Enter Percy and Sir Hubert.
| Sir H. That Percy lives, and is return'd in safety, |
| More joys my soul than all the mighty conquests |
| That sun beheld, which rose on Syria's ruin. |
| Per. I've told thee, good Sir Hubert, by what wonder |
| I was preserv'd, though number'd with the slain. |
| Sir H. 'Twas strange, indeed! |
| Per. 'Twas Heaven's immediate work! |
| But let me now indulge a dearer joy, |
| Talk of a richer gift of Mercy's hand; |
| A gift so precious to my doating heart, |
| That life preserv'd is but a second blessing. |
| O Hubert, let my soul indulge its softness! |
| The hour, the spot, is sacred to Elwina. |
| This was her fav'rite walk; I well remember, |
| (For who forgets that loves as I have lov'd?) |
| 'Twas in that very bower she gave this scarf, |
| Wrought by the hand of love! she bound it on, |
| And, smiling, cried, Whate'er befal us, Percy, |
| Be this the sacred pledge of faith between us. |
| I knelt, and swore, call'd every power to witness, |
| No time, nor circumstance, should force it from me, |
| But I would lose my life and that together— |
| Here I repeat my vow. |
| Sir H. Is this the man |
| Beneath whose single arm an host was crush'd? |
| He, at whose name the Saracen turn'd pale? |
| And when he fell, victorious armies wept, |
| And mourn'd a conquest they had bought so dear? |
| How has he chang'd the trumpet's martial note, |
| And all the stirring clangor of the war, |
| For the soft melting of the lover's lute! |
| Why are thine eyes still bent upon the bower? |
| Per. O Hubert, Hubert, to a soul enamour'd, |
| There is a sort of local sympathy, |
| Which, when we view the scenes of early passion, |
| Paints the bright image of the object lov'd |
| In stronger colours than remoter scenes |
| Could ever paint it; realizes shade, |
| Dresses it up in all the charms it wore, |
| Talks to it nearer, frames its answers kinder, |
| Gives form to fancy, and embodies thought. |
| Sir H. I should not be believ'd in Percy's camp, |
| If I should tell them that their gallant leader, |
| The thunder of the war, the bold Northumberland, |
| Renouncing Mars, dissolv'd in amorous wishes, |
| Loiter'd in shades, and pin'd in rosy bowers, |
| To catch a transient gleam of two bright eyes. |
| Per. Enough of conquest, and enough of war! |
| Ambition's cloy'd—the heart resumes its rights. |
| When England's king, and England's good, requir'd, |
| This arm not idly the keen falchion brandish'd: |
| Enough—for vaunting misbecomes a soldier. |
| I live, I am return'd—am near Elwina! |
| Seest thou those turrets? Yes, that castle holds her; |
| But wherefore tell thee this? for thou hast seen her. |
| How look'd, what said she? Did she hear the tale |
| Of my imagin'd death without emotion? |
| Sir H. Percy, thou hast seen the musk-rose, newly blown, |
| Disclose its bashful beauties to the sun, |
| Till an unfriendly, chilling storm descended, |
| Crush'd all its blushing glories in their prime, |
| Bow'd its fair head, and blasted all its sweetness; |
| So droop'd the maid beneath the cruel weight |
| Of my sad tale. |
| Per. So tender and so true! |
| Sir H. I left her fainting in her father's arms, |
| The dying flower yet hanging on the tree. |
| Even Raby melted at the news I brought, |
| And envy'd thee thy glory. |
| Per. Then I am blest! |
| His hate subdued, I've nothing more to fear. |
| Sir H. My embassy dispatch'd, I left the castle, |
| Nor spoke to any of Lord Raby's household, |
| For fear the king should chide the tardiness |
| Of my return. My joy to find you living |
| You have already heard. |
| Per. But where is Harcourt? |
| Ere this he should have seen her, told her all, |
| How I surviv'd, return'd—and how I love! |
| I tremble at the near approach of bliss, |
| And scarcely can sustain the joy which waits me. |
| Sir H. Grant, Heaven, the fair one prove but half so true! |
| Per. O she is truth itself! |
| Sir H. She may be chang'd, |
| Spite of her tears, her fainting, and alarms. |
| I know the sex, know them as nature made 'em, |
| Not such as lovers wish and poets feign. |
| Per. To doubt her virtue were suspecting Heaven, |
| 'Twere little less than infidelity! |
| And yet I tremble. Why does terror shake |
| These firm-strung nerves? But 'twill be ever thus, |
| When fate prepares us more than mortal bliss, |
| And gives us only human strength to bear it. |
| Sir H. What beam of brightness breaks through yonder gloom? |
| Per. Hubert—she comes! by all my hopes, she comes! |
| 'Tis she—the blissful vision is Elwina! |
| But ah! what mean those tears?—She weeps for me! |
| O transport!—go.—I'll listen unobserv'd, |
| And for a moment taste the precious joy, |
| The banquet of a tear which falls for love. |
| [exit Sir Hubert. Percy goes into the bower. |
| Enter Elwina. |
| Shall I not weep? and have I then no cause? |
| If I could break the eternal bands of death, |
| And wrench the sceptre from his iron grasp; |
| If I could bid the yawning sepulchre |
| Restore to life its long committed dust; |
| If I could teach the slaughtering hand of war |
| To give me back my dear, my murder'd Percy, |
| Then I indeed might once more cease to weep. |
| [Percy comes out of the bower. |
| Per. Then cease, for Percy lives. |
| Elw. Protect me, Heaven! |
| Per. O joy unspeakable! My life, my love! |
| End of my toils, and crown of all my cares! |
| Kind as consenting peace, as conquest bright, |
| Dearer than arms, and lovelier than renown! |
| Elw. It is his voice—it is, it is, my Percy! |
| And dost thou live? |
| Per. I never liv'd till now. |
| Elw. And did my sighs, and did my sorrows, reach thee? |
| And art thou come at last to dry my tears? |
| How did'st thou 'scape the fury of the foe? |
| Per. Thy guardian genius hover'd o'er the field, |
| And turn'd the hostile spear from Percy's breast, |
| Lest thy fair image should be wounded there. |
| But Harcourt should have told thee all my fate, |
| How I surviv'd—— |
| Elw. Alas! I have not seen him. |
| Oh! I have suffer'd much. |
| Per. Of that no more; |
| For every minute of our future lives |
| Shall be so bless'd, that we will learn to wonder |
| How we could ever think we were unhappy. |
| Elw. Percy—I cannot speak. |
| Per. Those tears how eloquent! |
| I would not change this motionless, mute, joy |
| For the sweet strains of angels: I look down |
| With pity on the rest of human kind, |
| However great may be their fame of happiness, |
| And think their niggard fate has given them nothing, |
| Not giving thee; or, granting some small blessing, |
| Denies them my capacity to feel it. |
| Elw. Alas! what mean you? |
| Per. Can I speak my meaning? |
| 'Tis of such magnitude that words would wrong it; |
| But surely my Elwina's faithful bosom |
| Should beat in kind responses of delight, |
| And feel, but never question, what I mean. |
| Elw. Hold, hold, my heart, thou hast much more to suffer! |
| Per. Let the slow form, and tedious ceremony, |
| Wait on the splendid victims of ambition. |
| Love stays for none of these. Thy father's soften'd, |
| He will forget the fatal Cheviot chace; |
| Raby is brave, and I have serv'd my country; |
| I would not boast, it was for thee I conquer'd; |
| Then come, my love. |
| Elw. O never, never, never! |
| Per. Am I awake? Is that Elwina's voice? |
| Elw. Percy, thou most ador'd, and most deceiv'd! |
| If ever fortitude sustain'd thy soul, |
| When vulgar minds have sank beneath the stroke, |
| Let thy imperial spirit now support thee.— |
| If thou canst be so wond'rous merciful, |
| Do not, O do not, curse me!—but thou wilt, |
| Thou must—for I have done a fearful deed, |
| A deed of wild despair, a deed of horror. |
| I am, I am— |
| Per. Speak, say, what art thou? |
| Elw. Married! |
| Per. Oh! |
| Elw. Percy, I think I begg'd thee not to curse me; |
| But now I do revoke the fond petition. |
| Speak! ease thy bursting soul; reproach, upbraid, |
| O'erwhelm me with thy wrongs——I'll bear it all. |
| Per. Open, thou earth, and hide me from her sight! |
| Did'st thou not bid me curse thee? |
| Elw. Mercy! mercy! |
| Per. And have I 'scap'd the Saracen's fell sword |
| Only to perish by Elwina's guilt? |
| I would have bared my bosom to the foe, |
| I would have died, had I but known you wish'd it. |
| Elw. Percy, I lov'd thee most when most I wrong'd thee; |
| Yes, by these tears I did. |
| Per. Married! just Heaven! |
| Married! to whom? Yet wherefore should I know? |
| It cannot add fresh horrors to thy crime, |
| Or my destruction. |
| Elw. Oh! 'twill add to both. |
| How shall I tell? Prepare for something dreadful. |
| Hast thou not heard of—Douglas? |
| Per. Why 'tis well! |
| Thou awful Power, why waste thy wrath on me? |
| Why arm omnipotence to crush a worm? |
| I could have fallen without this waste of ruin. |
| Married to Douglas! By my wrongs, I like it; |
| 'Tis perfidy complete, 'tis finish'd falsehood, |
| 'Tis adding fresh perdition to the sin, |
| And filling up the measure of offence! |
| Elw. Oh! 'twas my father's deed! he made his child |
| An instrument of vengeance on thy head. |
| He wept and threaten'd, sooth'd me, and commanded. |
| Per. And you complied, most duteously complied! |
| Elw. I could withstand his fury; but his tears, |
| Ah, they undid me! Percy, dost thou know |
| The cruel tyranny of tenderness? |
| Hast thou e'er felt a father's warm embrace? |
| Hast thou e'er seen a father's flowing tears, |
| And known that thou could'st wipe those tears away? |
| If thou hast felt, and hast resisted these, |
| Then thou may'st curse my weakness; but if not, |
| Thou canst not pity, for thou canst not judge. |
| Per. Let me not hear the music of thy voice, |
| Or I shall love thee still; I shall forget |
| Thy fatal marriage and my savage wrongs. |
| Elw. Dost thou not hate me, Percy? |
| Per. Hate thee? Yes, |
| As dying martyrs hate the righteous cause |
| Of that bless'd power for whom they bleed—I hate thee. |
| [they look at each other with silent agony.] |
| Enter Harcourt. |
| Har. Forgive, my lord, your faithful knight—— |
| Per. Come, Harcourt, |
| Come, and behold the wretch who once was Percy. |
| Har. With grief I've learn'd the whole unhappy tale. |
| Earl Douglas, whose suspicion never sleeps— |
| Per. What, is the tyrant jealous? |
| Elw. Hear him, Percy. |
| Per. I will command my rage—Go on. |
| Har. Earl Douglas |
| Knew, by my arms and my accoutrements, |
| That I belong'd to you; he question'd much, |
| And much he menac'd me, but both alike |
| In vain; he then arrested and confin'd me. |
| Per. Arrest my knight! The Scot shall answer it. |
| Elw. How came you now releas'd? |
| Har. Your noble father |
| Obtain'd my freedom, having learn'd from Hubert |
| The news of Percy's death. The good old lord, |
| Hearing the king's return, has left the castle |
| To do him homage. |
| [To Percy] Sir, you had best retire; |
| Your safety is endanger'd by your stay. |
| I fear, should Douglas know—— |
| Per. Should Douglas know! |
| Why what new magic's in the name of Douglas, |
| That it should strike Northumberland with fear? |
| Go, seek the haughty Scot, and tell him—no— |
| Conduct me to his presence. |
| Elw. Percy, hold; |
| Think not 'tis Douglas—'tis— |
| Per. I know it well—— |
| Thou mean'st to tell me 'tis Elwina's husband; |
| But that inflames me to superior madness. |
| This happy husband, this triumphant Douglas, |
| Shall not insult my misery with his bliss. |
| I'll blast the golden promise of his joys. |
| Conduct me to him—nay, I will have way— |
| Come, let us seek this husband. |
| Elw. Percy, hear me. |
| When I was robb'd of all my peace of mind, |
| My cruel fortune left me still one blessing, |
| One solitary blessing, to console me; |
| It was my fame.—'Tis a rich jewel, Percy, |
| And I must keep it spotless, and unsoil'd: |
| But thou wouldst plunder what e'en Douglas spar'd, |
| And rob this single gem of all its brightness. |
| Per. Go—thou wast born to rule the fate of Percy. |
| Thou art my conqueror still. |
| Elw. What noise is that? |
| [Harcourt goes to the side of the stage. |
| Per. Why art thou thus alarm'd? |
| Elw. Alas! I feel |
| The cowardice and terrors of the wicked, |
| Without their sense of guilt. |
| Har. My lord, 'tis Douglas. |
| Elw. Fly, Percy, and for ever! |
| Per. Fly from Douglas? |
| Elw. Then stay, barbarian, and at once destroy |
| My life and fame. |
| Per. That thought is death. I go: |
| My honour to thy dearer honour yields. |
| Elw. Yet, yet thou art not gone! |
| Per. Farewell, farewell![exit Percy. |
| Elw. I dare not meet the searching eye of Douglas. |
| I must conceal my terrors. |
| Douglas at the side with his sword drawn, Edric holds him. |
| Dou. Give me way. |
| Edr. Thou shalt not enter. |
| Dou. [struggling with Edric] If there were no hell, |
| It would defraud my vengeance of its edge, |
| And she should live. |
| [breaks from Edric and comes forward. |
| Cursed chance! he is not here. |
| Elw. [going.] I dare not meet his fury. |
| Dou. See she flies |
| With every mark of guilt.—Go, search the bower, |
| [aside to Edric. |
| He shall not thus escape. Madam, return.[aloud. |
| Now, honest Douglas, learn of her to feign.[aside. |
| Alone, Elwina? who just parted hence? |
| [with affected composure. |
| Elw. My lord, 'twas Harcourt; sure you must have met him. |
| Dou. O exquisite dissembler! [aside.] No one else! |
| Elw. My lord! |
| Dou. How I enjoy her criminal confusion![aside. |
| You tremble, madam. |
| Elw. Wherefore should I tremble? |
| By your permission Harcourt was admitted; |
| 'Twas no mysterious, secret introduction. |
| Dou. And yet you seem alarm'd.—If Harcourt's presence |
| Thus agitates each nerve, makes every pulse |
| Thus wildly throb, and the warm tides of blood |
| Mount in quick rushing tumults to your cheek; |
| If friendship can excite such strong emotions, |
| What tremors had a lover's presence caus'd? |
| Elw. Ungenerous man! |
| Dou. I feast upon her terrors.[aside. |
| The story of his death was well contriv'd;[to her. |
| But it affects not me; I have a wife, |
| Compar'd with whom cold Dian was unchaste. |
| [takes her hand. |
| But mark me well—though it concerns not you— |
| If there's a sin more deeply black than others, |
| Distinguish'd from the list of common crimes, |
| A legion in itself, and doubly dear |
| To the dark prince of hell, it is—hypocrisy. |
| [throws her from him, and exit. |
| Elw. Yes, I will bear his fearful indignation! |
| Thou melting heart, be firm as adamant; |
| Ye shatter'd nerves, be strung with manly force, |
| That I may conquer all my sex's weakness, |
| Nor let this bleeding bosom lodge one thought, |
| Cherish one wish, or harbour one desire, |
| That angels may not hear and Douglas know.[exit. |
ACT THE FOURTH.
SCENE I. THE HALL.
Enter Douglas, his sword drawn and bloody in one hand, in the other a letter. Harcourt, wounded.
| Dou. Traitor, no more! this letter shews thy office; |
| Twice hast thou robb'd me of my dear revenge. |
| I took thee for thy leader.—Thy base blood |
| Would stain the noble temper of my sword; |
| But as the pander to thy master's lust, |
| Thou justly fall'st by a wrong'd husband's hand. |
| Har. Thy wife is innocent. |
| Dou. Take him away. |
| Har. Percy, revenge my fall![guards bear Harcourt in. |
| Dou. Now for the letter! |
| He begs once more to see her.—So 'tis plain |
| They have already met!—but to the rest—— |
| [Reads.] "In vain you wish me to restore the scarf; |
| Dear pledge of love, while I have life I'll wear it, |
| 'Tis next my heart; no power shall force it thence; |
| Whene'er you see it in another's hand, |
| Conclude me dead."—My curses on them both! |
| How tamely I peruse my shame! but thus, |
| Thus let me tear the guilty characters |
| Which register my infamy; and thus, |
| Thus would I scatter to the winds of heaven |
| The vile complotters of my foul dishonour. |
| [tears the letter in the utmost agitation. |
| Enter Edric. |
| Edr. My lord—— |
| Dou. [in the utmost fury, not seeing Edric.] The scarf! |
| Edr. Lord Douglas. |
| Dou. [still not hearing him.] Yes, the scarf! |
| Percy, I thank thee for the glorious thought! |
| I'll cherish it; 'twill sweeten all my pangs, |
| And add a higher relish to revenge! |
| Edr. My lord! |
| Dou. How! Edric here? |
| Edr. What new distress? |
| Dou. Dost thou expect I should recount my shame, |
| Dwell on each circumstance of my disgrace, |
| And swell my infamy into a tale? |
| Rage will not let me—But—my wife is false. |
| Edr. Art thou convinc'd? |
| Dou. The chronicles of hell |
| Cannot produce a falser.—But what news |
| Of her cursed paramour? |
| Edr. He has escap'd. |
| Dou. Hast thou examin'd every avenue? |
| Each spot? the grove? the bower, her favourite haunt? |
| Edr. I've search'd them all. |
| Dou. He shall be yet pursued. |
| Set guards at every gate.—Let none depart |
| Or gain admittance here, without my knowledge. |
| Edr. What can their purpose be? |
| Dou. Is it not clear? |
| Harcourt has raised his arm against my life; |
| He fail'd; the blow is now reserv'd for Percy; |
| Then, with his sword fresh reeking from my heart, |
| He'll revel with that wanton o'er my tomb; |
| Nor will he bring her aught she'll hold so dear, |
| As the curs'd hand with which he slew her husband. |
| But he shall die! I'll drown my rage in blood, |
| Which I will offer as a rich libation |
| On thy infernal altar, black revenge![exeunt. |
SCENE II. THE GARDEN.
Enter Elwina.
| Elw. Each avenue is so beset with guards, |
| And lynx-ey'd Jealousy so broad awake, |
| He cannot pass unseen. Protect him, heaven! |
| Enter Birtha. |
| My Birtha, is he safe? has he escap'd? |
| Bir. I know not. I dispatch'd young Harcourt to him, |
| To bid him quit the castle, as you order'd, |
| Restore the scarf, and never see you more. |
| But how the hard injunction was receiv'd, |
| Or what has happen'd since, I'm yet to learn. |
| Elw. O when shall I be eas'd of all my cares, |
| And in the quiet bosom of the grave |
| Lay down this weary head!—I'm sick at heart! |
| Should Douglas intercept his flight! |
| Bir. Be calm; |
| Douglas this very moment left the castle, |
| With seeming peace. |
| Elw. Ah, then, indeed there's danger! |
| Birtha, whene'er Suspicion feigns to sleep, |
| 'Tis but to make its careless prey secure. |
| Bir. Should Percy once again entreat to see thee, |
| 'Twere best admit him; from thy lips alone |
| He will submit to hear his final doom |
| Of everlasting exile. |
| Elw. Birtha, no; |
| If honour would allow the wife of Douglas |
| To meet his rival, yet I durst not do it. |
| Percy! too much this rebel heart is thine: |
| Too deeply should I feel each pang I gave; |
| I cannot hate—but I will banish—thee. |
| Inexorable duly, O forgive, |
| If I can do no more! |
| Bir. If he remains, |
| As I suspect, within the castle walls, |
| 'Twere best I sought him out. |
| Elw. Then tell him, Birtha, |
| But, Oh! with gentleness, with mercy, tell him, |
| That we must never, never, meet again. |
| The purport of my tale must be severe, |
| But let thy tenderness embalm the wound |
| My virtue gives. O soften his despair; |
| But say—we meet no more. |
| Enter Percy. |
| Rash man, he's here! |
| [she attempts to go, he seizes her hand. |
| Per. I will be heard; nay, fly not; I will speak; |
| Lost as I am, I will not be denied |
| The mournful consolation to complain. |
| Elw. Percy, I charge thee, leave me. |
| Per. Tyrant, no: |
| I blush at my obedience, blush to think |
| I left thee here alone, to brave the danger |
| I now return to share. |
| Elw. That danger's past: |
| Douglas was soon appeas'd; he nothing knows. |
| Then leave me, I conjure thee, nor again |
| Endanger my repose. Yet, ere thou goest, |
| Restore the scarf. |
| Per. Unkind Elwina, never! |
| 'Tis all that's left me of my buried joys, |
| All which reminds me that I once was happy. |
| My letter told thee I would ne'er restore it. |
| Elw. Letter! what letter? |
| Per. That I sent by Harcourt. |
| Elw. Which I have ne'er receiv'd. Douglas perhaps— |
| Who knows? |
| Bir. Harcourt, t' elude his watchfulness, |
| Might prudently retire. |
| Elw. Grant heaven it prove so! |
| [Elwina going, Percy holds her. |
| Per. Hear me, Elwina; the most savage honour |
| Forbids not that poor grace. |
| Elw. It bids me fly thee. |
| Per. Then, ere thou goest, if we indeed must part, |
| To sooth the horrors of eternal exile, |
| Say but—thou pity'st me! |
| Elw. [weeps.] O Percy—pity thee! |
| Imperious honour;—surely I may pity him. |
| Yet, wherefore pity? no, I envy thee: |
| For thou hast still the liberty to weep, |
| In thee 'twill be no crime: thy tears are guiltless, |
| For they infringe no duty, stain no honour, |
| And blot no vow; but mine are criminal, |
| Are drops of shame which wash the cheek of guilt, |
| And every tear I shed dishonours Douglas. |
| Per. I swear my jealous love e'en grudges thee |
| Thy sad pre-eminence in wretchedness. |
| Elw. Rouse, rouse, my slumb'ring virtue! Percy, hear me. |
| Heaven, when it gives such high-wrought souls as thine, |
| Still gives as great occasions to exert them. |
| If thou wast form'd so noble, great, and gen'rous, |
| 'Twas to surmount the passions which enslave |
| The gross of human-kind.—Then think, O think, |
| She, whom thou once didst love, is now another's. |
| Per. Go on—and tell me that that other's Douglas. |
| Elw. Whate'er his name, he claims respect from me: |
| His honour's in my keeping, and I hold |
| The trust so pure, its sanctity is hurt |
| E'en by thy presence. |
| Per. Thou again hast conquer'd. |
| Celestial virtue, like the angel spirit, |
| Whose flaming sword defended Paradise, |
| Stands guard on every charm,—Elwina, yes, |
| To triumph over Douglas, we'll be virtuous. |
| Elw. 'Tis not enough to be,—we must appear so: |
| Great souls disdain the shadow of offence, |
| Nor must their whiteness wear the stain of guilt. |
| Per. I shall retract—I dare not gaze upon thee; |
| My feeble virtue staggers, and again |
| The fiends of jealousy torment and haunt me. |
| They tear my heart-strings.——Oh! |
| Elw. No more; |
| But spare my injur'd honour the affront |
| To vindicate itself. |
| Per. But, love! |
| Elw. But, glory! |
| Per. Enough! a ray of thy sublimer spirit |
| Has warm'd my dying honour to a flame! |
| One effort and 'tis done. The world shall say, |
| When they shall speak of my disastrous love, |
| Percy deserv'd Elwina though he lost her. |
| Fond tears, blind me not yet! a little longer, |
| Let my sad eyes a little longer gaze, |
| And leave their last beams here. |
| Elw. [turns from him.] I do not weep. |
| Per. Not weep? then why those eyes avoiding mine? |
| And why that broken voice? those trembling accents? |
| That sigh which rends my soul? |
| Elw. No more, no more. |
| Per. That pang decides it. Come—I'll die at once; |
| Thou Power supreme! take all the length of days, |
| And all the blessings kept in store for me, |
| And add to her account.—Yet turn once more, |
| One little look, one last, short glimpse of day, |
| And then a long dark night.—Hold, hold, my heart, |
| O break not yet, while I behold her sweetness; |
| For after this dear, mournful, tender moment, |
| I shall have nothing more to do with life. |
| Elw. I do conjure thee, go. |
| Per. 'Tis terrible to nature! |
| With pangs like these the soul and body part! |
| And thus, but oh, with far less agony, |
| The poor departing wretch still grasps at being, |
| Thus clings to life, thus dreads the dark unknown, |
| Thus struggles to the last to keep his hold; |
| And when the dire convulsive groan of death |
| Dislodges the sad spirit—thus it stays, |
| And fondly hovers o'er the form it lov'd. |
| Once and no more—farewell, farewell! |
| Elw. For ever! |
| [they look at each other for some time, then exit Percy. After a pause; |
| 'Tis past—the conflict's past! retire, my Birtha, |
| I would address me to the throne of grace. |
| Bir. May Heaven restore that peace thy bosom wants! |
| [exit Birtha. |
| Elw. [kneels.] Look down, thou, awful, heart-inspecting Judge, |
| Look down with mercy on thy erring creature, |
| And teach my soul the lowliness it needs! |
| And if some sad remains of human weakness |
| Should sometimes mingle with my best resolves, |
| O breathe thy spirit on this wayward heart, |
| And teach me to repent th' intruding sin |
| In it's first birth of thought! |
| [Noise within.] What noise is that? |
| The clash of swords! should Douglas be return'd! |
| Enter Douglas and Percy, fighting. |
| Dou. Yield, villain, yield! |
| Per. Not till this good right arm |
| Shall fail its master. |
| Dou. This to thy heart, then. |
| Per. Defend thy own. |
| [they fight; Percy disarms Douglas. |
| Dou. Confusion, death, and hell! |
| Edr. [without] This way I heard the noise. |
| Enter Edric, and many Knights and Guards, from every part of the stage. |
| Per. Cursed treachery! |
| But dearly will I sell my life. |
| Dou. Seize on him. |
| Per. I'm taken in the toils. |
| [Percy is surrounded by Guards, who take his sword. |
| Dou. In the cursed snare |
| Thou laid'st for me, traitor, thyself art caught. |
| Elw. He never sought thy life. |
| Dou. Adulteress, peace! |
| The villain Harcourt too—but he's at rest. |
| Per. Douglas, I'm in thy power; but do not triumph, |
| Percy's betray'd, not conquer'd. Come, dispatch me. |
| Elw. [to Douglas] O do not, do not, kill him! |
| Per. Madam, forbear; |
| For by the glorious shades of my great fathers, |
| Their godlike spirit is not so extinct, |
| That I should owe my life to that vile Scot. |
| Though dangers close me round on every side, |
| And death besets me, I am Percy still. |
| Dou. Sorceress, I'll disappoint thee—he shall die, |
| Thy minion shall expire before thy face, |
| That I may feast my hatred with your pangs, |
| And make his dying groans, and thy fond tears, |
| A banquet for my vengeance. |
| Elw. Savage tyrant! |
| I would have fallen a silent sacrifice, |
| So thou had'st spar'd my fame.—I never wrong'd thee. |
| Per. She knew not of my coming;—I alone |
| Have been to blame—Spite of her interdiction, |
| I hither came. She's pure as spotless saints. |
| Elw. I will not be excus'd by Percy's crime; |
| So white my innocence, it does not ask |
| The shade of others' faults to set it off; |
| Nor shall he need to sully his fair fame |
| To throw a brighter lustre round my virtue. |
| Dou. Yet he can only die—but death for honour! |
| Ye powers of hell, who take malignant joy |
| In human bloodshed, give me some dire means, |
| Wild as my hate, and desperate as my wrongs! |
| Per. Enough of words. Thou know'st I hate thee, Douglas; |
| 'Tis stedfast, fix'd, hereditary hate, |
| As thine for me; our fathers did bequeath it |
| As part of our unalienable birthright, |
| Which nought but death can end.—Come, end it here. |
| Elw. [kneels] Hold, Douglas, hold!—not for myself I kneel, |
| I do not plead for Percy, but for thee: |
| Arm not thy hand against thy future peace, |
| Spare thy brave breast the tortures of remorse,— |
| Stain not a life of unpolluted honour, |
| For, oh! as surely as thou strik'st at Percy, |
| Thou wilt for ever stab the fame of Douglas. |
| Per. Finish the bloody work. |
| Dou. Then take thy wish. |
| Per. Why dost thou start? |
| [Percy bares his bosom. Douglas advances to stab him, and discovers the scarf. |
| Dou. Her scarf upon his breast! |
| The blasting sight converts me into stone; |
| Withers my powers like cowardice or age, |
| Curdles the blood within my shiv'ring veins, |
| And palsies my bold arm. |
| Per. [ironically to the Knights] Hear you, his friends! |
| Bear witness to the glorious, great exploit, |
| Record it in the annals of his race, |
| That Douglas, the renown'd—the valiant Douglas, |
| Fenc'd round with guards, and safe in his own castle, |
| Surpris'd a knight unarm'd, and bravely slew him. |
| Dou. [throwing away his dagger] |
| 'Tis true—I am the very stain of knighthood. |
| How is my glory dimm'd! |
| Elw. It blazes brighter! |
| Douglas was only brave—he now is generous! |
| Per. This action has restor'd thee to thy rank, |
| And makes thee worthy to contend with Percy. |
| Dou. Thy joy will be as short as 'tis insulting.[to Elwina. |
| And thou, imperious boy, restrain thy boasting. |
| Thou hast sav'd my honour, not remov'd my hate, |
| For my soul loaths thee for the obligation. |
| Give him his sword. |
| Per. Now thou'rt a noble foe, |
| And in the field of honour I will meet thee, |
| As knight encount'ring knight. |
| Elw. Stay, Percy, stay, |
| Strike at the wretched cause of all, strike here, |
| Here sheath thy thirsty sword, but spare my husband. |
| Dou. Turn, madam, and address those vows to me, |
| To spare the precious life of him you love. |
| Even now you triumph in the death of Douglas; |
| Now your loose fancy kindles at the thought, |
| And, wildly rioting in lawless hope, |
| Indulges the adultery of the mind. |
| But I'll defeat that wish.—Guards, bear her in. |
| Nay, do not struggle.[she is borne in. |
| Per. Let our deaths suffice, |
| And reverence virtue in that form inshrin'd. |
| Dou. Provoke my rage no farther.—I have kindled |
| The burning torch of never-dying vengeance |
| At love's expiring lamp.—But mark me, friends, |
| If Percy's happier genius should prevail, |
| And I should fall, give him safe conduct hence, |
| Be all observance paid him.—Go, I follow thee. |
| [aside to Edric. |
| Within I've something for thy private ear. |
| Per. Now shall this mutual fury be appeas'd! |
| These eager hands shall soon be drench'd in slaughter! |
| Yes—like two famish'd vultures snuffing blood, |
| And panting to destroy, we'll rush to combat; |
| Yet I've the deepest, deadliest, cause of hate, |
| I am but Percy, thou'rt—Elwina's husband. [exeunt. |