Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-25
THE DAY BOOK.
TUESDAY MORNING, May rs, 1869
[Conuinued from First page. !

~ ohOAl 40
nate worth deserve all her ia
vors. Is it possible that you
are the slave of vulgar prejudi-
ces-you who have so long
been the pattern Of a noble
mind, and that you suppose it
crime to be lowly born! That
is the decree of destiny, not
the will of the individual. Co.
ing to the source of conditions,
you will perceive that we are
all the children of one father,
formed of the same flesh and
blood, subject to the same in
frmities, and that it is not
birth, but the qualities of the
mind, makes distinction among
men. Those who distinguish
themselves by their talents and
mental endowments are deemed
noble, while others, less fav-
ored by nature, crawl along
in a plebeian state. How
ever much the corruption of
the human heart may have
abrogated this law, it is not en-
tirely destroyed, and it is yet
recognized by those who have
not permitted themselves to be
drawn into the torrent of pre-
judice. Reason never proscri-
bes; it exists in minds that de
mand their rights, Il is then
certain that the more merit one
has the more noble he is. At
ter these principles, who is the
one most worthy of distinction?
Cast your eyes around among
your train o c-.--ra is, exam
inc the merits OF each without
prejudice, and you will decide
that Guichard is most noble of
them all. Your own words, AS
well as my own eyes and heart,
give this testimony.
who has praised Guichard
more than yourself, and GER
talnly his conduct since you
first made him your page has
justified all the good that J. IS
been said Of him. | dare add
that he is even superior to all
your praises. If have been
deceived in Guichard it is not
because you have warned me
against him. tits unreasona-
BILE that you upbraid me with
the baseness Of my choice.
You can, with more justice, re-
proach me with his poverty,
for it is the fault Of my father
in not enriching and elevating
one who has served him so
faithfully. Besides, poverty is
not inconsistent with nobility.
To be poor is but to be depriv-
ed Of riches, and sthat is no
crime, else what would become
Of the nobility Of SO many kings
and princes of antiquity who
once tended hocks and labored
in the fields?
ooh, my father! Indulgence
sometimes gives place to pros
perity, and the poor soldier be-
comes a king. AS for the
doubt in your mind as to what
fate you shall decide for me,
you areat liberty to follow your
own inclination. I have no
wish to oppose your will, and
should you decide to be cruel
in your old age, l shall not at
tempt to prevent your bathing
your hands in my blood if you
are thus disposed. Only this
| assure you, that whatever
fate you have pronounced for
Guichard ! am prepared to
share, if not by your order, it
will he bv nv own will. Shed
no more tears, my father, and
let Guichard and your daugh-
ter die together if you judge
we merit death.
The prince realized in the
language Of his daughter the
irmness and courage fhis own
nature, but thought her incap-
able of executing her purpose.
He thought the death Of Gui-
chard would soon cure her of
her love, and, leaving her with
this idea, gave orders tor him
to be strangled, and that the
heart should be torn from the
body and brought to him.
Tancred was obeyed. Hav-
ing placed tA.o st,,l warm and
CORY tropny @: his parental
vengence within Il jeweled, gol-
den cup, he sent it to his
daughter with the message,
The prince, your father, sends