51 46 48 58 against our own bosoms." What benefits 45 have we gained, to compensate all these losses, or what do we expect? When Matilda was mistress 47 of the kingdom, though her power was not yet confirmed, in what manner did she govern ? 49 Did she not make even those of her own faction50 and court 5 regret 52 the king? Was not her pride more intolerable" still than his levity, her rapine 55 than his profuseness? 56 Were any years of his reign so grievous 57 to the people, so offensive to the nobles, as the first days of hers? When she was driven out, did Stephen correct his former bad conduct? 60 Did he dismiss61 his odious 62 foreign favourite? 63 Did he discharge his lawless 65 foreign hirelings, who had been so long the scourge 67 and the reproach68 of England? Have they not lived ever since upon free quarter," by plundering our houses and burning our cities? And now, to complete 70 our miseries, a new army of foreigners, Angevins, Gascons, Poictevins, I know not who, are come over with Henry Plantagenet, the son of Matilda; and many more, no doubt, will be called to assist him, as soon as ever his affairs abroad" will permit; by whose help, if he be victorious," England must pay the price of their services: our lands, our honours, must be the hire 73 of these rapacious" invaders." But suppose 76 we should have the fortune to conquer" for Stephen, what will be the consequence? 78 Will victory teach him moderation? 79 Will he learn from security that regard 1 for our liberties which he could not learn from danger? Alas! 82 the only fruit of our good success will be this: the estates 8 of the Earl of Leicester, and others of our countrymen who have now quitted the party of the king, will be forfeited; and new confiscations85 will accrue to William of Ipres. 86 81 But let us not hope that, be our victory ever so complete, it will give any lasting 7 peace to this kingdom. Should Henry fall in this battle, there are two other brothers to 53 57 58 49 47 Herrin; 48 bestätigen; regieren; unerträglich; 54 der Leichtsinn; 55 die drückend; der Avelige; 59 verbessern; 63 der Liebling; 64 den Abschied geben, 67 die Geißel; 68 die Schante; 69 bas 72 fiegreich; 73 der Lohn; 44 die Brust; 45 der Vortheil; 74 65 75 66 76 77 78 die Folge; 83 bas raubgierig ; der gewaltsam Eindringende ; voraussehen; siegen; 79 die Mäßigung; 80 die Sicherheit; 81 die Rücksicht, das Ansehen; 62 o weh; 86 85 die Einziehung; 84 einbüßen; hinzukommen, erfolgen; dauernd, anhaltend; Gut; 87 98 99 as he. 94 103 Is there succeed" to his claim," and support his faction," perhaps with less merit," but certainly with as much ambition 02 What shall we do then, to free ourselves from all these misfortunes? Let us prefer 93 the interest of our country to that of our party, and to all those passions, which are apt, in civil dissensions,95 to inflame zeal into madness,97 and render 8 men the blind instruments of those very 100 evils which they fight to avoid. 101 Let us prevent 102 all the crimes," and all the horrors, 104 that attend 105 a war of this kind, in which conquest 106 itself is full of calamity, 107 and our most happy victories deserve to be celebrated 108 only by tears. Nature herself is dismayed, and shrinks back 110 from a combat where every blow that we strike may murder a friend, a relation, a parent. Let us hearken to her voice, which commands us to refrain from that guilt. one of us here, who would not think it a happy and glorious112 act to save the life of one of his countrymen ? What a felicity 113 then, and what a glory," must it be to us all, if we save the lives of thousands of Englishmen, that must otherwise fall in this battle, and in many other battles, which hereafter may be fought on this quarrel! It is in our power to do so- -it is in our power to end the controversy,115 both safely 116 and honourably; " by an amicable agreement, 117 118 not by the sword. Stephen may enjoy the royal dignity for his life, and the succession may be secured to the young duke 12 of Normandy, 12 with such a present 123 rank in the state as befits 124 the heir of the crown. Even the bitterest enemies of the king must acknowledge 125 that he is valiant, 126 generous, 128 his warmest and good-natured; friends cannot deny 129 that he has a great deal of rashness 130 and indiscretion.131 Both may therefore conclude that he should not be deprived of the royal authority, but that he ought to be restrained 132 from a further abuse 133 of it; which 113 88 erheben; 98 93 vorziehen; 99 94 127 Herrschsucht; 108 109 105 100 120 119 92 89 der Anspruch; 90 die Partei; 91 das Verdienst; der Ehrgeiz, die 95 die Uneinigkeit ; geneigt; der Eifer; 97 die Wuth; verhüten; wirklich; verhindern; das 107 106 die Eroberung; begleiten, folgen; das große Unglück; feiern ; bestürzt, muthlos ; zurückschaudern; enthalten; 112 herrlich, glorreich, glorwürdig; 113 die Glückseligkeit; der Ruhm; 115 bie Feindseligkeit; sicher; 117 ehrenvoll, rühmlich; 118 die Uebereinstimmung; ter 119 die Würte; Vertrag; 120 die Nachfolge; 121 der Herzog; 122 die Normandie; 123 gegenwärtig; 124 sich schicken, sich geziemen; 125 anerkennen, bezeugen ; 126 130 die Unbesonnenheit, Uebereilung; 131 die Unbedachtsamkeit; 132 einschränken, abhalten; 133 der Mißbrauch; 127 116 großmüthig; 128 gutmüthig; 129 leugnen; tapfer; 134 155 157 137 by the 144 151 can be done by no means so certain and effectual 135 as what I propose : 136 for thus his power will be tempered presence, 138 the counsels, and influence 13 of prince Henry; who, for his own interest in the weal 140 of the kingdom which he is to inherit, will always have a right to interpose 141 his advice, and even his authority, if it be necessary, against 142 violation 143 of our liberties; future any and to procure an effectual redress 145 of our grievances, 146 which we have hitherto 147 sought in vain. If all the English in both armies unite, as I hope they may, in this plan of pacification,148 they will be able to give the law to the foreigners, and oblige both the king and the duke to consent 149 to it. This will secure the public 150 tranquillity, and leave no secret stings of resentment 152 to rankle 153 in the hearts of a suffering party, and produce future disturbances. As there will be no triumph, no insolence, 154 no exclusive right to favour on either side, there can be no shame,156 no anger, no uneasy desire of change.' 158 It will be the work of the whole nation; and all must wish to support what all have established.' The sons of Stephen indeed may endeavour to oppose it; but their efforts 160 will be fruitless, and must end very soon either in their submission or their ruin.162 Nor have they any reasonable 163 cause to complain. Their father himself did not come to the crown by hereditary 16 right. He was elected 165 in preference 166 to a woman and an infant, who were deemed not to be capable 167 of ruling a kingdom. By that election our allegiance 168 is bound to him during his life but neither that bond, nor the reason for which we chose him, will hold as to the choice of a successor. Henry Plantagenet is now grown up to an age of maturity, 170 and every way qualified 172 to succeed 173 to the crown. He is the grandson of a king whose memory 174 is dear to us, and the nearest heir male to him in the course of descent: 175 he kräftig, wirksam; vorschlagen; besänftigen, beherrschen; 134 das Mittel; 135 stiftung; 171 169 142 161 136 137 159 144 verschaffen; 148 die Friedens 152 der Zorn, die 147 bis jest; 155 ausschließ 138 die Gegenwart; 139 der Einfluß; 140 das Glück, das allgemeine Beste; 141 darbieten, sich dazwischen stellen; künftig; 143 die Schändung; 145 die Hülfe, Verbesserung; 146 die Beschwerde; 149 die Einwilligung geben; 150 öffentlich; 153 sich entzünden; 154 156 die Schande; 157 der Aerger, Zorn; 158 die Veränderung, der Wechsel; 160 gründen; die Bemühung; 161 die Ergebung, Nachgiebigkeit, Unterwerfung; 162 der Untergang ; 163 vernünftig; 164 erblich; 165 wählen; 166 vorziehen; 167 fähig sein; Rache; lich; 159 jeder Hinsicht; 168 die Lehnspflicht, Treue; 169 gültig sein; 170 die Volljährigkeit; 171 in fähig; 173 gelangen; 174 das Andenken; 175 die Abstammung ; 172 183 182 appears to resemble him in all his good qualities, and to be worthy to reign over the Normans and English, whose noblest blood united enriches 176 his veins. 177 Normandy has already submitted 178 to him with pleasure. Why should we now divide 179 that duchy from England, when it is so greatly the interest of our nobility to keep them always connected? If we had no other inducement 180 to make us desire a reconciliation 181 between him and Stephen, this would be sufficient. Our estates in both countries will by these means be secured, which otherwise we must forfeit, 184 in the one or the other, while Henry remains possessed of Normandy: and it will not be an easy matter 185 to drive him thence, even though we should compel him to retire from England. But, by amicably compounding 186 his quarrel with Stephen, we shall maintain 187 all our interests, private and public. His greatness 188 abroad will increase 189 the power of this kingdom; it will make us respectable 190 and formidable 191 to France; England will be the head of all those ample dominions 193 which extend 194 from the British ocean to the Pyrenean mountains. By governing, in his youth, so many different states, he will learn to govern us; and come to the crown, after the decease 195 of king Stephen, accomplished 196 in all the hearts of good policy. 197 His mother has willingly resigned to him her pretensions, or rather she acknowledges that his are superior; we therefore can have nothing to apprehend on that side. In every view, 200 our peace, our safety, the repose of our consciences, the quiet and happiness of our posterity, will be firmly established by the means I propose. Let Stephen continue to wear the crown that we gave him as long as he lives; but after his death let it descend 20 201 to that prince who alone can put an end to our unhappy divisions.20 If you approve my advice, and will empower me to treat 205 in your names, I will immediately convey your desires to the king and the duke. 206 204 199 202 198 vergrößern; 190 203 191 LORD LYTTELTON. 192 192 176 bereichern, veredeln; 177 die Ader, Naturgaben; 178 ergeben, sich unterwerfen; 179 trennen; 180 der Beweggrund; 181 die Versöhnung; 182 183 hierdurch; sonst; 184 einbüßen, aufopfern; 185 die Sache; 186 beilegen, beschließen; 187 behaupten; 188 die Größe, die Macht; 189 ansehnlich; furchtbar; weitläufig; 193 das Gebiet; 194 sich erstrecken; 195 das Ableben; 196 ausgebildet; 197 die Staatskunst, Staatsflugheit; 198 höher; fürchten; Hinsicht; 201 fommen an; 202 die Uneinigkeit; 204 billigen; bevollmächtigen; 205 unterhandeln; theilen. 203 199 200 206 mit 5 6 XIX. A DIALOGUE. SIR JOHN MELVIL AND STERLING. 8 3 4 Sterl. WHAT are your commands' with me, Sir John? Sir John. After having carried the negotiation between our families to so great a length, after having assented SO readily to all your proposals, as well as received so many instances of your cheerful' compliance with the demands made on our part, 10 I am extremely11 concerned," 12 Mr. Sterling, to be the involuntary cause 13 of any uneasiness." Sterl. Uneasiness! what uneasiness? Where business is transacted 15 as it ought to be, and the parties understand one another, there can be no uneasiness. You agree, on such and such conditions, 16 to receive my daughter for a wife; on the same conditions I agree to receive you as a son-in-law: and as to all the rest," it follows of course, you know, as regularly as the payment of a bill 19 after acceptance.20 Sir John. Pardon" me, Sir; more uneasiness has arisen than you are aware of.22 I am myself, at this instant, in a state 23 of inexpressible embarrassment; Miss Sterling, I know, is extremely disconcerted too; and unless you will oblige me with the assistance of your friendship, I foresee 25 the speedy progress of discontent and animosity 26 through the whole family. 24 18 Sterl. What the deuce 27 is all this! I do not understand a single syllable. Sir John. In one word then, it will be absolutely 28 impossible for me to fulfil my engagements 29 in regard 30 to Miss Sterling. Sterl. How, Sir John? Do you mean to put an affront 31 upon my family? What? refuse to 32 Sir John. Be assured, Sir, that I neither mean to affront nor forsake your family. My only fear is, that you should desert me for the whole happiness of my life depends on 17 19 15 die 1 Befehl; 2 nachdem; 3 die Verhandlung; 4 einwilligen; 5 bereitwillig; 6 das Beispiel; 7 fröhlich; 8 die Willfährigkeit; 9 die Forderung; 10 unserer Seits; 11 höchst, äußerst; 12 bekümmert; 13 die Ursache; 14 die Unruhe, Beschwerde; Geschäfte machen; 16 Bedingung; was das Uebrige betrifft; 18 natürlich ; der Wechsel; 20 acceptiven; 21 verzeihen; 22 23 der Zustand; wissen; 24 die Verlegenheit, verlegen; 25 vorher 26 die Bitterkeit, der Haß; 27 sehen; 28 zum Henker; durchaus ; 29 die Verpflichtung ; 30 in Rücksicht auf, gegen; aufgeben, entsagen: 32 31 die Beleidigung, Schmähung; |