University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Aurelius' Camp.
Enter Aurelius, Uter, Pascentius, and Flavia.
Aur.
You then escaped disguised in man's attire?

Fla.
'Tis true I did, but ne'er did rapier yet
Adorn a side less fitting to support it.

Aur.
To you Pascentius my best thanks are due.

Pas.
Nay, nay, 'tis little that to me you owe.

Fla.
Indeed, but for his aid, I long ere this
Had broke my sacred vow, and wedded death.

Uter.
Brother, the enemy is near at hand,
Straight let us forth, and range our troops for battle.

Aur.
Go you before and swift I'll follow.
Now to thy care my dearest friend, I trust
Thy beauteous sister, and my sweetest love.
Should victory proclaim the day our own,
All will be well; but shou'd the loss be ours,
To Heav'ns just guard I must resign you both.
Two trusty servants have I placed without,
Who will conduct you westward of our camp,
If we be beaten, thither we'll tetreat:
Haste! fare thee well, sweet love.

Fla.
This token let me brace around thine arm,
Think of me in the field, nor let revenge
Blot from thy gen'rous breast the sense of pity.

Aur.
O! cruel fortune, so soon to wrench from me
This lovely form, to steal this beauteous hand,
And offer to my grasp this weighty steel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Camp of Hengist.
Enter Hengist and Horsus.
Heng.
Have Vortigern's brave sons yet ta'en their station?

Hor.
Yea, to our right the Briton's strength is form'd.

Heng.
Then bid them wait the enemies attack.
[Exit Hor.
Now, O ye Gods! prove but propitious to me,
And yield me but the victory this day:
A mightier force I've summon'd to this island,
And with them my fair daughter will arrive;
If then her beauty catch this vicious King,
E'en as mine own I'll hail this fertile land,
And these brave Britons by my arts and arms,
Bind to a foreign yoke.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

A Wood.
Enter Britons and Saxons, they encounter the Scots, and after a hard contest, the Scots are defeated.
Enter Aurelius and Uter.
Aur.
O brother! fortune frowns, the day is lost.

Uter.
But it hath cost them dear!
Rally then our troops, and march them towards the West.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

Another Part of the Field.
Enter Flavia and Pascentius.
Pas.
Be of good cheer, tho' they have lost the day,
Yet was the victory most dearly bought,
The Scots too in good order have retir'd.

Enter Horsus.
Say, what's thy business in this bloody field,
And who's that maid who bears thee company?
It should seem that thou hast fought and conquer'd,
And hast in triumph seiz'd on this fair prize.

Pas.
I, Sir, am her protector.

Hor.
If thou'lt resign her, here is gold for thee.

Pas.
Although my peasant habit shews me poor,
Yet covers it a soul that boldly scorns thee;
I am a Briton, Sir, will that suffice thee?

Hor.
Vile stripling! dost thou know me?

Pas.
I do not.

Hor.
Thou shalt repent this!

Pas.
Approach her not, if yet thou lov'st thyself.

Hor.
Thy lack of years doth save thee from my wrath,
Thou beardless boy who thus doth ape the man,
Once more I tell thee!—

Fla.
O Pascentius, O my brother!

Pas.
Fear not, he shall not harm thee gentle Flavia.
(To Horsus.)
Insolent presumptuous slave! what would'st thou?

Hor.
I'll make thee dearly answer for thy rashness.
[They fight, and Horsus falls.
O I am wounded! speak, what is thy name?
But thou art brave, and I forgive thee this.
Good youth approach, I fain would tell thee something,
But O! I'm faint, death's cold and heavy hand
Doth rest like ice upon my parting soul.
Go to the King I pray thee,
Bid him beware of Hengist.

[Dies.
Pas.
I now lament the deed that I have done.

Fla.
O sadly doth repentance sit on us.

Pas.
How soon this lord of the creation dies;
The errant'st coward now may spurn at him!

Fla.
Sure he did make some mention of our father,
And bade us tell him to beware of Hengist.

Pas.
Something methinks he spoke to that effect,
This must our father know.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

A Wood.
Enter Hengist and Officer.
Heng.
Hath Horsus yet been found?

Off.
Thrice hath the field with greatest care been search'd,
But all in vain.

Heng.
Then have I lost my first, my dearest friend,
If he be slain, by the great Gods I swear,
I will revenge him on these Scottishmen;
But whither are the Princes now retir'd?

Off.
Towards Badon Hill.

Heng.
How fare our troops?

Off.
But ill, nay, very ill.

Heng.
Indeed! and sayest thou so?

Off.
The day was bloody and it cost us dear,
The Scots were firm, and fought us man to man;
Four thousand lives were lost.

Heng.
Good Heav'ns!
Enter another Officer.
What's thy business?

2nd. Off.
Fourteen thousand troops have join'd our army,
And with them your daughter; but look, she comes!

Enter Rowena.
Heng.
Welcome Rowena!

(Rowena kneels.)
Row.
O! joy once more to see my father's face.

Heng.
Rise, rise my child!

Row.
First with my kisses let me 'dew this hand;
And with these arms embrace my father's neck.

Enter Soldier.
Sold.
From London, Vortigern is on his march!
And comes in haste to greet your late success.

Heng.
'Tis well! go straight, put all in readiness.
Retire! I wou'd be private with my daughter.

Off.
We obey, my lord.

[Exeunt Officers.
Heng.
Daughter, thou heard'st but now o'th'King's approach.

Row.
Your Officer so express'd it!

Heng.
True! and do'st hear, much rests with thee to do.

Row.
If ought, dear father, my poor services
Can aid thee, but command;—and I'll obey.

Heng.
Thus then it is—I shall prepare a feast,
And greet the King with joy and merriment;
Women I know have very many ways,
And subtle traps to catch the hearts of men:
So practice all your arts to win his love.

Row.
But shou'd I fail?

Heng.
Nay, do not fear it; I do know him well.
Come to my tent, and there we'll weigh this business.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

A magnificent Feast, Vortigern on a Throne, Hengist, Wortimerus, Catagrinus, Lords and Ladies, with Attendants.
Vor.
To mirth we dedicate this noble feast!
And you brave Hengist we do greet withal.

Heng.
O! my most gracious King, I am unworthy.

Vor.
Thou did'st fight manfully, and bravely conquer.
Wine there! a health to Hengist! would that Horsus
Were likewise here!

Lords.
The King doth drink.

Heng.
Thou sentest for me, noble Sir, to fight;
I have done nought save that I promised;
Had I play'd other than the soldier's part,
Then had I tarnished the Saxon name.

[Hengist speaks to one of the Lords aside.
Vor.
Thou, Hengist, at our hands hast well deserv'd;
We will consider, and reward thy labours.
Enter Rowena.
Ye heavenly powers! what lovely maid is this,
Whose form might raise the blush in Dian's cheek?

Heng.
Rowena, Sir, my daughter, and your slave.

(Rowena kneels.)
Row.
All hail, great King!

Vor.
O thou most lovely maiden!
Here let me pledge thee in this golden cup.
On its smooth brim I pray thee print a kiss,
That so I may inhale the roseate sweets,
And taste the nectar of those vermil lips.
[Takes the cup and drinks.
This seat is empty, fair Rowena, take it,
And wou'd it were that which Jove's wife doth hold!

Cata.
It is Edmunda's place, the queen's, our mother's.

Vor.
Peace! she is unworthy of that station.

Wort.
She, Sir, is queen, and tho' she is not present,
Most righteously the law awards it her.
She that usurps it, breaks that sacred law—

Vor.
How, do ye murmur, must I then humble
And stoop the neck to bear my children's yoke?
Begone, I say, lest that my present wrath
Make me forget the place by blood I hold,
And break the tie 'twixt father and his child.

Wort.
We shall retire, my lord!

Vor.
Here sit, bright maid, if I presage not vainly,
Thou shalt, ere long, have right to take this place.

Row.
How can I merit love of such a King?
An humble vassal only.

Vor.
Thy meekness and fair looks have won my soul,
O! let thy tongue here title me thy lord!

Row.
Already, Sir, have I avow'd you King.

Vor.
And therefore here I do proclaim thee Queen.
Good Hengist speak! wilt thou consent hereto?

Heng.
My lord! that honour is too weighty.

Vor.
Then speak, my lords, what say ye to my choice?
True, I am married, and my wife doth live;
Yet none methinks by law can here be bound,
When the dread wrath of Heav'n doth shew itself,
And on his wedded wife doth send down madness.

1st. Lord.
Methinks the law shou'd then proclaim it void.

Vor.
Be it then void; and here I pledge myself,
To take this lovely maiden to my wife.
To thee, good Hengist, we resign all Kent,
As a sure earnest of our future bounty;
Proclaim it in the camp, and let each man
Receive in largess from our royal coffers,
That massy ore, which long hath lain entomb'd,
And now shall well reward our soldier's toils.

2nd Lord.
The law allows not this, it is not justice.

3rd. Lord.
That power lies in the Barons, not the King.

Vor.
What! dare ye then dispute it?

All but 1st. Lord.
We do.

3rd. Lord.
And while the pow'r remains that's vested in us,
We ne'er will countenance such vile injustice,
That tramples on our dearest country's rights.

Vor.
Take heed, lest you repent this your rashness.

[Exeunt Lords.
SCENE closes, Vortigern comes forward.
Vor.
O! these vile petty kings do make more uproar
E'en than above, the thund'ring god himself.
To-morrow be the nuptials then proclaim'd;
And that Guorongus, that proud lord of Kent,
Who boldly in our presence call'd for justice,
His lands, his property, and all his titles,
We do invest in Hengist and his line.

[Hengist bows.
Vor.
to Row.
Give me thy hand; let us retire, my Queen!

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII.

An Anti-Chamber.
Enter Wortimerus and Catagrinus.
Wort.
Shall we in quiet tamely suffer this?
See our most excellent and gentle mother,
In bold defiance of all sacred laws,
So basely treated?

Cata.
Do they then think our substance form'd of flint;
Or that our hearts are adamant itself?
Where is our brother? our dearest sister?
I fear, indeed, they had just cause for flight.

Wort.
Let's to the Princes, and our troops will follow.
They like not the rude treatment of these Saxons!

Cata.
I do accept thine offer.

Enter Lords.
2nd Lord.
Most gentle Princes, whither are ye bound?

Wort.
To quit oppression, and to seek for justice.

3rd. Lord.
Under your banners then we do enlist.

Cata.
Speak, what hath now been done that thus ye quit
Your King, your country, and your weighty trust?

2nd Lord.
The King, on the pretext of malady,
Most basely hath divorc'd your mother from him,
And means to take Rowena for his wife.

Wort.
Gods!

2nd. Lord.
And, her proud father, Hengist, to enrich,
He hath despoil'd me of mine heritage,
And from my sweet, my lovely babes cut off
Their rights, and ta'en from me my vast estate.

Wort.
Then look you quick repair towards our camp,
Thither in secret we'll convey our mother;
So fare ye well, good lords.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.

Enter Aurelius, Uter, Pascentius, and Flavia.
Aur.
Though bloody battle calls us forth again,
I'll rather part with life, with all on earth,
Than leave thee, Flavia, unprotected.

Uter.
Hengist hath pitch'd on t'other side of Badon;
The noise of arms, and distant hum of soldiers,
Bespeak their hasty preparation;
'Twere best to attack them early in the morn.

Aur.
Then be it so.

Pas.
And yet I must not 'gainst my father arm!

Fla.
Indeed, thou'dst arm against thy sister too;
Who wou'd protect me then, or calm my fear;
Who sit and tell me tales of hope? O! no one:
It were too much, you cannot, must not leave me.

Enter Officer.
Off.
Two sons of Vortigern do crave admittance.

Enter Wortimerus and Catagrinus.
Wort.
My brother and my sister here!

Cata.
O! joy unthought of! Oh! unlook'd-for bliss!

Fla.
Say! speak! how fares it with my gentle mother?

Wort.
Beseech thee, ask me not of her sad story.

Fla.
Sad, say'st thou? Heav'n forefend; she is not dead?

Wort.
Calm thyself, dearest sister, she lives still.

Fla.
O! where, where, tell me, that with these moist tears
I may rain comfort on her wounded soul.

Wort.
Let us retire.

SCENE IX.

Enter the Saxon and British Armies; they fight, and the Saxons are routed.
Enter Hengist and Officer.
Heng.
All, all is lost. Fly, fly, to the king's tent,
Bid him to London speedily repair;
Away, away, tarry not on your life.
A curse upon his sons for quitting us;
Shou'd they but follow up this victory,
My hopes, my every wish, for ever's blasted.

Enter Wortimerus.
Heng.
Vile traitor both to your liege king and father,
What blasted fiend, blacker than hell itself,
Cou'd prompt thee to this damned treachery?

Wort.
Can'st thou, vile Saxon, thou base braggart, ask it?
'Tis thou, and on thy soul I'll prove it so.

Heng.
Ask where's thy queen, and then I'll answer thee!

Wort.
Dares thus thy tongue with notes unmannerly
My heart-strings tear asunder? Fiend, have at thee.

[They fight, Hengist falls.
Heng.
Thine hand be blasted for this fatal blow.
And must then all my hopes lie buried here?

Wort.
Yea, and thou need'st not much of Kent's domain,
A little mole-hill now will serve!

Heng.
Yet chance one lives, that may avenge this deed;
'Tis the brave Horsus, 'tis my noble friend.

Wort.
He fought his last,—
On him were found the secrets of thy plot:
Wou'dst thou not have enthrall'd my countrymen;
Was not thy daughter to have basely poison'd
Her king, and husband, and then wert not thou
To have seiz'd the crown? O! villain! villain! traitor!

Heng.
Yea, all, had I but liv'd a little longer.
Hell, swallow me not up! nor ope thy jaws
So wide. The fiends do tug and strain my heart-strings.
They burst, they crack—Oh! curs'd ambition! Oh!

[Dies.
Enter Catagrinus.
Cata.
All, all is ours, the ranks are broken—
They fly before us, come, let's follow them.
Good heav'ns, who's this?

[Looking to the body of Hengist.
Wort.
Hengist himself.

Cata.
What, was it thou that this vile monster fell'd?

Wort.
Ay, marry; but he fought indeed like one
That begg'd a little time to save his soul.

Cata.
Our father hath towards London ta'en his flight,
But yet Rowena is our prisoner.

Wort.
That's well indeed! come let us on and join them.

[Exeunt.

SCENE X.

Vortigern's Palace.
Enter Vortigern and 1st. Baron.
1st. Bar.
Speed, my most gracious lord, think on your safety,
They course your troops, and dreadful is the carnage.

Vor.
Where are my sons?

1st. Bar.
Let not your tongue curse me when I shall say.

Vor.
Speak quick!

1st. Bar.
With all their troops they join'd the enemy,
And took with them their mother.

Enter Officer.
Vor.
Well, Sir, and what more tidings do you bring?

Off.
To London's lofty walls they follow'd us.

Vor.
I care not an' they follow'd you to hell:
Speak, vassal! coward, speak! where is Rowena?

Off.
Alas, I fear me, Sir, she's ta'en a prisoner.

Vor.
Then all is lost indeed!—Thou sweetest death!
Bury but in this bosom thy fell dart,
And I will bless thee for the gentle deed.

Off.
Shall I go forth, my lord, and man the walls?

Vor.
Do as thou wilt,—
Good friend, I'd speak with thee.

Off.
What, Sir, are your commands?

Vor.
Thou art an old and ever faithful servant.

Off.
My means have not kept pace with my desires.

Vor.
I know thee well! wou'dst thou not serve me, friend?

Off.
Aye, my good lord! put me but to the test,
And you shall see me smile at death himself.

Vor.
I take thee at thy word; hold here my sword,
And but one friendly office render me;
Flinch not, strike deep and home; here lies my heart.

Off.
O! if each drop that were to issue from thee,
Were a most precious jewel, and the whole
Were my reward, by heav'n I wou'd not do't!

Vor.
Thou coward, what, afraid? O! shame, fie on't.

Off.
Consider, Sir, your Queen yet lives.

Vor.
Thou art in the right; to arms then; out,
Bring me my burnished shield, my weighty ax,
And man the northern gate, let every bell
Sound forth each brazen note until it rouse
Our tombed fathers from their silent graves,
To come and aid us at this pinch of time.
Ring till the very steeples totter down.
Mark well my orders, he that flinches, dies.
If ought of murmur's heard, choak it with death.
Away, away, and now for victory.