 | Ethwald |  |
SCENE VI.
The royal apartment: the King is discovered with Hexulf, the seneschal, and several friends or councillors, seated round a council table.King
(as if continuing to speak).
It may be so: youth finds no obstacle,
But I am old.
Full many a storm on this grey head has beaten;
And now, on my high station do I stand,
Like the tired watchman in his air-rock'd tower,
Who looketh for the hour of his release.
I'm sick of worldly broils, and fain would rest
With those who war no more. One gleam of light
Did sweetly cheer the ev'ning of my day:
Edward, my son! he was the kindliest prop
That age did ever rest on—he is gone,
What should I fight for now?
Sen.
For thine own honour, for the weal of Mercia,
With weapons in our hands, and strong in men,
Who to the royal standard soon will flock,
If summon'd by thy firm and gen'ral orders.
Shall these men be our masters? Heaven forefend!
Five thousand warriors might disperse the foe,
Even with that devil Ethwald at their head;
And shall we think of granting to those rebels
Their insolent demands?
King.
Good seneschal, if that you think our strength
Permits us still in open field to strive
With hope of good, I am not yet so old
But I can brace these stiffen'd limbs in iron,
And do a soldier's service. (To 2d coun.)
Thane of Mordath,
Thy visage light'neth not upon these hopes;
What are thy thoughts?
2d coun.
E'en that these hopes will bring us to a state
Reft of all hope.
The rebel chiefs but seek their own enrichment,
Not Ethwald's exaltation, good my lord;
Bribe them, and treat for peace. Lack you the means?
The church, for whose enriching you have rais'd
This storm, can well supply it; and most surely
Will do it cheerfully.
[Turning to Hexulf.
Hex.
No, by the holy mass! that were to bring
The curse of heav'n upon our impious heads.
To spoil the holy church is sacrilege:
And to advise such spoil in any wise
Is sacrilegious and abominable.
1st coun.
I am as faithful to the holy church
As thou art, angry priest. I do defy thee—
Sen.
What, have ye no respect unto the king?
I do command you, peace. Who now intrudes?
159
Serv.
The rebel force! the castle is surprised!
They are at hand—they have o'erpower'd the guard.
2d coun.
Pray God thou liest! I think it cannot be.
[They all rise up alarmed.
Serv.
It is as true as I do tread this spot.
Enter a Soldier wounded.
King (to sol.).
Ha! what sayst thou? thou bearest for thy words
A rueful witness.
Sol.
Take arms, and save the king, if it be possible.
The rebel chieftains have the gate surprised,
And gain'd, below, the entrance of this tower.
They struggled for the pass; sharp was the broil;
This speaks for me, that I have borne my part.
[Falls down exhausted.
Hex.
(to King).
Retire, my lord, into the higher chamber.
Your arm can give but small assistance here.
Until this horrid visit be o'erpast,
You may conceal yourself.
King.
No, father, never shall the king of Mercia
Be, from his hiding-place, like a mean man
Pull'd forth. But, noble friends, it seems not wise
That this necessity should reach to you.
These rebels seek my life, and with that life
They will be satisfied. In my defence,
Thus taken as we are, all stand were useless;
Therefore, if now you will obey your king,
His last command, retire and save your lives
For some more useful end. Finding me here,
They will no farther search: retire, my friends.
2d coun.
What, leave our king to face his foes alone!
King.
No, not alone; my friend, the seneschal,
Will stay with me. We have been young together,
And the same storms in our rough day of life
Have beat upon us: be it now God's will,
We will lay down our aged heads together
In the still rest, and bid good night to strife.
Have I said well, my friend?
[Holding out his hand to the seneschal.
Sen.
(kissing his hand with great warmth, and putting one knee to the ground).
O my lov'd master! many a bounteous favour
Has shower'd upon me from your royal hand,
But ne'er before was I so proudly honour'd.
[Rising up with assumed grace.
Retire, young men, for now I must be proud;
Retire, your master will confront the foe
As may become a king.
(All calling out at once.)
No, no! we will not leave him.
[They all range themselves, drawing their swords, round the King, and the old seneschal stands, by pre-eminence, close to his master's side.
2d coun.
Here is a wall through which they first must force
A bloody way, ere on his royal head
One silver hair be scath'd.
Enter Ethwald, Alwy, and the Conspirators.
Alwy.
Now vengeance for injustice and oppression!
2d coun.
On your own heads, then, be it, miscreant chiefs!
[They fight round the King; his party defend him bravely, till many more conspirators enter, and it is overpowered.
Ethw.
(aside, angrily, to Alwy, on still seeing the King, standing in the midst, unhurt, and with great dignity, the seneschal by his side, and no one offering to attack him).
Hast thou forgot? Where are thy chosen men?
Is there no hand to do the needful work?
This is but children's play. (To some of his party.)
Come, let us search, that in the neighb'ring chamber
No lurking foe escape.
[Exit with some followers.
Alwy
(giving a sign to his followers, and going up insolently to the King).
Oswal, resign thy sword.
Sen.
First take thou mine, thou base, ignoble traitor!
[Giving Alwy a blow with his sword; upon which Alwy and his followers fall upon the King and the seneschal, and surrounding them on every side, kill them, with many wounds, the crowd gathering so close round them, that their fall cannot be seen.
Re-enter Ethwald, and the crowd opening on each side shows the dead bodies of the King and the Seneschal.
Ethw.
(affecting surprise).
What sight is this?
Ah! ye have gone too far. Who did this deed?
Alwy.
My followers, much enraged at slight offence,
Did fall upon him.
Ethw.
All have their end decreed, and this, alas!
Has been his fated hour.
Come, chiefs and valiant friends, why stand we here
Looking on that which cannot be repair'd?
All honour shall be paid unto the dead.
And, were this deed of any single hand
The willing crime, he should have vengeance too
But let us now our task of night fulfil:
Much have we still to do ere morning dawn.
[Exeunt Ethw. and followers, and the scene closes.
| Ethwald | |