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Might from their airy beds the angels draw

To taste the joys of this our mortal earth.

Throughout the camp now all is hush'd in silence,

And Morpheus, with his leaden wings outspread,

Hath on each eyelid laid the weight of slumber.

[Exit Uter.

AURELIUS.

Then, as the general, the task is mine

To thank that mighty God whose name alone

Doth carry awe, and strikes the soul with fear.

Here prostate then I fall before thy face,

And, tho' unworthy of thy mercy, pray;--

If giant form doth more enlarge the mind,

Would that my front did with the mountains vie;

That so my heat amazed brain might work

Thoughts suiting more this vast immensity!

O most expanded, O most fertile mind!

When thou would'st copulate with thoughts like this,

Thou art mere nothingness; or when the lips

Do pour forth boisterous and high sounding words,

They back again to the poor mortal brain,

And scoff at thy presumption.

"O God! why shou'd I, a mere speck on earth,

"Tear thousands from their wives, children, and homes!

"O! wherefore from this transitory sleep,

"That now doth steal from their inward cares,

"Should I send thousands to cold dreary death?

"'Tis true, I am a King, and what of that?

"Is not life dear to them, as 'tis to me?

"O! peasant, envy not the prince's lot;

"Thy page in life's great book is not foul charg'd,

"And like to ours besmear'd with dying breaths.

"O! had I lives myself enough to answer

"The ravenous and greedy jaws of death,

"That will on these my friends, my soldiers,

"Such havoc make, and wanton gluttony!

"Father of mercy, great God, spare this blood!

"And if I must alone receive the crown,

"Bedeck'd with purple gore, I here resign it."

[Exit.

SCENE III.

Gates of London.

Enter CATAGRINUS, HENGIST and HORSUS,

with Saxon Troops, in grand Procession.

CATAGRINUS.

Here let us halt, and let the trumpet sound.

[Trumpet sounds, Officer appears on the walls.

OFFICER.

Say, be ye friends of foes?

CATAGRINUS.

My father sent us hence to Saxony;

Go, say our embassy is now fulfill'd;

[Trumpet sounds.

Yet soft, that sound proclaims his quick approach.

HENGIST.

Throughout the ranks let each man be prepar'd,

To hail our new ally, King Vortigern.

SCENE IV.

Gates open.

VORTIGERN appears in Robes of Majesty,

followed by the Barons and British Troops.

CATAGRINUS kneels to VORTIGERN.

VORTIGERN.

Rise, my dear son! thou'rt welcome here again.

And you brave Saxons, greet we to our land.

HENGIST.

We come, great sir, to fight in thy defence,

And from thy kingdom wipe away rebellion.

VORTIGERN.

Give me thy hand, brave General, and with it,

Exchange we mutually a soldier's faith.

Here let our British troops in friendship join,

And with the Saxons share our present joy.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

The Country.

Enter FLAVIA, PASCENTIUS, and FOOL.

PASCENTIUS.

Why sister thus shou'd grief usurp thy cheek?

O mingle not so much of lily die

With thy sweet rosy blood, thou'rt cold as death,

Pine not in silence thus!

FLAVIA.

I'll sit me down and court sweet music's aid.

She sings.

She sang while from her eye ran down

The silvery drop of sorrow,

From grief she stole away the crown,

Sweet patience too did borrow.

Pensive she sat while fortune frown'd,

And smiling woo'd sad melancholy.

II.

Keen anguish fain wou'd turn her heart,

And sour her gentle mind;

But charity still kept her part,

And meekness to her soul did bind.

She bow'd content,

Heav'd forth one sigh,

Sang, wept, then turn'd to melancholy.

III.

Careless her locks around her hung,

And strove to catch each dewy tear,

The plaintive bird in pity sung,

And breath'd his sorrow in her ear.

Amaz'd she look'd,

And thank'd his care,

Then sunk once more to melancholy.

PASCENTIUS.

O! why sing thus? thou dost join woe to woe,

Thy grief methinks demands more cheering notes.

FLAVIA.

Oh! brother, this strange frame that keeps in life,

Is almost sick and weary of its tenant.

Tho' short hath been its course, yet fickle fortune

Hath with it