University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

A forest. Enter Ethwald with a bow in his hand, and a Boy carrying his arrows.
Ethw.
(looking off the stage).
Ha! Alwy, soon return'd! and with him comes
My faithful Ongar.

Enter Alwy and Ongar with bows also, as if in quest of sport, by the opposite side.
Thou comest, Alwy, with a busy face. (To boy.)

Go, Boy; I shot mine arrow o'er those elms,
Thou'lt find it far beyond.
[Exit boy.
Now, friend, what tidings?

Alwy.
Within the tufted centre of the wood
The friendly chiefs are met, thus, like ourselves
As careless ramblers guised, all to a man
Fix'd in your cause. Their followers too are firm;
For, much disgusted with the monkish face
Their feeble monarch wears, a warlike leader,
Far, far inferior to the noble Ethwald,
May move them as he lists.

Ethw.
That time and circumstances on me call
Imperiously, I am well assured.
Good Ongar, what sayst thou? how thrives thy part
Of this important task!

Ong.
Well as your heart could wish. At the next council,
Held in the royal chamber, my good kinsman
Commands the guard, and will not bar our way.

Ethw.
May I depend on this?

Ong.
You may, my lord.

Ethw.
Thanks to thee, Ongar! this is noble service,
And shall be nobly thank'd. There is, good Alwy,
Another point; hast thou unto the chiefs
Yet touch'd upon it?

Alwy.
Yes, and they all agree 'tis most expedient
That with Elburga's hand, since weaker minds
Are blindly wedded to the royal line,
Your right be strengthen'd.

Ethw.
And this they deem expedient?

Alwy.
You sigh, my lord; she is, indeed, less gentle—

Ethw.
Regard it not, it is a passing thought,
And it will have its sigh, and pass away.
[Turning away for a little space, and then coming forward again.
What means hast thou devised, that for a term
Selred and Ethelbert may be remov'd?
For faithful to the royal line they are,
And will not swerve: their presence here were dang'rous:
We must employ them in some distant strife.

Alwy.
I have devis'd a plan, but for the means
Brave Ongar here stands pledged. Woggarwolfe,
Who once before unweetingly has served us,
Will do the same again.

Ethw.
How so? 'tis said that since his last affray,
With the keen torment of his wounds subdu'd,
On sick bed laid, by the transforming power
Of artful monks, he has become most saintly.

Alwy.
Well, but we trust his saintship ne'ertheless
May still be lur'd to do a sinner's work.
To burn the castle of a hateful heretic
Will make amends for all his bloody deeds:
You catch the plan: nay, Hexulf and his priests
Will be our helpmates here. Smile not; good Ongar
Has pledged his word for this.

Ethw.
And I will trust to it. This will, indeed,
Draw off the Thanes in haste. But who is near?
Skulking behind yon thicket stands a man:
Seest thou?

[Pointing off the stage.
Alwy.
Go to him, Ongar, scan him well,
And if his face betrays a list'ner's guilt—
Thou hast thy dagger there?

Ong.
Yes, trust me well.

Ethw.
Nay, Ongar, be not rash in shedding blood!
Let not one drop be spilt that may be spar'd.
Secure him if he wear a list'ner's face:
We are too strong for stern and ruthless caution.
[Exit Ongar.
I'm glad he is withdrawn a little space,
Ere we proceed to join the leagued chiefs.
Hast thou agreed with Cuthbert? Is he sure?

Alwy.
Sure. 'Tis agreed when next the ethling hunts,
To lead him in the feigned quest of game
From his attendants; there, in ambush laid,
Cuthbert and his adherents seize upon him,
And will conduct him with the ev'ning's close
To Arrick's rugged tower. All is prepar'd.

Ethw.
But hast thou charged him well that this be done
With all becoming care and gentleness,
That nothing may his noble nature gall
More than the hard necessity compels?

Alwy.
Do not mistrust us so! your brow is dark:
At Edward's name your changing countenance
Is ever clouded.
[Ethw. turns from him agitated.
You are disturb'd, my lord.

Ethw.
I am disturb'd. (Turning round and grasping Alwy by the hand.)

I'll tell thee, Alwy—yes, I am disturb'd—
No gleam of glory through my prospect breaks,
But still his image, 'thwart the brightness cast,
Shades it to night.

Alwy.
It will be always so: but wherefore should it?
Glory is ever bought by those who earn it
With loss of many lives most dear and precious.
So is it destin'd. Let that be to him
Which in the crowded breach or busy field
All meet regardless from a foeman's hand.
Do the still chamber, and the muflled tread,
And th' unseen stroke that doth th' infliction deal,
Alter its nature?

Ethw.
(pushing Alwy away from him vehemently, and putting up both his hands to his head).
Forbear! forbear! I shut mine eyes, mine ears;
All entrance bar that may into my mind
Th' abhorred thing convey. Have I not said,
Thou shalt not dare in word, in look, in gesture,
In slightest indication of a thought,
Hold with my mind such base communication?
By my sword's strength! did I not surely think
From this bold seizure of the sovereign pow'r,
A pow'r for which I must full dearly pay,
So says the destiny that o'er me hangs,
To shield his weakness and restore again
In room of Mercia's crown a nobler sway,
Won by my sword, I would as lief—Northumberland
Invites my arms, and soon will be subdu'd;
Of this full sure, a good amends may be
To noble Edward made.

Alwy
(who during the last part of Ethwald's speech has been smiling behind his back malignantly).
O yes, full surely:
And wand'ring harpers shall in hall and bower
Sing of the marv'llous deed.

Ethw.
(turning short upon him, and perceiving his smile).
Thou smil'st methinks.
Full well I read the meaning of that look:
'Tis a fiend's smile, and it will prove a false one.
[Turning away angrily, whilst Alwy walks to the bottom of the stage.
(Aside, looking suspiciously after him.)
Have I offended him? he is an agent
Most needful to me. (Aloud, advancing to him.)

Good Alwy, anxious minds will often chide— (Aside, stopping short.)

He hears me not, or is it but a feint?

Alwy
(looking off the stage).
Your arrow-boy returns.

Ethw.
(aside, nodding to himself).
No, 'tis a free and unoffended voice;
I'm wrong. This is a bird whose fleshed beak
The prey too strongly scents to fly away:
I'll spare my courtesies. (Aloud.)
What sayst thou, Alwy?

Alwy
(pointing).
Your arrow-boy.

Ethw.
I'm glad he is return'd.

Re-enter Boy.
Boy.
Nowhere, my lord, can I the arrow find.

Ethw.
Well, boy, it matters not; let us move on.

[Exeunt.