Page:Representative American plays.pdf/107

90

Were now within their floating prisons hous'd,

And their proud prows all pointing to the east),

Shall other nations break their galling fetters,

And re-assume the dignity of man.

. Are other nations in that happy state,

That, having broke Coercion's iron yoke,

They can submit to Order's gentle voice,

And walk on earth self-ruled? I much do fear it.

As to ourselves, in truth, I nothing see,

In all the wondrous deeds which we perform,

But plain effects from causes full as plain.

Rises not man forever 'gainst oppression?

It is the law of life; he can't avoid it.

But when the love of property unites

With sense of injuries past and dread of future,

Is it then wonderful that he should brave

A lesser evil to avoid a greater?

. (Sportively.) 'T is hard, quite hard, we may not please ourselves,

By our great deeds ascribing to our virtue.

. M'Donald never spares to lash our pride.

. In truth I know of naught to make you proud.

I think there 's none within the camp that draws

With better will his sword than does M'Donald.

I have a home to guard. My son is—butcher'd—

. Hast thou no nobler motives for thy arms

Than love of property and thirst for vengeance?

. Yes, my good Seward, and yet nothing wondrous.

I love this country for the sake of man.

My parents, and I thank them, cross'd the seas,

And made me native of fair Nature's world,

With room to grow and thrive in. I have thriven;

And feel my mind unshackled, free, expanding,

Grasping with ken unbounded mighty thoughts,

At which, if chance my mother had, good dame,

In Scotia, our revered parent soil,

Given me to see the day, I should have shrunk

Affrighted. Now, I see in this new world

A resting spot for man, if he can stand

Firm in his place, while Europe howls around him,

And all unsettled as the thoughts of vice,

Each nation in its turn threats him with feeble malice.

One trial, now, we prove; and I have met it.

. And met it like a man, my brave M'Donald.

. I hope so; and I hope my every act

Has been the offspring of deliberate judgment;

Yet feeling seconds reason's cool resolves.

O! I could hate, if I did not more pity

These bands of mercenary Europeans,

So wanting in the common sense of nature,

As, without shame, to sell themselves for pelf

To aid the cause of darkness; murder man—

Without inquiry murder, and yet call

Their trade the trade of honor—high-soul'd honor—

Yet honor shall accord in act with falsehood.

O! that proud man should e'er descend to play

The tempter's part, and lure men to their ruin!

Deceit and honor badly pair together.

. You have much shew of reason; yet, methinks

What you suggest of one, whom fickle Fortune,

In her changeling mood, hath hurl'd, unpitying,

From her topmost height to lowest misery,

Tastes not of charity. André, I mean.

. I mean him, too; sunk by misdeed, not fortune.

Fortune and chance, O, most convenient words!

Man runs the wild career of blind ambition,

Plunges in vice, takes falsehood for his buoy,

And when he feels the waves of ruin o'er him,

Curses, "in good set terms," poor Lady Fortune.