The battle of Hastings: a tragedy. By Richard Cumberland, Esq; As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane.

Table of contents

- [titlepage]

- Dramatis Personae.

- PROLOGUE.

- EPILOGUE.

- ACT I. SCENE I.

- ACT II. SCENE I.

- ACT III. SCENE I.

- ACT IV. SCENE I.

- ACT V.

THE BATTLE of HASTINGS, A TRAGEDY.

THE END.

THE BATTLE of HASTINGS, A TRAGEDY. By RICHARD CUMBERLAND, Esq AS IT IS ACTED AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL IN DRURY-LANE.

LONDON. PRINTED FOR EDWARD AND CHARLES DILLY, IN THE POULTRY. MDCCLXXVIII. [PRICE ONE SHILLING AND SIXPENCE.]

Dramatis Personae.

MEN.

HAROLD, King of England,

Mr. BENSLEY.

EDGAR ATHELING,

Mr. HENDERSON.

EARL EDWIN,

Mr. PALMER.

EARL WALTHEOF,

Mr. BRERETON.

EARL of MERCIA, Brother to Harold,

Mr. NORRIS.

EARL of NORTHUMBERLAND,

Mr. AICKIN.

SIFFRIC,

Mr. FARREN.

REGINALD,

Mr. CHAPLIN.

RAYMOND,

Mr. HURST.

DUNCAN, a Scottish Seer,

Mr. CHAMBERS.

WOMEN.

MATILDA, Daughter to Harold,

Miss YOUNGE.

EDWINA,

Mrs. YATES.

SABINA,

Mrs. COLLES.

Attendants on MATILDA, Guards, Foresters, Wardens, and various Attendants.

PROLOGUE.

Spoken by MR. HENDERSON.

TO holy land in superstition's day,

When bare foot pilgrims trode their weary way,

By mother church's unremitting law

Scourg'd into grace, with shoulders red and raw;

Kneeling demure before the sacred shrine,

On the hard flint th•y begg'd the boon divine;

Pardon for what offending flesh had done,

And pity for the long long course they'd run,

Fines, pains and penalties, securely past,

Slow pac'd forgiveness met their prayer at last,

Full absolution from conceeding Rome,

Cancell'd all sin, past, present and to come.

Your Poet thus prophanely led aside

To range o'er Tragic land without a guide,

To pick perhaps, with no invidious aim,

A few cast fallings from the tree of fame.

Damn'd, tho' untried, by the despotic rule

Of the stern Doctors in detraction's school;

Lash'd down each column of a public page,

And driv'n o'er burning ploughshares to the stage,

Be rhim'd, be ridicul'd with doggrel wit,

Sues out a pardon from his Pope—the Pit.

Pensive he stands in penitential weeds,

With a huge rosary of untold beads;

Sentenc'd for past offences to rehearse,

Ave Apollo's to the God of verse;

And sure there's no one but an Author knows

The Penance, which an Author undergoes.

If then your worships a few stripes award

Let not your beadles lay them on too hard;

For in the world there's not a thing so thin,

So full of feeling, as your Poet's skin:

What if, perchance, he snatch'd a playful kiss

From that free hearted romp the Comic Miss;

That frolick's past, he's turn'd to years of grace,

And a young sinner now supplies his place.

Sure you'll not grudge a little sober chat

With this demure old tabby Tragic cat;

No charge lies here of conversation crim

He hopes you'll think her fame, no worse for him.

EPILOGUE.

Spoken by MISS YOUNGE.

FROM ancient Thespis to the present age

The world hath oft been term'd a public stage,

A thread-bare metaphor, which in its time

Hath patch'd much prose and heel-piec'd many a rhime;

Ev'n the grave pulpit sometimes deigns to use

The emphatic terms of the proscribed Muse,

Calls birth our entry, death our exit calls,

And at life's close exclaims—the curtain falls;

And so concludes upon the drama's plan

That fretting, strutting, short-hour actor, man.

Are we all actors then?—yes, all from Adam,

And actresses?—I apprehend so Madam.

Some fill their cast with grace, others with none,

Some are shov'd off the stage, and some shov'd on;

Some good, some bad, still we all act a part,

Whilst we disguise the language of the heart;

Nature's plain taste provides a simple treat,

But art, the Cook, steps in and mars the meat;

The comic blade makes ridicule his test,

And on his tomb proclaims that life's a jest,

The swaggering braggart, in true tragic cast,

Bellows blank verse and daggers to the last;

Whilst clubs of neutral petit-maitres boast

A kind of opera company at most,

Whose dress, air, action, all is imitation,

A poor, insipid, servile, French translation;

Whose tame dull scene glides uniform along,

In comi—farei—pastoral—sing—song—

'Till all awaken'd by the rattling die

Club wits, and make—a modern tragedy;

A tragedy alas! good friends, look round,

What have we left to tread but tragic ground?

Four authors leagu'd to shake the human soul,

Unsheath the dagger, and infuse the bowl,

At length descending to the least, and last,

We hope the terror of the time is past,

Full sated now with battle, blood, and murder,

England is conquer'd—fate can reach no further,

Bid then the weeping Pleiads dry their eyes,

And turn to happier scenes and brighter skies.

ACT I. SCENE I.

The Outside of a stately antient Castle. The Gate closed, and the Bugle in the Slings.

Time before Break of Day.

(Earl EDWIN enters.)

EDWIN.

WHETHER 'tis now the secret witching hour,

When the smart imps work their malignant spells

Unfriendly to man's health, or that Heaven sends

These warnings, these misgivings to forerun

And harbinger some strange calamity,

I know not; but there's something passing here

Beyond the mind's conjecture ominous.

(RAYMOND speaks from the Walls.)

RAYMOND.

Stand! Who goes there?

EDWIN.

A friend.

RAYMOND.

May none but friends

Approach these gates? what wakeful man art thou,

Whom busy care provokes thus early forth,

Ere the grey twilight glimmers in the east?

EDWIN.

Know'st thou not me; and needs there light for that?

Sounds not this voice familiar to thine ear,

Or have the darkling wizzards of the night

Confounded thy clear organs? Thee I know;

Raymond, descend and open to thy Lord.

RAYMOND.

My Lord, my Master!—

He disappears.

EDWIN alone.

Venerable pile,

Whose plain rough features shew like honesty▪

Cradle of loyalty from earliest time;

Ye antique towers, courts, banner-bearing halls,

Trophies and tombs of my renown'd forefathers;

And you, surrounding oaks, fathers and sons,

And old old grandsires, chroniclers of time,

By which the forest woodman marks his tale,

If fate will doom you to a Norman master,

Farewell, ye perish in your country's fall.

Raymond comes out from the castle.

RAYMOND.

See, Lord, your castle opens wide it's arms,

Your porters, warders, foresters shall rouse:

Herald, provoke the bugle: spread the joy.

Herald goes to sound the bugle.

EDWIN.

What joy? forbear: there is no joy for Edwin.

RAYMOND.

Are we then lost; is Normandy victorious?

EDWIN.

No: in the swoln and pregnant womb of fate

Lies the yet unborn hour.—Dismiss the herald,

And gently close the gate.—

Raymond closes the gate.

Ye, who have bosoms,

Unscarr'd by sharp vexation's thorny scourge,

Sleep while you may. 'Tis well; come hither, Raymond;

Nay, I account thee as a friend—be nearer:

Pass'd all things quiet on thy watch this night?

RAYMOND.

All things were quiet.

EDWIN.

Far, as well as near;

Wide as thine ear could carry? no rude straggler

Scowring the night? no neighing at the gate?

No trampling heard? no talking, as of parties

Met by assignment?

RAYMOND.

Hah! in very truth

To all these questions, no.

EDWIN.

I must believe thee;

The more I'm lost in wonder: but confess,

At my last question wherefore didst thou start,

And arch thy brow significantly? speak;

Thou may'st reveal thy thoughts.

RAYMOND.

Nay, good my Lord,

My thoughts are little worth.

EDWIN,

I see thou'rt cautious,

So let it pass—How fares our sister? blooms

The rose of health fresh on Edwina's cheek,

As it was wont?

RAYMOND.

It brightens, as it blows.

EDWIN.

Yes, Raymond, she is fair; Heaven for the sins

Of this offending country made her fair;

Oh, I had treasur'd up such thoughts!—But mark,

Edmund; the youth whom I have father'd, he,

Who in the beating surge of black despair,

But for my saving arm, had sunk outright

And perish'd fathoms deep, last night i'th' camp,

Soon as the guard had gone it's stated round,

Vaulted the trench like Perseus on his steed,

Then fled, as if he'd overtake the wind,

Whither heav'n knows.

RAYMOND.

Fled; death to honour, fled!

EDWIN.

Fled at this glorious crisis. Oh, it cuts

My heart's best hope asunder!

RAYMOND.

Heavenly vengeance

O'ertake and strike him—!

EDWIN.

Peace!—You must not curse him.

RAYMOND.

Hah! wherefore not?

EDWIN.

Because—expect a wonder—

Because he is thy king.

RAYMOND.

Uphold me, heaven!

EDWIN.

Mine and thy king; of Alfred's line a king;

Edgar, call'd Atheling; the rightful lord

Of this ingrateful realm, which Kentish Harold

Audaciously usurps—

RAYMOND.

What do I hear?

Alas I thought him poor, an orphan youth

The child of hard misfortune.

EDWIN.

Think so still,

Or keep these thoughts untold.

RAYMOND.

Had I known this,

I wou'd have serv'd him hourly on my knees:

O noble sir, direct me where to seek him,

How to restore him to these peaceful shades.

EDWIN.

Not for the world; no, if we meet again,

Back to the English camp he shall repair;

The scene of all his hopes: Oh such a form

Of majesty with youthful beauty grac'd,

He was the soldier's idol; such a spirit

Beam'd from his eyes, his presence like the sun

Gladden'd beholders hearts.

RAYMOND.

I have a mistress,

A young and beauteous lady—

EDWIN.

Name her not,

The source of all my shame: Shall it be said

That Edwin rais'd his sovereign to the throne,

Only to place a sister at his side?

Perish the thought! Now learn a mighty secret—

Matilda loves him; Harold's matchless daughter

Loves Edgar Atheling; her dower a kingdom:

Therefore no talk of Edmund and Edwina,

They meet no more. Now, Raymond, had I lodg'd

My secret in a light and leaky bosom,

Better my sword shou'd rip it up at once

And take it back again—But thou art honest.

RAYMOND.

You were not wont to doubt me.

EDWIN.

Nay, I will not.

Hah! what is this? who bade this music forth?

Clarinets at a distance.

RAYMOND.

My lord, I know not.

EDWIN.

Whence proceeds it? Mark.

RAYMOND.

If my ear fail not, from the beachen grove,

West of king Alfred's tower.

EDWIN.

Lead to the place.

Exeunt.

Edgar enters with foresters bearing clarinets.

EDGAR.

Now breathe a strain, if your rude stops will let you,

Soft as a lover's sigh—Nay, you're too loud—

Mark, where you've rous'd the gentle sleeping deer.

Fellows, begone; away!—Edwina!

Edwina appears at a window.

EDWINA.

Edmund!

Oh, I have suffer'd a long age of absence.

EDGAR.

Come then and make these few short moments blest.

EDWINA.

How shall I come? Tear down these iron bars

And leap into thine arms? What shall I do?

EDGAR. Goes to the castle gate and discovers it to be open.

By all my hopes, the castle gate is open;

Descend; be swift!

EDWINA.

As thine own thoughts.

She disappears.

EDGAR. (alone.)

O Love,

Small elf, who by the glow-worm's twinkling light,

Fine fairy-finger'd child, can'st slip the bolt,

While the cramm'd warden snores, this is thy doing.

Lo, where she comes, so breaks the morning forth,

Blushing and breathing odours—

(Edwina appears)

O thou trembler,

Rest on my faithful bosom; fairest, tell me,

Still dost thou love? speak, is thine Edmund welcome?

EDWINA.

Is the sun welcome to the wakeful eyes

Of the wreckt mariner, when o'er the waves

The long-expected dayspring of his hope,

Mounts in the worshipt east—But why comes Edmund

Thus wrapt in darkness at this secret hour

As to a guilty meeting?

EDGAR.

'Tis the hour

Sacred to love and me, ere noisy labour

Wakens the sun, while yet the fairy elves

Dance in their dewy rounds; the silent hour

Before the lark her shrill-ton'd matins sings,

Or morning issues from the nuptial east,

And to the bosoms of the nursing hours

The new-born day commits: It is the hour

When every flying minute should be wafted

Back to the skies on downy wings of love.

EDWINA.

Away, your words affright me; you consort

With mad ambition, Edmund, and your love

So gentle once, is like the wars you follow,

Fiery and fierce.

EDGAR.

Instruct me in thy wishes;

Tell me what love shou'd be.

EDWINA.

Love shou'd be pure,

Harmless as pilgrims kisses on the shrines

Of virgin martyrs; holy as the thoughts

Of dying saints, when angels hover o'er them;

Harmonious, gentle, soft; such love shou'd be,

The zephyr, not the whirlwind, of the soul.

EDGAR.

Yes, but my love, like never-ending time,

Will neither be determin'd, nor describ'd.

The poet by the magic of his song

Can charm the list'ning moon, ascend the spheres,

And in his airy and extravagant flight

Belt wide creation's round; yet can he never

Invent that form of words to speak my passion.

EDWINA.

If such your passion, why this secret meeting;

Why talk of silent hours? Let earth and heaven

Look on and witness to your love! so truth,

So nature speaks; I know no other language.

EDGAR.

Oh, that the throne of this proud realm were mine,

That I might say before the applauding world,

Ascend, my lovely bride, and be a queen.

EDWINA.

A queen! what idle dreams perplex thy fancy?

Are there no blessings for the poor and humble?

EDGAR.

Yes, but a brother's curse—

EDWINA.

A brother's curse!

Doth he not love thee, wait upon thee hourly,

Talk of thee ever, bend down his proud spirit

Ev'n to a vassal's homage? Nay, by heav'n,

With an idolatry of soul he loves thee;

And shall he not applaud me for my choice?

EDGAR.

He will renounce thee, hate thee for thy choice.

EDWINA.

Away, I'll not believe it: hate, renounce!

It cannot be; hence with this dark reserve,

If thou know'staught, which honour shou'd unfold,

I do conjure thee, speak; tho' late, confess.

EDGAR.

By heav'n, thy brother—

(EDWIN enters hastily.)

EDWIN.

Are you found, young sir?

O shame, shame, shame! Is this the friend, the hero?

Have I deserv'd this from you?

EDGAR.

If to love

The best, the fairest of her sex is base,

Vile and ingrateful; if it be a sin

Morning and eve to name her in my prayers,

I am of all most guilty.

EDWIN.

You abuse

The weakness of a fond unguarded orphan,

Parlying in secret by the moon's pale beam:

The tenderest flower that withers at the breeze,

Or, if the amorous sun but steal a kiss,

Drops its soft head and dies, is not more frail

Than maiden reputation; 'tis a mirror

Which the first sigh defiles.

EDGAR.

Look at that form;

With all thy cold philosophy survey it,

And wonder, if thou can'st, why I adore.

EDWIN.

Away, nor vex my too, too patient spirit

With this fond rhapsody: Hence, and to horse!

Buckle afresh your glittering armour on;

For England, not Edwina, now demands you,

By your thrice-plighted oath I do conjure you,

By all the world calls honest, by your hopes,

Come to the camp; if you return not with me,

The sun, which rises yonder in the East,

Goes not more surely to his ev'ning grave

Than I to mine.

EDGAR.

Lo, I obey your summons,

Fierce flinty warrior! in yond beachen grove

Stands my caparison'd and ready steed;

There on the trunk, whose living bark records

My lov'd Edwina's name, hangs up my sword,

My mailed corslet and my plumed crest,

With all the proud apparel of the war:

When I am furnish'd, I shall court admittance

To this fair presence and implore a smile,

As my last parting boon, which if obtain'd,

Nor spells, nor talismans shall be so potent

To shield my bosom in the bleeding field,

As the sweet magic of Edwina's eyes.

EDWINA.

If thou hast love or pity in thy soul,

Return, and tell the rest.

EDGAR.

O death, to part!

(Exit.)

EDWINA.

Now, stern admonisher, I see my fate,

And I will bear it with what grace I can;

Not lightly, as philosophers prescribe

To others, when themselves are well at ease,

But deeply, feelingly, as one shou'd do,

Whose heart by nature and by love made soft;

With sorrow and unkindness now is rent.

EDWIN.

You love and you avow it—righteous heav'n!

What is there in the scope of human means,

Which my providing foresight hath not summon'd

To fence off this destruction? Lost Edwina;

Hath not thy brother, like a faithful pilot,

Sounded this dang'rous coast, where rocks and shallows

Wait for the wreck of honour's costly freight?

Have I not pointed to the baneful quarter,

Whence cold and blasting disappointment blows

Withering thy beauty's bloom?

EDWINA.

Thou hast, my brother,

Thou hast done all that man cou'd do to save me,

But heav'n is over all.

EDWIN.

When last we parted,

Thou helpless orphan, what was then my caution?

EDWINA.

You caution'd me against unwary love;

You warn'd me how I listen'd, how I look'd,

'Twas a vain warning; I had look'd and listen'd,

And whilst I open'd my weak heart to pity,

I let in love withal.

EDWIN.

You let in madness.

EDWINA.

Did you not pity? I have seen your eyes,

Unus'd to weep, turn fountains as they gaz'd!

Did you not love? Your very soul was Edmund's;

I know you'll call it friendship; so did I,

But find too late 'twas love.

EDWIN.

Call it despair,

For hope it must be never; call it death.

Sure some malignant planet rul'd thy birth,

And thou art doom'd to nothing but disaster;

Three nights and days thy widow'd mother travail'd

With fruitless pangs, the fourth succeeding morn

She blest her new-born murderer and expir'd;

Then, as 'tis said, my father's shade did walk;

Then on the western tower the ominous owl

Scream'd at mid-day, the faithless misletoe

From its maternal oak untwin'd its arms,

And dropt without a blast.

EDWINA.

No more; but strike;

Mine is the crime to be belov'd by Edmund:

Draw forth thy sword and strike it to my heart,

That rebel heart, which will not be commanded,

But, spite of death and Edwin, dares to love.

Why dost thou pause?

EDWIN.

Strike to thy heart! O horror!

Not if an angel visibly descended,

And bade me give the blow.

EDWINA.

Wilt thou not kill me?

EDWIN.

By heav'n, I wou'd not harm thee to be Lord

Of sea and earth.

EDWINA.

Then take me to thine arms,

For still thou lov'st me; still thou art my brother.

Embracing.

EDWIN.

I am thy brother still; and hold thy love

Dearer than relicks of departed saints,

Richer than hoarded piles of worshipt gold;

Come then and seek content in some calm dwelling,

Some silent convent from the world withdrawn,

Where pray'r and penance make atonement sure,

Where meditation communing with heaven

Shall sooth the rebel passions into peace,

Refine the soul and conquer love itself.

EDWINA.

Talk not of cells and convents; I am Edmund's.

EDWIN.

Thou must forget the very name of Edmund.

EDWINA.

His very name! why, for what cause? declare.

EDWIN.

There is a cause, a cause approv'd by heav'n,

And crown'd with deathless glory: Search no further;

This hour he parts; return thou to thy rest—

When next •e meet, thou shalt applaud and thank me.

Go, go, Edwina—nay—It must be so.

Exit.

EDWINA. (alone)

Why then it shall be so: Let him to battle;

Tear us asunder—I can only die;

When I am gone, his fame shall be immortal.

So when the bleak and wintry tempest rends

The mantling ivy from the worshipt sides

Of some aspiring tower, where late it hung;

The stately mass, as with a sullen scorn,

From its proud height looks down upon the wreck,

And disencumber'd from its feeble guest,

Bares its broad bosom and defies the storm.

EDGAR enters arm'd as for battle.

EDGAR.

Alone! O happy chance! at thy fond bidding

Obedient I return.

EDWINA.

Hah! what art thou?

EDGAR.

Dost thou not know me? Am I not thine Edmund?

EDWINA.

Away! 'tis lost—I must forget that name.

EDGAR.

Coin what new name thou wilt: Let me be any thing,

So 'tis but what you love, I shall be happy.

EDWINA.

Are these the soft habiliments of love?

This high proud plumage, these blood-stained arms?

Go to the mistress whom you serve, Ambition;

And talk no more of love.

EDGAR.

By heav'n I love thee

More than the sun-burnt earth loves soft'ning showers,

More than new-ransom'd captives love the day,

Or dying martyrs, breathing forth their souls,

The acclamations of whole hosts of angels.

EDWINA.

Why then leaves Edmund what so well he loves?

EDGAR.

But to return more worthy of that love;

Can I, oh tell me, can thine Edmund sleep

In these calm haunts, whilst war's insulting shout

Fills the wide cope of heav'n, and every blast,

That thro' this solitary forest howls,

Wafts to my ear my country's dying groans?

EDWINA.

If groans can move thee, why so deaf to mine?

Mysterious youth, or now at once resolve me,

Or now for ever go; Who and what art thou?

Why does my brother wrest thee from my sight?

And why with that stern brow am I commanded

(Vain fruitless mandate) to forget my Edmund,

Forget thy very name and that dear hour,

When first he brought thee to these happy scenes?

What tender charges did he then impose!

How did his tongue run over in thy praise,

'Till, honouring Edmund for a brother's sake,

I soon perceiv'd I lov'd him for his own.

EDGAR.

Oh, there is such persuasion in thy looks,

I shall forget myself and tell thee all.

EDWINA.

'Twas then that Edwin told us thou wast sprung

From the best blood which England's Isle cou'd boast;

He said that thou wast Edgar's nearest friend,

That with his crown thy fortunes had been lost;

Bade us revere thee, love thee as the king,

For that so close an union knit your souls,

Edgar and thou were one.

EDGAR.

And truth he told,

For I am Edgar; I am England's king.

EDWINA.

King! thou the king!

EDGAR.

Be constant.—I am Edgar.

EDWINA. After a pause, she sinks slowly on her knees.

The heavens confirm your right, and build your fortune

To its deserved greatness; on my knees

I beg a blessing on you, but for pity

Mock me no more, it is not noble in you,

And tortures my poor heart.

EDGAR.

Hear me, Edwina.—

EDWINA.

Fly me, disown me, leave me to my fate.

EDGAR.

No, by this fond embrace I swear to live

For thee alone; when I forsake Edwina,

Let me chronicled to latest ages

For vile and false.—Remember'd in thy prayers,

As with impenetrable armour fenc'd,

Fearless I part; fairest, and best, farewel!

May each good spirit of the night and day

Watch round thee hourly!—England and Edwina!

End of the First Act.

ACT II. SCENE I.

The English Camp. The royal Tent with the Banners of Harold unfurl'd.

EDGAR and EDWIN.

EDWIN.

EDMUND, your steed is feather-footed, light

As gossamour, and you, methinks, did ride,

As you'd o'ertake the couriers of the sky,

Hors'd on the sightless winds: The camp yet sleeps;

We have outstript the hour.

EDGAR.

Mark, Edwin, mark,

How lovingly the strumpet winds salute

These slanting banners of the Earl of Kent:

Teach me some patience—O ye ministring storms,

Where did you sleep, while usurpation grew

To this proud height?

EDWIN.

No more: remember, Sir,

You are a subject here.

EDGAR.

King Edmund's heir,

Can he be subject to Earl Goodwyn's son?

If thou wouldst teach that lesson, sluice these veins

And let out Alfred's blood.

EDWIN.

You are too loud:

Here comes Northumberland, a fiery spirit,

Which fourscore winters have not yet extinguisht:

I pray you, though he be your house's foe,

Bear yourself gently tow'rds him, 'twill be wisdom.

Enter NORTHUMBERLAND, SIFFRIC, WALTHEOF, and others.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

The king not forth yet! Oh, it is the soul

Of discipline to harness with the sun:

Can'st thou not, Siffric, call to mind the day

When with a handful of Northumbrian kerns

I foil'd the king of Scots on Tweda's brink?

SIFFRIC.

'Twas on Saint Jude betimes.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

The grey-ey'd morn

Laugh'd to behold the vaunting sluggard fly,

As we did hollow him with hunter's cries

Back to his native wilds. Soft, who are these?

The faction of young Edgar: Said you not

These men had fled the camp—But see where comes

Mercia, the princely brother of our king.

Earl of MERCIA with attendants.

MERCIA.

Warriors, well met: health and a happy morn!

And may the sun, which dances on your plumes,

Still with new glories gild your conqu'ring brows!

The king not yet abroad! still on his knees

For his dear people's sake.—How wears the day?

NORTHUMBERLAND.

Prince, till our royal leader shall come forth

There is no day: Let him once found to battle,

On piles of Norman slain we'll build him altars

High as Olympus; in the battle's shout

We'll chant our morning oraisons so loud,

That heav'ns high vault shall echoe with the peal.

EDGAR.

How valiant-tongu'd we are! heav'ns favor guard us,

And keep off the old adage!

EDWIN.

Be more patient,

And let his humour pass.

EDGAR.

Hang him, vain dotard,

I sicken at his folly.

EDWIN.

See! the King.

The curtain of the tent is suddenly drawn off, and King Harold appears: He comes forward.

KING.

Nobles, all hail. O sight of joyful hope

For suffering England; patriot band of worthies

Confederate by the holiest league on earth

To the best dearest cause: How say you, friends,

Stand your hearts with us for immediate battle;

Do they all beat to the same martial measure,

And shall we forth at once?

NORTHUMBERLAND.

Forth! Strike the drums;

Seize your bright spears, my gallant countrymen,

And let us drive these hungry wolves before us

Home to their howling forests.

KING.

Valiant chiefs,

You hear Northumberland renown'd in arms:

Is there amongst us one who wou'd incline

To measures of more caution?

SIFFRIC.

My dread Leige,

Well hath Northumberland advis'd for battle;

Of friends, of fame abandon'd be the man,

Who checks the warrior's ardour and imposes

Vile coward fears beneath the mask of caution.

EDWIN.

I must confess my reason is not caught

By empty sounds, nor can I give my voice

For rash, intemperate and immediate battle:

The foe, dread Sir, is sixty thousand strong,

By hardy warriors led and train'd in arms:

Snatch your bright spears; cries bold Northumberland,

And chace these wolves—Alas, these wolves have fangs,

And will not fly for words.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

Now by my life,

Edwin, thy heart is not with England's cause.

EDGAR.

Not with his country's cause! Northumberland▪

Wert thou as great as pagan Hercules,

And I no better than thyself, old man,

Ev'n such a wither'd palsied thing as thou art,

Yet wou'd I tell thee to thy teeth 'tis false;

As wide as lowest hell stands off from heav'n,

So do thy words from truth.

SIFFRIC.

Who talks of truth?

Where was your truth last night, when, like a spy,

Darkling, alone, and as you hop'd unseen,

You leapt the trench and fled?

EDGAR.

Set out the lists,

Life against life, then see if I can fly,

Thou dastardly reviler.

KING.

Peace! and hear me:

Why hast thou left our camp; where and with whom

Didst thou consume the night?

EDGAR.

Are there no hours

Amidst a soldier's life sacred to love,

To friendship, to repose? I am no traitor,

Nor this my noble friend; let it suffice

I come a voluntary friend to claim

The privilege of my progenitors,

And die for England.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

Perish he who would not!

This is the friend, my liege, of outlaw'd Edgar,

Of whom report prevails that he now harbours

Somewhere within this realm; let him be question'd.

KING.

Not for another empire. O Northumberland,

By gentle habits let us draw mens hearts,

And bind them to us not enforcedly,

But lovingly and freely—Hark, our trumpet!

Welcome, brave Reginald, what says the Norman

To our defiance?

REGINALD enters.

REGINALD.

Thus he bids me say,

Tomorrow with the sun he will expect you

Army 'gainst army on the plains of Hastings.

KING.

Hear ye this, lords? Oh turn upon the foe

Those eyes that interchange their angry fires.

Shall it be so, brave friends? What says Lord Edmund?

EDGAR.

There is my gage: Tomorrow be our witness,

Who ventures fairest in his country's cause,

Edmund or Siffric.

EDWIN.

When we're call'd to arms

For England's safety, private feuds shou'd cease,

And every son unite in her defence.

KING.

Oh, let us bring one heart to this great cause;

Thus banded, who shall break us? To your posts

As friends and soldiers; let dissension die,

Learn silence of the foe, and keep good watch.

So farewel all?—Edmund.

Exeunt lords.

EDGAR.

What wills the King?

KING.

Stand at my side: Wou'd thou cou'dst love me, Edmund,

As well as thou lov'st Edgar: Why dost eye me

As thou wou'dst measure me from heel to head?

I never did thee wrong: If thou hast sorrows,

Give them to me; I'm loaded hard with cares,

For I'm a King; thine is a private lot,

Thou may'st be free and happy. Gallant Earl,

Wilt thou commit thy noble charge to me?

I wou'd be private with him.

EDWIN.

Royal sir,

The interest I have in him is thine:

Edmund, remember—

KING.

Follow me.

EDWIN.

Beware!

Exeunt King and Edgar.

As EDWIN is going out, Lord WALTHEOF, who had waited in the back scene, calls to him.

WALTHEOF.

Turn, noble Edwin; look upon a friend.

EDWIN.

A friend, Lord Waltheof?

WALTHEOF.

Have you then forgot

How oft in early youth on Avon's banks

We wak'd the echoes with our rural sports?

Have you forgot our mutual binding oath

To royal Edgar's cause? Ev'n now my heart

True to its former fires expanded swells

And labours with a second birth of love.

EDWIN.

Where was your oath on that lamented day,

When Severn's stream ran purple with the blood

Of Edgar's murder'd friends? Where was your love,

When at the side of stern Northumberland

You frown'd defiance at me? Art thou not

The veriest courtier that ere pag'd the heels

Of pride-swoln majesty?

WALTHEOF.

Were I the wretch,

So supple to ambition's sordid use,

So abject as thou mak'st me, what forbids

But I shou'd seize the lucky instant, fly

To the abus'd ear of the king and tell him—

EDWIN.

What wou'd'st thou tell him?

WALTHEOF.

What! that Edmund is—

But for the world's worth I'll not damn my honour:

Live Edgar but till Waltheof shall betray him,

And he must be immortal.

EDWIN.

Art thou faithful;

May I believe thee? Oh, if thou betray'st him

Hell hath not torments dire enough to plague thee.

WALTHEOF.

Come I am in thy bosom—Learn a truth;

This young Minerva, whom our English Jove

Leads to his wars—Matilda—shall be Edgar's.

EDWIN.

Come to my heart; I do believe thee loyal

And noble as I've known thee.

WALTHEOF.

Why she loves him

To fascination.

EDWIN.

Art thou sure of that?

WALTHEOF.

Have I sight, hearing, do I live and wake?

Her very soul is Edmund's.

EDWIN.

Grant she loves,

Can we be sure that he returns her love?

WALTHEOF.

Does the sun warm the bosom that he shines on?

So must her beauty Edgar: Mark my project—

The king to superstition much inclines;

Peering in musty prophecies and fables;

Consulting with astrologers and seers,

Diviners and interpreters of dreams,

Omens and prodigies.

EDWIN.

'Tis ever thus

When the mind's ill at ease.

WALTHEOF.

There is at hand

An ancient soothsayer of Scottish birth,

Duncan his name; ev'n such a man, so white

And reverend with age, as might impose

Credulity upon the wariest; him,

By the enthusiastic monarch deem'd

Oracular, will I dispose to speak

Of Edgar and his right—

EDWIN.

Break off; behold

The princess comes.

WALTHEOF.

Look, Edwin, what a form

Of pensive majesty: Mark'd you that sigh;

Those eyes, love's oracles? Poor stricken deer,

The shaft is in thy heart.

EDWIN.

Let us withdraw.

Exeunt.

MATILDA with her Attendants. A Guard.

MATILDA.

Soldier, retire; your charge extends no further.

Sabina!

The Guard goes off.

SABINA.

What commands my gracious lady?

MATILDA.

You told me on the way you had a suit;

What can my faithful handmaids ask in vain?

SABINA.

'Tis for a stranger, not ourselves, we ask;

A virgin suitor of no vulgar mein,

But fair in speech and feature; one who bears

The port and semblance of illustrious birth,

Tho' sorrow-struck and waining with despair.

MATILDA.

Have you denied her aught? ah, if you have▪

Or but demurr'd, me and yourselves you've wrong'd

And forfeited heav'n's love: What is her suit?

SABINA.

In these rude times protection and admission

Into our happy number.

MATILDA.

Bring her to us.

Exeunt all but Sabina.

Sabina, stay; there's pity in thine eyes,

If this poor stranger can provoke these drops,

My griefs will drown thee quite.

SABINA.

Alas, what woud'st thou?

MATILDA.

What would I? be the poorest thing on earth,

Poorer than her whose miseries you weep for,

Be any thing, so I were free withal:

Then might I see him, wait upon him, watch

And pay him hourly worship. On our way

As I did meet the king, and bent my knee,

As is my morning custom, why, Sabina,

When I discover'd standing at his side

Young Edmund's bright and blooming form before me,

Why did my heart, as with a sudden leap,

Spring to my trembling lips and stop my tongue,

That wou'd have beg'd a blessing? Every sense

Revolted from its office; my rapt soul

Fled at my eyes; I fainted, sunk and fell.

SABINA.

Ah fatal chance, that ever you shou'd see him!

MATILDA.

Deeper and deeper sinks the mortal shaft;

My bosom's peace is lost. Once I was happy;

Clear and serene my life's calm current ran,

While scarce a breezy wish provok'd its tide;

Down the smooth flood the tuneful passions fell

In easy lapse and slumber'd as they pass'd.

Now what a change is wrought! O love, in age

Thou art indeed a child, in power a God.

How now, What stranger's this?

EDWINA enters, introduced by the Ladies of MATILDA's train.

SABINA.

You have forgot,

The maid we spoke of.

MATILDA.

Pray you pardon me—

Stranger, approach and fear not. I can see

Thou art not us'd to ask, and yet thy looks

Plead most enforcingly: If thou dost need

Such shelter as these humble coverings give,

Here in the rear of danger thou may'st dwell,

And join thy prayers to our's.

EDWINA.

Thanks, noble lady.

In yon fair vale, while peace was there, I dwelt:

One only brother chear'd my orphan state,

And rich in flocks and herds serene we liv'd:

Him, the support and solace of my life,

Stern duty's iron hand hath wrested from me,

And somewhere in this mighty camp he wars.

What was for me deserted and forlorn?

With one old faithful servant forth I came,

Led slowly on thro' unfrequented paths

To her, whose fame is bruited thro' the land,

Whose gentleness and pity climb heav'n's court,

Like an accepted sacrifice.

MATILDA.

No more.

Praise undeserv'd, what is it but reproach?

(This maid wou'd seem less noble than she is)

Aside.

How must I call thee, stranger?

EDWINA.

Athelina.

(O heav'nly god of truth, be not extreme

With thine offending creature, but accept

Necessity my plea.)

Aside.

MATILDA.

Fair Athelina,

Such welcome as these angry times allow,

Freely thou hast: Ours is no life of ease;

We must awake before the morning dawn,

Or look to have our slumbers broke tomorrow,

When these vast armies which thou fee'st shall join,

Rending heav'n's concave with their rival shouts

In terrible confliction.

EDWINA.

Power supreme!

Whose word can bid the gathering clouds disperse,

Smooth the vext bosom of the furrow'd sea,

And chain the stubborn and contentious winds,

When they unseat the everlasting rocks

And cast them to the sky, wilt thou permit

Thy creature man thus to deface thy works?

Or is he stronger and in less controul

Than these fierce elements?

MATILDA.

Banish complaint,

Take hope into thy heart, and every thought

Drive far away, that can infect the mind

With fear's unnerved ague. 'Tis the cause,

The cause, which sanctifies the warrior's zeal;

It is our country's just maternal claim

On all her sons to fight in her defence.

EDWINA.

I will not whisper to the babbling winds

My ill-tim'd fears, but hush them in my breast,

And smile on sorrow, tho' my sad heart break.

MATILDA.

Ah, am not I a woman like thyself?

Doth thy heart tremble for a brother's life,

And shall a father's plant no cares in mine?

What hast thou more at stake, unless perchance

Thy flocks and herds in yon sequester'd vale,

Thy peaceful calm content outweighs a crown.

EDWINA.

Ah, Edmund, Edmund, why did'st thou forsake me?

MATILDA.

Whom dost thou name?

EDWINA.

I pray you pardon me,

The sad remembrance of an absent friend

Drew after it a short unheeded sigh,

The last which I will utter.

MATILDA.

Much I fear

Thou hast untold afflictions, secret griefs,

Which swell that bosom and provoke those sighs.

But, come, thy tender frame demands repose,

And these kind friends will lead thee to their tents.

Tomorrow, virgins, we must teach our throats

A loftier strain, and to the sounding harp

With songs of victory hail the rising morn.

End of the Second Act.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Scene as before.

EDWIN and WALTHEOF.

WALTHEOF.

LO, he hath dropt the curtain of his tent,

Which tokens privacy: Duncan is there;

I have arm'd the fiery zealot for the charge

With all the stars of heaven at his command,

To rouse the sleeping conscience of the king:

That done, my turn succeeds to mount the breach

Where superstition enter'd, whelm his soul

With Edgar's wrongs, and then 'twixt hope and fear

Fix this fair project.

EDWIN.

Oh beware, Lord Waltheof,

In Edgar's veins runs the last hallow'd stream

Of royal Alfred's blood.

WALTHEOF.

What can defeat us?

Matilda's passion makes our purpose sure;

And for the King—but hark, he's coming forth—

Exeunt.

DUNCAN comes hastily out of the tent, followed by the King.

KING.

Stay, Duncan, stay!

DUNCAN.

Let me come forth.

KING.

Oh, speak,

Oh answer me this once, prophetic Seer,

Shall we go forth and conquer?

DUNCAN.

Man of sin,

Conquer thyself, take arms against ambition,

Drive that invader from thy heart, then talk

Of setting England free.

KING.

What is my sin?

DUNCAN.

And dost thou ask? was it a trivial thing

From this fair vineyard to thrust out the heir,

And rule by spoil and rapine?

KING.

I have sinn'd;

Yet I've not slain him; still young Edgar lives.

DUNCAN.

Lives he and dost thou reign? Tho' thou shou'dst bribe

Legions of holy men to weary Heaven

Early and late with never-ceasing prayers,

Vain were their suit. Now mark me—All night long

From setting to the rising sun I watcht,

And on my aged knees put up loud prayers

And frequent for this hapless country's sake—

HAROLD.

Heav'n grant thy prayers! say, what declare the signs?

DUNCAN.

Ev'n in that moment when the midnight sphere

Central was pois'd, and yesterday expir'd,

On the left shoulder of the northern bear

Thy natal star arose! rayless and dim

And watery pale the horoscope appear'd,

While from the threat'ning East the hostile Moon

Push'd thee with adverse horns, red-mailed Mars

Flam'd in his planetary house, and scoul'd

With stellar rage askaunt.

KING.

Disastrous signs!

What shall I do?

DUNCAN.

Repent!

KING.

With heart abash'd

And low as to the dust I bow my head

To heav'n's rebuke and thine—What more? Oh speak!

DUNCAN.

"Fight not till Edgar's found"—

KING.

Till Edgar's found?

But when and where? proceed.

DUNCAN.

"Thou hast a daughter"—

I can no more: Who follows shall expound;

What he shall counsel, that pursue and prosper!

Exit Duncan.

KING alone.

Fight not till Edgar's found!—So much is perfect:

Thou hast a daughter—there the prophet ceas'd;

Who follows shall expound—Thus I am left.

This is thy fruit, Ambition; thus it seems

Possessions by ill deeds obtain'd, by worse

Must be upheld or lost; such league and concord

T••ngs vicious hold, that trespassing in one,

We must offend in all; woe then to him,

Who from his neighbour's heap purloins a grain,

Yea but one grain; with such swift consequence

Crime follows crime, that none shall dare to say,

This and no more!

WALTHEOF enters unobserv'd by HAROLD.

WALTHEOF.

Thus Israel's monarch stood,

With eyes so wedded to the pensive earth,

When at the fable's close his conscience smote him,

While the stern messenger of God pronounc'd,

Thou art the man!

KING.

Waltheof!

WALTHEOF.

What wou'd my liege?

KING.

Approach! in truth thou'rt welcome. I have seen

The old divining hermit, whom we met

Upon the eve of Standford's bloody day,

When Halfager with his Norwegian bands,

And traitrous Tosti fell beneath our swords.

WALTHEOF.

And gives he victory still?

KING.

Atonement now

Is all his theme, and penitence for wrongs

To Edgar done.

WALTHEOF.

Hence with such idle dreamers!

What are the visions of the cloyster'd monk,

The hermit's phrensy, or the coward calls

Of backning Conscience to ambition's charms?

KING.

Ambition's charms! Accursed be the hour

When first they caught my weak unwary heart!

Full in my view the stately phantom stood,

Her stature charm'd me and the dazling height

Fir'd my young blood! I sprung to her embrace;

The distance vanish'd and the steep ascent

Sunk at the touch; she with dissembling smiles

And meretricious glances met my joys;

Upon my head she plac'd a kingly crown;

But in the moment drew a ponyard forth,

And plung'd it in my heart.

WALTHEOF.

Ah, who shall envy

Another's greatness; call another blest,

When thus a king complains?

KING.

I tell thee, Waltheof,

Had I the world at will, I'd yield it up

To be at peace with heav'n.

WALTHEOF.

Alas, my liege,

Are there no gentler terms of peace with heav'n?

Methinks—but I offend perhaps and press

On too high matters—

KING.

I conjure thee speak:

My doom is on thy lips; 'tis thou alone

That can'st expound my fate.

WALTHEOF.

Wou'dst thou atone

For wrongs to Edgar done, and purge thy soul

From it's contracted guilt, Thou hast—

KING.

Proceed—

Nor rack me with suspense.

WALTHEOF.

Thou hast a daughter—

KING.

What follows? there the prophet ceas'd— proceed.

WALTHEOF.

And need I add the rest? Edgar—Matilda—

How those soft names unite! there's music in them,

Might make the angriest star in heav'n propitious.

KING.

Join them; espouse them!—is it thus you counsel?

WALTHEOF.

If thus it please thee; think it else a sound,

Which dies and is forgot.

KING.

Come to my bosom;

Thy voice to me is as the voice of heaven:

It shall be so; Edgar shall wed Matilda;

My darling child sure will obey and bless me.

Men's hearts shall be mine own; these factious lords

Will all come in—

WALTHEOF.

Duncan shall chide no more—

KING.

My country shall be sav'd—but where is Edgar?

Now by the virgin mother of our Lord,

A bow shall not be bent against the foe,

Nor a stone vollied from the slinger's arm

'Till Edgar shall be found.

WALTHEOF.

Then, ere the star

Of evening shall arise, expect him here.

KING.

May I believe thee?

WALTHEOF.

If I bring him not,

Let my head answer.

KING.

I am whole again:

Now I have divination on my side;

Fight not, the prophet cried, 'till Edgar's found.

Lo! he is found, I may both fight and conquer.

O Waltheof, I do surely think that God

To wise and holy men sometimes reveals

A portion of his councils: Here we part—

I to Matilda; you in search of Edgar;

Whom if you bring, I live but to reward you.

Exit.

WALTHEOF alone.

Thus do I ever make all men mine own,

And still conforming to these changeful times,

Like ancient Janus double-fac'd, at once

Follow the setting, meet the rising sun.

Earl EDWIN enters.

Welcome, brave lord, rais'd by the fairest hand

In England's Isle your prince ascends the throne:

Harold by Duncan's holy arts prepar'd

With greedy joy adopts the royal youth.

EDWIN.

Thanks, pow'rful superstition, this atones

For all the mischief thou hast wrought on earth!

WALTHEOF.

Now in this awful interim, whilst dread

And trembling expectation hangs on all,

Oh let us bring the light of England forth!

So shines the day-star out, after rude storms

Have shook the palsied night, and high in air

Hangs forth his glittering lamp to chear the world;

At sight whereof the guilty waves subside,

And the vext spirits of the deep disperse.

EDWIN.

Would'st thou disclose the prince?

WALTHEOF.

Else all is lost;

Vain is our hope, our reconcilement void,

The battle's lost, and England is no more.

EDWIN.

Let me reflect—Suppose that I reveal'd

His passion for Edwina—

Aside.

WALTHEOF.

Doubt not, Edwin,

Nor for an empty scruple cast away

This sacred moment, upon which depends

All that is dear, our king's, our country's fate,

Fame, virtue, freedom, all that we esteem

Beneath the skies, all we expect above.

EDWIN.

Go! to thy charge, O Waltheof, I commit

The fate of Edgar and of England; Go!

Yet stay—resolve me, hast thou weigh'd the danger?

Hast thou with wary eye lookt thro' the heart

Of this ambitious man? Art thou right, sure

There's no dissimulation lurking there?

Swear to me this, as thou hast hope in heaven,

And I will yield the prince.

WALTHEOF.

So heaven to me

Its loving mercy deal, as I believe

In very truth there's not on earth that thing

Of Harold so desir'd, as this alliance.

EDWIN.

Go then ere I recall the word, begone!

Tell the usurper—but thy own discretion

Will tutor thee more wisely.—Hence! 'tis past.

Exit Waltheof.

EDGAR enters hastily.

EDGAR.

Edwin, thou'st been conferring with lord Waltheof;

That man hath eyes which penetrate the heart;

And he of all our English nobles here

Knows me for Edgar; make him then thine own;

Print on his lips the seal of holy faith,

And keep my name sacred as heav'n's own records

Lockt in thy breast.

EDWIN.

Prince, dost thou love thy country?

Wou'd'st thou preserve her matrons from dishonor,

Her youth from slavish bonds and chace these spoilers

From her affrighted shore?

EDGAR.

Wou'd I? just heav'n

Thou know'st what I have done, and thou can'st tell

What more that spirit thou hast giv'n wou'd do.

EDWIN.

Nay, 'tis no irksome task. No toil, no danger,

But joy and love and glory crown the deed.

EDGAR.

No more, but to the point.

EDWIN.

In one plain word

Thus then I open all thy fate—Matilda!—

Nay start not, Sir—thy tried and loving servant,

Edwin, thy ever faithful creature tells thee

That thou must wed Matilda.

EDGAR.

Hah! must wed!

What if I love her not?

EDWIN.

All men must love her.

EDGAR.

Must wed, must love! Away! Did the great master

Put in thy hand those fine and secret springs,

Which guide the various movements of the soul?

Rouse it to hate, or melt it into love?

No, there is that in every human breast,

Which heav'n made free and tyrants cannot reach.

EDWIN.

Wilt thou not meet the hand that lifts thee up

From low despair and seats thee on a throne?

EDGAR.

Perish ambition! perish every hope

Rather than this should be!

EDWIN.

Go then, ye sons

Of freedom, go! your sacred birthright fell

To Norman masters; hence, like scatter'd sheep

Without a shepherd, for there's none to watch

But hirelings; he, the master of the flock,

Shrinks from his duty and forsakes the fold.

EDGAR.

Edwin, this patriot rage becomes thee well,

But let me glory in my choice, the crown,

Nay, was it mine, the world wou'd be Edwina's:

And know, I'd rather be the roving kern,

That prints Arabia's sands with burning feet,

And send my heart amidst the tawny tribes

To fix where love shou'd point, than be a king

To wed as sordid policy prescribes.

Exit.

EDWIN alone.

Death to my hopes, he has no soul for empire.

Heav'ns! that a man born for a nation's glory,

Can sell his birthright at so vile a price,

For such a toy as beauty!—O Edwina,

(And must I call thee sister?) fatal syren,

Thou hast done this: If Waltheof sees the King

Edgar is lost; that, that must be prevented

With my best speed, for oh! I love him still,

Still my heart tells me I wou'd die to save him.

Exit.

MATILDA and EDWINA.

MATILDA.

A little further yet—I see you wonder

Why I have brought you to this place apart:

It is because a sympathy of soul

Draws and unites me to you; 'tis because

There sits a weeping cherub in your eyes,

That silently demands why I am sad,

And I must speak to it: The worldly-wise,

Who slowly climb by cold degrees to friendship,

Such are my scorn; at sight of Athelina

Affection from my breast sprung forth at once

Mature as Pallas from the brain of Jove.

EDWINA.

Your bounty, like the sun, warms where it shines.

And what it feels, inspires.

MATILDA.

O Athelina,

I am ordain'd to misery, soul-enslav'd

And sentenc'd sore against the heart's protest

To wed and be a wretch.

EDWINA.

And who compels

Matilda! victim-like what tyrant drags thee

As to a pagan altar, there to offer

Constrain'd obeisance, and put on the vow

As slaves do fetters with an aking heart?

MATILDA.

So wills my father; never till this hour

Did I behold him so possess'd with passion,

So terrible in wrath.

EDWINA.

O shame to nature!

And what is he 'mongst Europe's kings so great,

That you of force must wed?

MATILDA.

Nor great is he,

Nor number'd amongst Europe's kings, but one,

Of whose inheritance there is not left,

Save the free air he breathes, and one faint spark

Of sickly hope, that visits his sad heart

To rack it with recollection of lost right.

EDWINA.

What do I hear?

MATILDA.

Nay thou can'st never guess him;

The last, the lowest in thy thoughts—

EDWINA.

Indeed!

MATILDA.

To sum up my afflictions in a word,

'Tis Edgar Atheling.

EDWINA.

Heav'ns grace forbid it!

Have they discover'd him?

MATILDA.

Who; What's discover'd?

EDWINA.

Perish the medling politic contriver,

Who set this mischief going!—Oh if Edgar—

MATILDA.

Who talks, who thinks of Edgar? Thou'rt possest.

EDWINA.

Who can be patient and yet hear such things?

The king commands! what then? will he command

The soul and it's affections? Dearest lady,

Your father tho' he be, is he so great

As to give law to nature?

MATILDA.

I am fixt:

Therefore be patient; had he askt my life,

I wou'd obey and grant it, but my heart

That is another's; I cannot bestow

What I do not possess.

EDWINA.

Then you'll not wed—

MATILDA.

To Edgar never, be assur'd of that.

EDWINA.

Oh 'tis a deed will chronicle your name

In fame's eternal records; you disdain

To make a lying contract with your lips

And swerve with your affections; you are fixt;

You love another: Oh, may he you love,

(Kneeling I make it my most ardent prayer)

Be your reward and glory; live for you,

And you alone; and may you meet delights,

Pure as your virtue, lasting as your truth!

MATILDA.

Kind Athelina, thanks? bear with my weakness,

And let me tell thee all my love's fond story

From the first hour I met him; the bright sun,

Smote on his helm, which shot a fiery gleam,

That dazzled all the plain; before his troop,

Arm'd at all points, upon a snow-white steed

Graceful he rode; invention never yok'd

A fairer courser to Apollo's car,

When with the zephyrs and the rosy hours

Thro' heav'n's bright portal he ascends the east,

And on his beamy forehead brings the morn.

EDWINA.

A snow-white steed! New terrors strike my soul.

Aside.

MATILDA.

At sight of me he stopt, and from his steed

Active and feathery-light he leapt to earth.

EDWINA.

Give me your pardon; serves he in this camp?

MATILDA.

Yes, but report prevails, he left the camp

Last night o' th' sudden; and this morn, 'tis sad,

Being return'd, in presence of the King,

Some proud high-stomach'd lords did sharply urge

And whet him to much rage; him and his friend

Earl Edwin.—

EDWINA.

Hah! 'tis he.

Aside.

MATILDA.

Alas, what shakes you?

You start and tremble, and your up-cast eyes

Cling to heav'n's throne: Know you the youth I speak of?

EDWINA.

As yet you have not told his name.

MATILLA.

'Tis Edmund.

EDWINA.

I had a friend and Edmund was his name,

But now that name's no more.

MATILDA.

You had a friend—

I knew it, Athelina; yes I saw,

I saw your sorrows and I lov'd you for them;

Your friend is now no more—Alas! Tomorrow

May lay my Edmund low as your's; but I,

I shall not live, as thou hast liv'd, to tell it.

Oh, were he Edgar, had he Edgar's birth,

My young, unknown, untitled, blooming rustic,

Did his blood flow—but what of that? My father

Reigns tho' a subject born, and so shall Edmund,

If virtue hath an interest in heaven,

And England's throne outstands tomorrow's storm.

EDWINA.

Indeed!

MATILDA.

No power can stir me.

EDWINA.

What if Edmund,

What if the youth you love perchance hath made

Some humbler fair his choice—

MATILDA.

Perish the thought,

It brings distraction with it: I command you

Not to suppose he can prefer another;

I took you for my comforter, and lo

You fix a scorpion to my breast.

EDWINA.

A scorpion!

I pray you be not angry; I wou'd kneel

And beg a blessing for you; but alas,

Leaden affliction lies so heavy on me,

Imagination cannot stretch a wing

To raise me from the dust.

MATILDA.

Nay, now you melt me;

Prithee go in, good maid, I am right sorry

I spake so harshly to you: Do not weep,

For my sake do not—yet 'tis ever thus,

When the fond thought of some departed friend

Bursts unawares from memory's gushing fount,

And in a flood of sorrow whelms the soul.

Exeunt,

End of the Third Act.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

EDWIN and WALTHEOF.

EDWIN.

LORD Waltheof, if thou hast not yet disclos'd

The royal youth, forbear, I do revoke

The word I gave thee.—

WALTHEOF.

Why, on what pretence?

EDWIN.

Edgar commands it; he disclaims ambition

And will not wed Matilda.

WALTHEOF.

Will not wed?

Edgar, the most forlorn lost thing on earth,

Not wed Matilda? Strengthen my belief,

Some wonder-working power! It cannot be.

EDWIN.

By heav'n that knows my heart, I have assail'd him

With words, tears, menaces, entreaties, pray'rs;

But all all fruitless: he is fixt.

WALTHEOF.

For shame!

Some little grov'ling passion lurks about him,

Some vulgar village wench, whose ruddy health

And rustic manners fit his narrow soul,

And kindle something he mistakes for love.

EDWIN.

Restrain yourself, my lord; your rage transports you,

And yet to show I scorn a mean disguise,

I own, in bitterness of soul I own it,

Your charge in part is true; there is a maid,

But not of low degree, whom Edgar loves,

Fatally loves, but not of rustic manners

Or name ignoble.

WALTHEOF.

Whosoe'er she be,

Evil betide her beauty! she hath poison'd

The dearest hopes of a most blessed creature;

Accursed as she is, she hath undone

The happiness of one, with whom compar'd

She were an aethiop.

EDWIN.

Peace, unholy railer,

You know not whom you curse—she is my sister.

WALTHEOF.

Thy sister! Ah, is this well done, my lord?

Thus am I us'd? thus like your basest lacquey,

Call'd and recall'd and fool'd at pleasure? death!

I stand for Harold; him I serve; if Edgar

Fondly prefers thy sister to the crown

Of England and Matilda, be it so;

Let Edgar so declare it to the king,

I shall fulfil my promise.

EDWIN.

How, betrayer!

You pass no more this way but thro' my guard.

You stand for Harold, you; for Justice I,

Draws his sword.

For suffering innocence, for truth and Edgar.

WALTHEOF.

No more; put up your sword; the king advances:

Thus to be found were death to both.

Exit.

EDWIN.

Away!

It is my cause that conquers, not my sword.

Exit.

The KING enters follow'd by EDGAR.

KING.

Now if indeed thou art that loving friend

Of Edgar Atheling, which fame reports thee,

Lend me thy patient ear. Thou'rt not to learn,

How, when his grandsire good king Edmund died,

Our English nobles put him from his right;

And me a subject born, earl Goodwyn's son,

Call'd to the vacant throne; so call'd, of force

Obey'd I them, and by a king's best title,

My subjects free election, took the crown.

EDGAR.

And took you peace withal and fair content

And conscious rectitude? You took the crown!

So would not I, tho' it had brought dominion

Wide as the world. Have you sweet sleep at nights?

Do no ill-omen'd visions haunt your couch,

And smile the eyelids of the morn upon you,

When you salute the light?

KING.

Urge me no further:

I see thou'rt noble, and that manly plainness,

Which some wou'd shrink from, knits me closer to thee:

Nay I will own thou hast call'd up a thought,

Which like unweildy armour weighs me down.

I do perceive shame and remorse are handmaids,

That wait on guilt, as darkness on the night.

EDGAR.

Methinks there needs no oracle for this;

To tell me man is cruel, false, ambitious,

Full of gross appetency and unjust,

Is to say man is man, a general truth,

To which your meanest centinel shall witness

As amply as myself: call in your camp,

Our conference needs no privacy; you say

Heaven goads the guilty breast, and well you say,

For goad it shall, or heav'n must not be heaven.

KING.

Give me thy patience: what thou yet hast heard,

Think but the prelude to more weighty matter.

I have a daughter—need I call her fair,

Virtuous and full of grace?—my realm's sole heiress:

Her, in respect of his descended right,

Tho' fortune-wreckt and bankrupt ev'n in hope,

Edgar shall wed.

EDGAR.

Shall wed?

KING.

Hah! dost thou pause?

EDGAR.

No, if affection moves at thy command,

And love must follow where ambition points,

Edgar shall wed Matilda.

KING.

This to me?

EDGAR.

But if love owns no law but of the heart;

And if perchance some humbler maid hath drawn

Such vows from Edgar's lips, as honour frames

And fond believing innocence admits,

Then—

KING.

What then?

EDGAR.

Not upon the peopled earth,

No, nor above the clouds resides that power,

Can wrench the conscious witness from his heart,

And say to Edgar he shall wed Matilda.

KING.

What, shall a needy outlaw talk of love?

A beggar plead affections and reject

Her, to whom Europe's kings have knelt in vain?

EDGAR.

Yes, for since beggars have aspir'd to crowns,

Kings have declin'd to beggars.

KING.

Hence, audacious,

Nor feign for Edgar, what were Edgar present

And known he dare not for his life avow.

EDGAR.

Know then 'tis Edgar speaks, 'tis Atheling

Rejects your offer'd terms, with scorn rejects them.

KING.

Thou Edgar!

EDGAR.

I am Edgar.

KING.

Guards! arrest him.

Guards advance.

Yet stay; a moment's pause: Let me be calm;

Collect thy scatter'd thoughts; we yet are friends.

EDGAR.

No, when I league with guilt and yield to fear

What honour shou'd withhold, heav'n shall meet hell,

Things the most fierce and opposite in nature

Shall start from their extremes and band together.

Fly to thy guards, defenceless and embay'd,

With only truth and justice on my side,

Both naked, both unarm'd, I do defy thee.

KING.

Dost thou defy me? take back thy defiance,

With death to better it.

As Harold is giving the signal to the guard for arresting Edgar, Matilda enters hastily.

MATILDA.

Health to my father!

Why dart thine eyes such angry lightnings forth?

Why stand these guards like hounds upon the slip?

Is this their victim? ah! can he offend?

Never look'd guilt like him; he errs perhaps

And with too bold a speech affronts the ear

Of majesty; a stranger is not bound

To all a subject's forms: Let me prevail;

Send him aside and hear thy daughter speak.

KING.

My daughter shall be heard; is there a thing

I ever yet denied thee? Lead him off,

And wait our pleasure. —Hah! that look hath language.

As the guard lead off Edgar, Matilda looks tenderly at him.

Matilda, know'st thou him thou dost survey

With such fond scrutiny?

MATILDA.

You bade me know him,

Protect and cherish; by his youthful graces

Conquer'd yourself, you turn'd them upon me:

And now what cause alas! provokes this change?

KING.

Thou art the cause; 'tis for thy sake he dies.

MATILDA.

Die for my sake? Not if his death cou'd add

Myriads of years to my extended life,

And every year bring myriads of delights.

KING.

These are empassion'd words: Alas, my child,

If thou dost love this youth—

MATILDA.

Thou wilt destroy him;

It is the savage policy of kings.

KING.

Thou lov'st him then—confess.

MATILDA.

To desperation,

To death.

KING.

Then heaven cannot afflict thee deeper.

MATILDA.

I know it, but your daughter, Sir, can die:

I speak for nature; mine is not a heart,

That can transfer affection; tear him hence,

You tear life too, there is no room for Edgar.

KING.

Say'st thou for Edgar? He, that youth is Edgar.

MATILDA. Harold catches her, as she is falling, in his arms. After a pause she proceeds.

Save me, support me!—O my much-lov'd father,

If he, that youth be Edgar, wou'dst thou kill

Him that shall be my husband.

KING.

What but killing

Merits that monster, who rejects Matilda?

MATILDA.

Rejects Matilda? Am I then rejected?

Oh that some friend had plung'd a dagger here,

Ere I had met this moment!

KING.

Nay, be patient.

MATILDA.

Let me behold him and I will be patient.

Was thine ear faithful? did no wrongs provoke him?

I found thee high in wrath, he too was angry,

He was, he was and spake he knew not what.

KING.

Grant heav'n he did! I am no practis'd suitor,

And undeserv'd misfortune makes men proud.

Hoa, guards!—produce the youth you have in charge.

May he who arm'd thine eyes, inspire thy lips!

See where he comes—

Exit King.

EDGAR enters guarded.

Prince, (so I now must call you)

If, while it pleas'd you to assume the name

And simple stile of a plain Scottish knight,

Friendship for Edmund caus'd me to omit

What Edgar's high pretensions might have claim'd,

I shall expect your pardon.

EDGAR.

Take my thanks,

For they are much thy due.

MATILDA.

Nay I am told

You are too proud to be Matilda's debtor,

Crowns, by her hand presented, you reject

And scorn the encumber'd boon: Vindictive Edgar,

Is it your sport to steal away our hearts,

Like heathen Jove, beneath a borrow'd form,

Then reassume the god, ascend your skies,

And leave the slighted maid to die with weeping?

EDGAR.

What shall I say? that I disclaim ambition?

That long estrang'd and exil'd from my realm,

My heart forgets its home and draws no sighs,

Which point to England and my native right?

Or with an eye of cold philosophy

Shall I affect to view that radiant form,

And not confess its charms? I feel their power,

But cannot give that heart which is another's.

MATILDA.

Another's! where, in what proud realm is found

She, from whose sight diminish'd rivals shrink,

And leave the choice of all mankind to her?

EDGAR.

In rural silence dwells the maid I love,

With her in some lone corner of your isle,

Far from ambition's walk, let me reside,

Nor shake the quiet of Matilda's soul.

MATILDA.

Sure of all forms, which cruelty assumes,

Humility can most insult mankind:

Away, nor cheat me with these fairy scenes;

There is no beauty in our isle for Edgar,

No soft sequester'd maid, no truth, no love,

Save what this fond rejected heart contains.

EDGAR.

Thus urg'd, t'were meanness to withhold the truth:

In Hackley's shades a Sylvan goddess holds

Her lonely haunts; Edwina is her name;

Earl Edwin's sister—

MATILDA.

Take her, and be still

That abject thing thou art; take Edwin's sister,

A subject beauty fits a subject's choice.

Go to my father, tell him thou hast pierc'd

His daughter's heart, and give him stab for stab:

Away, away! thou hast thy full revenge.

EDGAR.

Revenge! my heart disclaims it: O Matilda!

My prayers—I can no more—farewel for ever!

Exit.

As EDGAR is parting from MATILDA, EDWINA enters.

EDWINA.

'Tis Edgar!—Hah, he parts and sees me not.

MATILDA.

Stay, Athelina, turn, beloved maid,

Turn from that monster thine abhorrent eyes;

Approach and save me!

EDWINA.

What afflicts Matilda?

MATILDA.

And is there need of words? break, break, my heart!

Open thou prison-house of the soul, dissolve

And give a wretched captive it's release!

EDWINA.

Be calm.

MATILDA.

As death. Why look'd you on that youth?

EDWINA.

I look'd not on his face.

MATILDA.

Ah if thou had'st,

If thou had'st look'd, thou woud'st have lov'd like me,

And like me been a wretch.

EDWINA.

Alas, I pity thee.

MATILDA.

Then thou hast lov'd, for love will teach thee pity.

Coud'st thou believe it, he, (O heaven!) that Edmund,

Whose very name's a lye; that Edgar Atheling

For Edwin's sister slights, rejects Matilda;

A princess for a clown; me for Edwina.

Strike her smooth form all o'er with lep'rous blanes,

Ye sprites, whom magic incantations charm!

Shake her with palsied ugliness, ye demons,

And so present her to her lover's arms

To kill him with the touch.—O Athelina,

If thou dost love me join and aid the curse!

EDWINA.

Shall I curse her, who never hath offended?

MATILDA.

Turn then on him thy deepest direst curse;

Call up the damn'd, and darken heav'n with spells.

EDWINA.

Mercy forbid!

MATILDA.

No mercy, but revenge:

Give me revenge. He dies.

EDWINA.

Ah take my life:

Lo, at thy feet a wretched virgin kneels

And prays for mercy.

MATILDA.

Hence! you'll anger me.

EDWINA.

I wou'd I cou'd: Turn thy revenge on me;

But spare my Edgar's life.

MATILDA.

Thy Edgar say'st thou?

Who and what art thou? Speak.

EDWINA.

I am Edwina.

MATILDA.

What do I hear? thou art—

EDWINA.

I am Edwina:

Here is that bosom thou wou'dst plant with sores

And spotted leprosy, that fatal form,

Which thou wou'dst rouse the demons up from hell,

To strike with palsied ugliness; behold!—

I am the wretch whom thou didst call to aid

Thy curse on Edgar: Mark how I will curse him.

O all ye saints and angels, every spirit

Kneeling.

Who wing'st this nether air with pinions dipt

In heav'n's etherial dew, make him your care,

And, gathering o'er his head your plumed band,

Form a celestial canopy above him

To fence off this destroyer!

MATILDA.

Peace, deceiver:

Thy prayers are vain; he dies this moment.—

She is going.

EDWINA.

Stay!

Tho' not in pity, yet in honour hear me:

I ask no mercy; prayers indeed are vain;

Edwina pleads not ev'n for Edgar's life:

For if when I, the fatal cause of all,

Lye at thy feet a bloody breathless corse,

Thy rage shou'd still demand his guiltless life,

Who shall oppose it? All that I shall do,

All that I can, is thus—to die for Edgar.

Offers to kill herself, but is prevented by Matilda.

MATILDA.

Stop thy rash hand; thou shalt not die: This courage

Dazzles my rage; I stiffen with surprise;

Thy presence, like the fascinating eye

Of the fixt basilisk, takes motion from me

And roots me in the earth—

EDWINA.

What shall I say?

I own thee wretched and myself the cause:

But do not let remorseless fury rend

The god from out thine heart, which nature's hand

Set up, as in a shrine of human kindness,

That misery like mine might find a shelter.

MATILDA.

No more; I once had pity; the poor bird,

Which kills herself to feed her gaping brood,

Was not more pitiful; but it is past;

The wolf hath slain the lamb; bloody revenge

Hath thrust out all remorse—I must have vengeance.

EDWINA.

Take it; 'tis in thine hand—Take full revenge:

Thou hast a dagger, strike to Edgar's heart;

Lay his lov'd form a breathless corse before thee,

And sate thy thirst for vengeance—Hah! 'tis past—

Heaven opens in thine eyes.

MATILDA.

'Tis in my heart:

I feel its breath, like dew, descend upon me;

Amidst the whirl of passion Mercy sits,

And whispers patience in a voice so charming,

To hear is to obey—Thy Edgar lives.

EDWINA.

Lives he? May angels waft the word to heaven,

And bring a blessing thence!

MATILDA.

Stay not to thank me,

Bear from my sight that too-engaging form:

Leave me to my afflictions, they'll stay with me,

And be my close companions—Fare thee well!

EDWINA.

Farewel, thou suffering virtue! Oh, remember,

Remember Edgar—

Exit Edwina.

MATILDA.

Whither was I sinking,

When this bright deed restor'd me? So the wretch

With felon steps, on murderous act intent,

Steals on the sleeping night; when if at once

Launch'd from sulphureous clouds the vollied fires

Quick-glancing burst upon his ruffian head

With dazzling bright suffusion, horror-seiz'd,

Trembling, aghast he starts, lets fall the knife

Ev'n at the victim's throat and flies—as I do.

Exeunt severally.

End of the Fourth Act.

ACT V.

Harold is discover'd in his Tent before break of Day; the Guards in various Attitudes resting on their Arms: He rises from his Couch and advances.

KING.

WHEN will this night have end? arise, break forth;

I'm weary of invoking thee, O sun!

Lo, in yon red'ning cloud I see thee mount;

Not as thou'rt wont with odour-breathing gales,

Serene and marshall'd by the dancing hours

Up to the laughing East; but warrior-like

With ratling quiver and loud stormy march

And bloody ensigns, by the furies rear'd

Aloft and floating in the flecker'd sky:

So shall the day be suited to its deeds.

A trumpet.

Stand to your arms there, soldiers! Up, awake!

The guards rise.

Earl of MERCIA enters.

MERCIA.

Hail to my king and brother! on my knee

I beg a boon.

KING.

What is it, gallant Mercia?

MERCIA.

The leading of the Kentishmen.

KING.

'Tis thine:

Draw the firm phalanx forth; 'tis thine to guide

The thunder of the war: There be thy post.

Farewel! The word is victory or death.

Exit Mercia. He speaks to one of the Guard.

Come hither, Soldier! haste thou to lord Reginald,

Bid him to plant his bowmen in the copse,

Which flanks the Norman camp, he knows the place;

Thence as our foes advance with level front

And regulated files, he may perplex

And gall their battle—Take this ensign, Soldier,

In Standford's fight I saw thee bravely win it,

Defend it now as bravely.

SOLDIER.

With my life.

Exit Soldier.

WALTHEOF enters.

WALTHEOF.

Health and a happy morn to England's king!

Would heav'n, that all our warriors like their chief

Had thus outstript the sun!

KING.

Where is the promise,

With which so high you fed my pamper'd hope?

Edgar rejects my suit: no power can move him.

WALTHEOF.

Alas, you are too mild.

KING.

He's deaf to reason.

WALTHEOF.

Be deaf to him, O Heaven, when he does kneel

And cry for mercy! Put your terrors forth,

My life upon't he yields.

KING.

Set him before us.

Exit Waltheof.

EDGAR enters guarded.

EDGAR.

Your messenger conven'd me to your tent;

Lo, I expect your pleasure.

KING.

Mark me then,

While to thy free election I hold up

Two different mirrors; in the one you see

The fair presentment of a kingly crown,

Where love and beauty weave the nuptial knot,

That binds it to thy brow; in plainer terms,

My daughter and my empire wait thy choice.

EDGAR.

I have a vow noted in heav'n's own volume,

Where saints have witness'd it.

KING.

Oh seize the moment!

If you espouse my daughter I go forth

To certain conquest; from my soul I think

That England's fate now hangs on thy resolve.

Heal then the breaches of the land, my son,

And make us all one heart. Come then, ye nations,

And shroud old Ocean with your hostile sails;

By her own sons defended and belov'd

England shall stand unshaken and secure,

And only fall, when time itself expires.

EDGAR.

Bid me go forth; conduct me to the charge:

Plant me upon the last forlornest hope,

Where the fight burns, where the mad furies toss

Their flaming torches, and wide-wasting death

Up to the ribs in blood, with giant stroke

Widows the nations: thither let me go

To fight, to fall; but never dare to hope

Tho' you'd a Seraph's eloquence to tempt,

A Seraph's truth to vouch for your prediction,

That I wou'd yield my bosom to disgrace,

Cancel the vow which I have given Edwina,

And save my country at my soul's expence.

KING.

Then know, obdurate—

EDGAR.

What?

KING.

My country calls;

Trumpets sound a charge.

'Tis her last awful invocation; hark!

The altar burns; a royal lady waits,

And this her bridal dower: receive it, prince;

He tenders the crown to Edgar.

What can a king give more? What has a father

More dear to offer than his only child?

EDGAR.

Forbear; 'tis mockery when the soul is fixt.

KING.

Then thou art lost—Oh yet preserve thy country!

EDGAR.

My honour and my oath—

KING.

Thy life—

EDGAR.

My love.

KING.

Die then! What hoa! my guards. Strike off his head.

MATILDA enters hastily and interposes herself between EDGAR and the Guards, as they are advancing to seize him

MATILDA.

Strike off his head! By him who made the heavens,

Whose great primaeval interdiction cries

Thro' all creation's round, thou shalt not kill,

I do adjure you stop! The guards fall back.

KING.

What phrensy moves thee?

MATILDA.

Or spare him, or expect to see me fall

And dash my desperate brains.—Upon my knees,

Father, I do beseech thee, grant him life.

NORTHUMBERLAND, SIFFRIC, and other Chiefs enter.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

To horse, dread sir; brace on your beaver strait,

Caparison with speed, and meet the sun,

Who thron'd and beaming on the upland edge,

Stands in his fiery wane with glowing wheels

And panting coursers to behold a scene,

Worth his diurnal round.

KING.

Warriors, lead on!

Tho' hell assume her thousand hideous shapes,

Phantoms and fiends and fierce anatomies

To shake me from my course; tho' Duncan cross me

With auguries and spells, tho' this proud youth

Bid sharp vexation with its wolfish fangs

Harrow my heart, in me is no delay.

For thee, my child, whose intercession turns

Yet once again from this devoted head

The uplifted hand of death, take, since thou wilt,

The thankless life, thou mak'st so much thy care;

And now farewel!

Embracing Matilda.

MATILDA.

The god of battle guide thee!

I will not shame thee with a tear; Farewel!

KING.

Come forth, bright sword; hence, nature, from my heart:

Now take me, England; I am all thine own.

Exit with his train.

MATILDA.

Go, ye brave English; go, as ye are wont,

To glorious conquest: Oh remember, friends,

Ye strike for us, for freedom, for your country.

Angels of victory surround your host

And fight upon your side. Transporting sounds!

A distant shout.

With joyful shoutings they salute their king,

And strike their shields in token of applause.

Edgar!

Turning from the side scene to Edgar.

EDGAR.

Matilda! Arm me with a sword;

Or, like the Decii, self-devoted thus

I'll rush upon the foe.

MATILDA.

Yet e're the shock

Of battle severs us perchance for ever,

Resolve me, had it been my lot to meet thee,

With free affections and a vacant heart,

Cou'd'st thou have deign'd to cast away a thought

On lost Matilda? Ah, Cou'dst thou have lov'd her?

EDGAR.

Born to each grace, with every virtue blest,

How can Matilda ask of Edgar this?

Sure I were lost to every manly feeling,

If honour'd thus, I shou'd forbear to hold,

Whilst memory lives, thy image present here,

And cherish it with gratitude, with love.

MATILDA.

It is enough: Hear, angels, and record it!

Now take this sword; if in yon bleeding ranks

You meet the King, or fainting with his wounds,

Or prest with numbers, think he had a daughter,

And save her father, as she rescued thee.

Matilda is going.

EDGAR.

Ev'n to the teeth of death I will obey thee.

Yet stay! one word—Tis to exact from virtue

More than frail nature warrants; yet thy soul

Is large; Oh say, wilt thou protect Edwina?

MATILDA.

Whilst I have life.

EDGAR.

Then thou art truly great.

MATILDA.

What, know'st thou not Edwina is my guest?

EDGAR.

Edwina here! thy guest!

MATILDA.

One tent contains us:

Beneath a borrow'd name (Oh let the truth

Henceforth be sacred!) she besought protection;

I took her, laid her nearest to my heart,

And fed her with its best, its dearest hopes—

But hark! the battle joins—Farewel for ever.

Exit.

A general charge.

EDGAR.

Live, live and save Edwina! Hark, they shout!

There's victory in the sound. O day and night!

They stop, they turn. Behold, the Normans fly;

I see bright glory flaming in the van;

Tiptoe she stands in skiey-tinctur'd stole,

Her head high-rear'd and pointing to the skies,

With pinions bent for flight: Stay, godlike vision,

And let me fly to snatch—Edwina!

EDWINA enters.

As he is hastening out, EDWINA meets him.

EDWINA.

Edgar!

And do we live to meet? Oh, snatch the moment,

And save thyself and me. Whence this impatience?

Why that disorder'd rolling of thine eye?

What ails thee, prince?

EDGAR.

And can'st thou ask?—Behold!

EDWINA.

O horrible! a scene of death—

EDGAR.

Of glory;

Of fame immortal, of triumphant rapture—

And wou'dst thou hold me here?

She takes hold of his hand.

EDWINA.

Wilt thou forsake me?

EDGAR.

Let go my hand: if you persist, Edwina,

To hold me thus, a thousand, thousand furies,

And each more horrible than death shall haunt me,

'Till phrensy-struck, with mine own hand I seize

This recreant heart and pluck it from my breast.

EDWIN enters hastily.

EDWIN.

Thus art thou found? Thro' deluges of blood,

Launch'd from the noblest veins in all this Isle,

Fighting I sought thee: Fly, ill-fated prince—

EDGAR.

What do I hear? Is it not victory?

EDWIN.

Curse on the strumpet Fortune, she revolts

And sides with Normandy, their seeming flight

Was but a feint; upon the word they halted,

Check'd in their mid career; then wheeling swift

With thick-clos'd files charg'd our disorder'd ranks,

That reel'd upon the shock: A faithless band

Led by Earl Waltheof, that still veering traitor,

Went over to the foe.

EDGAR.

Lives Harold yet?

EDWIN.

From helmet to the heel all red with blood,

And gash'd with glorious wounds, he call'd me to him,

And bade me say, that with his dying breath

To thee and to Matilda he bequeathes

All that is left of England.

EDGAR.

Lead me to him.

EDWINA.

To death as soon.

EDWIN.

Retire to safer ground.

EDGAR.

Retire! shall Edgar fly, whilst Harold fights?

Off, let me go.

EDWINA.

Nay, if my arms can't hold thee—

EDGAR.

O thou soft Syren! take her noble Edwin,

Take my soul's better part before I sink

To infamy—Oh, take her from my heart.

Exit.

EDWINA.

If thou hast love or pity in thy bosom,

Haste and preserve him!

Exit. Edwin.

Oh, this rives my heart.

Earth, earth, receive a wretch.

She falls on the ground.

MATILDA enters with attendants, having discover'd EDWINA on the ground, she advances hastily to her.

MATILDA.

She faints; she falls!

Look up, Edwina! Is it death's resemblance,

Or death itself? she lives. Help me to raise her.

They raise her.

EDWINA.

Matilda!

MATILDA.

Start not! I am yet thy friend.

EDWINA.

Fly then and save—O heaven!

MATILDA.

Thy Edgar—No.

I saw your hero dart into the fight

As the train'd swimmer springs into the flood.

EDWINA.

Art thou a woman?

MATILDA.

Wou'd to heaven I were not!

Then had I grappled to your warrior's side

And struck for England, for my father—Oh!

I lookt but now, and saw a storm of blood,

A raging ocean scatter'd o'er with wrecks:

Fir'd at the sight I snatcht a javelin up

Some warrior's haste had dropt—the feeble weapon

Fell from my woman's hand: Again I lookt,

No English banner floated in the air,

Save where my father fought; revolting nature

Shrunk from the scene, and soon a scalding flood

Of tears burst forth that quench'd these orbs of sight.

EDWINA.

Where shall I turn?

MATILDA.

To death.

EDWINA.

Dreadful resort!

MATILDA.

And yet when Hope, our last kind nursing friend,

Forsakes her patient's couch and dark despair

Puts out that light, which like a nightly beacon

Points to the harbour, where the foundering bark

Of misery may steer, Ah whither then

Shall life's benighted passenger resort,

But to oblivion and the all-covering grave?

EDWINA.

Why then, when death had arm'd my uplifted hand,

Didst thou prevent the blow and bid me live?

MATILDA.

Live but till Edgar falls, then rear the blow,

I'll not prevent it—Hah, what bleeding man!

NORTHUMBERLAND enters, supported by Soldiers.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

A little onward yet—Enough, enough!

Good fellow, hold thy kerchief to my side.

Run one of you and bring me speedy word,

What troops those are, which wilfully maintain

A dying kind of combat; if there's hope,

Make signal with your hand and shout—staunch, staunch my wound—

My curse upon that Norman boar Fitz Hugh,

His tusk has ript my heart-strings; yet I cleft him,

Did I not, soldier?—Soft, for mercy's sake,

Jesu Maria, what a pang was that!

Look out; no sign of hope?—None, none; all's lost—

He smites his breast with anguish. Hence, stand off,

He breaks from the soldiers who support him.

Wide as the grave I rend this bleeding breach.

He tears open his wound.

Fall England! fall Northumberland—'Tis past.

He falls into his soldiers arms and expires.

MATILDA.

Farewel, stout heart! how better thus to fall

By death hewn down, than to outlive the leaf,

And drop a sapless ruin! let me view thee:

Is death no more than this? Why thou, Edwina,

Or I, or any one may do as much.

Life, like a worn-out garment, is cast off

And there's an end: I thank thee for the lesson,

'Twill stand me much in use—bear him away.

The soldiers take off the body.

EDGAR enters with EDWIN and Soldiers.

EDWIN.

He lives, he comes! hence to the winds, my fears;

There's blood upon thy scarf.

EDGAR.

Then it was struck

From Norman veins.

MATILDA.

Where is my father?

EDGAR.

Hah!

Edwin!

EDWIN.

My lord.

EDGAR.

The foe suspends pursuit,

And calls his conquering legions back from slaughter;

Run, Edwin, run and take this ensign with thee;

Here on the craggy summit of the cliff

Wave it aloft, and call the stragglers up

To form upon the heights; these still are ours.

Exit Edwin.

MATILDA.

Where is my father? Where are all the heroes,

Whom I have seen return triumphant home,

With victory eagle-wing'd upon their helms?

EDGAR.

All lost with thousands upon thousands sunk

And swallow'd up in death?

MATILDA.

Death, say'st thou?

EDGAR.

Hearken!

The hireling troops had fled; one native phalanx

Fatally brave yet stood; there deep-engulph'd

Within the Norman host I found thy father,

Mounted like Mars upon a pile of slain:

Frowning he fought, and wore his helmet up,

His batter'd harness at each ghastly sluice

Streaming with blood; life gush'd at every vein;

Yet liv'd he, as in proud despight of nature,

His mighty soul unwilling to forsake

Its princely dwelling; swift as thought I flew;

And as a sturdy churl his pole-axe aim'd

Full at the hero's crest, I sprung upon him

And sheath'd my rapier in the caitiff's throat.

MATILDA.

Didst thou? then thou art faithful. Open wide

And shower your blessings on his head, ye heav'ns!

EDGAR.

A while the fainting hero we upheld,

(For Edwin now had join'd me) but as well

We might have driv'n the mountain cataract

Back to its source, as stemm'd the battle's tide.

I saw the imperial Duke, and with loud insults

Provok'd him to the combat, but in vain;

The pursey braggart now secure of conquest

Rein'd in his steed, and wing'd his squadron round

To cut us from retreat; cold death had stopt

Thy father's heart; ev'n hope itself had died:

'Midst showers of darts we bore him from the field,

And now, supported on his soldiers pikes,

The venerable ruin comes. Behold!

The body of Harold is brought in.

MATILDA.

Soldiers for this last mournful office thanks!

Bear him within the tent, upon the couch

Lay ye the body, spread his mantle o'er him,

And all depart: For this I thank you, Nature,

That when you sent calamity on earth,

And bade it walk o'er all this vale of tears,

You sent deliv'rance also, and with death,

And with a land-mark, bounded its domain,

As open'd an asylum in the grave.

The body is carried into the tent, Matilda follows.

Exit Matilda.

EDWINA.

Lo, where she follows her dead father's body,

She hath a soul that will not bend to grief

And disappointment.

EDGAR.

Haste, beloved maid,

And force her from the body—

Exit Edwina.

Earl SIFFRIC enters.

SIFFRIC.

And dost thou live, brave youth; dost thou survive

Those miracles of valour which I saw,

And blushing saw? for Oh, too sure I wrong'd thee;

Give me thy pardon; thou hast more than conquer'd.

EDGAR.

Siffric, enough! It is not now a time.

For English hands to strike at English hearts,

Else—but 'tis past. Where's old Northumberland;

Where valiant Mercia? Ah! is't so with both?

Earl Siffric makes signal of their death. EDWIN returns with soldiers.

Welcome, brave Edwin! thou bring'st hope for England.

EDWINA comes out of the Tent.

EDWINA.

Horror on horror! when will death have end?

Some fiery dog star reigns and deadly madness

Strikes all below the moon. Scarce had they set

Their mournful burthen down, when •ollowing quick

She rush'd into the tent, and raising up

Her father's mantle, snatcht one eager look;

Then with uplifted eyes and heaving sighs

Seizing his sword with strong determin'd grasp

Plung'd it into her breast. Behold, she comes!

MATILDA enters supported.

MATILDA.

'Tis done! the faithful point hath reach'd my life,

And spoke it's errand fairly: Now, my soul,

Now spread thy wings, and fly.

EDWINA.

O killing sight!

EDGAR.

O deed of horror!

MATILDA.

Hush, no more of that.

Think'st thou the Almighty's mercy shall not reach

To take affliction in? look well at me;

Of friends, crown, country, kinsmen, father rest,

Love-lorn, of reason more than half beguil'd,

Heart-broke and struck from out the book of hope,

What cou'd I do but die?

EDGAR.

Heaven's joys receive thee!

MATILDA.

Amen! the voice is Edgar's, but my eyes

Grow dim, alas, 'tis hard I cannot see thee:

Give me the crown; quick, reach it to my hand.

They bring the crown and present it to Matilda.

Ay, now I have it, shorn of pow'r indeed,

But light'ned of it's cares; Edgar, o'er thee

This radient circle like a cloud may pass,

But thy posterity to latest time

Shall bind it on their brows. Receive it, prince,

And noble as thou art, Oh, spare the dead

Nor stir my father's ashes with thy curse.

Edgar receives the crown.

EDGAR.

Peace to his shade, so heaven my sins forgive

As I thy father.

MATILDA.

'Tis enough: farewel!

Life's storm is past; wave after wave subsides,

The turbid passions sink and all is peace:

Ambition, jealousy, nay love itself,

Last, ling'ring, drops into the grave and dies.

She sinks into the arms of her attendants and expires.

EDGAR.

There fled a mighty soul—Angels, receive it,

And waft it to the mansions of the blest!

And art thou mine?— To the Crown.

Friends, soldiers, subjects now,

Lord Edwin, Siffric, England's brave remains,

I, Edgar Atheling, king Edmund's heir,

Now take this mournful relique of my right.

If you are with me, warriors, strike your sheilds.

Thanks, gallant countrymen!

They strike.

EDWIN.

Lo, on his knee

Edwin salutes thee; king of England, hail!

EDGAR.

Come to my heart, my friend, my more than father!

To Edwin.

SIFFRIC.

Siffric, the convert of thy valour, kneels

And every faculty of head, heart, hand,

To thy free service dedicates.

EDGAR.

Arise!

And take, ('tis all your king can give) my thanks.

And now, my fair betroth'd, reach forth thine hand,

And touch this golden symbol, whilst I swear,

Here standing in the awful eye of heaven,

To share it with Edwina.

EDWINA.

On my knees

I yield thee thanks, whilst before heaven I swear,

Tho' thou hadst nothing to bestow but chains

And beggary and want and torturing stripes

And dungeon darkness, still thy poor Edwina

For thee alone shall live, with thee shall die.

EDGAR.

Now, warriors, how resolve you? View that field;

The Norman, like a lion, swill'd with slaughter,

Sleeps o'er his bloody mess; our scatter'd troops

Collect and form around.

SIFFRIC.

We live in Edgar;

Save the last hope of England and retreat.

EDGAR.

Retreat! shall English warriors hear that word

And from an English king! No, Siffric, never.

Unfurl the Saxon standard! See, my lords,

Twice taken in the fight and twice recover'd,

The hereditary glory lives with Edgar.

Beneath that banner godlike Alfred conquer'd;

Beneath that banner, drench'd in Danish blood,

My grandsire Iron-sided Edmund fought;

Wrench'd from my infant grasp, a bold usurper

Seiz'd it, possest it, died in it's defence:

And shall I, in the tame respect of life,

With close-furl'd ensigns, trailing in the dust,

Halt in the rear of fame? No, gallant English,

Turn not, but as the galled panther turns,

To lick his wounds, and with recruited fury

Spring to the fight afresh: So turn; so stand!

And from this height, ennobled by your valour

Hurl bold defiance to the foe beneath.

Drums, &c.

Information about this book

Title statement

The battle of Hastings: a tragedy. By Richard Cumberland, Esq; As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane.

Cumberland, Richard, 1732-1811.

Publication

Distributor

University of Oxford Text Archive
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ID [ota]

http://ota.ox.ac.uk/id/3834

ID [isbn10]

1106008332

ID [isbn13]

9781106008336

ID [TCP]

K030547.000

ID [BIBNO]

CW3313647525

ID [ECLL]

0642101600

Availability

Distributed by the University of Oxford under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

Source

— The battle of Hastings: a tragedy. By Richard Cumberland, Esq; As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane., Cumberland, Richard, 1732-1811.. [4],92p. ; 8⁰. London :: printed for Edward and Charles Dilly,. 1778.. [Reproduction of original from the British Library.] [English Short Title Catalog, ESTCT21419.] [Electronic data. Farmington Hills, Mich. : Thomson Gale, 2003. Page image (PNG). Digitized image of the microfilm version produced in Woodbridge, CT by Research Publications, 1982-2002 (later known as Primary Source Microfilm, an imprint of the Gale Group).]

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