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The Regicide : Or, James the First, of Scotland

A tragedy
Smollett, Tobias George (1721-1771)
  
THE REGICIDE:
  
[epigraph]
  
[epigraph]
  
[castlist]
  
[section]

collapse section1. 
ACT I.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE VII.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
 9. 
SCENE IX.
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ACT II.
 1. 
[SCENE I.]
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE VII.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
 9. 
SCENE IX.
 10. 
SCENE X.
 11. 
SCENE XI.
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ACT. III.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE VII.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
collapse section4. 
ACT IV.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE VII.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
 9. 
SCENE IX.
 10. 
SCENE X.
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ACT. V.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE VII.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
 9. 
SCENE the Last.

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SCENE IX.

King, Angus, Athol.
King.
Tell me—proud Thanes, why are ye found oppos'd
In loud Revilings?—You, that should promote
By fair Example, Unity and Peace!

Athol.
Have I not Cause to murmur and complain?
Stuart, the latest Gift and dearest Pledge
Of Love fraternal, sooth'd my bending Age:
Him hath the unrelenting Dagger torn
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From my parental Arms; and left (alas!)
This sapless Trunk, to stretch its wither'd Boughs
To you for Justice!—Justice then I crave.

King.
To send the injur'd unredress'd away,
How great soe'er the Offender, or the Wrong'd
Howe'er obscure, is wicked—weak and vile:
Degrades, defiles and should dethrone a King!
Say freely, Thane, who has aggriev'd thee thus,
And were he dear as her who shares our Throne,
Thou shalt have ample Vengeance.

Athol.
Then I charge
The Son of March with Perfidy and Murder.

Angus.
Were I with mean Indifference to hear
Th'envenom'd Tongue of Calumny traduce
Defenceless Worth, I should but ill deserve
Your royal Confidence.—Dunbar has slain
The Kinsman of this Thane; yet fell he not
By Murder, Cowardice, or foul Design.
The Sword of Stuart was already drawn
To sacrifice my Daughter, when Dunbar,
By Heav'n directed hither, interpos'd,
Redeem'd the trembling Victim, and repell'd
His Rival's Fury on his hapless Head.

Athol.
Must I refer me to the partial Voice
Of an invet'rate Foe?—No, I reject
The tainted Evidence, and rather claim
The Combat Proof—Enfeebled are my Limbs
With Age that creeps along my Nerves unstrung,
Yet shall the Justice of my Cause recal
My youthful Vigour, rouse my loit'ring Blood,
Swell ev'ry Sinew, strengthen ev'ry Limb,
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And crown me with Success—Behold my Gage—
I wait for Justice.

King.
Justice shalt thou have—
Nor shall an equitable Claim depend
On such precarious Issue.—Who shall guard
The Weak from Violence, if brutal Force
May vindicate Oppression.—Truth alone
Shall rule the fair Decision, and thy Wrongs,
If thou art wrong'd, in my unbyass'd Sway
Shall find a just Avenger.—Let Dunbar
Appear when urg'd, and Answer to the Charge.

[To Angus.
[Exeunt King, Angus.
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