University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Elfrida's Chamber.
Elfrida—Manbert holding a dagger and a purse.
ELFRIDA.
Thou'lt do the deed, good Manbert?

MANBERT.
I'll do the deed.

ELFRIDA.
Thou'lt not betray me?

MANBERT.
No.

ELFRIDA.
Thou'rt chary of thy words—perchance thou deem'st
Me chary of my gold—is't not enough?

MANBERT.
Ay!

ELFRIDA.
I shall go mad! I pray you say somewhat,—
Is't not a loyal deed to stab a traitor?

MANBERT.
Ay, madam!

ELFRIDA.
And Athelwold's a traitor.

MANBERT.
So thou say'st.

ELFRIDA.
Knave! caitiff! slave! and is he not, I say?

MANBERT.
What, is he not—“knave?—caitiff?—slave?” good lady?

ELFRIDA.
Now had I but that dagger in this hand!—
I pray you, pardon me! I'm not myself.
But do it, friend, and look for farther meed,
Not from your mistress only—but your King.
(Aside.)
Edgar will thank me when the deed is o'er.
(Aloud.)
Farewell, good Manbert,—come when it is done.
(Turning aside.)
I've locked his conscience with a golden key,
Would mine were closed as lightly!
(To Manbert.)
Why star'st thou with those glaring eyes upon me.

MANBERT.
Methought I saw a fiend!

ELFRIDA.
A fiend! Heaven shield us! where!

MANBERT
(still looking at Elfrida.)
Yonder!

ELFRIDA.
Still is thy gaze on me!

MANBERT.
Nay, pardon me, 'twas on the fiend I gazed.

ELFRIDA.
Go to! I'll leave thee with this scare-crow shade.
[Exit Elfrida.

MANBERT.
It will not stay, it likes thy company best.
(Looks at the purse.)
And this then is my bribe for butchery!
Faith! this same lady-murderess must prize
A human soul but lightly, since she thinks
To buy it at so cheap a rate as this.
A bag of paltry gold!—perchance she deems
A slave's soul is of meaner stamp and worth.
Almighty power! do not all spirits bear
Thine image pure and cloudless from their birth!
And who shall dare decide that thou hast traced
Its beauty less divinely for the slave
Than for his lord, or that the impress is
Less perfect in the one than in the other?
(He holds up the dagger.)
And this too is the instrument, which was
To reach as noble and as kind a heart
As ever beat for an ungrateful woman.
Within yon moat
They shall both lie, until that day of doom
Yon subtle priest, the haughty Dunstan tells of;
Then shall they stand as witnesses against her.
For me, I'll not betray her;
I am too thankful that she chose my hand
To do the deed—since thus I may prevent it.
No, no,—I'll not betray her;—but I'll warn
My master that some danger threatens him.

[Exit.