 | The Heroine of Cambria |  |
SCENE II.
GWENDYLEN, LLANDORVIN, brought in by GUARDS.GWENDYLEN.
My dear father!
To meet thee, never was a grief till now:
What cruel chance, or what base treachery—
LLANDORVIN.
'Tis rigid destiny, my child, that thwarts
Thy pious aim. Thus far I have indulged
Thy fond entreaty, by an abject care
To lengthen worthless life: now, since the Heavens
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To reconcile thy mind to my dark fate!
It must be now my only thought to die,
As the dear brothers of my art have died,
Smiling contempt on proud iniquity.
GWENDYLEN.
We are not yet so lost, nor shall thy daughter
E'er quit a virtuous purpose of her heart,
For that the sudden bolt of accident
Shakes her imperfect work. No! to the last
My soul shall labour with increasing ardour,
To prove its fondness, and preserve my father.
LLANDORVIN.
Dear child! no more delude thyself with hopes,
That are but raised to fall; and in their ruin
O'erwhelm thy tender heart with tenfold anguish.
GWENDYLEN.
Heaven yet inspires, and gives me blest occasion
To act in thy dear service: our oppressor,
Mixing some mildness with barbarity,
Now terminates my bondage: and my freedom,
That I should hate, if not employed for thee,
May work thy preservation. I will now
With Clyfford supplicate the Queen to make
Thy life, once rescued by thy daughter's love,
Th'immediate care of her angelic mind.
LLANDORVIN.
'Twere better my sweet child, renouncing hope,
To strengthen thy fond spirit, by embracing
The tranquil resolution of despair.
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No, best of fathers! our disastrous lot
Has changed the cast, and colour of our duties.
Mild suff'rance now, that woman's part is thine,
And to thy daughter, Heaven itself enjoins
Every exertion anxious love can prompt.
Should I still fail, thou yet shalt see, my father,
Thy undegenerate child possesses courage
To suffer, and to share thy darkest fate.
(Exit.
| The Heroine of Cambria | |