SCENE XVII. AND LAST.
A Tower in the centre of the stage surrounded
by a Lake, a Draw-bridge on one side, the other
accessible only by scraggy Rocks—a Stone
Pillar, to which Chains are affixed, in the centre
of the stage—Danish Officer and Soldiers
are discovered.
Sitric brings
Moriat over the draw-bridge, gives
private orders to a Danish chief, who returns over
the bridge, and, informing Moriat her husband must
soon meet his fate, solicits her hand; she, kneeling,
requests him to spare her lord, who, in the interim,
is brought chained over the draw-bridge—Sitric, preceded
and followed by armed Danes, points to him
exulting in his misery—she again solicits—Maon, beholding
his wife in that prostrate state, half frantic,
breaks from the soldiers, and, raising her with great
dignity, rebukes her for having knelt to so vile a
monster—she recovers herself—they embrace and
resolve to die together—Sitric has them separated,
and, giving the signal, he is chained to the pillar—and
Danish chief appears at the top of the tower with
the
Child prepared to dispatch it—a short pause—
he asks her again to consent—she refuses—the signal
is again given, and Danes with clubs approach to dash
out Maon's brains, Moriat, darting from Sitric, rushes
between—at the same time
Kildare, entering at the
head of the peasantry, engages Sitric, his peasantry
driving off the Danes—Moriat assists her Husband,
who, having burst his chains, attacks Sitric, who had
vanquished Kildare—after which, seeing her child in
such imminent danger, she is rushing towards the
draw-bridge, when the Danish chief quits the child
to prevent her approach by drawing it up—the child
gains the parapet, and, after Sitric is vanquished, leaps
into his Father's arms—Kildare mounting the craggy
rocks at the same time stabs the Dane, who lets fall the
draw-bridge and expires on it—atlength the
Peasantry
return with the vanquished Danes—Maon, his
wife and child are made happy—
Druids and
Priests enter, and present the crown, the whole
forming a picturesque group.
FINALE.
Sound voice cheerfully,
Dangers fearfully,
No longer mar endeavour.
Long may virtue reign,
Love ever bless the plain,
Huzza! our king for ever.
FINIS.
