Puslapio vaizdai
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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!
It is a murderer's disguise, I say,

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-
Lo! there Earl Sidroc gallops from the right,

To tell us if the King can yet be saved.
Stand fast but till he comes. Crossbow-men, see!
They round the hill, the villains! Shoot together-
There flies the sleet that whistles in their beards-
Charge once again-Incomparably shot!

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.
Soon as the execrable shape appeared

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,
And now I bid you but to save yourselves.

Look not too narrowly at the fence, but leap;
And if it chance, as like enough it may,

That we be scattered, we shall meet again
At Ruthin, whither is the Princess fled.

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;
I would have willed thee to repent and live,
But lo! the will of God hath mastered mine.

Better be so than be the living cause Of death eternal and a nation's lapse

To mortal sin. Nor sin nor sorrow now

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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

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