University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A gloomy apartment in an old Saxon castle, with small grated windows very high from the ground. Edward is discovered, sitting by a table, and tracing figures with chalk upon it, which he frequently rubs out again; at last, throwing away the chalk, he fixes his eyes upon the ground, and continues for some time in a melancholy musing posture. Enters to him the Keeper, carrying something in his hand.
Edw.
What brings thee now? it surely cannot be
The time of food: my prison hours are wont
To fly more heavily.

Keep.
It is not food: I bring wherewith, my lord,
To stop a rent in these old walls, that oft
Hath griev'd me, when I've thought of you o' nights;
Through it the cold wind visits you.

Edw.
And let it enter! it shall not be stopp'd.
Who visits me besides the winds of heaven?
Who mourns with me but the sad sighing wind?
Who bringeth to mine ear the mimick'd tones
Of voices once belov'd, and sounds long past,
But the light-wing'd and many voiced wind?
Who fans the prisoner's lean and fever'd cheek,
As kindly as the monarch's wreathed brows,
But the free piteous wind?
I will not have it stopp'd.

Keep.
My lord, the winter now creeps on apace:
Hoar frost this morning on our shelter'd fields
Lay thick, and glanced to the up-risen sun,
Which scarce had power to melt it.

Edw.
Glanced to th' up-risen sun! Ay, such fair morns,
When ev'ry bush doth put its glory on,
Like to a gemmed bride! Your rustics, now,
And early hinds, will set their clouted feet
Through silver webs, so bright and finely wrought
As royal dames ne'er fashion'd, yet plod on
Their careless way, unheeding.
Alas, how many glorious things there be
To look upon! Wear not the forests, now,
Their latest coat of richly varied dyes?

Keep.
Yes, good my lord, the cold chill year advances;
Therefore, I pray you, let me close that wall.

Edw.
I tell thee no, man; if the north air bite,
Bring me a cloak.—Where is thy dog to-day?

Keep.
Indeed I wonder that he came not with me
As he is wont.

Edw.
Bring him, I pray thee, when thou com'st again.
He wags his tail and looks up to my face
With the assured kindliness of one
Who has not injur'd me. How goes your sport?

Keep.
Nobly, my lord; and much it pleases me
To see your mind again so sooth'd and calm.

Edw.
I thank thee: knowst thou not that man is form'd
For varied states; to top the throne of power,
Or in a toad's hole squat, shut from the light?
He can bear all things; yet, if thou hast grace,
Lead me for once into the open air
To see the woods, and fields, and country round,
In the fair light of heaven.

Keep.
I must not do it; I am sworn to this;
But all indulgence suited to this state
Of close confinement, gladly will I grant.

Edw.
A faithful servant to a wicked lord,
Whoe'er he be, art thou. Is Oswal dead?
Or does some powerful Thane his power usurp?
[A pause.
Thou wilt not answer me.

[A horn heard without.
Keep.
Ha! who is at the gate that sounds so boldly?
I'll mount this tower and see.
[Exit hastily, and Edward takes his seat again as before. Keep. (without, calling down from the tower).
It is a company of armed men,
Bearing a royal ensign.

Edw.
(starting from his seat).
Then let me rise and brace my spirits up!
They bring me death or freedom! Re-enter Keeper from the tower.

(Eagerly to him.)
What thinkst thou of it?

Keep.
I'll to the gate, and meet them instantly.

[Exit crossing over the stage hastily.
Edw.
(alone).
An it be death they'll do it speedily,
And there's the end of all. Ah, liberty!
An it be thou, enlarger of man's self!—
My heart doth strangely beat as though it were.
I hear their steps already: they come quickly:
Ah! how step they who joyful tidings bear!

Keep.
(calling without to Edw. before they enter).
My lord, my lord! you're a free man again!

Edw.
Am I? great God of heaven, how good
Thou art!

Enter two Thanes, conducted by the Keeper.
Edw.
(accosting them).
Brave men, ye come upon a blessed errand,
And let me bless you.

1st Th.
With joy unto ourselves we bring, my lord,
Your full enlargement from the highest power,
That Mercia now obeys.

Edw.
Not from king Oswal?

2d Th.
No, most noble ethling;
From the Lord Regent Ethelbert we come.

Edw.
Mine uncle, then, is dead.

2d Th.
E'en so, my lord.

Edw.
Ah! good and gentle, and to me most kind!
(Weeps, hiding his face.)
Died he peacefully?

1st Th.
He is at peace.

Edw.
Ye are reserv'd with me.
But ye are wise perhaps; time will declare it.
Give me your hands; ye are my loving friends.
And you, good guardian of this castle, too,
You have not been to me a surly keeper.

[Taking the Thanes warmly by the hand, and afterwards the keeper. [A second horn sounds without very loud.
1st Th.
Ha! at our heels another messenger
So quickly sent!

[Exit keep.
2d Th.
What may this mean?

Edw.
Nay, wait not for him here.
Let us go forth from these inclosing walls,
And meet him in the light and open day.

1st Th.
'Tis one, I hope, sent to confirm our errand:
How came he on so quickly?

Edw.
Thou hopest, Thane? Oh! then thou doubtest too.

[Pauses and looks earnestly in their faces.
Enter Ongar, conducted by the keeper.
1st Th.
(to Ongar).
Thine errand?

Ongar.
That thou shalt know, and the authority
Which warrants it. You here are come, grave Thanes,
Upon the word of a scarce-named regent,
To set this pris'ner free; but I am come
With the sign'd will of Ethwald to forbid it;
And here I do retain him.

(Laying hold of Edw.)
1st Th
Loose thy unhallow'd grasp, thou base deceiver!
Nor face us out with a most wicked tale.
We left the king at his extremity,
And long are this he must have breath'd his last.

Ongar.
Art thou in league with death to know so well
When he perforce must come to sick men's beds?
King Ethwald lives, and will live longer too
Than traitors wish for. Look upon these orders;
Knowest thou not his sign? (Showing his warrant.) (Both Thanes, after reading it.)
'Tis wonderful!

Ongar.
Is it so wonderful
A wounded man, fainting with loss of blood
And rack'd with pain, should seem so near his end,
And yet recover?

2d Th.
Ethwald then lives?

Ongar.
Ay, and long live the king!

Edw.
What words are these?
I am as one who in a misty dream,
Listens to things wild and fantastical,
Which no congruity nor kindred bear
To preconceiv'd impressions.
King Ethwald, said ye? and is Ethwald king?

1st Th.
He did succeed your uncle.

Edw.
And by his orders am I here detain'd?

1st Th.
Even so, my lord.

Edw.
It cannot be. (Turning to 2d Th.)
Thou sayst not so, good Thane?

2d Th.
I do believe it.

Edw.
Nay, nay, ye are deceiv'd.
(Turning to Ongar.)
What sayst thou?
Was I by Ethwald's orders here imprison'd?

Ongar.
Yes, yes; who else had power or will to do it?

Edw.
(holding his clasped hands).
Then hope farewell!
My gleam is dark; my rest is in the dust!
O that an enemy had done this wrong!
But Ethwald, thou, who to my heart wert press'd
As dearest brother never was by him
Who shar'd his mother's breast! Thou in whose fame
I gloried—I who spoke not of my own!—
When shouting crowds proclaim'd thy honour'd name,
I ever join'd with an ungrudging heart:
Yea, such true kindred feeling bore I to him,
E'en at his praise I wept. I pray you, sirs!
(Bursting into tears.)
This hath o'ercome me.
Ongar (to Thanes).
Why do you tarry here?
You've seen my warrant.
Depart with me and leave the prisoner.

1st Th.
What, shall we leave him in this piteous state,
Lone and uncomforted?

Ongar.
It must be so, there is no time to lose.
Come, follow me; my men are at the gate.

[As they are all about to depart, Edward, starting furiously forward to the door, flies upon Ongar, and seizes him by the throat.
Edw.
What! leave me here, fiend! Am I not a man,
Created free to breathe the circling air,
And range the boundless earth as thy base self,
Or thy more treach'rous lord? thou tyrant's slave!

[As he struggles with him, Ongar calls loudly, and immediately the apartment is filled with armed men, who separate them.
Ongar
(to his followers).
Remove that madman to the inner chamber.
Keeper, attend your duty.
(To the Thanes.)
Follow me.

[Exeunt Ongar and Thanes, &c.
Keep.
(to Edw., as some remaining armed men are leading him off by the opposite side).
Alas! alas! my lord, to see you thus,
In closer bondage! Pray! good soldiers, pray!
Let him in this apartment still remain:
He'll be secure; I'll pledge my life—

Edw.
No, no!
Let them enchain me in a pitchy gulph!
'Twere better than this den of weariness,
Which my soul loathes. What care I now for ease?

[Exeunt, Edw. led off by the men.