Julian Author:Mary Russell Mitford Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: JULIAN. ACT I. SCENE. An Apartment in the Royal Palace. Julian sleeping on a Couch. Annabel. Annabel. No ; still he sleeps ! 'Twas but the myrtle ... more »bud Tapping against the casement, as the wind Stirred in the leafy branches. Well he loved That pleasant bird-like sound, which, as a voice, Summon'd us forth into the fresher air Of eve or early morn. Ah! when again And yet this sleep is hopeful. For seven nights He had not tasted slumber. Who comes here ? Enter Alfonso as Theodore. The gentle page ! Alas, to wake him now! Hush, Theodore ! Tread softly—softlier, boy ! Alf. Doth he still sleep ? Ann. Speak lower. Alf. Doth he sleep ?Ann. Avoid the couch ; come this way ; close to me. He sleeps. He hath not moved in all the hours That thou hast been away. Alf. Then we may hope ; Dear lady, we may hope. Ann. Alas ! Alas ! See how he lies, scarce breathing. Whilst I hung Over his couch I should have thought him dead, But for his short and frequent sighs. Alf. Ah me! Not even in slumber can he lose the sense Of that deep misery; and I he wakes! Dost thou not see the quivering mantle heave With sudden motion ? Ann. Thou hast wakened him. Thy clamorous grief hath roused him. Hence! Begone! Leave me! Alf. And yet his eyes are closed. He sleeps. He did but move his hand. Ann. How changed he is! How pale ! How wasted ! Can one little week Of pain and sickness so have faded thee, My princely Julian ! But eight days ago There lived not in this gladsome Sicily So glad a spirit. Voice and step and eye All were one happiness; till that dread hour, When drest in sparkling smiles, radiant and glow- ing With tender thoughts, he flew to meet the King And his great father. He went forth alone ; Frenzy and grief came...« less