Читать книгу Dramatic Reader for Lower Grades - Florence Holbrook - Страница 15

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Nydia. Madam, the lady Julia waits to salute you.

Cornelia. Bid her enter, I pray. It is not fitting to have her wait.

Nydia. She is at the door, gracious madam.

Cornelia. Welcome, thrice welcome, fair Julia.

[Nydia carries Julia's casket.]

Julia. Thanks, dear Cornelia, for your kind greeting. May you and all your household have peace and joy.

Cornelia. And may those blessings be yours also, dear Julia. But tell me, what treasures have you in that charming casket?

Julia. A few poor jewels, fair friend. Bring me the casket, Nydia. These are some presents my parents and husband have given me.

Cornelia. I am so glad you have brought them to show me. You are very kind, for you know I greatly admire beautiful jewels.

Julia. See, here is a pearl necklace.

Cornelia. How lovely! Let me clasp it about your neck. It is very becoming. And what other gems have you?

Julia. Here is a girdle my mother gave me for a wedding present. Isn't it pretty?

Cornelia. Pretty! my dear, it is exquisite! Your mother showed much good taste when she chose this for you.

Julia. And here are some rings from the far East. See these emeralds and rubies; how they flash in the sunlight!

Cornelia. How well they look on your white hands! But I see something else.

Julia. Yes, this is my handsomest jewel, a diamond bracelet. This I like best of all.

Cornelia. They are all lovely, my dear friend, and I am glad you have such beautiful things.

Julia. But, dear Cornelia, where are your jewels? All Rome knows how rich your famous father, Scipio, was, and surely he gave you many handsome ornaments. Please show them to me.

Cornelia. Oh, no, dear friend. But hark! I think I hear my sons. Nydia, tell them I wish to see them.

Nydia. Here are the children, madam.

The Boys (running in). Dear mother! darling mother!

Cornelia. Tell me, my Caius, what did the pedagogue teach you to-day?

Caius. O mother! It was wonderful! He told us how Horatius kept the bridge in the brave days of old. Wasn't that a great and noble deed, mother mine?

Cornelia. Yes, my darling. And you, my Tiberius, have you been pleased with your lessons?

Cornelia and her Jewels

Tiberius. Mother, how you must honor our grandfather, the noble Scipio! Our teacher told the boys of his great campaigns in Africa and how the Senate called him Africanus after the war was over.

Cornelia. Yes, my son, such work and such lives are lessons worthy of study. They teach the young how they too may live and die for their beloved country.

Caius. I shall try to be a brave man some day, too, dear mother.

Tiberius. And I, mother, shall try to be worthy of our noble family.

Cornelia. My dear, noble boys! Julia, these are my jewels.

Julia. How you shame my vanity, noble Cornelia! What are all the precious stones in the world compared with these noble boys! Daughter of the famous Scipio, the world will remember you through the great deeds of your sons, and all mankind will honor you as Cornelia, Mother of The Gracchi.