University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Apartment in Vortigern's Palace.
Edmunda on a Couch, Flavia and Pascentius.
Soft Music.
Edm.
Indeed, my gentle maid, indeed, thou'rt kind,
And by those tears that glaze thy lovely eyes,
'Twould seem that truly thou did'st pity me.

Fla.
Pity thee, O Gods!

Edm.
Nay, wherefore weep ye both,
'Tis long, long since I was thus kindly treated,
Your pardon, but I fear you scoff at me.

Pas.
Doth she yet know you?

Fla.
Wou'd to Heaven she did.

Edm.
And yet there was a maid that once did love me,
Heigh ho! she went alack! I know not whither,
Thou ne'er did'st see her, else what I shall say
Methinks wou'd make thee vain, but yet indeed,
Thou seem'st right well to ape her pretty manners.

Fla.
This is too much, I cannot bear all this.

Edm.
Nay, nay, why shou'd'st thou wail and tremble so?
'Till this I thought that grief was only mine;
It is not fair to rob me of all comfort,
I thought thee honest, but indeed the world
Doth flatter, fawn, and stroke upon the face,
And sadly censure when the back is turn'd.

Pas.
O! dearest mother, say, dost thou not know me?

Edm.
Aye, aye, right well, thou'rt one by name a man:
Thy form is well enough, and thou may'st pass;
But hast thou a heart for melting pity?
For better be a brute,—
Than lack it under that most godlike form:
And yet I do thee wrong,—for even now
Thou didst add graces to that manly cheek,
With scalding tears! and for whom do you this?
For one that neither asks, nor merits it.

Enter Wortimerus and Catagrinus.
Wort.
How doth she now?

Pas.
Alas! she wanders yet, her mind's diseas'd.

Fla.
I am that maiden lost, your loving daughter.

Edm.
Bring here my glasses, stand before me here!
Now, now, I'll judge thee well, I'll see this straight,
And first her look was mild, in this thou'lt do;
Then she was kind, most excellent, and good,
Well, and so seemest thou; now for the last,
O! her heart was,—but thine I cannot see,
There thou deceivest me, I know thee not.
Yet if thou be my daughter,
On thy forehead is a mark,—
Away then with those locks from off thy front:
Now, let me look! O! gods, 'tis she, 'tis she.

Pas.
She faints, she faints! this shock is too afflicting
For her poor shatter'd, and disabled frame.

Fla.
O! dearest, kindest, and most gentle mother.

Edm.
Indeed, my brain is something cooler now,
I shou'd know you, Sir, and you too, nay all!
I'm very faint, alas, this joy o'ercomes me!

Fla.
Sweet mother, you need rest, we'll lead you in.

Edm.
Then be it so, and wilt thou sit and watch me?

Fla.
Aye, and I'll kneel and pray, and sometimes weep.

Edm.
Lead then, I'll in to rest, come follow me.

[Exeunt.
Enter Aurelius and Uter.
Aur.
The breach is made, the southern gate is forc'd,
Yet still doth he hold out, and hath ta'en flight
E'en to the tower, and there he'll wait the siege.

Uter.
Aurelius, your fair prisoner is no more.

Aur.
How say'st thou?

Uter.
Rowena hath ta'en poison and is dead.

Aur.
Then hath a wicked soul taken its flight
From the most lovely frame that e'er was form'd,
To charm or to deceive.

[Exeunt.