 | Gustavus Vasa, The Deliverer of his Country |  |
SCENE X.
Enter Laertes.Laer.
Ah, bright imperial Maid! my royal Mistress!
Cristina.
What wou'dst thou say? Thy Looks speak Terror to me.
Laer.
O you are ruin'd, sacrific'd, undone!
I heard it all; your cruel, cruel Father
Has sold you, giv'n you up a Spoil to Treason,
The Purchase of the noblest Blood on Earth—
Gustavus!—
Cristina.
Eh! What of him? Where, where is he?
Laer.
In Dalecarlia, on some great Design,
Doom'd in an Hour to fall by faithless Hands:
His Friend, the brave, the false, deceiv'd Arvida,
Ev'n now prepares to lead a Band of Ruffians
Beneath the winding Covert of the Hill,
And seize Gustavus, obvious to the Snares
Of Friendship's fair Dissemblance. And your Father
Has vow'd your Beauties to Arvida's Arms,
The Purchase of his Falsehood.
Cristina.
Shield me Heav'n!
First Duty, break thy filial Bands in sunder,
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Is there no Lett, no Means of quick Prevention?
Laer.
Behold my Life still chain'd to thy Direction,
My Will shall have a Wing for ev'ry Word,
That breathes thy Mandate.
Cristina.
Will you, good Laertes?
Alas, I fear to overtask thy Friendship,
Say, will you save me then—O go, haste, fly!
Acquaint Gustavus—if, if he must fall,
Let Hosts that hem this single Lion in,
Let Nations hunt him down—let him fall nobly.
Laer.
I go, my Princess—Heav'n direct me to him!
[Exit.
Cristina.
I wou'd pray too, to save me from Pollution;
Detested Stain, the Touch of the Betrayer!
But mighty Love the partial Pray'r arrests,
And leaves me only anxious for Gustavus.
For him cold Fears my fainting Bosom chill,
His Cares distract me, and his Dangers kill;
Ye Pow'rs! if deaf to all the Vows I make,
Yet shield Gustavus, for Gustavus' Sake;
Protect his Virtues from a faithless Foe,
And save your only Image, left below.
| Gustavus Vasa, The Deliverer of his Country | |