Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 8Sylvester, Charles Herbert
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Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 8
Sylvester, Charles Herbert
Children's literature; Literature -- Collections
_Anto._ Then, tell me,
Who's the next heir of Naples?
_Sebas._ Claribel.
_Anto._ She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells
Ten leagues beyond man's life;[406-57] she that from Naples
Can have no note,[406-58] unless the Sun were post,--[406-59]
The Man-i'-the-moon's too slow,--till new-born chins
Be rough and razorable. She 'twas for whom we
All were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again;[406-60]
And, by that destiny, to perform an act
Whereof what's past is prologue; what to come[406-61]
In yours and my discharge.
_Sebas._ What stuff is this! How say you?
'Tis true, my brother's daughter's Queen of Tunis;
So is she heir of Naples; 'twixt which regions
There is some space.
_Anto._ A space whose every cubit
Seems to cry out, _How shall thou, Claribel,
Measure us back[407-62] to Naples? Keep in Tunis,
And let Sebastian wake!_ Say, this were death
That now hath seized them; why, they were no worse
Than now they are. There be[407-63] that can rule Naples
As well as he that sleeps; lords that can prate
As amply and unnecessarily
As this Gonzalo: I myself could make
A chough[407-64] of as deep chat.[407-65] O, that you bore
The mind that I do! what a sleep were this
For your advancement! Do you understand me?
_Sebas._ Methinks I do.
_Anto._ And how does your content
Tender your own good fortune?[407-66]
_Sebas._ I remember
You did supplant your brother Prospero.
_Anto._ True:
And look how well my garments sit upon me;
Much feater[407-67] than before: my brother's servants
Were then my fellows; now they are my men.
_Sebas._ But, for your conscience--
_Anto._ Ay, sir; and where lies that? if 'twere a kibe,[408-68]
'Twould put me to my slipper: but I feel not
This deity in my bosom: twenty consciences,
That stand 'twixt me and Milan, candied[408-69] be they,
And melt, ere they molest! Here lies your brother,
No better than the earth he lies upon,
If he were that which now he's like; whom I,
With this obedient steel, three inches of it,
Can lay to bed for ever; whiles you, doing thus,
To the perpetual wink[408-70] for aye might put
This ancient morsel, this Sir Prudence, who
Should not upbraid our course. For all the rest,
They'll take suggestion[408-71] as a cat laps milk;
They'll tell the clock to any business that
We say befits the hour.[408-72]
_Sebas._ Thy case, dear friend,
Shall be my precedent; as thou gott'st Milan,
I'll come by Naples. Draw thy sword: one stroke
Shall free thee from the tribute which thou pay'st;
And I the King shall love thee.
_Anto._ Draw together;[408-73]
And when I rear my hand, do you the like,
To fall it on Gonzalo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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