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_Melch_. My child! my child!
Speak to me! Stranger, hast thou killed her?
_Emma_. No!
No', father'. I'm the wife of William Tell; Oh, but to be a man!--to have an arm To fit a heart swelling with the sense of wrong!
Unnatural--insufferable wrong!
When makes the tyrant trial of his skill?
_Stran_. To-morrow.
_Emma_. Spirit of the lake and hill, Inspire thy daughter! On the head of him Who makes his pastime of a mother's pangs, Launch down thy vengeance by a mother's hand.
Know'st the signal when the hills shall rise'? (_To Melchtal._)
_Melch_. Are they to rise'?
_Emma_. I see thou knowest naught.
_Stran_. Something's on foot! 'Twas only yesterday, That, traveling from our canton, I espied Slow toiling up a steep, a mountaineer Of brawny limb, upon his back a load Of f.a.gots bound. Curious to see what end Was worthy of such labor, after him I took the cliff; and saw its lofty top Receive his load, which went but to augment A pile of many another.
_Emma_. 'Tis by fire! Fire is the signal for the hills to rise! (_Rushes out_.)
_Melch_. Went she not forth!
_Stran_. She did,--she's here again, And brings with her a lighted brand.
_Melch_. My child, What dost thou with a lighted brand?
(_Re-enter_ EMMA _with a brand_.)
_Emma_. Prepare To give the signal for the hills to rise!
_Melch_. Where are the f.a.gots, child, for such a blaze?
_Emma_. I'll find the f.a.gots, father. (_Exit_.)
_Melch_. She's gone Again!
_Stran_. She is,--I think into her chamber.
_Emma_. (_Rus.h.i.+ng in_.)--Father, the pile is fired!
_Melch_. What pile, my child!
_Emma_. The joists and rafters of our cottage, father!
_Melch_. Thou hast not fired thy cottage?--but thou hast; Alas, I hear the crackling of the flames!
_Emma_. Say'st thou, alas! when I do say, thank Heaven.
Father, this blaze will set the land a-blaze With fire that shall preserve, and not destroy it.
(_f_.) _Blaze on!_ BLAZE ON! Oh, may'st thou be a beacon To light its sons enslaved to liberty!
How fast it spreads! A spirit's in the fire: It knows the work it does.--(_Goes to the door, and opens it_.) The land is free!
Yonder's another blaze! Beyond that, shoots Another up!--Anon will every hill Redden with vengeance! Father, come! Whate'er Betides us, worse we're certain can't befall, And better may! Oh, be it liberty, Safe hearts and homes, husbands and children! Come,-- It spreads apace. (_ff_.) Blaze on--_blaze on_--BLAZE ON!
QUESTIONS.--1. What rule for the rising inflection on _father_? See Note I., page 32. 2. What rule for the falling inflection on _no_? See Rule I., page 28.
LESSON XCII.
HON' OR A BLE, n.o.ble; ill.u.s.trious.
IN' TEL LECT, mind; understanding.
SCORE, account; motive.
CLEV' ER, skillful; expert.
SO' CIAL, familiar.
CON FU' SION, fuss; tumult.
CON DE SCEN' SION, loveliness; deference.
COM PRE HEN' SION, understanding.
[Headnote 1: CROE SUS, a very wealthy king of ancient Lydia, in Asia Minor, was born about 591 before Christ.]
THE RICH MAN AND THE POOR MAN.
KHEMNITZER.
1. So goes the world';--if wealthy, you may call _This_--friend, _that_--brother';--friends and brothers all Though you are worthless, witless,--never mind it; You may have been a stable-boy,--what then?
'Tis _wealth_, my friends, makes _honorable_ men.
You seek respect, no doubt, and you will find it.
2. But, if you are poor', heaven help you'! though your sire Had royal blood in him', and though you Possess the intellect of angels too.
'Tis all in vain';--the world will ne'er inquire On such a score':--why should it take the pains?
'Tis easier to weigh purses', sure, than brains'.
3. I once saw a poor fellow, keen and clever.
Witty and wise'; he paid a man a visit, And no one noticed him', and no one ever Gave him a welcome'. "Strange'," cried I', "whence is it'?"
He walked on this side', then on that', He tried to introduce a social chat'; Now here', now there', in vain he tried'; Some formally and freezingly replied, And some said by their silence,--"Better stay at home."
4. A rich man burst the door, As Croesus [Headnote 1] rich;--I'm sure He could not pride himself upon his wit'; And, as for wisdom, he had none of it'; He had what's better',--he had wealth.
What a confusion!--all stand up erect,-- These crowd around to ask him of his health; These bow in _honest_ duty and respect; And these arrange a sofa or a chair, And these conduct him there.
"Allow me, sir, the honor';"--Then a bow Down to the earth'.--_Is't_ possible to show Meet grat.i.tude for such kind condescension'!
5. The poor man hung his head, And to himself he said, "This is indeed beyond my comprehension:"
Then looking round, one friendly face he found, And said,--"Pray tell me why is wealth preferred "To wisdom?"--"That's a silly question, friend!"
Replied the other,--"have you never heard.
A man may lend his store Of gold or silver ore, But wisdom none can borrow, none can lend?"
QUESTIONS.--1. How do you account for the different inflections in the last line of the second verse? See page 31, Note I. 2. What rule for the falling inflection on _condescension_? See page 29, Note I.
