University of Virginia Library

ACT FIRST.

SCENE I.

Sifrid enters, as from an Engagement.
Sifrid.

SCENE II.

Enter, to Sifrid, Edred and Walter; as from pursuit.
Sifrid. Edred. Walter.
Sifrid
(As they enter.)
Welcome, brave chiefs! What? have you just return'd?
Say, did we not the conflict well sustain?
With valorous and gallant use of arms?

Edred.
O noble chief! most terrible this night!
Most fierce and deadly this our last encounter!
If we, in each attempt, so much must dare,
Hazard so much; nought but increase of strength,
Or the most desperate prowess, can uphold us.
Alarm already speaks of us.

Walter.
Be it so.
Strong in our nature, and inur'd to toil,
Of suffering patient, and resolv'd of mind,
We fight with double 'vantage: while the cause,—
Thrice damn'd oppression,—which the strength impairs
Of tyrant lordlings, gives us growing force.
Think you that men, men like themselves endow'd,
Or to themselves superior, long will bend,
To the low dust, the knee,—and stoop the head,
To slavish vassalage, and feudal pride?
And tremble in a mis-nam'd Noble's presence?
It cannot be: soon will they spurn the yoke,
Fly to our aid, and emulate our zeal.
If not,—we are ourselves,—we have a chief,—
And, Sifrid at our head, we dare oppose
The utmost front of tyrannous invasion.

Sifrid.
Thanks my friend!
Nor of your love, nor courage do I doubt:
But all must not be valorous as him
With whom we last contended. To my soul,
Us'd as I am to carnage and to blood,
The blow, which caus'd his death, gave many pangs.
When he beheld his dear companions slain,
With such a generous disregard of life
He fought; such brave indignancy, that he,
Of all the band of love, alone was left;
The single wearer of detested life;
I could have snatcht him to my soul, kist him,
And call'd him brother. But why lament him?
The world has cast me out, and let it perish!

Edred and Walter.
'Tis nobly spoken, Captain!

Walter.
Now, by my soul!
Did I not hope to spread devouring flame,
And shake, o'er peers, the desolating scourge;
Were not my earnest expectation, soon,
Death in the van, and ruin in the rear,
To raze the castle, mine the haughty towers,
And bow their sky-assailing heads to earth;
Existence were my scorn, my very hate,
The heavy vengeance of the angry heavens.

Sifrid.
O we have suffer'd foul, foul wrongs, my brother!
And, by the arm of God! we will have right,
Have sweet revenge!

Edred and Walter.
We will!

Sifrid.
But where are they,
Our bold compeers, and brothers, in this cause?
They were not wont, with such a leaden pace,
Behind their chief to loiter.

Edred.
Nor do they.
Fiercely they urge pursuit, if chance their steps
May yet o'ertake two recreant knaves, who fled,
Diverse, their braver friends most base forsaking.

Sifrid.
(Agitated, and to himself.)
And must there be more blood? and more of murder?

Edred.
Of blood?

Walter.
Of murder?—What means our Captain?

Sifrid.
(To himself.)
Almighty God! thou know'st 'twas not my fault—
That I was clean of hands, humane of heart—
Had rather died myself, than wrong'd a brother—

Walter.
Sifrid! Thou prat'st! By heaven! I am asham'd;
I blush for thee:—Think on thy duty chief!

Sifrid.
(Still inattentive.)
And him I thought my friend—whose soul I deem'd
The very fount whence truth and honor flow'd—
Demons of hell shall torture him for this!

Walter.
Why now I know thee: throw aside this gloom:
Observe how fair the day, and what its promise.

Edred.

SCENE III.

The Banditti shout, behind the Scenes, and show themselves, coming down the Avenues, bringing Hugo bound. Edred speaks as they enter.
Sifrid, Edred, Walter, Banditti, and Hugo.
Edred.
(By the Band.)
(Single Voice.)
(By the Band.)

All Banditti.
Long life to Sifrid!

Sifrid.
Welcome, thrice welcome,
Noble brothers! Now, by my head I swear,
It joys me much to see you thus return;
So full of life, of spirit, and of joy;
With numbers so entire; after such rude
And dangerous conflict. Triumph like to this
Our Band knew never,—victory so complete.

First Band.
Never, our Captain: some half-score except,
Who fell, sore prest by numbers, all return.

Sifrid.
'Tis well. But say, who is this captive slave?

First Band.
A trembling, coward knave; a very fool;
Whom we, deceiv'd, pursu'd; mistaking him
For one of nobler sort, and bolder heart,
Who somehow hath escap'd us.— (To Hugo.)
Sirrah, knave!
Hold up thy head.— (To Sifrid.)
So full is he of fear,
As yet, our Chief, we nought have learnt of him.

Sifrid.
(To Hugo.)
Captive! resume thy courage man! Look up!
There shall no harm be done thee—Fear'st thou yet?
Fellow, I swear to thee upon my sword,
Nay, by my head I swear, no mischievous,
Or deadly evil, shall be practis'd on thee.
Who? What thou art? Why here? Briefly unfold.

Hugo.
Dread Sir, have mercy on me! Nought am I,
But a poor slave, the follower of a lord,
Who, thro' this country, seeks a wandering maid;
For whose dear love all comfort he foregoes.
But yester-morn, he join'd him to a band,
Of noble knights, who sought the North of Wales;
For better safety, travelling together.
Alas! most sad mischance! none of that band,
My master's self except, now tastes of life.

Sifrid.
And he?

Hugo.
He, he alone, escap'd; urging
With wondrous speed, down the steep rock, his flight.

Sifrid.
Haste thee! disclose his name and quality.

Hugo.
'Mid England's Peers, the first;—Earl Ethelbert.

Sifrid.
Earl Ethelbert!—Thunder of Heaven!—What he?—
And roam these woods?—He here? within my power?
Why yes!—'tis well!—Now, by the arm of God!—
Vengeance!—revenge!—O! it is well!—'tis well!—

Edred.
(To Walter.)
What may this mean?

Walter.
(To Edred.)
Speak to him, Edred.

Edred.
(To Walter)
I will.
Captain! brother! friend! Sifrid!—What ails thee?
What dreadful passion agitates thy soul?

Sifrid.
Can he love?—Curses blast his love!—No—no—
I will have ample, will have sweet revenge!

Edred.
Sifrid!—He hears me not.—Sifrid, my friend!
Are we not sworn to thee?—Tell us thy wrong.

Sifrid.
Forgive me! O my good friends, forgive me!
I have done much injustice to your love,
Thus long to hide it from you; but will now—
(To the Band.)
Bear hence that slave, and see him close confin'd!
Then, my kind brothers, hasten to return;
For I would bare my heart, and nought conceal.

SCENE IV.

The Banditti return.
Sifrid. Edred. Walter. Banditti.
Sifrid.
(To those who enter.)
My brothers, it is well.—'Mid all my griefs,
Much does it joy my soul to find such friends.

First Bandit.
Captain, we love you.

Sifrid.
Nay, I know it well,
And now confide my story to your love.
—'Twas my most hapless lot my birth to gain
In the same city with Earl Ethelbert.
His sire, of the first rank, (as sure you know,)
Was wealthy; and reported generous.
I was of noble birth—but—poor.—While young,
Distinction proud was neither known nor felt:
Like passions, and resembling taste, were ours;
And in sweet friendship's bands united us.

Edred.
And what could interrupt?—He did not dare—

Sifrid.
Observe!—To manhood now arriv'd, his sire
To France dismist him, hoping his improvement.
—O fatal error! thus alone to trust,
Remote from friends, in life's most dangerous prime,
Gay, inconsiderate, and warm-glowing youth!—
—'Twas there his passions gain'd the mastery;
And he, profuse of wealth, unaw'd by rule,
And ignorant of restraint; flatter'd, carest,
His every humour studied; all his wants,
His passions all, supplied; grew vain, debauch'd,
Selfish and mercenary, false and cruel.

Edred.
Ha!—I see—The Earl—

Sifrid.
Give heed!—It so befel,
Himself far off, and rioting in joys,
His father died. Then, and not till then, he,
To receive, at once, estate and title,
From abroad, return'd.

Edred.
Splendidly, no doubt;
With dissolute and arrogant demeanor.

Sifrid.
Most true.—In place exalted, he no more
His former friend recogniz'd; now, indeed,
A simple husbandman, of manners plain.
Nor did neglect alone content his soul;
Which, first estrang'd, soon hurried on to hate,
And urg'd his hand to deeds of foul oppression.

Walter.
Most execrable villain!

Sifrid.
I was weak—

Walter.
Damn'd, damn'd villain!

Sifrid.
Nor yet was quite subdu'd,
Tho' deeply wounded, the true love I bore him.—
To struggle was but vain. His rank and power,
Banisht all hope, and might defy all strength.
Convinc'd, I left my farm; becoming tenant
To a neighbouring Lord. There I saw, and lov'd,
The daughter of a man like me.

Walter.
And Ethelbert—
The Earl—

Sifrid.
Wealth, alone, she had not.—I scorn'd it.—

Walter.
And she?—

Sifrid.
Had not heard of affectation:
I was belov'd.

Edred.
And you were happy?

Sifrid.
No!

Edred.
No?

Sifrid.
O, no! This lord, this Ethelbert, this Earl,
Must have—O foul appendage! shame to rank!
A Mistress.

Walter.
And he did strive—

Sifrid.
Strove to gain,
Betray,
Betray, corrupt, my Emma.

Walter.
Thief! villain!

Sifrid.
Submissive, tender, complaisant, and mild,
The importuning lover long he play'd:
But she was constant; and with armed force,
At night, he bore her captive to his tower.

Walter.
Ruffian accurst!

Sifrid.
Nor knew we where she was.
He tried all arts; but she, inflexible,
To faithlessness or shame, did death prefer.

All Band.
Noble woman!

Edred.
The Earl—

Sifrid.
With disappointment rais'd to frantic rage,
And furious that to him I caus'd denial;
He nor restrain'd, nor limited his hate.
Me, he procur'd imprison'd;—basely fed;—

Walter.
Tyrant!

Sifrid.
I had forgiven him,—but he held,
In vile captivity, my love; and hop'd,
By long attention, to o'ercome her hate.
A year past on; he caus'd report be spread,
Nay, told her, I was dead. And then— (wildly.)


Edred.
(Alarmed.)
Sifrid!

Sifrid.
Didst ever know what 'twas to love, good Edred?—
Alas! I've known.—Hast ever known the bliss
Of love return'd? And heard the gentle “Yes”
Fall from the trembling lip of blushful maid?—

Edred.
Captain!

Sifrid.
This have I known.—And when thou look'dst
To bear thy treasure home, did some one come,
One whom thou ne'er hadst wrong'd, good Edred? one
On whom thou'dst lavisht all thy friendly store?
Came such an one between thy love and thee?
Say, did his baleful arm sunder ye, then?
Doom her to death, and tell thee she was dead?
Knew'st thou such grief?—And yet—This I have known.— (A pause—Sifrid covers his eyes.)


Edred.
Captain, 'twere well,
Weak, and o'ercome with sorrow, as thou art,
To spare recital of what yet remains.

Sifrid.
No, my good Edred, no! I feel renew'd:—
I thank thee that thou'st rouz'd my memory:—
What follows is most brief.
When now some years had seen me thus imprison'd,
I forc'd escape; nor of my friends, nor kin,
I stay'd to learn; but fled. Our former Chief,
As well you know, receiv'd me. And hence my deeds,
My fortune, and my various life, you know.
But let them pass:—Ethelbert roams these woods,—
You are brave;—I am your leader;—and you—

Edred.
Have sworn to obey—

Sifrid.
And will support me?

All.
To death.

Sifrid.