Page:The Lady's Book Vol. I.pdf/46

40 PATRICK HENRY.- FEMALE REVENGE.- LOVE SONG. ELOQUENCE OF PATRICK HENRY.

Hook was a Scotchman, a man of wealth, and suspected of being unfriendly to the American cause. During the distresses of the American army, consequent on the joint invasion of Cornwallis and Phillips, in 1781, a Mr. Venable, an army commissary, had taken two of Hook's steers for the use of the troops.--The act had not been strictly legal; and on the establishment of peace, Hook, on the advice of Mr. Cowan, a gentleman of some distinction in the law, thought proper to bring an action of trespass against Mr. Venable, in the District Court of New London. Mr. Henry appeared for the defendant, and is said to have deported himself in this cause to the infinite enjoyment of his hearers, the unfortunate Hook always excepted. After Mr. Henry became animated in the cause, says a correspondent, he appeared to have complete control over the passions of the audience. At one time he excited their indignation against Hook --vengeance was visible in every countenance. Again, when he chose to relax, and ridicule him, the whole audience was in a roar of laughter. He painted the distresses of the American army, exposed almost naked to the rigor of a winter's sky, and marking the frozen ground over which they trod, with the blood of their unshod feet. Where was the man, who had an American heart in his bosom, who would not have thrown open his fields, his barn, his cellars, the doors of his house, and the portals of his breast, to have received with open arms the meanest soldier in that little band of patriots? Where is the man? There he stands --but whatever of the heart of the American beats in his bosom, you, gentlemen, are to be the judge. He carried the Jury, by the power of his imagination, to the plains around York, the surrender of which had followed shortly after the act complained of. He depicted the surrender in the most glowing and noble colours. The audience saw before their eyes the humiliation and dejection of the British as they marched out of their trenches.

They saw the triumph which lighted up every patriots' face, and heard the shouts of victory, and the cry of ”Washington and Liberty,” as it rung and echoed through the American ranks, and was reverberated from the hills and shores of the neighboring river --“but hark! What notes of discord are these, which disturb the general joy, and silence the acclamations of victory? They are the notes of John Hook, hoarsely bawling through the American camp, beef! beef!”

The whole audience were convulsed. A particular incident will give a better idea of the effect than any general description. The clerk of the court, unable to command himself, and unwilling to commit any breach of decorum in his place, rushed out of the court house and threw himself upon the grass, in the most violent paroxysms of laughter, where he was rolling, when Hook, with very different feelings, came out for relief in the yard also. ”Jemmy Steptoe,” said he to the clerk,” what the devil ails ye, mon?” Mr. Steptoe could only say that he could not help it.”Never mind ye,” said Hook, ”wait till Billy Cowan gets up; he'll show him the la "!”--Mr. Cowan, however, was so completely overwhelmed by the torrent which bore upon his client, that, when he rose to reply to Mr. Henry, he was scarcely able to make an intelligible or audible remark. The cause was decided almost by acclamations. The jury retired for form's sake, and instantly returned with a verdict for the defendant. Nor did the effect of Mr. Henry's speech stop here. The people were so highly excited by the tory audacity of such a suit, that Hook began to hear around him a cry more terrible than that of beef --it was the cry of tar and feathers --from the application of which, it is said, nothing saved him but a precipitate flight and the speed of his horse.--American Common Place Book.

FEMALE REVENGE.

DURING the reign of Philip II. of Spain, a gentleman had the misfortune to kill his adversary in a nocturnal rencontre in the streets of Madrid. As he was leaning against the door he perceived to his astonishment, a brilliant light in the church. He had sufficient courage to advance towards the light, but was seized with inexpressible horror at the sight of a female figure, clothed in white, which ascended from one of the vaults, holding a bloody knife in her hand. ”What do you want here?” cried she, with a wild look and a harsh threatening tone, as she approached him. The poor man who, before she spoke, had taken her for an apparition, quivered in every limb and related his adventure without any reserve. ”You are in my power,” replied she,” but you have nothing to fear from me; I am a murderer like yourself. I belong to a family of distinction; a base and perjured man has ruined me, and boasted over my weakness and credulity. His life has paid the forfeit of his guilt. But this sacrifice was not sufficient for betrayed and insulted love: I bribed the sexton -I have been down into his vault I have rent his false heart out of his body and thus I serve the heart of a traitor.”With these words she tore it in pieces with both hands and then trampled it under her feet.

LOVE SONG.

BY SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Admire not that I gain'd the prize From all the village crew; How could I fail with hand or eyes, When heart and faith were true?

And when in floods of rosy wine My comrades drown'd their cares, I thought but that my heart was mine, My own leapt light as theirs.

My brief delay then do not blame; Nor deem your swain untrue; My form but linger'd at the game, My soul was still with you.