University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

A Chamber at the Nunnery.
Edgitha sick on a couch. Nuns and two Monk-physicians attending.
Edgitha.
Is the King come?—My breath grows fainter still—
I shall not live to see him.

Enter Ethelstan.
Ethelstan.
Must I lose all?
And thee, for ever—without hope—my Sister?

Edgitha.
Heaven's will be done! 'tis better than our wishes!
Let me, kind daughters, reverend leeches, pray
Your leaves awhile—

Physician.
She is long past our serving:
Angels tend on her now, she's in their arms!

[Exeunt Nuns and Physicians.
Ethelstan.
Whence this so sudden fate?

Edgitha.
Of little moment,
Since it is fate!—Sit down by me, dear Brother,
And let me smoothe thy pale, broad brow once more,
Be my hand not too chill.—Ah! what is here?
Has Death's dim curtain fallen before mine eyes
Already, that thou look'st so wan, so faded?

Ethelstan.
Wilt leave me—me thus grief-worn?

Edgitha.
O you heavens!
His hair is gray! in one short night turn'd gray
From golden!—O God! God! what he has suffer'd,
That this should be!—Why he looks old enough
To be the father of his years!

Ethelstan.
I've had
An ill night—nothing worse—

Edgitha.
Worse, worse, far worse
Than even thy death-struck sister, Ethelstan!
Thou art too silent of thy griefs,—it kills thee!
Ah! thou wilt want me soon!—Hadst thou a friend,
One woman-friend to cheer thee, when I'm gone!
'Tis my chief pain in dying!

Ethelstan.
What's in thy heart,
Thou look'st so steadfast on me?

Edgitha.
Maiden Ellisif
Is child of traitor Alfred!

Ethelstan.
Alfred thane.

Edgitha.
Traitor he was, Heaven spoke it!—Is she true?—
Doth not the basilisk beget the basilisk?
Flows balm from henbane? or do innocent doves
Hatch in the shells of crocodiles?—I speak
Now with a voice authentic as the dead,
Whose fixed features can mask truth no more!
Temp'rate, tongue-charitable, was I ever;
To bear false witness now, were at heaven's gate
To fling a broken tablet of the Law,
Yet think to enter!—With this dying breath,
Beware of Maiden Ellisif!

Ethelstan.
My Queen,
My Wife, elect? my earliest love that was,
My latest that shall be? whose graven image
Will hold its print on this idolatrous heart
When crumbled into dust?

Edgitha.
And, like idolatry,
Be punish'd sore!

Ethelstan.
O Sister, say not, say not
She's faithless!

Edgitha.
Thou hast had thy Warning Voice
From the tomb-brink itself!

Ethelstan.
Mean'st thou of Edwin's?

Edgitha.
I have no breath for policy—She hates thee!
She hates us both, me because Love's soft scarf
Blinded not these poor eyes, that have seen through her:
We women—yea, the simplest of us all—
Are keen heart-searchers, specially of women.
When we last greeted, she did wind about me
Her cold, smooth form, as if a snake embraced me
And fain would strangle—

Ethelstan.
Ah! no more, no more!
Speak of thyself: how feel'st?

Edgitha.
Dead—I am poison'd!

Ethelstan.
Poison'd?

Edgitha.
Find out by whom—I pray thee find it
When Edgitha 's no more; not to avenge her,
But to find what fell traitress sits so near thee.

Ethelstan.
'Tis a she-devil then, thou 'rt sure of that?
Thy Nuns shall take the fiery test—

Edgitha.
Ah, spare them!
They are as innocent of it, as the flock
Of their dumb mother's death upon the shambles.—
Look to the Novices!—Now call my servants.

Ethelstan.
It turns my heart-blood cold to think it so!
It is too horrible!—

Edgitha.
Pray, draw the curtain—

Scene closes.