 | Gustavus Vasa, The Deliverer of his Country |  |
SCENE VI.
Enter Gustavus.[They look for some time on each other—Arvida lays his Hand on his Sword, and withdraws it by Turns—then advances irresolutely.
Gust.
Is it then so?
Arv.
Defend thyself.
Gust.
No—strike—
I would unfold my Bosom to thy Sword,
But that I know the Wound you give this Breast
Would doubly pierce thy own.
Arv.
I know thee not—
It is the Time's Eclipse, and what should be
In Nature, now is nameless.
Gust.
Ah, my Brother!
Arv.
What wouldst thou?
Gust.
Is it thus we two should meet?
Arv.
Art thou not false? Deep else, O deep indeed
Were my Damnation.
Gust.
Dear, unhappy Man!
My Heart bleeds for thee. False I'd surely been,
Had I like thee been tempted.
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Ha! Speak, speak,
Didst thou not send to treat with Cristiern?
Gust.
Never.
I know thy Error, but I know the Arts,
The Frauds, the Wiles that practis'd on thy Virtue;
Firm how you stood, and tow'r'd above Mortality;
'Till in the fond unguarded Hour of Love,
The wily undermining Trollio came,
And won thee from thyself—a Moment won thee—
For still thou art Arvida, still the Man
On whom thy Country calls for her Deliv'rance.
Already are her bravest Sons in Arms,
Mark how they shout, impatient of our Presence,
To lead them on to a new Life of Liberty,
To Fame, to Conquest—Ha, Heav'n guard my Brother,
Thy Cheek turns pale, thy Eye is wild upon me,
Wilt thou not answer me?
Arv.
Gustavus!
Gust.
Speak.
Arv.
Have I not dream'd?
Gust.
No other I esteem it.
Where lives the Man whose Reason slumbers not?
Still pure, still blameless, if at wonted Dawn
Again he wakes to Virtue.
Arv.
O, my Dawn
Must soon be dark. Confusion dissipates,
To leave me worse confounded.
Gust.
Think no more on't.
Come to my Arms, thou dearest of Mankind!
Arv.
Stand off! Pollution dwells within my Touch,
And Horror hangs around me—Cruel Man!
O, thou hast doubly damn'd me with this Goodness;
For Resolution held the Deed as done;
That now must sink me—Hark! I'm summon'd hence,
My Audit opens! Poise me! for I stand
Upon a Spire, against whose sightless Base
Hell breaks his Wave beneath. Down, down I dare not,
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Thou shalt have Vengeance, tho' my purpling Blood
Were Nectar for Heav'n's Bowl, as warm and rich,
As now 'tis base, it thus should pour for Pardon.
[Gustavus catches his Arm, and in the Struggle the Dagger falls.
Gust.
Ha! Hold, Arvida—No, I will not lose thee—
Forbid it Heav'n! thou shalt not rob me so,
No, I will struggle with thee to the last,
And save thee from thyself. Oh, answer me!
Wilt thou forsake me? Answer me, my Brother,
My best Arvida.
Arv.
I wou'd speak to thee—
But let it be by Silence—Oh Gustavus!
Gust.
Say but you'll live.
Arv.
Oh!
Gust.
For my Sake.
Arv.
Yes, take me;
Expose me, cage me, brand me for the Tool
Of crafted Villains, for the veriest Slave,
On whom the Bend of each contemptuous Brow
Shall look with Loathing. Ah, my Turpitude
Shall be the vile Comparative for Knaves
To boast and whiten by!
Gust.
Not so, not so.
Who knows no Fault, my Friend, knows no Perfection.
The Rectitude that Heav'n appoints to Man
Leads on thro' Error; and the kindly Sense
Of having stray'd, endears the Road to Bliss;
It makes Heav'n's Way more pleasing! O my Brother,
'Tis hence a Thousand cordial Charities
Derive their Growth, their Vigour, and their Sweetness.
This short Lapse
Shall to thy future Foot give cautious Treading,
Erect and firm in Virtue.
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Give me Leave.
[Offers to pass.
Gust.
You shall not pass.
Arv.
I must.
Gust.
Whither?
Arv.
I know not—O Gustavus!
Gust.
Speak.
Arv.
You can't forgive me.
Gust.
Not forgive thee!
Arv.
No.
Look there.
[Points to the Dagger.
And yet when I resolv'd to kill thee
I cou'd have died—indeed I cou'd—for thee,
I cou'd have died, Gustavus!
Gust.
O I know it.
A gen'rous Mind, tho' sway'd a-while by Passion.
Is like the steely Vigour of the Bow,
Still holds its native Rectitude, and bends
But to recoil more forceful. Come forget it.
| Gustavus Vasa, The Deliverer of his Country | |