As I, until before me stand

This rebel chieftain and his band.

Soldier. Have then thy wish! (He whistles, and soldiers rush in on all sides.) How say'st thou now?

These are Clan Alpine's warriors true;

And, Saxon,- -I,- -am Roderick Dhu!

(King James starts back a little, then draws his sword, and places his back against the rock.)

James.

Come one, come all! this rock shall fly From its firm base as soon as I.

(Roderick waves his hand and the soldiers retire.) Roderick. Fear not,-nay, that I need not say ;But doubt not aught from mine array.

Thou art my guest,-I pledged my word

As far as Coilantogle Ford.

This murderous chief, this ruthless man,
This head of a rebellious clan,

Will lead thee safe through watch and ward,
Far past Clan Alpine's outmost guard;
Then, man to man, and steel to steel,

James.

A chieftain's vengeance thou shalt feel.
I ne'er delayed,
When foeman bade me draw my blade.
Nay, more, brave chief, I vowed thy death;
Yet sure thy fair and generous faith,
And my deep debt for life preserved,

A better meed have well deserved,

Can naught but blood our feud atone,
Are there no means?

Roderick.

No, stranger, none !

James. Nay,-first to James, at Stirling, go; When, if thou wilt be still his foe,—

Or if the king shall not agree

To grant thee grace and favor free,—

I plight mine honor, oath, and word,
That, to thy native holds restored,
With each advantage shalt thou stand,
That aids thee now to guard thy land.

Roderick. Thy rash presumption now shall rue
The homage named to Roderick Dhu.
He yields not, he, to man nor fate!
Thou add'st but fuel to my hate.
My clansmen's wrongs demand revenge,
Not yet prepared. By Heaven! I change
My thought, and hold thy valor light
As that of some vain carpet knight,
Who ill deserved my courteous care,
And whose best boast is but to wear

A braid of his fair lady's hair. (Pointing to a braid on James's breast.)

James. I thank thee, Roderick, for the word;

It nerves my heart, it steels my sword.

I had it from a frantic maid

By thee dishonored and betrayed ;-
And I have sworn the braid to stain
In the best blood that warms thy vein.
Now truce, farewell! and ruth, begone!
I heed not that my strength is worn;
Thy word's restored; and, if thou wilt,
We try this quarrel, hilt to hilt!

QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS.

Cassius. That you have wronged me, doth appear in this: You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella

For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters (praying on his side,
Because I knew the man), were slighted off.

Brutus. You wronged yourself to write in such a case.

Cas. At such a time as this, it is not meet
That every nice offense should bear its comment.
Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemned to have an itching palm
To sell and mart your offices for gold,
To undeservers.

Cas. I an itching pálm?

You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last!

Bru. The name of Cassius honors this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.

Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March remember,Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?

What villain touched his body, that did stab,
And not for justice?—What! shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world,
But for supporting robbers,-shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honors
For so much trash as may be grasped thus ?—
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman!

Cas. Brutus, bay not me!

I'll not endure it. You forget yourself,
To hedge me in: I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself,
To make conditions.

Bru. Go to! you are not, Cassius.

Cas. I am.

Bru. I say you are not!

Cas. Urge me no more: I shall forget myself.

Have mind upon your health; tempt me no further!

Bru. Away, slight man!

Cas. Is 't possible?

Bru. Hear me, for I will speak.

Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?

Cas. Must I endure all this?

Bru. All this? ay, more! Fret till your proud heart break. Go, show your slaves how choleric you are,

And make your bondmen tremble! Must I budge?
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humor?

You shall digest the venom of your spleen,

Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,

I'll use you for my mirth,—yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish!

Cas. Is it come to this?

Bru. You say you are a better soldier:

Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,

And it shall please me well. For mine own part,

I shall be glad to learn of noble men.

Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus ; I said, an elder soldier, not a better.

Did I say better?

Bru. If you did, I care not.

Cas.

When Cæsar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.

Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted him! Cas. I durst not?

Bru. No.

Cas. What? durst not tempt him?

Bru. For your life, you durst not!

Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love;

Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am armed so strong in honesty,
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By Heaven, I had rather coin my heart,

denied me;

And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hand of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection! I did send

To you for gold to pay my legions,

Which denied me. you

Was that done like Cassius?

Should I have answered Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,

Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,
Dash him to pieces!

Cas. I denied you not.

Bru. You did.

Cas. I did not:-he was but a fool

That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.

Bru. I do not, till you practice them on me.
Cas. You love me not.

Bru. I do not like your faults.

Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults.
Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear

As huge as high Olympus.

Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come!

Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,

For Cassius is aweary of the world:

Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother;