University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

Enter Gustavus, Anderson, Arnoldus, Sivard, &c. in Triumph. Gustavus advances, and the rest range themselves on each side of the Stage.
Gust.
That we have conquer'd, first we bend to Heav'n!

And.
And next to thee!

All.
To thee, to thee, Gustavus!

Gust.
No matchless Men! my Brothers of the War!
Be it my greatest Glory to have mix'd
My Arms with yours, and to have fought for once
Like to a Dalecarlian; like to you,
The Sires of Honour, of a new-born Fame,
To be transmitted, from your great Memorial,
To Climes unknown, to Age succeeding Age,
Till Time shall verge upon Eternity,
And Patriots be no more—

Arn.
Behold, my Lord,
The Danish Pris'ners, and the Traytor Peterson,
Attend their Fate.

Gust.
Send home the Danes with Honour,
And let them better learn, from our Example,
To treat whom next they conquer, with Humanity.

And.
But then for Peterson!

Gust.
His Crimes are great:
A single Death were a Reward for Treason:
Let him still languish—Let him be exil'd.
No more to see the Land of Liberty,
The Hills of Sweden, nor the native Fields
Of known, endear'd Idea.

And.
Royal Sir,
This is to pardon, to encourage Villains;
And hourly to expose that sacred Life,
Where all our Safety centers.

Gust.
Fear them not.
The Fence of Virtue is a Chief's best Caution;
And the firm Surety of my People's Hearts
Is all the Guard that e'er shall wait Gustavus.
I am a Soldier from my Youth; yet Anderson,
These Wars, where Man must wound himself in Man,
Have somewhat shocking in them: trust me, Friend,
Except in such a Cause as this Day's Quarrel,
I wou'd not shed a single Wretch's Blood
For the World's Empire!

Arn.
O exalted Sweden!
Bless'd People! Heav'n! wherein have we deserv'd
A Man like this to rule us?