University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter Sir WIL. DOUGLAS, and Lady BEATRIX.
Sir William Douglas.
Why grieves my Joy?

Lady Beatrix.
What mountains bar our bless!

Sir William Douglas.
Rise they to heav'n, I'll o'er them force my way.

Lady Beatrix.
My ghostly father damns our love as incest.

Sir William Douglas.
Curse on his habit which protects the pedant.
Dares he blaspheme our love? Pure as the seraphs,
Burning in blest abodes with social transports.
Priests feel not the desire of virtuous breasts
To join their fates and blend their very souls.
Their vile amours on virtue's ruins rise,
Decoying girls to leave their careful friends
To spouse with God.—The rest my tongue disdains.
Shall such oppose our bless?

Lady Beatrix.
How easy can
The man we love persuade!—

Sir William Douglas.
Nor priest, nor prince,
Nor hell itself shall part us.—

Lady Beatrix.
Long the priest
Convers'd with Crichton.—

Sir Willilm Douglas.
Spiteful cunning fox.
By heav'n, this sword—

Lady Beatrix.
Be calm, my love is stedfast;
My brothers true, his son's attempts are vain.

Sir William Douglas.
'Twere safer for his son to interpose
Between the roaring lion and his prey,
Than to disturb my love. Thy gen'rous brother
Just now swears amity with that old traitor.
The Lords have sent t'invite him to their council.
I'll wait, and bear him to their messengers;
And save him from the snares of Crichton's friendship.
Safety is with the Lords; with Crichton, death.

[Exit.