High as th

His hospitable board: they are aware

Of th' unpledg'd bowl, they love not aconite.

20

ACER. He's gone: and much I hope these walls And the mute air are privy to your passion. [alone Forgive your servant's fears, who sees the danger Which fierce resentment cannot fail to raise

Of long-for Oped his y Shew'd hir

str

The noble

25

To shrink

The mask

[ger,

A heart th E bright Display t

AGRIP. And dost thou talk to me, to me of dan

In haughty youth, and irritated power.

Of haughty youth and irritated power,

To her that gave it being, her that arm'd
This painted Jove, and taught his novice hand 30
To aim the forked bolt; while he stood trembling,
Scar'd at the sound, and dazzled with its brightness?
"Tis like, thou hast forgot, when yet a stranger
To adoration, to the grateful steam
Of flattery's incense, and obsequious vows
From voluntary realms, a puny boy,
Deck'd with no other lustre, than the blood
Of Agrippina's race, he liv'd unknown
To fame, or fortune; haply eyed at distance
Some edileship, ambitious of the power

Gain the

35

How va

To such

Suffices

To judge of weights and measures; scarcely dar'd
On expectation's strongest wing to soar

V. 38. So Elegy (Epitaph): “A youth, to fortune and to fame unknown.' V. 45.

'Ce jour, ce triste jour, frappe encor ma mémoire ; Où Néron fut lui-même ébloui de sa gloire."

Britannicus, act i. sc. 1.

Due sa

That read futurity, to know the fate
Impending o'er your son: their answer was,
If the son reign, the mother perishes.

With eqt

65

A tempes

To its ori

This mig

Has he b

Knows h

Perish (you cried) the mother! reign the son!
He reigns, the rest is heav'n's; who oft has bade,
Ev'n when its will seem'd wrote in lines of blood, 70
Th' unthought event disclose a whiter meaning.
Think too how oft in weak and sickly minds
The sweets of kindness lavishly indulg'd
Rankle to gall; and benefits too great
To be repaid, sit heavy on the soul,

75

To bow

As unrequited wrongs. The willing homage
Of prostrate Rome, the senate's joint applause,
The riches of the earth, the train of pleasures
That wait on youth, and arbitrary sway:
These were your gift, and with them you bestow'd 80
The very power he has to be ungrateful.

[tion

AGRIP. *Thus ever grave and undisturb'd reflec-
Pours its cool dictates in the madding ear

Of rage, and thinks to quench the fire it feels not.
Say'st thou I must be cautious, must be silent, 85
And tremble at the phantom I have raised?
Carry to him thy timid counsels. He

Perchance may heed 'em : tell him too, that one
Who had such liberal power to give, may still

* In Gray's MS. Agrippina's was one continued speech from this line to the end of the scene. Mr. Mason informs us, that he has altered it to the state in which it now stands. V. 91. Et c'est trop respecter l'ouvrage de mes mains." Britannicus, act iii. sc. 3.

V. 98. "And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies."

Hen. V. act ii. Chor. Rogers.

I might

Can rou

With st

Of blea

That in

Under

Mark'd

Of old

Surely

V.99 perata, sum ca

V.1

adversu

erat."

al power resume that gift, and raise
that shall shake her own creation
ginal atoms-tell me! say
ty emperor, this dreaded hero,

held the glittering front of war?

90

soft ear the trumpet's thrilling voice, 95 y of the battle? Have his limbs ler iron harness? Is he not

son of dalliance, nurs'd in ease ure's flow'ry lap ?-Rubellius lives, has his friends, though school'd by fear e supple knee, and court the times 101 s of fair obeisance; and a call, , might serve belike to wake pretensions han theirs, who boast the genuine blood perial house. [passion,

Did I not wish to check this dangerous mind my mistress that her nod eight hardy legions, wont to stem

porn nerves the tide, and face the rigour termania's snows. Four, not less brave, menia quell the Parthian force

warlike Corbulo, by you

111

their leader: these, by ties confirm'd, -ect and gratitude, are yours.

Masians too, and those of Egypt, 115

Senecæ Octav. 437. Nero enters, "Perage imqui Plauti mihi, Sullæque cæsi referat abscisi. e. Plauti Rubellii.

at Tacitus says: "Sed Corbuloni plus molis wiam militum, quam contra perfidiam hostium, nales, xiii. 35.

Minds of the antique cast, rough, stubborn souls,
That struggle with the yoke. How shall the spark
Unquenchable, that glows within their breasts,
Blaze into freedom, when the idle herd
(Slaves from the womb, created but to stare,
And bellow in the Circus) yet will start,
And shake 'em at the name of liberty,

130

Stung by a senseless word, a vain tradition,
As there were magic in it? Wrinkled beldams
Teach it their grandchildren, as somewhat rare 135
That anciently appear'd, but when, extends

V. 118.

"Et moi, qui sur le trône ai suivi mes ancêtres,
Moi, fille, femme, sœur, et mere de vos maitres."

Britannicus, act i. sc. 2.

V. 124. "The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife."
Othello, act iii. sc. 3.

the spirit-stirring form

Of Cæsar, raptur'd with the charms of rule." Dyer. Rome. V. 147. "The swarm that in thy noontide beam were born." Bard.

V. 148. Hi rectores imperatoriæ juventæ, et pari in

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The gilde Of thy f In gorge

To dress