University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Rayner

A Tragedy, In Five Acts
  
  

collapse section1. 
 1. 
 2. 
collapse section2. 
 1. 
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
 4. 
collapse section3. 
 1. 
 2. 
collapse section4. 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
collapse section5. 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 

SCENE II.

A different part of the wood, wild and savage: the scene still darkened, and a storm of thunder and lightning, accompanied with hail. Enter Rayner.
Ray.
I know not where these men have shelter'd them.
I've miss'd their signal: this loud stunning din

399

Devours all other sounds. Where shall I go?
Athwart this arch of deep embodied darkness,
Swift shiv'ring lightnings glare, from end to end
Mantling the welkin o'er in vivid flames;
Or from aloft, like sheeted cataracts
Of liquid fire, seem pour'd. E'en o'er my head
The soft and misty-textured clouds seem changed
To piles of harden'd rocks, which from their base,
Like the up-breaking of a ruin'd world,
Are hurl'd with force tremendous. Patt'ring hail
Beats on my shrinking form with spiteful force:
Where shall I shelter me? Ha! through the trees
Peers, near at hand, a small but settled light:
I will make quickly towards it; perhaps
There may be some lone dwelling in the wood.

[Exit.