"Not so fast. Your vessel, Van Den Bosch, hath felt the storm: She rolls dismasted in an ugly swell, And you would make a jury-mast of me, Whereon to spread the tatters of your canvass."
It is worth noticing how the passion of revenge, like the others, is admitted to its post; admitted, yet coldly looked upon. He will revenge his father. Two knights, Sir Guisebert Grutt and Simon Bette, (we wish they had better names,) were mainly instrumental in his murder. These men have been playing false, by making treacherous overtures to the Earl of Flanders; they will be in his power. But they cannot, he reflects, render back the life they have destroyed--
----"Life for life, vile bankrupts as they are, Their worthless lives for his of countless price, Is their whole wherewithal to pay the debt. _Yet retribution is a goodly thing_, And it were well to wring the payment from them, Even to the utmost drop of their heart's blood."
Still less does the patriotic harangue of Van Den Bosch find an enthusiastic response. He was already too much a statesman to be a demagogue; not to mention that his father's career had taught him a bitter estimate of popularity, and of all tumultuary enthusiasm:--
"_Van Den Bosch._ Times are sore changed, I see. There's none in Ghent That answers to the name of Artevelde. Thy father did not carp or question thus When Ghent invoked his aid. The days have been When not a citizen drew breath in Ghent But freely would have died in Freedom's cause. _Artevelde._ With a good name thou christenest the cause. True, to make choice of despots is some freedom, The only freedom for this turbulent town, Rule her who may. And in my father's time We still were independent, if not free; And wealth from independence, and from wealth Enfranchisement will partially proceed. The cause, I grant thee, Van Den Bosch, is good; And were I linked to earth no otherwise But that my whole heart centred in myself, I could have tossed you this poor life to play with, Taking no second thought. But as things are, I will resolve the matter warily, And send thee word betimes of my conclusion. _Van Den Bosch_. Betimes it must be; for some two hours hence I meet the Deans, and ere we separate Our course must be determined. _Artevelde_. In two hours, If I be for you, I will send this ring In token I have so resolved."