University of Virginia Library

2. PART II.

SCENE I.

A handsome Gothic Apartment in Athlin Castle, adorned with a portrait of Mary; in the centre of the Scene folding doors leading to her Apartment.
Enter Alleyn, he gazes, enraptured, on Mary's portrait, and sings.
At the close of the Duet the folding doors open, and Mary, timidly, approaches—he throws himself at her feet—she raises him, takes a bracelet from her arm, adorned with her miniature, and presents him —he kisses it with rapture, and affectionately presses her hand to his lips; while thus situated, Osbert enters on one side the stage, and Matilda on the other—they start, and the lovers appear confused— Osbert, frowning on Alleyn, half draws his sword.
RECITATIVE—MATILDA.
Alleyn—my heart acknowledges thy worth,
Thy bosom's anguish painfully I view;
But honor bids us not degrade our birth,
Her thanks, but not her vows to thee are due.

Matilda and Osbert lead Mary off.

Alleyn despondently fixes his eyes on the scarf he had received from Mary at the banquet, and, seating himself at the table, inscribes on it,

AIR—ALLEYN.
One lingering look 'ere yet we part?—
Ah! no, 'twould but deceive!
This last sad token of a broken heart,
Despondent thus I leave.
To combat Love, how vain is Man's endeavour,
Farewell! bright vision! ah! farewell for ever.

Throws the scarf on a table underneath her portrait, and exit.—A trap door in the stage is uplifted, and Donald and one of Malcolm's chiefs ascend.
RECITATIVE—CHIEF.
Thus far our hopes succeed—see yon pass clear,
Hush! hush! (looking through the door)
our prize approaches—disappear!— (they conceal themselves.)


Mary re-enters, starts on perceiving the scarf, and bursts into tears; in the interim, Donald and his companion steal from their concealment, and the trap-door again slowly opening, others of Malcolm's Clan ascend, and, cautiously proceeding towards Mary, seize her.—Donald blows out the lights—she screams—they bear her off, one in the struggle depriving her of Alleyn's scarf.—Osbert enters alarmed, with his sword drawn, is attacked by those who remain, and wounded; but as he falls (endeavouring to seize the Ruffian whose sword had pierced him) snatches the scarf of Alleyn, and the Ruffian escapes! —Matilda, Edric, and Osbert's Vassals rush on with lights, Edric catching Osbert as he falls.—On examining the scarf, they recollect it to be Alleyn's, and are thunderstruck—Matilda rushes into Mary's apartment, and returns more confirmed in her suspicions.
RECITATIVE—MATILDA.
This scarf! her absence! my dear Child is fled!
My shatter'd brain yields to this mental storm;
My eye sight fails (still gazing on the scarf)
by Alleyn thus betray'd,
So black a heart within so fair a form!

(She faints, and is borne off, all following mournfully.)

SCENE II.

—The Cloisters of a ruined Abbey, overgrown with Ivy—an archway backed with Ruins; under the archway an appearance of shelter from the weather—shattered Ruins practicable over it, from an ascent through the arch.
Malcolm
enters musing.
RECITATIVE.
These tardy minions! yes—they must succeed—
The subterraneous pass they have secure!
That, Mary must be mine, fate has decreed,
I'll meet them—this suspence who can endure?

Exit.

Enter two or three Monks of St. Andrew, bearing dispatches for Alleyn; principal Monk gives them to a Brother, pointing out the path he is to pursue— the second Monk goes off the side on which Malcolm had made his exit—the other on the opposite— a storm commences.—Enter Donald, &c. dragging on Mary, to shelter themselves, they enter the archway bearing her out of sight—the remainder kindle a fire, and are sitting down to regale themselves before it, when Alleyn wildly enters—a scream from Mary arrests his attention—he demands the cause— they answer him with their drawn swords.—Mary rushes forward on the Ruins, over the archway, followed

by Donald, with an uplifted dagger—Edric darts on, perceives her danger, and, while Alleyn is engaged with his assailants, ascends the Ruins, and attacks Donald—Alleyn, having vanquished his opponents, flies towards Mary, who leaps into his arms, Edric stabbing the faithless Donald.—At this period Osbert and his Clan enter, and perceiving his Sister in the arms of Alleyn, enraged, draws, and commands him to defend himself—Alleyn discards his weapon, and bids Osbert strike—Mary throws herself as a barrier between—Osbert drops his sword —Edric brings on Donald wounded, who just retains sufficient strength to exclaim:

Which he confirms by an appeal to Heaven, and expires—Osbert embraces Alleyn, when Old Alleyn and Janet, almost breathless, enter, he bearing a rich casket.

DUET—OLD ALLEYN AND JANET.
O. All.
Where, where is young Alleyn! my wits are scared,
I've ran so fast—I'm near out of breath!

Janet.
My Brother he asks for—no—no—'tis a Laird,
Whom near expiring he sav'd from death.

O. All.
The story's long; but it must be told,
One dreadful eve did the tempest roar;
The rain beat hard, and the wind blew cold,
And a stranger tapp'd at our Cottage door.

Janet.
A Lady enter'd all rich array'd,
A tender Babe in her arms she bore;

He.

She.
And Alleyn he proved a good Son unto thee!

He.
This Casket stored with many a gem,
When twenty years he had pass'd and a day;
The Family Tree of which he was a stem,
I solemnly vow'd I to him would display.

Kneeling to Alleyn he opens the Casket, glittering with costly gems, from which he draws the following scroll:

Osbert embraces him affectionately, joins his hand to Mary's, and all exeunt exultingly.

Malcolm gloomily re-enters with a wounded Vassal, from whom he learns Donald's and Mary's fate

—the Monk of St. Andrew returns, having lost his path, and addresses Malcolm.

Monk.
To Athlin Castle I this packet bear,
Bewilder'd in my path—say, is it near?

Malcolm appears elated, a thought seeming to strike him, that the Monk's habit will forward his views!—entices him under the archway—dispatches him—and, as he groans, rushes forward with the packet and his habit, &c. in which he arrays himself.
RECITATIVE.
Mal.
This be my passport to weak Osbert's dome,
Hate nerves my arm, and Vengeance bids strike home!

Exit.

SCENE III.

—Outside of Athlin Castle.
Enter Matilda and Attendants, exultingly meeting Osbert, Alleyn, Mary, Edric, &c. whom she welcomes home; Edric gayly introducing himself to the Vassals, whom he orders to be merry, capering himself, half frantic with joy, by way of example.— Malcolm enters in the Monk's habit—starts on beholding Edric, who, not knowing him, intimates his aid is necessary in the Castle to conclude a Wedding, and invites him in—Malcolm enters the porch with fiend-like exultation—all the characters follow, but the Minstrel and Bella, who come forward and sing.
DUET—MINSTREL AND BELLA.
Min.
The Monk of Saint Andrew religiously moves,
A Wedding his errand, so solemn decreed;

Bella.
'Tis solemn, but link'd to the Laddie one loves,
One wishes the Priest soon to finish the deed.

Min.
But the honey-moon once o'er,
And tired the pair with clishmaclaver;
Jock his Jenny loves no more,
Auld nick for him might have her.

Bella.
But still a Wedding's full of glee,
Bright eyes it sets a glancing!
Reels and Strathspeys merrily,
We at its close are prancing!

Both.
But still, &c.

Bella.
Man, our glum Lord and Master so sullen appears,
'Tis Wedlock alone can his feelings improve;

Min.
The sweet smile of Beauty Affection endears,
That heart's not worth having that's callous to Love.

Bella.
“Lovely Woman, Nature swears,
“Among her noblest work she classes;
“Her 'prentice hand she tried on Man,
“Then form'd us—pretty Lasses!”

Min.
Love's pleasing union teems with glee,
Bright eyes, &c.

SCENE IV. AND LAST.

—A Gothic illuminated Hall—Vassals of both sexes discovered bearing banners of the House of Athlin.
Enter in procession Matilda, Osbert, Alleyn, Mary, Old Alleyn, &c.—they range in order—after which Matilda embraces Mary, and Osbert raises Alleyn (who had knelt) and embraces him—Edric enters, whimsically introducing Malcolm as the Monk of St. Andrew, who, dispensing blessings round, proffers his services.
RECITATIVE—MATILDA.
'Ere Beauty's smiles reward the hand of worth,
The mystery proclaim of Alleyn's birth.

Old Alleyn unlocks the casket, from which he takes a scroll, on which is written:

Malcolm starts—Edric eyes his agitation with apprehension —Alleyn gazes astonished!

RECITATIVE—ALLEYN.
Then Malcolm dies! this shall my title prove (drawing his sword).

And conquest own me worthy of thy Love! (to Mary.)


MATILDA.
Stay Alleyn, 'ere the happy hour is flown,
This Holy Priest shall link two hearts in one;
Freeing her forfeit hand from Malcolm's power!

The Marriage ritual is proffered Malcolm, who, dashing it from him, with an uplifted dagger in each hand, attempts to stab Alleyn and Mary.
RECITATIVE—MALCOLM.
While Vengeance thus presents their Wedding dower!
(Osbert snatches one from him, Edric deprives him of the other—Malcolm throws off his disguise.)
Behold that Malcolm who in Fate's despite,
Seizes this forfeit hand, his dearest right;
Who slew thy Father (to Alleyn)
thine (to Osbert)
lives the World's foe,
And wreaks his vengeance thus on—

Draws his sword, and rushes on Alleyn, who parries his thrust, and dashes him from him; as he is on the point of renewing the attack, Edric stabs him—he falls, groans, and dies—Fairies suddenly appear, and the characters form an interesting groupe.
FAIRY.
Thus perish Vice—gay Revelry's bright Queen
Bids Mirth dispel the gloom of Halloween.

FINALE.
Janet.
When Fortune smiles, a fawning train
The rising Sun bedazzled view;
To him chaunt forth the venal strain,
Their own aggrandizement in view?

Fairy.
But Virtue yields a genial glow,
Tho' from Obscurity, we find,
Oft snail-like it emerges slow,
It leaves a shining track behind!

Min.
Gay Minstrels sing, pipes sweetly play,
Auld daft Misfortune's said her say;
Each bonnie Lad, each cannie Maid,
Now join our norland Roundelay.

Bella.
The honest heart shou'd ne'er despair,
The captive hope to freedom see;
The longest lane a turn has ta'en,
And grief yields to felicity.

CHORUS.
Then ne'er again may grief be seen,
Our promis'd bliss to intervene:
But friends be found in all around,
And welcome give to Halloween.

THE CURTAIN FALLS.