Attila Author:Laurence Binyon 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: ACT II SCENE I A -vaulted room. A door at the back, left, another small one at the right, near which the SoothSayer stands with eyes fixed on a small s... more »tone altar on which aflame burns. Attila enters, foliowed by Onegesius. Attila What has the fierce star written ? What is hid In heaven against me? Tell me of my sons. -- Onegesius, leave us. Wait without the door. [onegesius goes out, closing the door. ] [To the Soothsayer after a silence.] Thou art in my hand ! Soothsayer And thou, O Attila? . . . Attila Find me the means to satisfy my soul ! If holy or unholy arts have power, If by persuasion or by force thou canst Ravish from Time his secret, drag it forth ! -- I hear you famed beyond the common tribe Of soothsayers ; magicians call you master. Prove it! Whence got you this so potent lore ? Soothsayer Chaldean sages taught me in their towers That watch the stars ; in Egypt I was born ; Their art is patient to conjure and charm Out of their time the face of hours unborn. Attila Summon them up. Soothsayer What I can do, I shall. But boast not more. Behold, we walk our little hour of light Toward this great dark that fronts us like a wall. All we shall do is there, and all we fear. Attila Thrust and break in : seize Fate and force her speak. Soothsayer Beware lest from her ambush, ere thou knowest, She leap out at thee. Attila What's the peril ? Where ? Soothsayer Thou art threatened. Attila Soothsayer This meteor that makes pale The natural lights of heaven Attila Speak ! what of this ? Soothsayer O Attila, a power stands over thee Poising, but whether to strike out thy doom Or to enrich thee, hangs uncertain yet. The...« less