 | Ethwald |  |
SCENE V.
An apartment in a royal castle. Enter Ethelbert, and leans his back upon a pillar near the front of the stage, as if deeply engaged in gloomy thoughts: afterwards enters Ethwald by the opposite side, at the bottom of the stage, and approaches Eth. slowly, observing him attentively as he advances.Ethw.
Thou art disturbed, Ethelbert.
Eth.
I am.
Ethw.
Thine eyes roll strangely, as though thou beheldst
Some dreadful thing:—
On what lookst thou?
Eth.
Upon my country's ruin.
The land is full of blood: her savage birds
O'er human carcases do scream and batten:
The silent hamlet smokes not; in the field
The aged grandsire turns the joyless soil:
Dark spirits are abroad, and gentle worth
Within the narrow house of death is laid,
An early tenant.
Ethw.
Thou'rt beside thyself!
Thinkst thou that I, with these good arms, will stand
And suffer all this wreck?
Eth.
Ha! sayst thou so? Alas, it is thyself
Who rul'st the tempest!
[Shaking his head solemnly.
Ethw.
If that I bear the spirit of a man,
Thou falsely seest! Thinkst thou I am a beast;
A fanged wolf, reft of all kindly sense,
That I should do such deeds?
I am a man aspiring to be great,
But loathing cruelty: who wears a sword
That will protect and not destroy the feeble.
[Putting his hand vehemently upon his sword.
Eth.
Ha! art thou roused? blessings on thy wrath!
I'll trust thee still. But see, the ethling comes,
And on his face he wears a smile of joy.
151
Edw.
A boon, a boon, great Mairnieth's Thane, I crave.
Eth.
You come not with a suppliant's face, my lord.
Edw.
Not much cast down for lack of confidence
My suit to gain. That envious braggart there,
The chief of Bournoth, says, no Mercian arm,
Of man now living, can his grandsire's sword
In warlike combat wield: and, in good sooth!
I forfeit forty of my fattest kine
If Ethwald's arm does not the feat achieve. (To Ethw.)
What sayst thou, friend? Methinks thou'rt grave and silent:
Hast thou so soon thy noble trade forgot?
Have at it then! I'll rouse thy spirit up:
I'll soldier thee again.
[Drawing his sword playfully upon Ethwald, who defends himself in like manner.
Fie on't! that was a wicked northern push:
It tells of thine old sports in Mollo's walls.
[Pauses and fights again.
To it again! How listless thou art grown!
Where is thy manhood gone?
Ethw.
Fear not, my lord, enough remains behind
To win your forty kine.
Edw.
I'll take thy word for't now: in faith, I'm tired!
I've been too eager in the morning's chace
To fight your noonday battles.
[Putting the point of his sword to the ground, and leaning familiarly upon Ethwald.
My arm, I fear, would make but little gain
With Bournoth's sword. By arms and brave men's love!
I could not brook to see that wordy braggart
Perching his paltry sire above thy pitch;
It rais'd my fiend within. When I am great,
I'll build a tower upon the very spot
Where thou didst first the British army stay,
And shame the grandsires of those mighty Thanes
Six ages deep. Lean I too hard upon thee?
Ethw.
No, nothing hard: most pleasant and most kindly.
Take your full rest, my lord.
Edw.
In truth, I do: methinks it does me good
To rest upon thy brave and valiant breast.
Eth.
(stepping before them with great animation).
Well said, most noble Edward!
The bosom of the brave is that on which
Rests many a head: but most of all, I trow,
Th' exposed head of princely youth thereon
Rests gracefully.
[Steps back some paces, and looks at them with delight.
Edw.
You look upon us, Thane, with eager eyes
And looks of meaning.
Eth.
Pardon me, I pray!
My fancy oftentimes will wildly play,
And strong conceits possess me.
Indulge my passing freak: I am a man
Upon whose grizzled head the work of time
Hath been by care perform'd, and, with the young,
Claiming the priv'lege of a man in years.
[Taking the hands of Edw. and Ethw. and joining them together.
This is a lovely sight! indulge my fancy:
And on this sword, it is a brave man's sword,
Swear that you will unto each other prove,
As prince and subject, true.
Edw.
No, no, good Thane!
As friends, true friends! that doth the whole include.
I kiss the honour'd blade.
(Kissing the sword held out by Eth.)
Eth.
(presenting the sword to Ethw.)
And what says noble Ethwald?
Ethw.
All that the brave should say.
(Kissing it also.)
Eth.
(triumphantly).
Now, Mercia, thou art strong! give me your hands;
Faith, I must lay them both upon my breast!
[Pressing both their hands to his breast.
This is a lovely sight!
Ethw.
(softened).
You weep, good Ethelbert.
Eth.
(brushing off his tears with his hand).
Yes, yes! such tears as doth the warm shower'd earth
Show to the kindly sun.
Edw.
(to Eth., gently clapping his shoulder).
I love this well: thou like a woman weepest,
And fightest like a man. But look, I pray!
There comes my arms-man with the braggart's sword:
Let us essay it yonder.
[Exeunt.
| Ethwald | |