University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

The Quarters of Glenlyon.
Glenlyon—Lindsay.
GLENLYON.
Surely 'tis time Macdonald had return'd,
The readiest, boldest, and most constant officer
I ever yet promoted;—some mischance
Or treachery must delay him. Treachery—faugh!
'Tis an ill word, but may import no more
Than a safe means of justice, which rash force
Might frustrate. Would our messenger were here!

LINDSAY.
Indeed time presses; we shall bear the charge
Of weakness for the doubt which has delay'd
The course prescribed.

GLENLYON.
He was not wont to loiter.
If the command be clear, my course is plain;
And yet—he comes—could I suspect he knew
The tidings that he bears, his face would tell them.

Enter Henry Macdonald.
GLENLYON.
How's this? Your looks are wild; have you met aught
Should shake a brave man's constancy?

HENRY.
I crave
Your pardon; 'tis a private grief unnerves me;
The lovely lady who has shared my walks,
And, as I proudly thought, return'd the love
She had inspired in me, at sunrise weds
My elder brother. What of that? My duty
Has been perform'd;—and Duncanson's reply
Is here.

[Henry delivers a letter to Glenlyon.
GLENLYON.
Thanks;—wait within;—refresh yourself;—
I'll deal with your fair rebel.
[Exit Henry Macdonald.
My hand trembles
As it has never trembled;—I shall mar
The seal;—open and read the letter.—
[Lindsay opens and reads the letter.
Well?

LINDSAY.
It is as I expected and you fear'd;
The order is to guard the avenues
To-night; and ere the morning, put in force
The royal ordinance on the lives of all
Below the age of seventy.

GLENLYON.
Would that death
Had met me first!

LINDSAY.
Yet you will not withhold
Obedience?

GLENLYON.
Never;—I am shaken now,
But you shall find me constant to obey
The simple law of duty:—none shall live.

LINDSAY.
Think of these clansmen as of rebels snared
In treason, whom a law, disdaining forms,
Has sentenced: it is hard to make brave soldiers
The executioners of civil judgment;
Yet we must do our office.

GLENLYON.
Be it yours
To show the men their duty.

LINDSAY.
I will do
All you may order; but I cannot range
The soldiers so as to prevent escape
Through the wild passes of these mountains; none,
Unless familiar with the glen, can do this.

GLENLYON.
Call in Macdonald.
[Exit Lindsay.
He shall plant the men:
His present passion moulds him to our will.

Re-enter Lindsay and Henry Macdonald.
GLENLYON
(to Henry).
There is a service I would claim of you,
Which, well achieved, shall humble to your feet
The rival who presumes to cross your wish
For my alliance, and reward your love
With happiest fortune.

HENRY.
Let the service be
So full of peril that the chance of life
Bears but a thousandth portion of the hope
That death is greedy with, and I embrace it.

GLENLYON.
It lacks the peril you desire. This clan,
Though crouching now to William's power, retains
Its lion fierceness. We must tame its chiefs
By forcing them, in abject terms, to sue
For pardon—yield their hidden stores of arms—
And feel themselves subdued. At dawn to-morrow
We'll awe them to submission, by array
Of soldiers, planted in each track, whose arms
Shall make the glen their prison. What I seek
Is, that at midnight, you, who know the paths,
Would so dispose the soldiers that no clansman
Escape the vale—save by the eastern road,
Which Duncanson will line;—that done, repose—
And dream that at the sunrise you shall see
Your daring rival suppliant, and my niece
Your wealthy bride. Will you do this?

HENRY.
I will.

Enter Drummond.
DRUMMOND.
I come to ask if I shall bid the band
Attend you at the feast.

GLENLYON.
What feast?

LINDSAY.
The banquet
Mac Ian gives to-day:—the hour is near.

GLENLYON.
A banquet! that is terrible.

LINDSAY
(apart to Glenlyon).
Be wary;
Eyes are upon us.
(Aloud.)
You will send the band;
All we can do, should grace our visit.

GLENLYON
(to Drummond).
Yes:
You may retire.

[Exit Drummond.
GLENLYON
(to Henry).
At dawn I will attend
Your bridal; 'twill be yours. At this night's feast
Beware that by no word or look you hint
The midnight duty or the morning's hope:
Be calm—as I am.

[Exeunt Glenlyon and Lindsay.
HENRY
(alone)
How shall I subdue
The mantling sense of victory which laughs
And dances in my spirit? He who dash'd
My good sword from my grasp shall feel he stands
Before his master; chidden as I was,
And, for a moment, silenced, I shall rain
Pardon and life on him who would have stolen
The mistress of my soul. She's mine! She's mine!

[Exit.