THE ARGUMENT.
Edgar, King of England, having heard the beauty of Elfrida,
daughter of Orgar Earl of Devonshire, highly celebrated, sent
his favourite Minister Athelwold to the father's castle, to
discover whether she was really so beautiful, as fame reported
her to be; and if she was, to offer her his Crown in marriage.
Athelwold, on seeing her, fell violently in love with her himself;
and married her; conveying her soon after to his own
castle in Harewood Forest, where he visited her by stealth from
court; and in his absence left her with a train of British Virgins,
who form the Chorus. After three months, Orgar, disapproving
this confinement of his daughter, came disguised to Harewood
to discover the cause of it. His arrival opens the Drama.
The incidents which are produced by Athelwold's return from
court (who was absent when Orgar came to his castle), and
afterwards by the unexpected visit of the king, form the Episode
of the Tragedy; the feigned pardon of Athelwold, drawn
from the king by the earnest intercession of Elfrida, brings on
the Peripetia, or change of fortune; and the single combat
between the king and Athelwold, in which the latter is slain,
occasions Elfrida to take the vow, which completes the
Catastrophe.
