Puslapio vaizdai
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And you have set at large this Royal hostage,

The very aim and purport of the war,

It shall be then no question nor surmise

What shall befall you.

RUOLD.

If there were not danger,

Where were the service that could claim reward?

Keep you my counsel for my father's sake,
And if at Malpas when you meet the Witan

You hear a rumour of the Queen escaped,

Call it a misadventure and mischance.

SIGERIC.

Save what shall reach me when I'm gone from hence
I shall know nought. God send you well to fare!

RUOLD.

I thank you, worthy Sigeric. Farewell.

Elgiva! Royal Mistress! Beautiful Queen!

I would the danger to my head were more,

Lest thou shouldst deem it but a politic cast,

And not a loyal venture.

Re-enter ELGIVA.

ELGIVA.

My good Ruold,

[Exit.

'Twas Sigeric went from you, was it not?

What tidings brought he?

RUOLD.

Our yesterday's intelligence.

Is rescued by Earl Athulf.

Madam, he confirms

The King
Dunstan is fled.

And there is this additional,-Ethilda

Is to Earl Athulf solemnly betrothed,

Though yet the nuptials are not; for the Pope
To Dunstan only gave authority

The sentence which he uttered to revoke ;

And whilst the Earl is excommunicate,

The Princess to the marriage doth demur.

ELGIVA.

Her heart was ever scrupulous, and splits
Betwixt the Pope and Athulf. Notwithstanding,
Athulf will prosper. Ah! my faithful Ruold,
Now must I put thy loyalty to proof.

The letters from Earl Leolf that were brought
Are full of comfort. He is in force at Audley;
And with a light and deftly mounted troop,
In cover of the night could come to Tilston,
And me, there meeting him, could carry thence,

And pass the interspace of hostile ground

Ere break of day. No more of doubtful looks,
Dear, faithful Ruold. I must brush away

These cobwebs from thy brow-Ah, now 'tis clear,

Free, frank, and noble !—Well, what answer, Ruold?

RUOLD.

My Royal Mistress, doubts if I have had,

They were not craven nor disloyal doubts ;
They were but such as fear for you proposed,
Not for myself; and now my fears are less,
My faith the same; my answer is, then,—go,
Go at your gracious pleasure, if your flight
Be deemed more safe than your captivity.

ELGIVA.

Oh! I am sick of safety in a prison.

Give me that dangerous liberty I seek,

And through the tossings of one turbulent night
Let me descry the harbour of my home,

With waving hands and welcomings of friends,
When mid the shoutings of the multitude
I shoot triumphant o'er the perilous bar,
And pass at once to gladness and to peace.

RUOLD.

Even be it as you will. But stir not yet.

Wait till the Lords have drawn their forces in
And gathered to the Wittenagemót.

Then shall you send to Leolf, and appoint

The period of your flight.

ELGIVA.

'Twill not be long,

Good Ruold, will it? I will try to wait.

[Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I.

A HEATH IN HAMPSHIRE.

DUNSTAN and GURMO in flight.

DUNSTAN.

The night shall shield us like a raven's wing.

What hear'st thou in the wind?

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