Cross where thou seest a broad and beaten way, 600 Doug. I yield me, and obey: but yet my heart Lady R. If thou regard'st thy mother, or rever'st Long wert thou lost; and thou art found, my child, I have great cause to dread. Too well I see 620 To-day I've found thee. Oh! my long-lost hope! comfort? The God of battles of my life dispose As may be best for you! for whose dear sake I will not bear myself as I resolv'd. But yet consider, as no vulgar name, That which I boast, sounds amongst martial men," 640 [Embracing. And as high Heav'n hath will'd it, all must be. [Separate. Gaze not on me, thou wilt mistake the path; I'll point it out again. [Just as they are separating, Enter from the wood Lord RANDOLPH and GLENALVON. Lord R. Not in her presence. Now Glen. I'm prepar'd. Lord R. No: I command thee stay. I go alone: it never shall be said That I took odds to combat mortal man. The noblest vengeance is the most compleat. Exit. [GLENALVON makes some steps to the same side of the stage, listens and speaks. Glen. Demons of death come settle on my sword, H And to a double slaughter guide it home! The lover and the husband both must die. Lord R. [Behind the scenes.] Draw, villain! draw! Doug [Without.] Assail me not, lord Randolph; Not as thou lov'st thyself. [Clashing of swords. Glen. [Running out.] Now is the time. Enter Lady RANDOLPH, at the opposite side of the stage, faint and breathless. Lady R. Lord Randolph, hear me; all shall be thine own! But spare! Oh, spare my son! Enter DOUGLAS, with a sword in each hand. Doug. My mother's voice! I can protect thee still. Lady R. He lives, he lives; For this, for this to Heav'n eternal praise ! Doug. It was Glenalvon, Just as my arm had master'd Randolph's sword, 680 Lady R. Behind thee! ah! thou'rt wounded! Oh, my child, How pale thou look'st! And shall I lose thee now? Doug. Do not despair: I feel a little faintness; [Leans upon his sword. I hope it will not last. Lady R. There is no hope! And we must part! The hand of death is on thee I Oh! my beloved child! O Douglas, Douglas! [DOUGLAS growing more and more faint. Doug. Too soon we part: I have not long beea Douglas; O destiny! hardly thou deal'st with me; In low and poor obscurity I've liv❜d. Lady R. Has Heav'n preserv'd thee for an end like this? Doug. Oh! had I fall'n as my brave fathers fell, Turning with fatal arm the tide of battle! 860 Like them I should have smil'd and welcom'd death : Cut off from nature's and from glory's course, Lady R. Hear justice; hear! stretch thy avenging arm. [DOUGLAS falls. Doug. Unknown I die; no tongue shall speak of me. Some noble spirits, judging by themselves May yet conjecture what I might have prov'd, Lady R. Despair, despair! Doug. Oh, had it pleas'd high Heav'n to let me live A little while my eyes that gaze on thee Grow dim apace! my mother-O! my mother! [Dies. Enter Lord RANDOLPH and ANNA. Lord R. Thy words, thy words of truth, have pierc'd my heart; I am the stain of knighthood and of arms. Oh if my brave deliverer survives The traitor's sword Anna. Alas! look there, my lord. 700 Lord R. The mother and her son! How curst I am! Was I the cause? No: I was not the cause. Yon matchless villain did seduce my soul To frantic jealousy. Anna. My lady lives: The agony of grief hath but suppress'd Awhile her powers. Lord R. But my deliverer's dead; "The world did once esteem lord Randolph well, "Beneath the holy banner of the cross. "Now past the noon of life, shame comes upon me; "Reproach, and infamy, and public hate, "Are near at hand: for all mankind will think "That Randolph basely stabb'd Sir Malcolm's heir." Lady R. [Recovering.] Where am I now? Still in this wretched world! Grief cannot break a heart so hard as mine. "My youth was worn in anguish: but youth's strength, "With hope's assistance, bore the brunt of sorrow; "And train'd me on to be the object now, "On which Omnipotence displays itself, "Making a spectacle, a tale of me, "To awe it's vassal, man."" Lord R. Oh, misery! |