Britain ... - Blue-Lite

350 THE VARANGIAN. [Act III.
When Persecution's flood and storm without
and safe, despite of surge
Threat ragingly ;
And howling whirlwind, hath that mystic Ark
Rode bravely out the tempest, and shall still
Bear all its inmates on, 'till Time's deep tide,
Dried up and passed away, hath left it fixt
On bright Eternity's Elysian shores.
Dark have my deeds been ;
BEN-ZADOC.
but these evil times
HEREWARD.
Thou takest a base advantage of the times :
There is no time in which a brother-craft
Will, if he be a worthy member, do
An evil act. But thou hast done such deeds
Of violence, that thy name is aye accursed.
Thy dark renown, like an eclipse, o'erspreads
The frighted land, and swiftly comes the hour
Of dreadful retribution. Here, behold !
I on this bosom the bright symbols wear
Of my great office in our sacred Order,
To which thou dost unworthily belong.
Repent, there may be yet forgiveness : but
To win it, thou must contrite deeds perform,
Or be an outcast from our guarded pale.
[Shouts and clashing of swords without.
TABITHA.
They come ! they come ! Woe, woe upon thy head ;
The evil omens are fulfilling now !
Tobias, with Slaves of both seooes^ rush in.
TOBIAS.
My lord and master, we are all undone !
I warned you of the danger ; still you turned