University of Virginia Library

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.