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MR. PITT'S ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING.

SIR,

THE

HE atrocious crime of being a young man, which the honorable gentleman has, with such spirit and decency, charged upon me, I shall neither attempt to palliate or deny; but content myself with wishing, that I may be one of those whose follies may cease with their youth, and not of that number who are ignorant in spite of experience.

2. Whether youth can be imputed to any man as a reproach, I will not, Sir, assume the province of determining; but surely age may become justly contemptible, if the opportunities which it brings have passed away without improvement, and vice appears to prevail, when the passions have subsided.

3. The wretch, who after having seen the consequences of a thousand errors, continues still to blunder, and whose age has only added obstinacy to stupidity, is surely the object of either abhorrence or contempt, and deserves not that his grey head should secure him from insult.

4. Much more, Sir, is he to be abhorred, who, as he has advanced in age, has receded from virtue, and becomes more wicked with less temptation; who prostitutes himself for money which he cannot enjoy, and spends the remains of his life in the ruin of his country.

5. But youth, Sir, is not my only crime; I have been accused of acting a theatrical part. A theatrical part may either imply some peculiarity of gesture, or a dissimulation of my real sentiments, and an adoption of the opinions and language of another man.

6. In the first sense, Sir, the charge is too trifling to be confuted, and deserves only to be mentioned that it may be despised. I am at liberty, like every other man, to use my own language; and though I may perhaps have some ambition to please this gentleman, I shall not lay myself under any restraint, nor very solicitously copy his diction or his mien, however matured by age or modelled by experience.

7. If any man shall, by charging me with theatriacal be.. haviour, imply that I utter any sentiments but my own, I shall treat him as a calumniator and a villain; nar shall any protection shelter him from the treatment which he deserves.

8. I shall, on such an occasion, without scruple, trample upon all those forms with which wealth and dignity entrench themselves; nor shall any thing but age restrain my resentment. Age, which always brings one privilege, that of being insolent and supercilious without punishment.

9. But with regard, Sir, to those whom I have offended, I am of opinion, that if I had acted a borrowed part, I should have avoided their censure. The heat which offended them is the ardor of conviction, and that zeal for the service of my country, which neither hope nor fear shall influence me to suppress.

10 I will not sit unconcerned while my liberty is invaded, nor look in silence upon public robbery. I will exert my endravors, at whatever hazard, to repel the aggressor, and drag the thief to justice, whoever may protect them in their villany, and whoever may partake of their plunder.

STORY OF A SECOND JOSEPH.

T

HE following relation proves that incidents, somewhat similar to those in the times of Jacob, are still renewed in Egypt. In 1776, the plains of Syria were rav aged by clouds of locusts, which devoured the corn to the very root.

2. A famine followed, and a farmer near Damascus felt the effects of the general distress. To supply the wants of a numerous family, he sold his cattle; which resource being soon exhausted, the unhappy father, wretched at present, but foresceing greater wretchedness to come, pressed by hunger, sold his instruments of husbandry at Damascus.

3. Led by the invisible hand of Providence, as formerly Tobias was by the angel, while he bargained for corn, lately arrived from Damietta, he heard speak of the success of Mouran Bey, who had entered Grand Cairo victorious, and in triumph.

4. The

4. The shape, character, and origin of the warrior were described, and how he had risen from slavery to power supreme. The astonished farmer found the description accorded with a son, who had been stolen from him at twelve years old; hope palpitated in his heart, he hastened home with his provisions, told his family what he had heard, and determined immediately to depart for Egypt.

5. His weeping wife and sons offered up prayers for his safe return. Going to the port of Alexandretta, he embarked there, and came to Damietta. One continued fear tormented him; his son, forsaking the religion of his fathers, had embraced Mahometanism; and now, surrounded as he was by splendor, would he acknowledge his parents?

6. The thought lay heavy on his heart; yet, the wish to snatch his family from all the horrors of famine, the hope of finding a long lamented son, gave him fortitude. He continued his journey, came to the capital, repaired to the palace of Mourad, applied to the officers of the prince, and most ardently solicited admission.

7. His dress and appearance bespoke poverty and misfortune, and were poor recommendations; but his great age, so respectable in the East, pleaded in his behalf. One of the attendants went to the Bey, and told him an aged man, apparently miserable, requested an audience.

8. Let him enter, replied Mourad! and the farmer proceeded, with trembling steps, over the rich carpet which bespread the hall of the Divan, and approached the Bey, who reclined on a sofa, embroidered with silk and gold.Crowding sensations deprived him of the use of speech.

9. At last, after attentively looking, the voice of nature vanquishing fear, he fell, and embracing his knees, exclaimed, You are my son! The Bey raised him, endeavored to recollect, and, after explanation, finding him to be his father, made him sit down by his side, and caressed him most affectionately.

10. The first gush of nature over, the sire described in what a deplorable state he had left his mother and brethren; and the prince proposed to send for, and with them divide his riches and power, if they would embrace Islamism. 11. This the generous Christian had foreseen, and fearing youth might be dazzled, took not one of his sons

12

with

with him. He, therefore, firmly rejected Mourad's offer and even remonstrated with him on his own change of religion.

12. The Bey, finding his father determined, and that his family's distress demanded immedia e succour, sent him back to Syria, with a large sum of money, and a vessel loaded with corn. The happy husbandman immediately returned to the plains of Damascus, where his arrival banished misery and tears from his homely roof, and brought joy, ease and felicity.

SCENE BETWEEN CATO AND DECIUS.

Decius.

Cato.

CESAR

ESAR sends health to Cato

Could he send it

To Cato's slaughter'd friends, it would be welcome.
Are not your orders to address the senate?

Dec. My business is with Cato; Cæsar sees the
Straits to which you're driv'n, and, as he knows
Cato's high worth, is anxious for your life.

Cato. My life is grafted on the fate of Rome. Would he save Cato, bid him spare his country. Tell your dictator this, and tell him, Cato Disdains a life which he has power to offer.

Dec. Rome and her senato:s submit to Cæsar;
Her generals and her consuls are no more,

Who check'd his conquests, and deny'd his triumphs.
Why will not Cato be this Cæsar's friend?

Calo. Those very reasons thou hast urg'd forbid it.
Dcc. Cato, I have orders to expostulate,

And reason with you, as from friend to friend;
Think on the storm that gathers o'er your head,
And threatens ev'ry hour to burst upon it;
Still may you stand high in your country's honors;
Do but comply, and make your peace with Cæsar.
Rome will rejoice, and cast its eyes on Cato,
As on the second of mankind.

Cato. No more;

I must not think of life on these conditions.

Dec

Dec. Cæsar is well acquainted with your virtues, And therefore sets this value on your life.

Let him but know the price of Cato's friendship,

And name your terms.

Cato. Bid him disband his legions, Restore the commonwealth to liberty, Submit his actions to the public censure, And stand the judgment of a Roman senate. Bid him do this, and Cato is his friend.

Dec. Cato, the world talks loudly of your wisdom--
Cato, Nay, more, tho' Cato's voice was ne'er employ'd
To clear the guilty, and to varnish crimes,
Myself will mount the rostrum in his favor,
And strive to gain his pardon from the people.
Dec. A style like this becomes a conqueror.

Cato. Decius, a style like this becomes a Roman.
Dec. What is a Roman, who is Cæsar's foe?

Cato

Greater than Cæsar; he's a friend to virtue.

Dec. Consider, Cato, you're in Utica,

And at the head of your own little senate;
You don't now thunder in the capitol,

With all the mouths of Rome to second you.

Cato. Let him consider that who drives us hither;,
'Tis Cæsar's sword has made Rome's senate little,
And thinn'd its ranks. Alas! thy dazzled eye
Beholds this man in a false, glaring light,

Which conquest and success have thrown upon him.
Didst thou but view him right, thou'dst see him black
With murder, treason, sacrilege and crimes,
That strike my soul with horror but to name 'em.
I know thou look'st on me, as on a wretch
Beset with ills, and cover'd with misfortunes;
But, be it known to thee, millions of worlds
Should never buy me to be like that Cæsar.

Dec. Does Cato send this answer back to Cæsar,
For all his gen'rous cares and proffer'd friendship?
Cato. His cares for me are insolent and vain;
Presumptuous man! the gods take care of Cato.
Would Cæsar show the greatness of his soul,
Bid him employ his care for these my friends,
And make good use of his ill-gotten power,
By shelt'ring men much better than himself.

Dec.

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