All is in jeopardy thro' her. By Heaven!

I know not which is worst—to come too late,
Or come with broken strength.

EDWIN.

To come too late

Is worst by far.

When Leolf went from Audley,

'Tis true he bade us to beware of haste;

But then he knew not that the enemy's force

Would move on Nantwich, which, with his own at Lea,

Shall cheek by jowl bring them, whilst us it leaves

More laggard than we were.

ATHULF.

I'll stake my head

'Twas ne'er by Leolf's wish his force was moved

So far as Lea. But be it so or not,

'Twas moved in error; it can bring no aid

To Leolf and Elgiva; rather, I fear,

"Twill draw the forces of the enemy down

Upon the very wayside of their flight.

Still moved it is-and I deny not now

That we should follow at our best of speed.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII.

NIGHT. A COPPICE NEAR ACTON IN CHESHIRE.

In front is a mortstone. Enter certain RETAINERS and SERVANTS of Leolf.

FIRST SERVANT.

This is the road, bring up the horses, ho!

Hark! heard'st thou aught? If Dunstan knew, my

friends,

He'd his book and read a verse of power,

ope

And send a Goblin that should...

SECOND SERVANT.

Hush! Thou fool!

Is it not hither the Earl should come?

FIRST SERVANT.

'Tis here.

Six furlongs from the chapel. What is this?

Oh me! the mortstone!

'Tis further on.

No it is not here,

THIRD SERVANT.

See'st thou not something white?

FIRST SERVANT.

Jesu Maria save us! 'tis a Spirit.

Enter LEOLF and ELGIVA.

LEOLF.

[Exeunt.

Fresh horses should have met us here. What chance

Hath hindered them, I know not; we must wait

Till these be rested. Here is a rude stone-seat;

We may rest likewise,

ELGIVA.

Is there danger still?

LEOLF.

But little here; the dangers of the road,

I trust, are left behind.

ELGIVA.

Oh Leolf! much

I owe you, and if aught a kingdom's wealth
Affords, could pay the debt....

LEOLF.

A kingdom's wealth!

Elgiva! by the heart the heart is paid.

You have your kingdom, my heart hath its love.
We are provided.

ELGIVA.

Oh! in deeds so kind,

And can you be so bitter in your words!

Have I no offerings of the heart, wherewith Love's service to requite?

LEOLF.

The least of boons

Scattered by Royal charity's careless hand
O'erpays my service. To requite the rest,
All you possess is but a bankrupt's bond.
This is the last time we shall speak together;
Forgive me, therefore, if my speech be bold.
I loved you once; and in such sort I loved,
That anguish hath but burnt the image in,
And I must bear it with me to my grave.
I loved you once; dearest Elgiva, yes,
Even now my heart doth feed upon that love
As in its flower and freshness, ere the grace
And beauty of the fashion of it perished.
It was too anxious to be fortunate,
And it must now be buried, self-embalmed.
Within my breast, or living there recluse,
Talk to itself and traffick with itself;

And like a miser that puts nothing out,

And asks for no return, must I tell o'er

The treasures of the past.

ELGIVA.

Can no return

Be rendered? And is gratitude then nothing?

LEOLF.

To me 'tis nothing-being less than love.
But cherish it as to your own soul precious!
The heavenliest lot that earthly natures know,
Is to be affluent in gratitude.

Be grateful and be happy. For myself,

If sorrow be my portion, yet shall hope,

That springs from sorrow and aspires to Heaven,

Be with me still. When this disastrous war

Is ended, I shall quit my country's shores,

A pilgrim and a suitor to the love

Which dies not nor betrays.—What cry is that? I thought I heard a voice.

So tender, so severe !

ELGIVA.

Oh Leolf, Leolf!