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| 3. | Scene III |
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 | The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers |  |
Scene III
(Culloden, the battlefield. Enter Sir Ronald and Fernando to Charles Stuart. Alarums.)Charles Stuart
What news from Falkirk?
Sir Ronald
Glorious news,
But sadder far than glorious is the news
That comes from old Drumossie Muir!
122
What news?
Sir Ronald
The Chiefs are routed from the field; one half
Are slain. We must not tarry here, come fly!
Charles Stuart
No, let me rally our brave men again,
And cheer their drooping spirits for the fight.
What, would you have us run like frightened lambs,
From the obstreperous howlings of such wolves?
No, let my cousin of Cumberland come on!
Sir Ronald
(Alarums.)
My lord, thy valor should be curbed awhile!
Let prudence by thy shield to save thy life!
It is too noble to be lost in such
Inglorious strife. If we are beaten, we
Must fly. Away, the foe is near us now.
Charles Stuart
Adversity may chill the heart of Charles,
But no despair shall ever quench its fire.
(Alarums.)
Page
Come, we must fly! Away to Boradale.
Charles Stuart
What, fly to Boradale where first my Page,
123
And like the river to the parching vales,
Poured on my thirsting soul the tide of song,
Which made the flowers of love immortal grow?
No, let them come; my soul is mighty yet.
Sir Ronald
I heard the clangor of the eagle's wings
Hurtling amid the bustling clouds of Heaven,
While clambering up their perilous cliffs
To fan the sun to glory. On he flew!
My sight grew tired to follow him so far,
When suddenly as if by lightnings struck,
He curveted once more the bounds of Heaven.
Charles Stuart
Stay the bold eagle in his flight to Heaven,
Or pierce the bosom of the milky swan
Soaring aloft above the reed isles green.
As well may ye attempt to curb me now.
I tell you that my soul is mighty yet.
Sir Ronald
Fair as the Moon that came to watch her there,
Feeding an eagle from an ivory cup,
That Genius sculptured for the Feast of Fame.
And while he stood there pouring out his song
124
A voice from out the angry cloud was heard
Muttering dolorous vengeance in her soul.
I saw him fix his keen eye on the throne,
And ere the thunderbolt could lay her low,
Anchored his talons on the perilous shaft,
And saved his holy Minister from death!
Charles Stuart
A dream more beauteous never has been told.
Before me in the visions of the night,
Went the tall warhouse through the Highland camp,
Lifting his trumpet nostrils in the air,
With feet dabling in blood. Heard ye no sound?
The fiery depths of the infernal world
Seemed to disgorge the entrails of her wrath.
Sir Ronald
My lord, it was an omen of thy fall!
Charles Stuart
But on that steed a rider rode, who said,
“Remember Stuart, to avenge my death!”
It was my father. He is mighty yet. (Alarums.)
(Enter Lochiel in haste.)
Lochiel
My lord, we are in danger here. Come, fly!
125
Like sleepless ghosts that come to stalk the world,
Vomiting the fire of desolation forth!
Charles Stuart
Who leads them on?
Lochiel
That traitor Boisdale.
Charles Stuart
Oh, for a hundred thousand years to kill
Him in! Had he as many lives as there
Are sands upon the sea, I'd kill them all.
Sir Ronald
They come my lord, they come upon us now!
Charles Stuart
Come forth my sword! Draw, every one of you,
And let us stand for Liberty or Death.
(Enter Boisdale with English soldiers.)
Boisdale
Behold the power of Boisdale's revenge.
He comes to set thee on thy throne in Hell!
Charles Stuart
This sword shall be thy passport to that place.
Come on, ye paleface, chicken-hearted rats!
And let me teach you Stuart's skill. No, stand,
126
Boisdale
Give back the jewel which you stole from me!
You cannot wear it on your crown—'tis lost.
Charles Stuart
I wear your jewel, as you call her, in
My heart.
Boisdale
Give back that jewel or thy life!
Soldier
Was it for public or for private good,
You brought us here?
Boisdale
For public good
Charles Stuart
Thou fiend!
I will not suffer thee to live an hour!
(They fight. Sir Ronald, Lochiel, and Fernando, back out the Soldiers, while Stuart forces Boisdale off the stage. Alarums. Reenter Charles Stuart and Fernando.)
Page
Where is that villian Boisdale?
Charles Stuart
He fled.
127
Where is Sir Ronald?
Charles Stuart
Fighting still.
Page
Where? now,
My lord, he may be slain!
Charles Stuart
No, he shall live,
He is too brave to die.
Page
See, Lochiel comes;
But not Sir Ronald, he is slain! (Reenter Lochiel.)
Charles Stuart
How now?
Page
Where is Sir Ronald? Speak!
Lochiel
My lord, he lives.
Thy cousin of Cumberland is on the field;
Ten thousand pounds are offered for thy head.
Charles Stuart
A thousand pounds I would not give that price
For all the heads in Christendom, were they
128
Lochiel
What, Boisdale? I would not have his heart.
He comes replenished with new troops.
Charles Stuart
Again?
Lochiel
Again, my lord.
Charles Stuart
I thought he had enough.
Lochiel
The bloodhound is upon thy track—he thirsts
Not only for the prize, but for thy blood!
Charles Stuart
Then he shall die for want of both.
Lochiel
Then, fly
To Boradale! While my words hang on
His lips, the fires of Hell burn in his heart!
The foe is near us now. Thy flight is safe
To Boradale!
Charles Stuart
Come hither, Page.
129
(Approaching him.)
My, lord!
Charles Stuart
(Giving him a letter.)
Be thou unto me as the faithful Dove
That goest in quest of some immortal leaf,
Then comes back laden to an Ark divine.
Page
The Eagle may outsoar the Dove—but yet
The Dove flies swifter to her native nest.
The bee that gathers honey from the flower,
Knows where to find that tender flower again;
And as it hungers for the same sweet flower,
So will Fernando for his master's love.
Charles Stuart
Then we shall wrestle with the storms of fate,
Like Jacob with his angel in the night,
And rise up from the labour with the strength
Of an immortal. Fare thee well!
Page
Farewell!
Charles Stuart
I send thee from the Ark to my fond love,
A cross the deluge of deep grief to fly,
And bring me back the olive leaf of Peace.
130
I will if there is dry land to be found.
(Exit.)
Lochiel
My lord, the foe is near us now!
Charles Stuart
They are,
Let us evade them; lie in ambush here.
They will not harm Fernando?
Lochiel
No, they ask
Thy life, not his.
Charles Stuart
Meanwhile, you seek
Sir Ronald—bring him safe to Boradale.
Lochiel
I will, my lord. Farewell, till we shall meet
Again.
Charles Stuart
Farewell, may Heaven defend thy steps.
(Exeunt.)
| The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers | |