Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene II.] THE VARANGIAN. 303
A Grecian maid ! whose native land resounds
Throughout the world for science, arts, and arms,
Conquest and freedom, on whose laurelled brows
The glory of a thousand ages shine,
Won by the deeds of her immortal sons !
And shall the daughter of a land so famed
Be made a foul reproach by losel grooms ?
Insult my spotless honour once again,
And thou shalt find that in this bosom burns
The heroic fire of that illustrious race,
The pride of ancient Greece, from which I sprang ;
And ere in me thou shalt disgrace my country,
This poniard will I bury in thy heart ! [Exit.
ALMARIC.
The Saints defend us ! what a walking engine,
Charged with Greek Jire, goes
there !
A precious pair of slaves are these which I
Did purchase in the mart ! A bitter loss !
Let me bethink. The villain cost
ay, what ?
The value of three falcons, for he rated
His bones and muscles at a swinging price.
Pshaw for the price ! revenge
is dearer far.
Yes, one I'll to that
lofty
station raise
His merits claim ; the other sink so low
By toil and sufferance, that her fire shall fail
To yield the glimmering of a glow-worm's tail.
[Exit.
SCENE II. The Chamber of the Countess of North-
umberland. A Sideboard of four degrees, ascending
one above the other, and crowned with a tester of
cloth and gold ; each degree being Jilled with valu-
able ornaments and dishes, cups and vases of silver
and gold.