I Glen. I'm prepared. Lord R. No: I command thee, stay; go alone it never shall be said, : That I took odds to combat mortal man. The noblest vengeance is the most complete. [Exit. [GLENALVON makes some steps to the same side of the stage, listens and speaks. Glen. Demons of death, come settle on my sword, And to a double slaughter guide it home! The lover and the husband both must die. Lorl R. [Behind the scenes.] Draw, villain! draw! Doug, [Without.] Assail me not, Lord Randolph ; Not as thou lovest thyself. Glen. Now is the time [Clashing of swords. [He runs out. 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! O 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 heaven eternal praise! But sure, I saw thee fall. Doug. It was Glenalvon. Just as my arm had master'd Randolph's sword, 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! [DOUGLAS growing more and more faint." Doug. Too soon we part: I have not long been Douglas. O destiny! hardly thou deal'st with me: In low and poor obscurity I've lived Lady R. Has heaven preserved thee for an end like this? Doug. Oh, had I fallen as my brave fathers fell, Turning with fatal arm the tide of battle! Like them I should have smiled and welcomed death; But thus to perish by a villain's hand! Cut off from nature's and from glory's course, Which never mortal was so fond to run! Lady R. Hear, justice, hear! are these the fruits of virtue ? [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 proved, But who shall comfort thee? Lady R. Despair, despair! Doug. Oh, had it pleased high heaven to let me live A little while!-my eyes, that gaze on thee, Grow dim apace!-my mother Enter LORD RANDOLPH and ANNA. [Dies. Lord R. Thy words, thy words of truth have pierced 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. 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. Lord R. But my deliverer's dead! Lady R. [Recovering.] Where am I now? Still in: this wretched world! Grief cannot break a heart so hard as mine. Lord R. Oh, misery! Amidst thy raging grief I must proclaim Lady R. Thy innocence ! Lord R. My guilt Is innocence compared with what thou think'st it. A little while Was I a wife! a mother not so long! What am I now ?--I know.-But I shall be That only whilst I please; for such a son, And such a husband, make a woman bold. [Runs out. [Exit ANNA. Enter ANNA. Anna. My lord! my lord! Lord R. Speak; I can hear of horror. 1 Anna. Horror, indeed! Lord R. Matilda? Anna. Is no more: She ran, she flew like lightning up the hill, Oh, had you seen her last despairing look! Lord R. I will not vent, In vain complaints, the passion of my soul. [Exeunt THE END. Printed by A. and R. Spottiswoode, |