University of Virginia Library

SCENE IX.

Valdemar, Asmond.
[Attended by Danish soldiers who seize and carry off the attendants of Valdemar.
Asmond.
Oh! yes, 'tis o'er—
There the poor victim lies—ill-fated child,
Farewell!

Valdemar.
Perdition on thy heart! thy child!
'Tis true the traitress was thy child—She was—
And worthy such a father—but I hop'd
That information which would rend thy soul,
Might be reserv'd for me—

Asmond.
Norwegian! Hah!
Audacious foe, who art thou—

Valdemar.
Thou wilt die
With fear to know—

Asmond.
The King of Norway—no—
Tho' all the storm-nurs'd savages that range
O'er thy wild hills, and howl for human blood;
Tho' the dark fiends, that shake the reeling earth
And breathe blue pestilence; tho' Hell itself
Holds not a heart so horrid, I rejoice
To meet thee here—

Valdemar.
Asmond, behold thy daughter!

Asmond.
[Beckoning to his attendants to remove the body of Lena.
Thy power of villainy is spent, but tell me
If by thy cursed hand the victim fell—

Valdemar.
That I could wish to tell thee—

Asmond.
'Tis enough—
For the base motives of thy hellish rapine
I ask thee not—

Valdemar.
And, therefore, thou shalt know them—
In the records of Norway still subsists
An ancient prophecy, that when her Monarch
Espous'd the daughter of a Prince of Denmark
The crowns should be united—Endless discord
Between the rival kingdoms still prevented
A friendly contract—but whate'er my means,
Ambition was my motive—Great ambition
To reign o'er thee and Denmark—Yet thou prophet,
Thou false, insidious prophet! could I find
Thy execrable dust—the rapid winds
Should rend each sleeping atom!—

Asmond.
False he was not—
Henceforth the Crowns of Denmark and of Norway
Shall be united—Wouldst thou not be witness
To that event? then render to my sword
The life thou long hast ow'd it—

Valdemar.
[Draws: they fight: Valdemar falls.
Gods of Norway!
Am I prevented?

Asmond.
The sure hand of justice
Has sped the blow, and I am satisfied.