University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE, The Tents—At a distance mountains and trees; the moon in crescent, and the stage darkened.
Enter ETHELSWIDA.
ETHELSWIDA.
Had she not fail'd, 'ere this, she had return'd.
Unbraced by vain suspense and expectation,
My spirit flags; and, like a racer tired,
Swerves in the course. I am not what I was.
Hark to that hollow sound!—Is it the hum
Of voices roll'd together in the wind?
Or roars the blast of autumn through the woods?
Alas, I was not wont to fear the night.
When, wan'dring on the pleasant banks of Trent,
By moon-light, oft I trac'd the glittering stream,
And mus'd on Alfred. Peaceful were the sounds,
And to my temper tun'd, which then I heard.
My steps, light as they were, amongst the leaves,
From her high roost the fluttering stock-dove scar'd;
Or startled from his lair the bounding stag.
Begirt with armies now, hemm'd round with spears,
I fear at every step to rouse a foe.
Thro' the dim shades, behold a human form.
'Tis Edda.—Ah, what tidings!

Enter Edda.
EDDA.
Good—and bad.

ETHELSWIDA.
Of Alfred what?

EDDA.
Enrag'd at his refusal
To wed their willing Queen, the Danish chiefs
His sword demanded, and to Rollo gave
Charge of his person. Still they sit in council
New courses to devise.

ETHELSWIDA.
Would I were hence,
Before those dreadful counsellors determine.
What says thy friend?

EDDA.
He answers for thy safety,
If firm thy purpose be, this night, to fly.

ETHELSWIDA.
Blest be thy tongue!

EDDA.
What else remains to say
Or do,—the cover of the tent will hide.

ETHELSWIDA.
Yet, ere I plunge into the stream of fate (kneels)

Angels! and saints, who once yourselves were human,
Now, perfect spirits and with Seraphs mix'd,
Administer to heaven's eternal King!
O, hear my suppliant voice, and to the throne
Where sovereign mercy sits, prefer the prayer
Of one in deep distress, who in the hour
Of her prosperity, never forgot
To bow before your shrines Gracious descend,
Thro' darkness, night and death, my footsteps guide.
But if I'm doom'd, in the rough path to fall,
O, guard the King of England; from the rage
Of cruel foes—preserve the life of Alfred!

(Exeunt to the tent.
Enter Rollo, with two Danish soldiers.
ROLLO.
It is the Queen's command.

FIRST SOLDIER.
The warrant's good.
The Queen commands our swords.

SECOND SOLDIER.
Yes, to kill men,
Arm'd and resisting; that's a soldier's task.
To kill a helpless woman likes me not.

ROLLO.
If you demur!—

(First soldier speaks aside to the second; then turns to Rollo.)
FIRST SOLDIER.
My Lord, we are resolved.

ROLLO.
I know you resolute and secret both;
Selected you as worthy of reward,
Befitting such a service.

FIRST SOLDIER.
We'll perform it.

ROLLO.
The deed, when done, must never be avow'd;
But to the chance of this unruly night
Solely imputed.

FIRST SOLDIER.
Silent is the grave!—
Whoever sees us dies.

SECOND SOLDIER.
Look there my Lord,
(Ethelswida and Edda in the back ground.
Who may they be, who yonder steal along,
Timid their step and mien?

ROLLO.
Forthwith, pursue.
She in the azure mantle, is the princess.
Of her make sure.

(Exeunt the Danes.
Manet ROLLO.
Not without much regret,
Did I consent to Ethelswida's death.
My soul was loth to hurt the lovely maid;
Loth to put out the radiant star of beauty,
'Ere half her course was run. Necessity
Impos'd this deed on my reluctant mind.
For, tho' the star was bright, she beam'd destruction;
And, like a comet, from her tresses shook
Discord and war.

Enter Ronex.
RONEX.
Are my commands obey'd?

ROLLO.
Just as my soldiers were about to enter,
And execute their orders, from the tent,
With silent steps she stole: they saw, pursued,
And have, ere now, o'ertaken.

RONEX.
Speed their swords!—
My fortune, now, is on the anvil placed,
For fate to strike and fashion good or evil.
Hinguar comes on, dark as the night that shades him

ROLLO.
He shall be met.

Enter Messenger.
MESSENGER.
Hail, sovereignty of Denmark!
A foe, whom we expected not, draws near;
The host of England—

ROLLO.
Ha!

MESSENGER.
Cover the plain.
Along their line, I heard the voice of Erick.
That traitor leads them on.

ROLLO.
Caught in a net,
Spread by the hand of chance!—

RONEX.
What shall we do?
What refuge now in counsel, or in arms?

ROLLO.
The King of England is our only refuge.
Make him thy friend; and he will quickly turn
On Hinguar's troops the torrent of his arms.

RONEX.
No choice is left. Fly, and bring Alfred hither.

(To the officer.
ROLLO.
In pledge of amity, restore his sword.

Manent Rollo and Ronex.
RONEX.
Rollo, thou look'st as if thou didst repent,
What we have done. My soul's a constant stream,
Which knows no changeful ebb.

ROLLO.
If Alfred should
Desire to see, that Ethelswida's safe—

RONEX.
I'll find an answer fit. He comes. Behold him.
O'er his fix'd eye, his frowning brows project.
His mind is high wound up.

Enter Alfred.
ROLLO.
Now, King of England,
Let no resentment of the past provoke
Thy soul to judge, with passion, of the present.
Hinguar, thy mortal foe, comes on resolv'd
His lovely prize, by valour, to regain.
Oppos'd to him we stand, equal in arms.
But from their hill the English host descend,
To turn the scale of combat. Dost thou wish
The tyrant to prevail?

ALFRED.
Answer direct
Thy question needs not. Hinguar is my foe.
Grant me those equal terms, I ask'd at first;
And to your arms I join the force of England.

RONEX.
Thy terms are more agreeable to Ronex,
Than those the policy of Denmark nam'd.
By Frea, eldest goddess of the sky,
The ancient arbiter of human things,
I swear to the performance.

ALFRED.
In that tent,
If Ethelswida rests, I wish to see her.

RONEX.
Far from this spot, where Hinguar points his march,
The Princess to a safer place is mov'd,
Near my pavilion.

ALFRED.
Ha!

Enter Messenger.
MESSENGER.
A fierce attack
Is on the right begun.

ROLLO.
The troops of England!—
If Alfred gives his aid, it must be now.
This officer will on thy steps attend;
And to the Danish chiefs announce thy purpose.
That is the way direct. Along this path
I go to combat Hinguar.
(Exit Rollo.

ALFRED.
Queen of Denmark,
To the afflicted Captive comfort give.
She is the bond and cement of our friendship.
(Exit Alfred.

RONEX.
Then we shall ne'er unite. He does suspect me.
He rivetted on mine his jealous eyes.
There is no proof, and I will brave the suspicion,
With loud appeals, with vows and protestations
Of purest innocence.—That shout is near;
It comes against the wind:—My foes prevail.
Nearer and nearer still!—'Tis time to fly.
On one side Alfred, on the other Hinguar.
Here let them meet, and fight for Ethelswida.

(Exit.
HINGUAR.
(behind the scenes.
Pursue along the vale; the leaders kill,
But spare the common men.

Enter Hinguar with soldiers.
HINGUAR.
This is the place.
Now I have reach'd the port of my desire.
The prize of love and conquest anchors here.
Where are the guards? where she, whom they shou'd guard?
What does this awful solitude portend?

(Enter, from the opposite side of the stage, the two Assassins, with the robe of Ethelswida, stained with blood.)
SECOND SOLDIER.
Twice have we chang'd our course. To keep this robe,
We lose ourselves.

HINGUAR.
By Hela's sulphur'd fires,
The robe of Ethelswida, stain'd with blood!
Infernal villains!—

SECOND ASSASSIN.
Caught, undone,—the King!

FIRST ASSASSIN.
(Throwing down the mantle.)
We are but instruments to work the will
Of our superiors.

HINGUAR.
Have you killed the lady,
Who own'd this garment?

FIRST ASSASSIN.
To deny were vain.
The Queen commanded us, and we obey'd.

SECOND ASSASSIN.
We know our fate; and we will die like men.

HINGUAR.
Long shall you live in pain and wish for death.
The ragged Saw shall tear your tortur'd limbs;
And when your carcasses are all one wound,
Fastened on iron hooks you shall be hung,
And die by inches.—Bear them to to their fate.

(Exeunt, guarded.
Enter Messenger.
MESSENGER.
My Lord, the troops which on the left advanc'd,
Attack'd, and soon subdu'd the guards of Ronex;
But charged by English Alfred, in their turn,
Before him fly.

HINGUAR.
My trumpets!—sound a charge,
And call the straggling soldiers to my spear.
The charm, that drew me to this spot, will bring
The Saxon hither.—Odin, brace my arm,
And let my sword, like thine own thunder, fall
On Alfred's crest.

(The trumpets sound.
Enter Alfred, with English soldiers, and the Officer of the first Act.
ALFRED.
Behold the man!—

HINGUAR.
Whose steel
Shall pierce thy heart.

ALFRED.
Thy menaces, Barbarian,
Tho' fierce and rude, become thee better now,
Than when I heard them last.

HINGUAR.
I threatened then;
And now I will perform.

ALFRED.
My soldiers brave
Restrain your ardour.
(To Hinguar.)
Spare thy people, King!
Let us, alone, in mortal strife engage;
Whilst every Dane and Saxon shall look on;
And by the fortune of their Prince abide.

HINGUAR.
'Tis what I wish'd; but did not think thou durst
Come from the crowd, and, single, meet my arm.

ALFRED.
In more than this mistaken: But by deeds,
Not words, I will convince thee.

HINGUAR.
Prompt thy tongue;
But slow thy hand. Come on. Odin for Denmark!

(Draws.
ALFRED.
For England and her King, the living God!
(They fight, Hinguar falls.
Now, where is Hinguar's pride?

HINGUAR.
Here, in his heart,
Unconquer'd still the pride of Hinguar dwells.
To die in battle is a warrior's death.
The hero fights and falls; but never yields.
Hinguar has fought. From sea to sea, his sword,
Thro' England blaz'd, a meteor dropping blood.
The wolf and eagle followed to the feast,
Tracking its course. The warrior, old in arms,
The youthful chief, by many a virgin lov'd,
Lay reeking in their gore.

ALFRED.
As thou dost now!
The virgin's and the widow's curse have found thee,
And laid in dust the troubler of the land.

HINGUAR.
In dust thy hopes are laid. Behold that robe.
Belike, thou know'st it.

ALFRED.
Ethelswida's robe,
With bloody gashes torn! More fell than bears
That starve on hill of snow, how durst thou lift
Thy cursed hand?

HINGUAR.
No. Ethelswida fell
By Ronex. Yet, altho' I killed her not,
Her death delights me. Saxon, I rejoice
At thy calamity. Happy my lot,
Compar'd with thine. To the Valkyrian maids
I go, to Odin and the hall of joy.
Thou of thy Love bereft, shalt waste thy days,
In lamentation, like the wretch who pines
By Hela's lake and drinks the poison'd stream,
Pour'd from the jaws of snakes. I laugh at thee,
And, like my fathers, die.

(dies.
ALFRED.
His dying voice
Of me prophetic spake. O, Ethelswida!
And Surrey too! in Alfred's cause has fallen.
Now on the top, the summit of affliction,
Like a tree, stript of bark and branch, I stand,
Bare on all sides, and naked to the storm.

(falls.
Voice behind the scenes.
Where is the conquering King, my lord, my husband?
Make way and let me rush—where is my Alfred?

Ethelswida enters and sees him. (Edwin following.)
ETHELSWIDA.
Eternal powers! Is this the scene of joy?
(After a pause, looking at the robe.
I am the cause accurst of Alfred's death,
And England's ruin. Bear me witness, heaven!—
But words are vain. Let those bewail their doom,
Who live to suffer, and prolong their pain.
The gleam of hope, extinguish'd by despair,
Sharpens my sense of misery, and spreads
A deeper horror on my tortur'd mind.
My sure, and now my only friend, come forth.
(Draws a dagger.
Spirit of Alfred, stay!

(Alfred revives.
ALFRED.
The shades of death
Still swim before my eyes. I heard the ghost
Of Ethelswida call!

ETHELSWIDA.
He lives, he lives!
My heart surcharg'd, bursts with a flood of joy.

ALFRED.
Her voice, her form; 'tis she, 'tis she herself!
My Ethelswida!

(Runs into her arms.)
ETHELSWIDA.
Alfred! Gracious heaven!
For ever blest thy Providence divine!

ALFRED.
In error lost, upon the brink we stood,
Of bottomless perdition. O, my love,
Most certain seem'd thy death.

ETHELSWIDA.
I saw thee dead,
And rais'd my arm to join my lot to thine.

ALFRED.
I heard the dagger fall. It was reserv'd
For thee, thou pride and glory of thy sex,
To give the noblest proof of love—and live.

ETHELSWIDA.
Ere since the sad commencement of our woes,
Deep on my heart engrav'd was the resolve,
Not to survive thee in the storms of fortune.
That anchor held like fate.

ALFRED.
Whence came that sign
Which friends and foes deceived?

ETHELSWIDA.
True was the sign
Of death. The wearer of my garment died,
For me mistaken.

ALFRED.
'Twas an wounded mind
Which laid me low. Oppress'd with grief I sunk.
Edwin, my friend—

DEVONSHIRE.
Compleat is Edwin's joy
To see his Prince with love and glory crown'd

ALFRED.
The scene is ghastly, and with death deform'd.
In place more fitting, of our friends and foes
According to desert, we will decree.
The nations now are one; with Hinguar died
The enmity of England and of Denmark.
My people with their monarch shall be blest
Whilst such a partner of my empire reigns.

ETHELSWIDA.
Nor shall the story of the toils of Alfred,
Sink to oblivion, in the tide of time,
Or to posterity descend in vain.
From hence the people of the land he lov'd;
And future Princes of that land may learn,
Fearless to stem the torrent of disaster,
And ne'er of England, or themselves, despair.