University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

An open space before the gate of the castle; armed men are discovered on the walls.
Enter Rasinga and his force.
Ras.
(to those on the walls).
Where is that villain whom ye call your lord?
Let him appear, and say, why, like a robber,—
A reckless, lawless traitor, he hath dared
My servants to attack, my bride to capture,
And do most foul dishonour to my state.
Am I a driv'ling fool,—a nerveless stripling,—
A widow'd Rany, propping infants' rights,
That thus he reckons with impunity
To pour on me such outrage?

Enter Samarkoon above, and stands on the wall over the gate.
Sam.
Rasinga, thou art robb'd and thou art wrong'd,
And hast good cause to utter stormy words.

Ras.
Ay, and good cause to back those stormy words
With stormy blows, which soon shall force that gate,
Make desp'rate entrance through the rifted walls,
And leave within your paltry tower, of all
Who dare oppose my arms, no living thing,
Unless thou do restore the mountain beauty,
And all the spoil thou hast so basely won.

Sam.
Though I have dared to wrong thee, brave Rasinga,
I've done it in the heat and agony
Of passions that, within a generous breast,
Are irresistible, and, be assured,
With no weak calculations of impunity.
The living treasure I have robb'd thee of
I will defend to the extremity
Of desp'rate effort, e'en in this poor hold,
Mann'd as it is.—I well might speak to thee
Of equal claims to that fair beauty's favour;
Of secret love; of strong fraternal sympathy
With her whose honour'd name I will not utter;
But that were vain.

Ras.
Vain as a sea-bird's screams,
To check the wind-scourg'd ocean's rising billows:
So far thou speakest wisely.—Stern defiance
I cast to thee; receive it as thou mayst,
Audacious traitor!

Sam.
And I to thee do cast it back again
With words and heart as dauntless as thine own.

Ras.
(to his followers).
Here ends our waste of breath and waste of time.
On, pioneers, and let your pond'rous mallets
Break down the gate! To it, my valiant bowmen!
Discharge a shower of arrows on that wall,
And clear it of yon load of miscreant life.

[Rasinga' s followers raise a shout, which is answered by one equally loud from the adverse party, and the attack commences. After great efforts of attack and defence, the gate is at last forced, and Rasinga, with his force, enters the castle. The scene then closes.