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The Regicide : Or, James the First, of Scotland

A tragedy
Smollett, Tobias George (1721-1771)
  
THE REGICIDE:
  
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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.
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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 VI.

Angus, Dunbar wounded.
Dunbar.
I sought thee, noble Thane, while yet my Limbs
Obey their Lord.—I sought thee, to unfold
My zealous Soul, 'ere yet she takes her Flight.—
Stretch'd on the Ground, these Eyes beheld the King
Transfix'd a lifeless Coarse! And saw this Arm
Too late to save—too feeble to avenge him!—

72

Angus.
Weep Caledonia, weep!—thy Peace is slain—
Thy Father and thy King!—O! this Event,
Like a vast Mountain, loads my staggring Soul,
And crushes all her Pow'rs!—But say, my Friend,
If yet thy Strength permits, how this befel.

Dunbar.
A Band of Rebels, glean'd from the Defeat,
By Athol, lurk'd behind the adjacent Hills:
These, faithless Cattan, favour'd by the Night,
Admitted to the City, join'd their Power
With his corrupted Guard, and hither led them
Unmark'd, where soon they enter'd unoppos'd.—
Alarm'd, I strove—but strove, alas! in vain.
To the sad Scene 'ere I could force my Way,
Our Monarch was no more! Around him lay
An Heap of Traitors, whom his single Arm
Had slain before he fell.—Th'unhappy Queen,
Who, to defend her Consort's, had oppos'd
Her own defenceless Frame, expiring, pour'd
Her mingling Blood in copious Stream with his!

Angus.
Illustrious Victims!—O disast'rous Fate!
Unfeeling Monsters! Execrable Fiends!
To wanton thus in royal Blood!

Dunbar.
O Thane!
How shall I speak the Sequel of my Tale!
How will thy fond parental Heart be rent
With mortal Anguish, when my Tongue relates
The Fate of Eleonora!

Angus.
Ha!—my Fears
Anticipate thy Words!—O say, Dunbar,
How fares my Child!

73

Dunbar.
The Shades of endless Night
Now settle o'er her Eyes!—heroic Maid!
She to th'assaulted Threshold bravely ran,
And with her snowy Arm, supply'd a Bolt
To bar their Entrance:—But the barb'rous Crew
Broke in impet'ous, crush'd her slender Limb,
When Grime, his Dagger brandishing, exclaim'd,
Behold the Sorc'ress whose accursed Charms
Betray'd the Youth; and whose invet'rate Sire
This Day revers'd our Fortune in the Field!—
This for Revenge!—then plung'd it in her Breast!—

Angus.
Infernal Homicide!

Dunbar.
There—there I own
He vanquish'd me indeed!—What tho' I rush'd
Thro' many a Wound, and in th'Assassin's Heart
Imbrew'd my faithful Steel.—But see, where comes
By her Attendants led, the bleeding Fair!

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