University of Virginia Library

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.)