University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter Westmorland in Chains.
A majesty indeed!—though some lorn cloud
Appears to have informed his manly brow
With well acquainted sorrow!—Say, brave stranger,
Who, and whence art thou? Silent!—then, perhaps,
Some dear and sacred grief sits heavy on thee,
That should not be prophaned by vulgar ears.
Leave us together.
[Exeunt Guards.
Now, declare thyself—
And if thou bearest up but to thy seeming,
Noble and virtuous, though thou should'st be found
My foe profess'd, know Osbert for thy friend.

West.
Thy foe profess'd!—

Osbert.
Of Denmark, art thou?

West.
Yes.

Osbert.
What—of the powers now banded against Britain?

West.
A leader.

Osbert.
Speak thy purpose.

West.
Thus says the Dane; and what my tongue declares,
His scepter ratifies—Not lust of fame,
Or empire, bears us to Albion's shore;
But justice on a single head—Grant that,
And Denmark is your friend.

Osbert.
Have ye, for this, o'erspread our seas with fleets,
Our land with arms?

West.
We have.

Osbert.
Name the offender.

West.
Nay more—
We ask, but what by law of arms we warrant—
The guilty and the injured, man to man!—
The rest let fate decide.

Osbert.
'Tis granted, chearfully.

West.
And surely—is it?

Osbert.
Yes, if there's truth or honour in the land;
In Heaven, or earth, aught binding.

West.
You will not shrink—

Osbert.
No—though ourself should answer thy bold summons.
Thou hast our faith—I swear it, by my head.

West.
'Tis there our vengeance levels!

Osbert.
Insolent!—
And who is he, that dares impeach a monarch?
And more presumptuous still, that singly dares,
In equal field, to meet the arm of Osbert?

West.
He stands before you—

Osbert.
Ha!—thy name?

West.
'Tis Westmorland!—
A long pause.
Now do you know me?

Osbert.
Westmorland!—
Had yawning hell
Cast all his fiends upon me—neither depth,
Nor height—the universe could not afford
A spectre, like thyself, to shake the nerve,
And blanch the cheek of Osbert!

West.
O thou fell tyger, hungry as the grave,
Gorged with the lives of innocence and honour!—
What can'st thou answer, thou imperial spoiler,
To me, thy subject?—now thy slave—in chains—
Alone—unarm'd—yet, by thy proper guilt,
Exalted as thy judge—an awful judge,
To sink thee to perdition!

Osbert.
I had made—
I hoped, I trusted, I had made—my peace
On earth, in Heaven!—but, like a baneful blast,
A sudden pest, thou art come to wither up
All the wide harvest of my ripen'd hopes—
Thou plague, thou hell of Osbert!

West.
Yes—
Beyond this life—while there's a place for being—
War, hateful, deadly, and determined war,
Must be the lot of Westmorland and Osbert!
Heaven can't contain us; nor the suffering earth,
And keep her elements at peace—
The seat of memory is curs'd that holds thee—
O I would chase thee to the verge of thought,
There push thee off, and blot thee from creation—
Though I leapt after!

Osbert.
Rebel, I thank thee—thou dost well expunge
My single fault by thy superior wickedness!
To thousands—to thy country false, thou traitor—
Who never wrong'd thee!—

West.
Ha!—yes—it may—it may be so—
Devil!—'tis thou hast damn'd me then—Yet, wherefore?
The very wren would rouze at such a wrong;
Would guard his little nest from violation,
And plume himself against the princely eagle!
In such a cause, all ways, all means, are lawful—
Truth does avouch it—vengeance! it is my food,
My thirst—High Heaven, who gave a world to man,
Gave it in common—trash not worth contention!—
But chastly paled the bridal bed around,
With sanctities and honours, whose offence
Is deeper than damnation!

Osbert.
O, thou hast,
Thou hast, indeed, been injured—past repeal,
Or the world's recompence!—What's to be done?

West.
The duty of a king—
One act of justice—let it mark thy reign—
Let not a nation sink for thy transgression!—
For once give answer to the call of honour;
And as thou hast been ever bold in ill,
Be bold for once in honesty!

Osbert.
O! no—
Yes—any other arm but thine—or thine,
Though doubled, so thou drop thy dread ally
That combats for thee HERE!—O no, I cannot—
I will not fight thee!—

West.
Then, perish Britain,
Or cast the tyrant out!—War, pass thy bounds!
Range vengeance, wide as air! crush, crush the world,
So thou but wrap him in the general ruin!—
Art thou, art thou a man—a king—a warrior—
A champion, chosen to breast thee to the breach?—
And dost thou quail, and skulk behind thy people?
Dost thrust the sucking babe, and fear-frozen mother,
Betwixt thyself and danger?

Osbert.
Oh!—

West.
Thy oath is past, thou must abide the venture.
Take arms of vantage, case thee round in steel
Of proof impenetrable—give me, but,
Naked, defenceless, but to have one stroke,
One grapple for the bleeding cause of honour,
And I acquit thee—from the first of time,
Through all eternity, I seal thy pardon!

Osbert.
Well—when?—it shall be done!—Thou hast me short,
A little short of recollection now—
Time soon shall serve—I swear it—arm to arm,
Great, injured man!—thou shalt be satisfied.

West.
Wilt thou?—And I will thank thee in the grave.

Osbert.
I will—

West.
Well—hold thee to thy pledge—thy faith—thy manhood—
I may expect thee, then—

Osbert.
Yes—else, may Heaven
Stand in thy place for vengeance!

An Officer enters.
Officer.
My liege, the foe approaches, and is now
In sight of York—

Osbert.
Most noble stranger!—for an hour or two,
You must consort with patience—Guards, conduct him;
And see that he be treated with attention,
Becoming princely dignity and honour.

[Exeunt Westmorland and Guards.