Britain ... - Blue-Lite

280 THE VARANGIAN. [Act I.
Commerce shall on it spread her wealthy sail,
And make fair England with her treasures blest :
Arts, learning, and the sciences shall wake
As from the tomb, and o'er thy kingdom shed
Glory that fadeth not.
The thunder of thy steps, when first thou trod'st
This isle's pale shores, made her tall mountains tremble,
And all her slumbering institutions shook
At once to fragments, as the earthquake, when
The dread volcano sets the heavens on fire,
Shakes cloud-encompassed cities, and their towers
Dismantles in the dust ! But henceforth rule
With gentleness and mercy, and ere long
This land shall be a paradise of beauty,
As groves luxuriant to the summer winds
Unfold their blossoms, and rich vine-bowers spread
Their golden wealth, where erst the mountain-flame
Outpoured
its red destruction.
KING.
Lanfranc, yes :
Let these stern islanders their King obey,
And then in his protection they shall find
A father's loving-kindness. But, my lord,
I
shrewdly do suspect them.
Enter Ivo.
JVO.
Mighty prince
What tidings bring'st thou, Ivo, from that nest
Of robbers and of rebels, who maintain
In Ely's fen-girt isle their daring treason ?