University of Virginia Library

SCENE X.

Valdemar, Ostan.
Ostan.
Tyrant! savage!
Where have thy minions borne her? are they fled
To the dark desarts of that ragged kingdom,
Which thou and bears divide? fled from my sword?
But they have left me thee!

Valdemar.
Now hold, my rage,
A moment—Fled? alas! good Chief! fled, say'st thou?
No—Lena could not leave thee! fond and faithful,
Could she forsake thee, Ostan? Surely, no!
Haply she wander'd forth to gather food,
Berries, or acorns of the wood; for Lena,
The faithful Lena could not leave thy side.

Ostan.
Blue lightnings blast thee, and thy coward bands,
That meanly stole her from me when alone,
And unprotected!

Valdemar.
Is it possible?
No! gallant Chief! Thou couldst not leave a woman
Without protection—Leave a Queen that lov'd thee,
A faithful Queen! for such uncourtly act
She might, indeed, forsake thee—She might stray,
For she had stray'd before—

Ostan.
Yes know, proud King!
To thy eternal torture, know she lov'd me!
Oh! she was kind! with easy fondness kind!
Soft as the evening-breeze that sinks to rest
Within the folding flower—tender as light,
When dawning o'er the dewy rose it pours
A mild and cautious ray—In my fond arms
O what sweet tumults swell'd her snowy breasts!

Valdemar.
Peace slave!

Ostan.
What nameless soft emotions beam'd
In her fair eye! What lovely languishment!

Valdemar.
Insolent slave!

Ostan.
O hours of extasy!
When thrown at ease upon my circling arm,
Her beauteous head, and many an upward glance
Fraught with sweet meaning, silently invited
The frequent kiss.

Valdemar.
May all the powers of Hell
Blast thy vile tongue!

Osmond.
O rapture-giving hours!
When mingling soul with soul, and breast to breast
Beating responsive pleasure! Hours of transport!
Urge the slow wing of time, and to my bosom
Restore my Lena.

Valdemar.
By the Gods of Norway
I will not wait the slow formalities
That custom has assign'd the combat—Insult
Like this demands immediate chastisement.

[draws.
Ostan.
'Tis as I wish'd.

(draws.)
Valdemar.
Sword of my father now
Be faithful—
[They fight: the sword of Valdemar is broke.
—Curses on thy shivering blade!

Ostan.
Replace thy sword.

Valdemar.
[Snatching a dagger from his bosom, plunges it into the breast of Ostan.]
This shall replace it.

Ostan.
[Making a thrust at Valdemar misses him, and falls.
Coward!
O villain-handed slave.

Valdemar.
[Smiling over him.
Stay; live good Chief,
Tell me where I shall find the Queen of Norway,
And she shall once again partake thy flight.

Ostan.
Is she not in thy power? By Heaven, that thought
Revives me—Yet, Berino!—Oh!—Revenge!

(Dies.
Valdemar.
No! that is mine—I live, I live to feel it.
The vaunting heroe, the rapacious lover—
Pale, pale he lies—O for ten thousand daggers
Sped with like vengeance to each Danish heart,
'Till all her yellow-tressed sons shall shrink
At the Norwegian crest, and all her daughters
Weep o'er the graves of lovers!