Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Raby. Blest be the god of armies! Now, Sir
Hubert,

By all the saints, thou'rt a right noble knight!
O why was I too old for this crusade ?

Elwina!

I think it would have made me young again,
Could I, like thee, have seen the hated Crescent
Yield to the Christian cross.
How now,
What! cold at news which might awake the dead!
If there's a drop in thy degenerate veins
That glows not now, thou art not Raby's daughter.
It is religion's cause, the cause of heav'n!

El. When policy assumes religion's name,
And wears the sanctimonious garb of faith,
Only to colour fraud and license murder,
War then is tenfold guilt.

Raby.

Blaspheming girl!
El. 'Tis not the crosier, nor the pontiff's robe,
Nor outward show, nor form of sanctity,
Nor Palestine destroy'd, nor Jordan's banks
Delug'd with blood of slaughter'd infidels,
No, nor th' extinction of the Eastern world,
Nor all the wild, pernicious, bigot rage

Of mad crusades, can bribe that Pow'r, who sees
The motive with the act. O, blind to think
Fanatic wars can please the Prince of peace!
He who erects his altar in the heart,
Abhors the sacrifice of human blood,

And hates the false devotion of that zeal
Which massacres the world he died to save.

Raby. O impious rage! If thou wouldst shun

my curse

No more, I charge thee. Tell me, good Sir Hubert,
Say, have our arms achieved this glorious deed,
I fear to ask, without much Christian bloodshed?
El. Now heaven support me! (Aside.)

Sir Hub.

My good lord of Raby, Imperfect is the sum of human glory! Would I could tell thee that the field was won

Was forc'd, a helpless victim to the altar;
Torn from his arms who had her virgin heart,
And forc'd to make false vows to one she hat
Then, I confess, that he has told thee truth.

Raby. Her words are barbed arrows in m
But 'tis too late (aside.) Thou hast a
Harcourt

To see thee here by stealth in Douglas' abse
El. No, by my life! nor knew I till this
That Harcourt was return'd. Was it for t
I taught my heart to struggle with its wron
Was it for this I bore my woes in silence?
When the fond ties of early love were bro
Did my weak soul break out in fond comp
Did I reproach thee? Did I call thee cr
No-I endur'd it all; and wearied heave
To bless that father who destroy'd my pe

Enter MESSENGER.

Mes. My lord, a knight, Sir Hubert But newly landed from the holy wars, Intreats admittance.

Raby.

Let the warrior ent
Exit N

sink at his approach

r a moment banish
y country claims

[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

e! In one weer's arms. Palestine subduelt, retireing is safe, and

Sert,

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Without the death of such illustrious knights,
As makes the high-flush'd cheek of victory pale.
El. Why should I tremble thus? (Aside.)
Raby.
Whom have we lost?
Sir Hub. The noble Clifford, Walsingham, and

Grey,

Sir Harry Hastings, and the valiant Pembroke.
All men of choicest note.

Raby.
O, that my name
Had been enroll'd in such a list of heroes!
If I was too infirm to serve my country,

I might have prov'd my love by dying for her.
El. Were there no more?

Sir Hub.

But few of noble blood. But the brave youth who gain'd bright glory's palm ; The flower of knighthood, and the plume of war, Who bore its banner foremost in the field, Yet conquer'd more by mercy than the sword, Was Percy.

El.
Raby.

Then he lives? (Aside.)
Did he? Did Percy?

O, gallant youth, then I'm thy foe no more;
Who conquers for my country is my friend!
His fame shall add new glories to a house,
Where never maid was false, nor knight disloyal.
Sir Hub. You do embalm him, lady, with your

[graphic]

You'll grace our castle with your friendly so

journ.

Sir Hub. I must return with speed-health to

the lady!

[Exit HUBERT.

Raby. Look up, Elwina. Should her husband

come!

Yet she revives not.

Doug.

Enter DOUGLAS.

Ha!-Elwina fainting?

My lord, I fear you have too harshly chid her.
Her gentle nature could not brook your sternness.
She wakes, she stirs, she feels returning life.

My love! (He takes her hand.)

[blocks in formation]

Raby. Retire awhile, my daughter.

El.

Douglas here? My father and my husband!-0, for pity.

[Exit ELWINA, casting a look of anguish on both. Doug. Now, now confess she well deserves my vengeance!

Before my face to call upon my foe!

Raby. Upon a foe who has no power to hurt thee. Earl Percy's slain.

Doug.

I live again. But hold-

Did she not weep? She did, and wept for Percy
If she laments him, he's my rival still,

And not the grave can bury my resentment.
I can be jealous of the dead.

No more.

Rabu.
ly brave are still the truly gen'rous;
uglas, is the time to prove thee both
de that she did once love Percy.
no more to fear, since Percy's deil

« AnteriorContinuar »