University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

The Inside of the Abbey.
Rowena and Nuns.
Row.
Pass but a little time, and all shall be,
To every purpose of this present world,
As though they had never been!—Build on, projection!
Pile, avarice! ambition, scale the clouds!—
It is but as a dream of varying fancy;
A breath—and all is vanished!
Hear me, my children!—List, ye hallow'd virgins,
O list, and take my last instructions with ye!—
Ha!—did ye mark that groan?

1st Nun.
No one is near—

Row.
Methought it came attended by a voice,
That echoed—“Take her last instructions with ye.”

1st Nun.
Hark—hark!

[Charge, drums and trumpets at a distance.
Row.
Defend us, Heaven!—the noise of battle!—
[They look out.
The form of coming war, how dreadful is it!—
Wide on the right, no opening spot can shew
What ground they tread.—Alas, alas, for York!
She cannot stand the shock—her ancient towers
Already seem to shake at their approach,
And bow to her foundations.

[Sound, beat, and clash.
1st Nun.
Look!—O look!—

Row.
Ha!—Yes—the town too issues to the battle—
On either part, the kings ride foremost—Now,
Now they have mark'd each other for destruction—
He's down—the Dane is down!—
Now Osbert is unhorsed—
O bravely rescued!—
And such a fair deliverer!
Ha!—'tis my Edwin!—Turn, thou infant warrior,
Nor tempt the random blow—
Ah, rash, rash boy!—
See how he throws himself amid the battle,
And makes a mock of danger—
O, save him, save him, Heaven!—They gird him in—
A child against an army!—
He's down, he's down, and I will look no more—
What dreadful sounds are these?—
[An approaching tumult.
See, Edith, see.

[A Nun goes out, and instantly returns.
2d Nun.
They come—they are at our doors,
A band of ruffians!—Save us, madam, save us!

Row.
Quick, to the gate, fly some one!—make it sure,
But for a few short moments—For myself,
Blow tempest!—nature, wreck!—it matters not—
'Tis finish'd—I am secure—But, O for these,
Thine own devoted—O, or never, now
Inspire, thou Living Strength! a wondrous deed,
A courage not their own—Say, my sisters,
What would ye do, from lust and violation,
What dare, from such a lost estate to escape?

1st Nun.
Put us to proof.

2d Nun.
We dare the last extremes.

3d Nun.
Tortures, or death, or worse.

Row.
One dear embrace—
For now we part no more!—and thus, and thus—
[Embrace.
We bind us to each other, in a knot,
More firm than that which winds the world together,
For ours is tied in virtue.
O, if they yet survive—my child, my husband!
In whom my soul lives, feelingly transferr'd
Through all their faculties—protect them, Heaven!
Quit, quit all care of me, and take the dear ones
To your peculiar guardianship!
Hark!—for now
[The noise approaches nearer.
Our trial is at hand—Are ye prepared?

[Draws a knife.
Nuns.
We follow you to death!

[The Nuns do the same.
Row.
And such a death,
As should preserve the very life of virtue,
[A shout at the door.
Were scarce a sin—They come!—Sisters, away!—
'Tis triumph all above, when Virtue wins the day.

[Exeunt.