GUENDOLEN。
AndGodshallmakethinehandagainsthimstrong。
LOCRINE。
Ay:whenthehearthsteadflames,therooftakesfire。
GUENDOLEN。
Woeworthhishandwhosetthehearthonflame!
LOCRINE。
Cursenotourfathers;thoughthyfiercedesireDrivethineownsonagainsthisfather,shameShouldreinthytonguefromspeechtooshameless。
GUENDOLEN。
Ay!
Andthou,myholy—heartedlord,——thesameWhosehandwaslaidinmineandboundtolieTherefastforeveriffaithbefoundonearth—
Iftruthbetrue,andshamenotwhollydie—
Hastthounotmadethymockeryandthymirth,Thylaughterandthyscorn,ofshame?Butwe,Thywifebywedlock,andthysonbybirth,Whohavenopartinspiritandsoulwiththee,WillbearnopartinkingdomnorinlifeWithonewhohathputtoshamehischildandme。
Thytrue—bornson,andIthatwasthywife,Willseetheedeadorperish。CallthymenAboutthee;bidthemgirdtheirloinsforstrifeMoredirethantheirswhostormthewildwolf’sden;
ForifthoudarenotslayusheretodayThouartdead。
LOCRINE。
ThouknowestIdarenot,Guendolen,DarewhattheravenousbeastswhoselifeispreyDreamnotofdoing,thoughdrunkwithbloodshed。
GUENDOLEN。
No:
Thouartgentle,andbeastsarehonest:nosuchwayLiesopentowardthyfearfulfoot:notsoShaltthoufindsuretyfromthesefoesofthine。
Woeworththeetherefore!yea,asevenfoldwoeShallGodthroughusraindownonthee,Locrine。
HadstthoutheheartGodhathnotgiventhee——thenOurbloodmightrunbeforethyfeetlikewineAndwashthywaytowardsininsightofmenSmooth,soft,andsafe。Butifthousheditnot—
IfMadanlivetolookonGuendolenLiving——Iwotnotwhatshallbe——IwotWhatshallnot——thoushalthavenojoytoliveMorethanhavetheyforwhomGod’swrathgrowshot。
LOCRINE。
God’sgraceisnosuchgiftasthoucanstgive,Queen,orwithhold。Farewell。
GUENDOLEN。
IdarenotsayFarewell。
LOCRINE。
Andwhy?
GUENDOLEN。
Thouhastnotsaid——Forgive。
LOCRINE。
Isayit——Ihavesaid。Thouwiltnothearme?
GUENDOLEN。
Nay。
[Exeunt。
ACTV。
SCENEI。——FieldsneartheSevern。
EnterononesideLOCRINEandhisarmy:ontheothersideGUENDOLEN,MADAN,andtheirarmy。
LOCRINE。
Standfast,andsoundaparley。
MADAN。
Halt:itseemsTheywouldhaveratherspeechthanstrokesofus。
LOCRINE。
Thislightofdawnislikeanevildream’sThatcomesandgoesandisnot。Yea,andthusOurhopeonbothsideswaveringdaresallowNolightbutfiretobidusdieorlive。
—Son,andmywifethatwas,myrebelsnow,ThatherewestandwithdeathtotakeorgiveIcallthesunofheaven,God’slikenesswroughtOndarkness,whenceallspiritsbreatheandshine,Towitness,isnoworkofwillorthoughtConceivedorbredinbrainorheartofmine。
Yehaveleviedwarsagainstme,andcompelledMywillunwillingandmypowerwithheldTostrikethestrokeIwouldnot,whenImight。
Willyenotyettakethought,andsparethesemenWhomelsetheblindandburningfireoffightMustfeeduponforpasture?Guendolen,HadInotlefttheequeeninTroynovant,Thoughwifenomoreofmine,inallthislandNohandhadrisen,noeyehadglaredaskant,Againstme:thineiseachman’sheartandhandThatburnsandstrikesinallthisbattleraisedToserveandslakethyvengeance。WithmysonIpleadnot,seeinghispraiseinarmsdispraisedForever,andhisdeedsoftruthundoneBypatricidaltreason。ButwiththeePeacewouldIhave,ifpeaceagainmaybeBetweenus。BloodbywrathunnaturalshedOrspentincivicbattleburnsthelandWhereonitfallslikefire,andbrandsasredTheconqueror’sforeheadasthewarrior’shand。
Ipraythee,sparethispeople:reigninpeaceWithseparatehonoursinaseveralstate:
Aslovethatwashathceased,lethatredcease:
LetnotourpersonalcausebemadethefateThatdamnstodeathmeninnocent,andturnsThejoyoflifetodarkness。ThinealoneIsallthiswar:toslaketheflamethatburnsThushighshouldcrowntheeroyal,andenthroneThypraiseinallmen’smemories。Ifthouwilt,Peacelettherebe:ifnot,bethinetheguilt。
GUENDOLEN。
Mine?Hearit,heaven,——andmen,bearwitness!MineThetreacherythathathrentourrealmintwain—
Mine,minetheadulteroustreason。NotLocrine,Nothe,foundloyaltomyloveinvain,HathbroughtthecivicswordandfireofstrifeOnBritishfieldsandhomesteads,clothedwithjoy,Crownedwithcontentandcomfort:I,hiswife,HavebroughtonTroynovantthefiresofTroy。
HeliftshisheadbeforethesunofheavenAndswearsit——lies,andlives。IsGod’sbrightswordBroken,wherewiththegatesofTroy——thesevenStronggatesthatgodswhobuiltthemheldinward—
Werebrokenevenaswattledreedswithfire?
Son,bywhatnameshallhonourcallthysire?
MADAN。
HowlongshallIandallthesemail—cladmenStandandgiveear,orgapeandcatchatflies,Whileyewagewarringwordsthatwoundnot?WhenHaveIbeenfoundofyousowordy—wiseThatthouorheshouldcalltocounseloneSoslowofspeechandwitasthouandhe,Whoknowmyhandnosluggard,knowyourson?
Tillspeechbeclothediniron,bidnotmeSpeak。
LOCRINE。
Yethespeaksnotill。
GUENDOLEN。
DidInotknowMinehonourperfectasthyshame,Locrine,NowmightIsay,andturntopridemywoe,Mineonlywerethisboy,andnoneofthine。
ButwhatthoumayestImaynot。WherearetheyWhoridenotwiththeirlordandsiretoday?
ThysecretScythianandyourchangelingchild,WherehidetheynowtheirheadsthatlurknothiddenTherewherethytreasondeemedthemsafe,andsmiled?
Whenarmswerelevied,andthyservantsbiddenAbouttheetowithstandthedoomofmenWhoseloyalangersflameduponoursideAgainstthee,fromthysmooth—skinnedshe—wolf’sdenHerwhelpandshesoughtcovertunespied,Butnotfromtheefaroff。ThouhastbornthemhitherForrefugeinthiswestthatstandsfortheeAgainstourcause,whoseverynameshouldwitherTheheartsofthemthathateit。Whereisshe?
Hathshenothearttokeepthyside?orthou,DostthouthinkshametostandbesidehernowAndbidherlookuponthysonandwife?
Nay,sheshouldrideatthyrighthandandlaughToseesofairalordlyfieldofstrifeShineforhersake,whoselipsthylovebidsquaffForpledgeoftrustlesstroththebloodofmen。
LOCRINE。
ShouldInotputherinthinehandtoslay?
Hellhathlaidholduponthee,Guendolen,Andturnedthinehearttohell—fire。BethypreyThyself,thewolfishhuntress:andthebloodRestonthineheadthathereshallnowbespilt。
GUENDOLEN。
Letitrunbroaderthanthiswater’sfloodSwellsafterstorm,itshallnotcleansethyguilt。
Givenowthewordofcharge;andGoddorightBetweenusinthefierycourtsoffight。
[Exeunt。
SCENEII。——ThebanksoftheSevern。
EnterESTRILDandSABRINA。
SABRINA。
Whenwillmyfathercomeagain?
ESTRILD。
Godknows,Sweet。
SABRINA。
Hastthouseenhowwidethiswaterflows—
Howsmoothitswellsandshinesfrombrimtobrim,Howfair,howfull?Nay,thenthineeyesaredim。
ThoudostnotweepforfearlestevilmenOrthatmoreevilwoman——GuendolenDidstthounotcallheryesternightbyname?—
Shouldputmyfather’smightinarmstoshame?
WhatisshesotolevyshamefulstrifeAgainstmysireandthee?
ESTRILD。
Hiswife!hiswife!
SABRINA。
Why,thatartthou。
ESTRILD
Woeworthme!
SABRINA。
Nay,woeworthHerwickedness!HowmaytheheavensandearthEndureher?
ESTRILD。
Heavenisfire,andearthasword,Againstus。
SABRINA。
MaythewifewithstandherlordAndwaruponhim?Nay,nowifeisshe—
Andnotruemotherthoutomockatme。
ESTRILD。
Yea,notruewifeormother,child,amI。
Yet,child,thoushouldstnotsayit——andbidmedie。
SABRINA。
IbidtheeliveandlaughatwickedfoesEvenasmysireandIdo。What!’Godknows,’
Thousayest,andyetartfearful?IshenotRighteous,thatweshouldfeartotakethelotForthofhishandthatdealsit?Andmysire,Kindasthesuninheaven,andstrongasfire,HathhenotGoduponhissideandours,Evenallthegodsandstarsandalltheirpowers?
ESTRILD。
Iknownot。FateatsightoftheeshouldbreakHiscovenant——doomgrowgentleforthysake。
SABRINA。
Wherefore?
ESTRILD。
Becausethouknowestnotwherefore。Child,Mydaysweredarkened,andthewayswerewildWherethroughmydarkdoomledmetowardthisend,EreIbeheldthysire,mylord,myfriend,Myking,mystay,mysaviour。LetthinehandLiestillinmine。Thoucanstnotunderstand,YetwouldItelltheesomewhat。EreIknewIfaughtofevilorgoodwerefalseortrue,Ifaughtoflifewereworthourhopeorfear,Therefellonmethefatethatsetsushere。
Forinmyfather’skingdomoversea—
SABRINA。
ThouwastnotborninBritain?
ESTRILD。
Woeisme,No:happierhaphadmineperchancebeenthen。
SABRINA。
AndwasnotI?Aretheseallstrangermen?
ESTRILD。
Ay,wastthou,child——aBritonborn:GodgiveThynamethegraceonBritishtonguestolive!
SABRINA。
IsthatsogoodagiftofGod’s——todieAndleaveanamealiveinmemory?I
Wouldratherlivethisriver’slife,andbeHeldofnolessormoreaccountthanhe。
Lo,howhelivesandlaughs!andhathnoname,Thousayest——oroneforgottenevenoffameThatlivesonpoormen’slipsandfaltersdownTonothing。Butthyfather?andhiscrown?
Didhelesshatethecoilofitthanmine,Orlovetheeless——nay,thenhewerenotthine—
Thanhe,mysire,lovesme?
ESTRILD。
AndwiltthouhearAll?Child,mychild,lovebornoflove,moredearThanverylovewasever!Hearkenthen。
Thisplague,thisfire,thathuntsus——Guendolen—
WasweddedtothysireereIandheCastevereyesoneither。Woeisme!
Thoucanstnotdream,sweet,whatmysoulwouldsayAndnotaffrightthee。
SABRINA。
Thouaffrightme?Nay,Mocknot。Thisevilwoman——whenheknewThee,thismysweetgoodmother,wiseandtrue—
Hecastfromhimandhated。
ESTRILD。
Yea——andnowForthatshallhaplyheandIandthouDie。
SABRINA。
Whatisdeath?IneversawhisfaceThatIshouldfearit。
ESTRILD。
WhethergrieforgraceOrcurseorblessingbreathefromit,andgiveAughtworseorbetterthanthelifewelive,Iknownomorethanthouknowest;perchance,Less。Whenwesleep,theysay,orfallintrance,Wedieawhile。Wellspakethineinnocentbreath—
ITHINKTHEREISNODEATHBUTFEAROFDEATH。
SABRINA。
DidIsaythis?butthatwaslongago—
Months。NowIknownot——yetIthinkIknow—
WhetherIfearorfearnotit。HardbyMenfightevennow——theystrikeandkillanddieRed—handed;nay,weheartheroarandseeThelightningofthebattle:canitbeThatwhatnosoulofallthesebravemenfearsShouldsoundsofearfulsaveinfoolishears?
ButallthiswhileIknownotwhereitlay,Thyfather’skingdom。
ESTRILD。
FarfromhereawayItliesbeyondthewidewastewater’sboundThatclaspswithbitterwavesthissweetlandround。
Thouhastseenthegreatseanever,norcanstdreamHowfairerfarthanearth’smostlordlystreamItrollsitsroyalwatershereandthere,Mostgloriousbornofallthingsanywhere,Mostfatefulandmostgodlike;fittomakeMenlovelifebetterforthesweetsight’ssakeAndlessfeardeathifdeathforthemshouldbeShrinedinthesacredsplendoursoftheseaAsGodinheavensmidmystery。NightanddayForthofmytower—girthomesteadwouldIstrayTogazethereonasthouuponthebrightSoftriverwhencethysoultooklessdelightThanmineoftheoutersea,albeitIknowHowgreatthyjoywasofit。Now——forsoThehighgodswilleditshouldbe——onceatmornStrangementherelandingboremethenceforlornAcrossthewanwildwatersintheirbark,Iwistnotwhere,throughchangeoflightanddark,Tilltheirfiercelord,thesonofspoilandstrife,Mademebyforcefulmarriage—riteshiswife。
Thensailedtheytowardthewhiteandflower—sweetstrandWhosefreefolkfollowonthyfather’shand,Andwarredagainsthim,slayinghisbrother:andheHurledalltheirforcebackhurtlingtowardthesea,Andslewmylordtheirking;butmehegaveGrace,andreceivednotasawanderingslave,Butonewhomseeinghelovedforpity:whyShouldelseasadstrangewomansuchasI
Findinhisfairsightfavour?andformeHebuiltthebowerwhereinIbarehimthee,Andwhencebutnowhehathbroughtuswestward,hereToabidetheextremeofutmosthopeorfear。
Andcomewhatendmayever,deathorlife,Iliveordie,iftruthbetruth,hiswife;
AndnonebutIandthou,thoughdaywaxdim,Thoughnightgrowstrong,hathanypartinhim。
SABRINA。
Whatshouldwefear,then?whencemightanyFallonus?
ESTRILD。
Ah!Ahme!Godanswershere。
EnterLOCRINE,wounded。
LOCRINE。
Praisedbethegodswhohavebroughtmesafe——todieBesidethee。Nay,butkneelnot——rise,andflyEredeathtakeholdontheetoo。BidthechildKissme。Thewaysallroundarewideandwild—
Yemaywinsafeaway。Theydeemedmedead—
Mylastfriendsleft——whosawmefallen,andfledNoshameistheirs——theyfoughttotheend。Butye,Fly:notyourlovecankeepmylifeinme—
Noteventhesightandsenseofyousonear。
SABRINA。
Howcanwefly,father?
ESTRILD。
Shewouldnotfear—
Thyverychildisshe——noheartlesshighThanthinesustainsher——andwewillnotfly。
LOCRINE。
Soshalltheirworkbeperfect。Yea,IknowOurfateisfallenuponus,anditswoe。
Yethavewelackednotgladness——andthisendIsnotsohard。Wehavehadsweetlifetofriend,Andfindnotdeathourenemy。AllmenbornDie,andbutfewfindeveningonewithmornAsIdo,seeingthesunofallmylifeLightenmydeathinsightofchildandwife。
Iwouldnotliveagaintolosethatkiss,Anddiesomedeathnothalfsosweetasthis。
[Dies。
ESTRILD。
Thouthought’sttocleaveintwainmylifeandTocastmyhandawayindeath,Locrine?
Seenowifdeathhavedrawntheefarfromme!
[Stabsherself。
SABRINA。
Thoudiest,andhastnotslainme,mother?
ESTRILD。
Thee?
Forgiveme,child!andsomaytheyforgive。
[Dies。
SABRINA。
Omother,canstthoudieandbidmelive?
EnterGUENDOLEN,MADAN,andSoldiers。
GUENDOLEN。
Dead?Ah!mytraitorwithhisharlotfledHellward?
MADAN。
Theirchildisleftthee。
GUENDOLEN。
She!notdead?
SABRINA。
Thouhastslainmymotherandsire——thouhastslainthylord—
Strikenow,andslayme。
GUENDOLEN。
Smiteherwiththysword。
MADAN。
IknownotifIdare。Idarenot。
GUENDOLEN。
ShameConsumethee!——Thou——whatcallthey,girl,thyname?
DaughterofEstrild,——daughterofLocrine,—
Daughterofdeathanddarkness!
SABRINA。
Yetnotthine。
Darknessanddeatharecomeonus,andthou,Whoseservantsarethey:heavenbehindtheenowStands,andwithholdsthethunder:yetonmeHegivestheenot,whohelpsandcomfortsthee,Powerforonehourofdarkness。ErethinehandCanputforthpowertoslaymewhereIstandSafeshallIsleepasthesethatherelieslain。
GUENDOLEN。
Shedaresnot——thoughtheheartinherbefain,Thefleshdrawsbackforfear。Shedaresnot。
SABRINA。
See!
IchangenomoreofwarringwordswiththeeOfather,Omymother,hereamI:
Theyhurtmenotwhocanbutbidmedie。
[Sheleapsintotheriver。
GUENDOLEN。
Saveher!Godpardonme!
MADAN。
ThewaterwhirlsDownoutofsighthertenderface,andhurlsHersoftlightlimbstodeathward。Godforgive—
Thee,sayestthou,mother?Wouldstthoubidherlive?
GUENDOLEN。
Whathavewedone?
MADAN。
Theworkwecametodo。
ThatGod,thousaid’st,shouldstandforjudgeofyouWhosejudgmentsmotewithmortalfireandswordTroy,forsuchcauseasbadetheeslaythylord。
Now,asbetweenhisfathersandtheirfoesThelordofgodsdealtjudgment,wingedwithwoesAndgirtaboutwithruin,hathhesentOnthesedestruction。
GUENDOLEN。
Yea。
MADAN。
Artthoucontent?
GUENDOLEN。
Thegodsarewisewholeadus——nowtosmite,Andnowtospare:wedwellbutintheirsighAndworkbutwhattheirwillis。WhathathbeenIspast。Butthese,thatoncewerekingandqueen,Thesun,thatfeedsondeath,shallnotconsumeNaked。NotIwouldsundertombfromtombOfthesetwainfoesofmine,indeathmadeone—
I,thatwhendarknesshidesmefromthesunShallsleepalone,withnonetorestbyme。
Butthou——thisonetimemoreIlookonthee—
Fairface,bravehand,weakheartthatwastnotmine—
Sleepsound——andGodbegoodtothee,Locrine。
Iwasnot。ShewasfairasheaveninspringWhomthoudidstloveindeed。Sleep,queenandking,Forgiven;andif——Godknows——beingdead,yelive,Andkeepremembranceyetofme——forgive。
[Exeunt。]