| 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. |
| |
| 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? |
| |
| 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. |
| |
| 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. |
| |
| 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. |
| |
| Elw. Said'st thou—died? |
| |
| Sir H. Beneath the towers of Solyma he fell. |
| |
| Elw. Oh! |
| |
| Sir H. Look to the lady. |
| [Elwina faints in her father's arms. |
| |
| 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. |
| |
| 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. |
| |
| Elw. O Percy! |
| |
| Dou. [starts.] Do my senses fail me? |
| |
| Elw. My Percy, 'tis Elwina calls. |
| |
| Dou. Hell, hell! |
| |
| Raby. Retire awhile, my daughter. |
| |
| Elw. Douglas here, |
| My father and my husband?—O for pity— |
| [exit, casting a look of anguish on both. |
| |
| Dou. Now, now confess she well deserves my vengeance! |
| Before my face to call upon my foe! |
| |
|
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