University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Enter Osric.
Osric.
Health to our champion! to his arm for ever,
Success like this—and be his living name
The first in Britain's story!—Silence!—tears!—
Whence, wherefore?

Edwin.
O—touch not this parricide!—
Your friend!—my father!—look, O look, where bleeds
The lord of lost Rowena!

Osric.
Westmorland!
What, Westmorland?—The powers!

West.
As I do think—my friend,
The noble Manchester!

Osric.
Help there, in haste!—Fate, fate, thou art Almighty!—
Strength, honour, prowess! what is now your boast,
When prostrate thus your mighty one is fallen,
When here lies Westmorland?—Help, bear him gently,
[Soldiers bring in a chair.
So—there—How fare you?

West.
As a lonely man,
Unskill'd to steer his course, just launched from shore,
And never to return.—O gentle Manchester,
Through what a wondrous whirl of varying fortunes,
Thy friend has past, this day—a lover blest—
A captive—then a conqueror—then a king—
And now, what thou beholdest here!—Ethelwald,
My faithful Ethelwald will tell thee all—
O, I have been to blame—too late, my brother,
I saw, and would repeal—but deeds were done—
And fate refused to cancel—What remain'd,
But to atone in part?—The Dane was false—
And thus, to bind his fate, I chose to perish,
A victim to the land my life had injured!—
My words grow painful—Noble, noble Manchester,
Regard thy gracious son—
No more—I faint!—

Osric.
Alas, my friend!

Edwin.
My father!—

West.
My spirit returns—the aspiring lamp of life
Brightens its latest blaze—I see, they come,
Again they come, the invaders of Northumbria!
Treaties—leagues—what are ye?—O my country,
How art thou waste!—Fair Albion, land of beauty!
Owls build within thy lonely palaces,
And weeds o'ergrow thy pavements!—Ha, he comes!—
My child, the star of Britain, Edwin comes!—
I see, like lightning, he divides the night—
He darts, he rushes on them—Ho, for Freedom!—
Down with the traitorous pair—the Magic Standard,
Grasp it, 'tis thine!—Respiring Liberty,
Justice, and golden Commerce, how ye walk,
And brighten o'er the land!—Release me—oh!—
Pardon I feel is past above—more—more—
Wondrous, unspeakable!—I come—and leave
This lesson to the world—that Heaven is all,
And man is—nothing!—Oh!

[Dies.