قراءة كتاب Percy: A Tragedy

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قراءة كتاب Percy: A Tragedy

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‏اللغة: English

Percy: A Tragedy

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المؤلف:

دار النشر: Project Gutenberg

الصفحة رقم: 5

speaks.

But reflect once more: When you shall hear that England's gallant peers, Fresh from the fields of war, and gay with glory, All vain with conquest, and elate with fame, When you shall hear these princely youths contend, In many a tournament, for beauty's prize; When you shall hear of revelry and masking, Of mimic combats and of festive halls, Of lances shiver'd in the cause of love, Will you not then repent, then wish your fate, Your happier fate, had till that hour reserv'd you For some plumed conqueror? Elw. My fate, my lord, Is now bound up with yours. Dou. Here let me kneel— Yes, I will kneel, and gaze, and weep, and wonder; Thou paragon of goodness!—pardon, pardon,[kisses her hand. I am convinc'd—I can no longer doubt, Nor talk, nor hear, nor reason, nor reflect. —I must retire, and give a loose to joy.[exit Douglas. Bir. The king returns. Elw. And with him Percy comes! Bir. You needs must go. Elw. Shall I solicit ruin, And pull destruction on me ere its time? I, who have held it criminal to name him? I will not go—I disobey thee, Douglas, But disobey thee to preserve thy honour.[exeunt.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I. THE HALL.

Enter Douglas, speaking.

See that the traitor instantly be seiz'd,

And strictly watch'd: let none have access to him.—

O jealousy, thou aggregate of woes!

Were there no hell, thy torments would create one.

But yet she may be guiltless—may? she must.

How beautiful she look'd! pernicious beauty!

Yet innocent as bright seem'd the sweet blush

That mantled on her cheek. But not for me,

But not for me, those breathing roses blow!

And then she wept—What! can I bear her tears?

Well—let her weep—her tears are for another;

O did they fall for me, to dry their streams

I'd drain the choicest blood that feeds this heart,

Nor think the drops I shed were half so precious.

[he stands in a musing posture.

Enter Lord Raby.

Raby. Sure I mistake—am I in Raby Castle?

Impossible; that was the seat of smiles;

And Cheerfulness and Joy were household gods.

I us'd to scatter pleasures when I came,

And every servant shar'd his lord's delight;

But now Suspicion and Distrust dwell here,

And Discontent maintains a sullen sway.

Where is the smile unfeign'd, the jovial welcome,

Which cheer'd the sad, beguil'd the pilgrim's pain,

And made Dependency forget its bonds?

Where is the antient, hospitable hall,

Whose vaulted roof once rung with harmless mirth,

Where every passing stranger was a guest,

And every guest a friend? I fear me much,

If once our nobles scorn their rural seats,

Their rural greatness, and their vassals' love,

Freedom and English grandeur are no more.

Dou. [advancing.] My lord, you are welcome.

Raby. Sir, I trust I am;

But yet methinks I shall not feel I'm welcome

Till my Elwina bless me with her smiles:

She was not wont with ling'ring step to meet me,

Or greet my coming with a cold embrace;

Now, I extend my longing arms in vain;

My child, my darling, does not come to fill them.

O they were happy days, when she would fly

To meet me from the camp, or from the chace,

And with her fondness overpay my toils!

How eager would her tender hands unbrace

The ponderous armour from my war-worn limbs,

And pluck the helmet which oppos'd her kiss!

Dou. O sweet delights, that never must be mine!

Raby. What do I hear?

Dou. Nothing: inquire no farther.

Raby. My lord, if you respect an old man's peace,

If e'er you doted on my much-lov'd child,

As 'tis most sure you made me think you did,

Then, by the pangs which you may one day feel,

When you, like me, shall be a fond, fond father,

And tremble for the treasure of your age,

Tell me what this alarming silence means?

You sigh, you do not speak, nay more, you hear not;

Your lab'ring soul turns inward on itself,

As there were nothing but your own sad thoughts

Deserv'd regard. Does my child live?

Dou. She does.

Raby. To bless her father!

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