Yield to the Christian cross.—How now, Elwina! |
What! cold at news which might awake the dead? |
If there's a drop in thy degenerate veins |
That glows not now, thou art not Raby's daughter. |
It is religion's cause, the cause of Heaven! |
|
Elw. When policy assumes religion's name, |
And wears the sanctimonious garb of faith |
Only to colour fraud, and license murder, |
War then is tenfold guilt. |
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Raby. Blaspheming girl! |
|
Elw. 'Tis not the crosier, nor the pontiff's robe, |
The saintly look, nor elevated eye, |
Nor Palestine destroy'd, nor Jordan's banks |
Deluged with blood of slaughter'd infidels; |
No, nor the extinction of the eastern world, |
Nor all the mad, pernicious, bigot rage |
Of your crusades, can bribe that Power who sees |
The motive with the act. O blind, to think |
That cruel war can please the Prince of Peace! |
He, who erects his altar in the heart, |
Abhors the sacrifice of human blood, |
And all the false devotion of that zeal |
Which massacres the world he died to save. |
|
Raby. O impious rage! If thou would'st shun my curse, |
No more, I charge thee.—Tell me, good Sir Hubert, |
Say, have our arms achiev'd this glorious deed, |
(I fear to ask,) without much Christian bloodshed? |
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Elw. Now, Heaven support me![aside. |
|
Sir H. My good lord of Raby, |
Imperfect is the sum of human glory! |
Would I could tell thee that the field was won, |
Without the death of such illustrious knights |
As make the high-flush'd cheek of victory pale. |
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Elw. Why should I tremble thus?[aside. |
|
Raby. Who have we lost? |
|
Sir H. The noble Clifford, Walsingham, and Grey, |
Sir Harry Hastings, and the valiant Pembroke, |
All men of choicest note. |
|
Raby. O that my name |
Had been enroll'd in such a list of heroes! |
If I was too infirm to serve my country, |
I might have prov'd my love by dying for her. |
|
Elw. Were there no more? |
|
Sir H. But few of noble blood. |
But the brave youth who gain'd the palm of glory, |
The flower of knighthood, and the plume of war, |
Who bore his banner foremost in the field, |
Yet conquer'd more by mercy than the sword, |
Was Percy. |
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Elw. Then he lives![aside. |
|
Raby. Did he? Did Percy? |
O gallant boy, then I'm thy foe no more; |
Who conquers for my country is my friend! |
His fame shall add new glories to a house, |
Where never maid was false, nor knight disloyal. |
|
Sir H. You do embalm him, lady, with your tears: |
They grace the grave of glory where he lies— |
He died the death of honour. |
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Elw. Said'st thou—died? |
|
Sir H. Beneath the towers of Solyma he fell. |
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Elw. Oh! |
|
Sir H. Look to the lady. |
[Elwina faints in her father's arms. |
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Raby. Gentle knight, retire—— |
'Tis an infirmity of nature in her, |
She ever mourns at any tale of blood; |
She will be well anon—mean time, Sir Hubert, |
You'll grace our castle with your friendly sojourn. |
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Sir H. I must return with speed—health to the lady.[exit. |
|
Raby. Look up, Elwina. Should her husband come! |
Yet she revives not. |
|
Enter Douglas. |
|
Dou. Ha——Elwina fainting! |
My lord, I fear you have too harshly chid her. |
Her gentle nature could not brook your sternness. |
She wakes, she stirs, she feels returning life. |
My love![he takes her hand. |
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Elw. O Percy! |
|
Dou. [starts.] Do my senses fail me? |
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Elw. My Percy, 'tis Elwina calls. |
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Dou. Hell, hell! |
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Raby. Retire awhile, my daughter. |
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Elw. Douglas here, |
My father and my husband?—O for pity— |
[exit, casting a look of anguish on both. |
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Dou. Now, now confess she well deserves my vengeance! |
Before my face to call upon my foe! |
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