University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Enter Osbert attended.
Osbert.
Haste, Wolford!—gather up our scatter'd soldiers,
Call the militia in—alarm the country—
Line the wall round—and bar the massy gates—
Confusion! to be thus surprised!
No word, no warning of the coming danger!—
Our scouts, are they gone forth?

Officer.
They are, my liege.

Osbert.
Throw open all our magazines of arms;
We want new levies—and proclaim rewards
To old and young, to every trade and rank,
Whose arm shall lift a sword in our defence.
Where's Anulph, Adelfrid?

Officer.
They are fled, my lord.

Osbert.
O recreant slaves! they've eat our honey up,
And now forsake the hive—Quick, what's the news?

Enter an Officer.
Officer.
Retire, my liege, retire—'ere morning dawns,
The foe is on us.

Osbert.
Let them come, my friends.
Short is the conning of a soldier's lesson—
If not to live, why then, to fall with honour.
Retire, and leave me to my thoughts a while—
[Exeunt Attendants.
'Tis finish'd—Thou hast found me, Heaven!—Where now,
O, where's Northumbria's guardian, where is Westmorland,
Whose arm launch'd forth the thunder of the war
And crush'd invasion?—where my guilt hath sent him,
By my foul rape of his most chaste Rowena,
Dishonoured to his grave!—Where too is Manchester,
My throne's best prop, the wisdom of my council?
Him too I have cast off; and given, in place,
Riches to knaves, to cowardice commission,
Office to ignorance, and trust to traitors.