University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—A wild tract of Country on the border of a Wood.
Enter Elswith, in wretched attire, presently followed by Conrad.
Con.
No farther!

Els.
Yes!

Con.
Alas, I can no more!
My lapséd strength constrains my limbs to play
The traitor to you!

Els.
What! and thou fall off?
Well! I am left at last alone! Old man,
Think not that I'd upbraid thee. Thanks to thee
For what thou'st done; for what thou canst not do
No blame to thee, but pity for thee! More
I know my desolation is thy loss
Than mine! Back, prithee, to the hut we've left;
Thou hast strength enough to crawl there.

Con.
What I have
I'll turn to worthier profit. [Makes a violent effort, and snatches hold of her robe.]
Oh! my loved,
My honour'd mistress! do not tempt these wilds,
Where hunger turns its aching eyes around
In vain!—Where prowls, perchance, the savage wolf!
Where—

Els.
Peace!—Talk terror to the dead! Not less
Wouldst thou be heeded. I've a heart as dull,
Except one fear—one hope—to find my Alfred,
Or search for him in vain! There I'm alive!
There, only! Counsel should not come from thee,
Whose tongue persuaded what thy arm enforced,
Desertion of my child! whose fate to avert,
A mother's duty 'twas; or, else, to share!
And now thou'dst urge desertion of his sire!
I wonder not thy limbs are weak—thy heart
Not in the cause! and yet it is a king's!
But thou'rt his subject only; I'm his wife—
So doubly bound to him. Back to the hut!
They'll take compassion on thee! Fare thee well!

Con.
Nay, pause in mercy! See who comes—alas!
Should they be Danes!—Yon thicket will conceal us—
For thy own safety!—Come!—Alas, the help
I fain would give, I stand, myself, in need of!

[They retire.
Enter Edwy, Arthur, and other Saxons.
Edwy.
We've rounded now the forest on the east,
And, by the sun, our friends should meet us soon,
Who gird the other side. A halt, awhile.

Arth.
But should we miss the King—if still he lives
Nor yet is captured, as 'tis rumour'd—He
May pass our band unknown; by none of us
Beheld, except at distance, when, of late,
He marshall'd us, to lead us 'gainst the foe.

Elswith rushes forward.
Els.
Seek ye your king?

Edwy.
Who art thou?

Els.
Friend, your leader,
Until you find him!

Arth.
She's distracted!

Edwy.
Yes.
It can't be reason's light which shines so fierce
In her unquiet eye, which misses naught,
Yet rests on nothing!

Els.
I command you, Sirs,
On your allegiance follow me. Obey
Your queen!

Arth.
Our queen?

Edwy.
Pshaw, Arthur, such a queen,
As frenzy often makes! Come on!—Come on!
Our friends will mock us, should they chance to reach
The point agreed upon before us.

[Edwy and party go out.
Els.
Stay!

Con.
[Appearing, and struggling to advance.]
Stay, countrymen! It is indeed your queen.
Alas! they hear me not! My tongue hath wax'd
As feeble as my limbs.

[Leans against a tree.
Els.
Why, let them go!
They are not half the band, that I have, here,
In loyalty to my liege wedded lord!
With that, I'll seek him, under Heaven's high guard!
Yea, though I search the quarters of the foe!
In that find strength—find courage! That my food,
My rest! Farewell, old man! Heaven shelter thee!
And be thy mistress' guide.

[Goes out.
Con.
Stay!—Hear me!—Stay!
I'll drag my limbs along, to follow thee.

[Goes out.