SCENE XIII. BEFORE THE WALLS OF MALPAS. The right of the field. A body of Monks are seen ranged on the walls, holding up crosses and relics. In front, EDWIN with Forces. EDWIN. Nay, stagger ye at a show of hoods and gowns! And not a Christian's garb.-What spectre foul Is yon that rises o'er the ruined wall? I see the accursed Abbot's skinny hand Held up aloft! Now God befriend the right. [Exeunt. SCENE XIV. BEFORE THE WALLS OF MALPAS. The left of the field. Alarums and a retreat sounded. ATHULF with a remnant of his force, and RUOLD. ATHULF. I knew you not. Why pressed you thus upon us, Alone and wounded as you are? Fall back. RUOLD. I seek my death,-but, Athulf, not from thee. ATHULF. Oh, gentle Ruold, in my sister's right I bid thee live. RUOLD. Her spirit calls me hence. Had I been resolute, she had lived to-day. Farewell, brave Athulf. You have lost your King. ATHULF. [Exit. It shall not be. Nay, hold your ground, my friends; Turn on them-'Tis the last time—ay, the last- To tell us if the King can yet be saved. And here comes Sidroc. Well, how fares the King? Enter SIDROC. SIDROC. Outwitted, lost, inveigled, snared, and worse, If worse it be, wounded, they say, to death. Of Dunstan on the walls, the tempest rose Upon his heart, and drave him to destruction. Athulf, away! for longer now to stand Were worse than vain. ATHULF. They circle us about, But we shall break their circle to their cost. Well have ye battled for your King, brave hearts, Look not too narrowly at the fence, but leap; That we be scattered, we shall meet again Round her we rally. Ride, Sirs, for your lives. [Exeunt. SCENE XV. MALPAS. Candles burning, and altars Interior of the Cathedral. decked, as for a service of thanksgiving. A corpse lies on a bier, in the transept. Monks enter in procession, and lastly DUNSTAN. DUNSTAN. So flee the works of darkness. Sing ye the psalm Quid gloriaris.-Stop; a hasty step Rings in the cloister. Enter a SOLDIER. SOLDIER. I am bid, my Lord, To seek the Lord Harcather, for his son Ruold is slain. DUNSTAN. Silence! No more of that. Harcather is gone forth to meet the Dane. Let him not know it yet.-What corse is this? A MONK. The Queen's, my Lord, awaiting burial. DUNSTAN. Hers! Withdraw the winding-sheet, that once again I may behold her.-Art thou she indeed! The blankness of mortality in thee Seems more than in another! Where be now The flushings of the fervent cheek, the fires That lightened from those eyes! Oh, rueful sight! Methinks that thou dost look reproachfully. Not me-not me— —Upbraid not me, pale Queen! I slew thee not, nor yet desired thy death; Better be so than be the living cause Of death eternal and a nation's lapse To mortal sin. Nor sin nor sorrow now He is again delirious and hath torn The bandage from his wound. He bleeds amain. Enter another ATTENDANT. ATTENDANT. My Lord, the King, the King! DUNSTAN. What, comes he hither ? Enter EDWIN followed by a PHYSICIAN and ATTENDANTS. EDWIN. Where art thou, my beloved? Come to me! Art thou not here? They said so, but 'twas false |