Jul. Imprudent have they been, their youth shall plead.

Abd. O father, could they not have been detained?

Muza. Son, thou art safe and wert not while they lived.

Abd. I feared them not.

p. 116Muza. And therefor wert not safe: Under their star the blooming Egilona Would watch for thee the nuptial lamp in vain.

p. 116

Jul. Never, oh never, hast thou worked a wile So barren of all good! speak out at once, What hopest thou by striking this alarm? It shocks my reason, not my fears or fondness.

Muza. Be happy then as ignorance can be; Soon wilt thou hear it shouted from our ranks. Those who once hurled defiance o’er our heads, Scorning our arms, and scoffing at our faith, The nightly wolf hath visited, unscared, And loathed ’em as her prey; for famine first, Atchieving in few days the boast of years, Sunk their young eyes and opened us the gates: Ceuta, her port, her citadel, is ours.

Jul. Blest boys! inhuman as thou art, what guilt Was theirs?

Muza. Their father’s.

Jul. O support me, Heaven! Against this blow! all others I have borne. p. 117Ermenegild! thou mightest, sure, have lived! A father’s name awoke no dread of thee! Only thy mother’s early bloom was thine! There dwelt on Julian’s brow—thine was serene— The brightened clouds of elevated souls, Feared by the most below: those who looked up Saw, at their season, in clear signs, advance Rapturous valour, calm solicitude, All that impatient youth would press from age, Or sparing age sigh and detract from youth: Hence was his fall! my hope! myself! my Julian! Alas! I boasted—but I thought on him, Inheritor of all—all what? my wrongs— Follower of me—and whither? to the grave— Ah no: it should have been so! years far hence! Him at this moment I could pity most, But I most prided in him; now I know I loved a name, I doated on a shade. Sons! I approach the mansions of the just, And my arms clasp you in the same embrace, p. 118Where none shall sever you; and do I weep! And do they triumph o’er my tenderness! I had forgotten mine inveterate foes Everywhere nigh me, I had half forgotten Your very murderers, while I thought on you: For, O my children, ye fill all the space My soul would wander o’er—O bounteous heaven! 

 Prev. P 52/57 next