SCENE III.
The Dargle, by Moonlight.
The principal Druid discovered playing on a
harp on a rocky fragment.
Enter cautiously, and with religious dread,
Kildare, Moriat, and Child—Kildare retires
on the watch—Moriat bends to the Druid, and
anxiously enquires her absent husband's fate. He
consults the oracle, and the following answer is
delivered, accompanied by the harp.
AIR—DRUID.
Hid from the Sun and cooling breeze,
In a cavern's dismal gloom;
Mourning child and consort lost,
Frantic Maon courts his tomb.
Speed to his aid much injur'd fair,
And snatch thy monarch from despair.
Moriat appears much agitated, but recovering, kneels
in thankfulness clasping her Child, and is departing
in search of her husband, when Kildare re-enters
hastily, and informs her the murderer of her father approaches,
she requests the Druid's advice, who pointing
to a chasm in the rocks, they conceal themselves.
Cobthach and Sitric enter, the former dreading to
consult the oracle 'till encouraged by the latter—
the Druid makes signs of horror and disgust—Cobthach,
irritated, half draws his sword—the Moon is
obscured—Druid disappears—thunder, light'ning,
&c. and through a fragment of the rock in transparent
letters, appears “murderer despair and die;”
which they view with terror—Sitric hurries Cobthach
from the spot, and (his eyes fixed on the inscription)
compells him to retire.—Moriat, &c.
rush from their concealment, and exeunt, with dread
on the opposite side.
