Page:A Series of Plays on the Passions Volume 1.pdf/125

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And greet the soldiers with a comrade's face; But when Count Basil in such moving speech Told o'er his actions past, and bad his troops Great deeds to emulate, his count'nance chang'd: High-heav'd his manly breast, as it had been By inward strong emotion half convuls'd; Trembled his neither lip; he shed some tears. The gen'ral paus'd, the soldiers shouted loud; Then hastily he brush'd the drops away, And wav'd his hand, and clear'd his tear-chok'd voice, As tho' he would some grateful answer make; When back with double force the whelming tide Of passion came; high o'er his hoary head His arm he toss'd, and heedless of respect, In Basil's bosom hid his aged face, Sobbing aloud. From the admiring ranks A cry arose; still louder shouts resound. I felt a sudden tightness grasp my throat As it would strangle me; such as I felt, I knew it well, some twenty years ago, When my good father shed his blessing on me. I hate to weep, and so I came away.

''Ros. (giving Volt. his hand.)'' And there, take thou my blessing for the tale. Hark! how they shout again! 'tis nearer now. This way they march.

''Martial Musick heard. Enter Soldiers marching in order, hearing  in triumph on their shoulders. After them enter  the whole preceded by a band of musick. They cross over the Stage, are joined by  &c. and ''