 | Runnamede |  |
SCENE VII.
Elvina, Emma.Elvina.
Oh! Emma! I am wretched. Arden. . . Heavens!
Shall Arden be my husband? Gracious powers!
Forbid that hour!—Now in my deep distress,
Ah! where is he who used to bring relief?
'Tis well, by heaven!—he's in the Dauphin's camp.
Invite th'Ambassador.—
[Writes a letter in great agitation, tears it, and writes again.
Emma returns with the Ambassador.
Elvina.
Say, is not Elvine in the Dauphin's camp?
Ambassador.
Lady, the camp is honour'd with his presence.
Elvina.
May an unfortunate and friendless maid
Intreat the favour of a gallant knight
To give these letters to his secret hand?
22
Lady, by beauty and by birth renown'd,
His hand shall hold them ere the day decline.
Elvina
[giving him the letter.
Forlorn, forsaken, to your care I trust
My future fate, the secret of my soul.
Howe'er by faction or by feuds disjoin'd,
No deadly hate in man to woman dwells;
The knight is courteous to the hapless maid.
| Runnamede | |