 | Edwin |  |
55
ACT V.
SCENE I.
Enter Gomel and Morvid.Gomel.
Are Tudor's Men dispos'd as Edwin order'd?
Mor.
Sir, they have taken Post within the Court,
And mount the Guard.
Gom.
It was as you foresaw:
His Loyalty made haste to shew itself.
Mor.
And ruin'd your Intelligence at once.
Gom.
Forbear, my Friend: The King and he approach.
Enter Edwin, Albert, Tudor, Matilda and Adeliza.
Edwin.
You mention'd somewhat that you must unfold,
[To Tudor.
Importing Leolin and me to know:
Conduct the Pris'ner hither.
[To Morvid.
[Exit Morvid.
Tu.
Oh! my Master,
The good old Caduan! had but he surviv'd
To bless this Day!
Edw.
Alas! his Thread was spun
To Nature's utmost Length.
Alb.
And leaving You
To heir his Merits, and redeem his Crown,
Well may we hope he died in virtuous Peace;
Like him who lights a Lamp to last till Morn,
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Edw.
But, Tudor, was it possible that you,
Devoted as you seem'd to Elfrid's Cause,
(You sway'd his Councils, and you fought his Battels)
Should in your secret Soul be Caduan's Friend?
Tud.
I was, and trusted once so far, that Caduan
(However alter'd at the last) would ne'er
Have chosen Edwin for the hardy Task
Of Elfrid's Fall, without consulting me.
Edw.
He chose me not; the Deed was all my own.
Tud.
But he consented.
Edw.
No.
Gom.
You undertook
The necessary Work against his Will.
Tud.
Against his Will?
Edw.
And frequent Interdictions,
That pall'd my Spirit long, and pos'd my Reason.
Tud.
Was that well done?
Edw.
Oh! why that Question, Tudor?
That Tone? that Look? When you return'd to Duty,
The very Moment I could call you mine,
A thousand Fiends within my Bosom slumber'd;
But waking at your Words, they war anew
With fresh Recruits of Terror.
Tud.
Let me ask
(And you shall own I have too just a Cause)
What Fury rais'd your uncommission'd Hand
To strike at Sovereign Power?
Edw.
What Fury, said you?
Tud.
Resolve me, Sir, and with that Clearness too,
That Mastery of Mind, and Reach of Reason,
That must distinguish him who scans his Heart
With all its secret Springs; and thence is taught
Severely to remark on his own Actions:
To damn what undiscerning Crowds admire,
When he discovers a new World at Home,
And travails o'er Himself.
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Since thus you drive me
Ev'n to my inmost Soul, let Her declare
[Pointing to Adeliza.
The Love that, restive to the sacred Check
Of filial Duty, hurried me aloft
To Empire's rugged Height: Oh Adeliza!
Oh ill requited Love! I ran the Race,
And reach'd the Goal, but lost the glorious Prize.
Tud.
Your genuine Motive then to this Attempt
Was hidden from the World; and might not Caduan
Have weighty Reasons too to curb your Zeal,
And more improper to be told?
Mat.
He had;
He surely had: Have you forgot, my Brother?
Edw.
I wou'd forget it: but Matilda says—
Let Her inform you, for she knows it best.
Mat.
The News of Elfrid's Fall appear'd to shock him;
And, oh my Son! he cried, my Son is lost!
He rav'd on You.
Tud.
Remember That: he rav'd
On me, and on his Son: But I forbear,
Till Leolin appears. His Doom is seal'd?
Edw.
It is: he dies.
Gom.
Your mortal Foe declar'd;
Breathing Revenge, and deaf to Terms of Grace.
Tud.
And yet the Publick Voice—
Edw.
Will brand my Justice;
Condemn th'Effect, and never weigh the Cause.
But, Tudor, they who judge of Kings aright,
Must often praise them for the Good they mean,
And often clear them of the Bad they act.
Re-enter Morvid with Leolin.
Tud.
Why frowns my Prince, and turns away?
Leol.
To shun
The loathsome Sight of thee. Avant thou base one.
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Will prove a Guest more welcome far.
Tud.
But hear,
First hear me, Sir, and then condemn. My Duty
Has brought me hither to discharge a Trust
Of near Concernment to your Life and Fame.
And now to reconcile a fatal Truth
To Your Belief—
[To Edwin.
Edw.
Support me Manhood: how!
A fatal Truth! I can with Ease believe,
And hope to entertain it as I ought.
Tud.
Permit me—
Edw.
Hold. Is Adeliza here?
Is she still here?
Adel.
My Lord, the King.
Edw.
Oh! stay.
All Objects else, Friends, and the Light of Heaven,
Grow painful to my Eyes; Dreams, Prodigies,
My Father, yours, the Living and the Dead,
Combine to mark me out for instant Death:
The Giant Skeleton stands full in View
At either Door, and guards the Passage hence;
Oh! therefore stay a while, and let me breathe
My last at Adeliza's Feet. Proceed.
Tud.
The World has heard, that when unhappy Caduan
Abandon'd Albion to his Rival's Arms,
The Treaty, that secur'd his Flight, oblig'd him
To yield the Foe his Son, then newly born
Beneath the Royal Roof: that Treaty, Sir,
Was made, but not perform'd on Caduan's Part.
Edw.
Amazing! not perform'd? you will not—cannot
Deny that Leolin was left behind.
Tud.
That He was left behind, I freely grant;
Had He been Elfrid's Son.
Edw.
Confusion! Death!
Leol.
Where will this end?
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O spare my Tongue, ye Powers,
Its mournful Office; let his kinder Genius,
That would have held his Arm when Elfrid fell,
Groan out the rest. Oh hapless Edwin!
Edw.
Ha!
Your Language labours with important Sense;
I hear the solemn Voice of opening Fate;
And summon'd to sustain the threaten'd Charge,
My Spirits hurry to my throbbing Heart;
As at the Signal of approaching Fight,
The Warriours, scatter'd o'er the distant Plain,
Spur to the Sound, and form the Front of Battle.
Gom.
A Horror, hitherto unfelt, has seis'd,
My guilty Soul, and whispers me within
Prepare to meet thy Death, for oh! 'tis near thee.
Tud.
Now, mark, my Lords: The same distinguish'd Day
Disclos'd ye both to Light in Caduan's Court;
And he, forsaken Prince, in just Despair
Of living to regain the British Crown,
What could he better than contrive the means
(Whene'er th'Usurper died) to fix it here,
[Pointing to Leolin.
Here on his Son, by passing him for Elfrid's?
Edw.
He Caduan's Son?
Tud.
With Secrecy and Ease
We made th'Exchange of Leolin for You;
For Caduan was His Sire, and Elfrid Yours.
Edw.
Now bold Impostor, by the Powers I thank thee:
Why, thou hast forg'd a Tale that breaks at once
The drowsy Spell, Despair had hung upon me,
And wakes me into Rage. This Story, Tudor,
This—but it will not be receiv'd on Trust:
Produce your Evidence.
Tud.
I will, Matilda;
The Language Caduan in her Hearing utter'd;
His dying Fears for Leolin.
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For Him?
Matilda, was my Rival nam'd?
Mat.
He was not.
Tud.
But plainly pointed out: what meant those Words,
My Son is lost, unless applied to him,
Your Pri'sner, not to you? Why nam'd he me,
If not as privy to the fatal Secret?
Edw.
Away Deceiver: hast thou caught the Hint?
Suborn'd the Frenzy of a sick Man's Dreams
To colour hell-bred Malice, and support
Thy black Invention to supplant my Right,
And dash me, blast me with my Father's Murder?
No; would'st thou prove me this abandon'd Mark
Of Fortune's Spight, beyond Example curs'd,
Fetch my Conviction from a Place as dark
As that foul Source of Forgery, thy Brain;
Ev'n from the Regions of eternal Night:
Let Caduan, starting from his iron Sleep,
Howl in my Ears, Usurper, Parricide;
And then I will believe.
Tud.
Ev'n he shall speak,
Dead as he is; his Image on this Medal
[Giving a Medal.
Of force shall open your reluctant Eyes,
And pour the dismal Blaze of Truth upon them.
Edw.
This Medal! 'tis the same! and I am lost.
Tud.
Mark it, for you have one its Counterpart;
And none can shew a third.
Edw.
So Caduan told me:
Two only, mine, and this, the same with mine,
He said, were struck; and he who brought me this
[Giving it back.
Was Master of infallible Credentials
To gain my firm Belief, whene'er he clear'd
(What I have often sought, but still in vain)
The shocking Sense of this mysterious Emblem.
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The Head of Caduan and the guilty Year
[Shewing it to Leolin, &c.
That forc'd him from the Throne, are stamp'd upon it;
On the Reverse, the Firstling of the Flock,
A Lamb abandon'd by its bleating Mother
To a pursuing Wolf. That Wolf is Elfrid.
These other Figures ropresent the King
And Leolin his Son, who, left as Elfrid's,
Remain'd in safety, and expounds the Motto,
But not to be devoured.
Edw.
O Mercy Heaven!
[Staggers into the Arms of Albert and Morvid.
Mercy and Death!
Ma.
Help! help!
Alb.
Secure his Sword,
Already drench'd too deep in Elfrid's Blood.
Tu.
The Blow has stunn'd his Sense—but I forget:
Joy to the King.
Gom.
And Shame, immortal Shame;
And Death to Gomel.
Tud.
Liberty and Joy.
Leol.
Alas! what Joy to me? my Friend (my Father
[Embracing him.
I would have added) tell that angry Fair,
[Pointing to Adeliza.
All you have done to Day, is done in vain;
In vain my Life preserv'd, my Crown restor'd,
Unless her dear forgiving Lips recall
My Doom too justly pass'd.
Adel.
'Tis yours to grant
The Pardon I should ask. Forgive the Height
Of wild Revenge and self-tormenting Pride:
Can you forgive, my Lord? I will not plead
The Provocation.
Leol.
No; to spare the Shame
That galls Remembrance there, of that no more;
But (oh transporting View of promis'd Bliss!)
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Indulge my Love, and share my better Fortune.
Adel.
I meant to share your worst; for Proof behold!
This Dagger, furnish'd by a friendly Hand,
On the first News of your expected Death,
Had pierc'd my stubborn, yet still faithful Heart.
[Drops the Dagger.
Leol.
More Wonder! more Delight! but Language fails me.
My Adeliza! 'tis Enchantment, this!
Thus to be rescued from impending Fate
Beyond my Hope or Thought! to stand possess'd
Of all that Life can give! All! All in Thee!
Thus in an Instant too! The swelling Joy
Would quite o'erwhelm my Soul; but oh! Compassion
For ruin'd Edwin checks th'unruly Tide,
And saves me once again. How fares he Albert?
Edw.
Hold, Elfrid, or you run on certain Death.
What, are you slain? it is my Father: Murder!
Murder and Parricide! why Sister, Friends!
I rave; what Sister, or what Friends have I?
Nay coward Hands, ye should have trembled thus
[Feeling for his Sword.
When—oh!
Tud.
So, now his wandring Sense returns.
Ah, Sir!
Edw.
Disarm'd! betray'd! where are my Guards?
Where, where indeed? but loss of Sovereign Sway,
Heavens I forgive ye That; for Adeliza
Was gone before. Stand off, ye would not, sure,
Prolong this cursed Life; ye shall not; no,
The Bolt, that loiter'd when my Father fell
By these polluted Hands, shall now o'ertake,
And strike me dead at once.
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Be calm my Brother;
Alas, I still must call you so.
Edw.
Inhumane!
Will ye not kill me yet? then hide at least,
Hide me from Elfrid; there, just there he stands,
My murder'd Father, see, he looks as when
Extended on the Floor he grasp'd my Hand;
I thought it his Death's Pang, but oh! 'twas Instinct;
Why had not I the same? I find it now,
'Twas Nature powerful in a dying Father.
Leol.
Forbear to aggravate—
Ed.
Can You delay
To punish my Offence? your Vengeance vow'd,
Is it so soon forgot? the Sword is yours;
But where is now the Heart? or who will follow
The Cry of Blood for Blood? for Elfrid's Blood?
Who but his Son against his Son?
Gom.
Have Patience
Edw.
Hah! Devil art thou there? restore my Sire,
Kind and indulgent as I found him, Traytor,
When wrought by thee, I took his Smiles for Snares
Meant to destroy me: make thy Malice good:
What Proof, thou Monster?
Leol.
Or what Colour? there
I second Edwin, and stand forth for Justice.
Gom.
Hear me, my Lords; I must acknowledge—
Edw.
Do,
That thou art of a Piece, thyself throughout:
Who hatch'd the Plot to murder Elfrid? Gomel.
Who lur'd me on to go and head it? Gomel.
Who drove me to Extremes with Leolin?
Mock'd me with false Alarms? th'Impostor Gomel.
Take thy Reward: If I have done thee Wrong,
[Catches up the Dagger, and kills Gomel.
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E'er Edwin can be there.
[Stabs himself, and falls at Adeliza's Feet.
Tud.
Malicious Chance,
Thus unexpectedly to arm Despair!
Adel.
What has he done! O desp'rate Act! and mine
The fatal Steel!
Edw.
Now Elfrid be appeas'd;
The Hand that slew thee, has reveng'd thee here;
Though Heaven is doubly wounded by this Stroke:
But—Mercy—can heal all.
[Dies.
Ma.
Eternal Sorrows
Dwell on his Tomb.
Alb.
And deep Oblivion hide
His Failings: But for Him, instead of mourning,
I blush for Kindred Blood so justly shed.
[Pointing to Gomel's Body.
Mor.
Mourn him you ought; for he derives his Fall
From You, tho' clear of all his Crimes; to pave
Your Way to Empire, that Advent'rer launch'd
Into a Sea of Guilt, my royal Lord;
[Kneeling to Leolin.
Forgive me, if, in Zeal for Gomel's Service,
Unknowing who you was, I sought your Ruin:
For 'twas for him I watch'd your troubled Hours,
Play'd with your Passions, and excited Hope,
Revenge, Suspicion, and Despair by turns.
Leol.
Poor groveling Agent of Another's Guilt,
Contempt and Infamy be thine: I cannot
Remit thee them; thy Life, I do. Let Him
[Pointing to Edwin's Body.
In all the Pomp of Fun'ral Rites, return
To Dust: the Vault, his Piety design'd
For both our Fathers, wants no room to hold
His Reliques too, and shall at once receive
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Decreed to join their Destinies, that I
Restor'd to Life and dearer Love, might climb
The Throne, my native Right, by Edwin's Crime:
Rash as he was to judge before he knew;
To slight his fancied Sire, and slay his true;
Let Him to future Times this Truth convey;
Where Parents their Commands with Rigour lay,
'Tis specious to dispute, but Prudent to obey.
[Exeunt.
FINIS.
| Edwin | |