did your highness call? My forces in the court! tell them they come Mal. Ad. New. Sala The word is given — I have nothing more Exit Attendant.) Without thy love, thy honor, thy esteem, Sal. Speak, then; but ask thyself if thou hast reason Mal. Ad. I have not! Yet will I ask for it. We part for ever; This is our last farewell; the king is satisfied; I ask one single pressure of thy hand, From that stern eye one solitary tear Oh, torturing recollection! one kind word From the loved tongue which once breathed naught but kindness Still silent? Brother! - friend — beloved companion Of all my youthful sports are they forgotten? Strike me with deafness, make me blind, Oh heaven! Smile at my agonies nor hear that voice Pronounce my doom, which would not say one word, Yet, yet thou wilt — Oh, turn thee Saladin ! Look on my face, thou canst not spurn me then : For the last time, and call him Sal. (Seizing his hand.) Brother! brother! A single pang in store. Proceed! I'm rady. Sal. Oh, art thou ready to forgive, my brother,- Mal. Ad. Oh stay thee, Saladin ! Cries loudly for the blood of Malek Adhel. Pleased by my fate to add one other leaf Sal. Thou shalt not. (Going.) (Enter Attendant.) Att. My lord, the troops assembled by your order Tumultuous throng the courts -the prince's death The mutes have fled the very guards rebel Can e'er be found a hand to do the office. Mal. Ad. Oh, faithful friends! (To Atten.) Thine shalt. Att. Mine? Never! The other first shall lop it from the body. Sal. They teach the emperor his duty well. Tell them he thanks them for it tell them, too, That ere their opposition reached our ears, Att. Oh joyful news! I haste to gladden many a gallant heart, Sal. These men, the meanest in society, I, who cannot in all my memory Call back one danger which thou hast not shared. (Exit.) "Brother!" Which thy resistless kindness hath not soothed, That 't was to thee I owed the very breath Mal. Ad. By these tears I can Oh, brother! from this very hour, a new, May this sword fence thee in the bloody field. My heart, my soul, my sword, are thine for ever. ANONYMOUS, HOW TO TELL BAD NEWS. MR. H. STEWARD. Mr. H. Ha! Steward, how are you, my old boy? How do things go on at home? Stew. Bad enough, your honor; the magpie's dead. Mr. H. Poor mag! so he's gone. How came he to die? Mr. H. Did he, faith? a greedy dog; why, what did he get he liked so well? Stew. Horse-flesh, sir; he died of eating horse-flesh. Mr. H. How came he to get so much horse-flesh ? Stew. All your father's horses, sir. Mr. H. What are they dead, too? Stew. Ay, sir; they died of over-work. Mr. H. And why were they over-worked, pray? Stew. To carry water, sir. Mr. H. To carry water! and what were they carrying water for? Stew. Sure sir, to put out the fire. M. H. Fire! what fire? Stew, Oh, sir, your father's house is burned down to the ground. Mr. H. My father's house burned down! and how came it set on fire ? Stew. I think, sir, it must have been the torches. Mr. H. Torches ! what torches ? Stew. At your mother's funeral. Stew. Ah, poor lady, she never looked up after it. Stew. The loss of your father. Mr. H. My father gone too? Stew. Yes, poor gentleman, he took to his bed as soon as he heard of it. Mr. H. Heard of what? Stew. The bad news, sir, and please your honor. Mr. H. What! more miseries! more bad news? Stew. Yes, sir, your bank has failed, and your credit is lost and you are not worth a shilling in the world. I made bold, sir, to come to wait on you about it, for I thought you would like to hear the news. ANONYMOUS INDIGESTION. DR. GREGORY PATIENT. (Scene. Dr. Gregory's study. Enter a plump Glasgow merchant.) Pa. Good morning, Dr. Gregory! I'm just come into Edinburgh about some law business, and I thought when I was here, at any rate, I might just as weel take your advice, sir, about my trouble. Dr. Pray, sir, sit down. And now, my good sir, what may your trouble be? Pa. Indeed, doctor, I'm not very sure; but I'm thinking it's a kind of weakness that makes me dizzy at times, and a kind of pinkling about my stomach;- I'm just na right. Dr. You are from the west country, I should suppose, sir? Pa. Yes, sir, from Glasgow. Dr. Ay; pray, sir, are you a glutton? Pa. God forbid, sir; I'm one of the plainest men living in all the west country. |