Enter Lady RANDOLPH. ady R. My son! I heard a voiceoug. The voice was mine. zdy R. Didst thou complain aloud to Nature's ear, thus in dusky shades, at midnight hours, tealth the mother and the son should meet? [Embracing him. bug. No; on this happy day, this better birth-day, houghts and words are all of hope and joy. ady R. Sad fear and melancholy still divide empire of my breast with hope and joy. 7 hear what I deviseoug. First, let me tell it may the tenor of your counsel change. ady R. My heart forebodes some evil. oug. 'Tis not good ve, unseen by Randolph and Glenalvon, good old Norval in the grove o'erheard ir conversation; oft they mentioned me, h dreadful threatenings; you they sometimes named. as strange, they said, a wonderful discovery; lever and anon they vowed revenge. ady R. Defend us, gracious God! we are betrayed: ey have found out the secret of thy birth: aust be so. That is the great discovery. Malcolm's heir is come to claim his own, d they will be revenged. Perhaps even now, ned and prepared for murder, they but wait larker and more silent hour to break > the chamber where they think thou sleep'st. is moment, this, Heaven hath ordained to save thee! to the camp, my son! Doug. And leave you here? >: to the castle let us go together. ll up the ancient servants of your house, ho in their youth did eat your father's bread. len tell them loudly that I am your son. in the breasts of men one spark remains f sacred love, fidelity, or pity, >me in your cause will arm. I ask but few o drive those spoilers from my father's house. Lady R. Oh, Nature, Nature! what can check thy force? hou genuine offspring of the daring Douglas! ut rush not on destruction: save thyself, And I am safe. To me they mean no harm. hy stay but risks thy precious life in vain. That winding path conducts thee to the river. Cross where thou seest a broad and beaten way, Which, running eastward, leads thee to the camp. nstant demand admittance to lord Douglas; Shew him these jewels which his brother wore. Thy look, thy voice, will make him feel the truth, Which I, by certain proof, will soon confirm. Doug. I yield me, and obey: but yet my heart Bleeds at this parting. Something bids me stay, And guard a mother's life. Oft have I read Of wondrous deeds by one bold arm atchieved. Our foes are two; no more: let me go forth, And see if any shield can guard Glenalvon! Lady R. If thou regard'st thy mother, or re- Thy father's memory, think of this no more. In a most fearful season. If thou to giddy valour giv'st the rein, The God of battles of my life dispose But yet consider, as no vulgar name, Lady R. I will not utter what my bosom feels. Too well I love that valour which I warn. Farewell, my son! my counsels are but vain, Glen. I am prepared. Lord R. No: I command thee stay. I go alone: it never shall be said And to a double slaughter guide it home! Lord R. [Behind the scenes.] Draw, villain! draw! Doug. [Without.] Assail me not, lord Randolph; Not as thou lov'st thyself. [Clashing of swords. Lady R. Lord Randolph, hear me, all shall be thine own! But spare! Oh, spare my son! Enter DOUGLAS, with a sword in each hand. Doug. My mother's voice! I can protect thee still. Lady R. He lives, he lives! For this, for this to Heaven eternal praise ! Doug. It was Glenalvon; Just as my arm had mastered Randolph's sword, The villain came behind me; but I slew him. Lady R. Behind thee! ah! thou art wounded! Oh, my child, How pale thou look'st! And shall I lose thee now? Doug. Do not despair: I feel a little faint ness, I hope it will not last. [Leans upon his sword. Lady R. There is no hope! And we must part! The hand of death is on thee! Oh! my beloved child! O Douglas, Douglas! [DOUGLAS growing more and more faint. Doug. Too soon we part: I have not long been Douglas; O destiny! hardly thou deal'st with me! Lady R. Has Heaven preserved thee for an end like this! Doug. Oh! had I fallen as my brave fathers fell, Turning with fatal arm the tide of battle, Like them I should have smiled and welcomed death: But thus to perish by a villain's hand! Cut off from nature's and from glory's course, Which never mortal was so fond to run. Lady R. Hear, justice, hear! stretch thy avenging arm! [DOUGLAS fulls. Doug. Unknown I die; no tongue shall speak of me. Anna. Alas! look there, my lord. Was I the cause? No: I was not the cause. Lord R. But my deliverer's dead; me; Reproach and infamy, and public hate, Lady R. [recovering.] Where am I now- With hope's assistance, bore the brunt of sorro Lord R. Oh, misery! Lady R. Thy innocence! Is innocence compared with what thou think'sti Lady R. Of thee I think not: what have to do With thee, or any thing? My son ! my son! Of growing old amidst a race of thine, And bear my brother's and my husband's name: [Runs out Lord R. Follow her, Anna: I myself woul follow, But in this rage she must abhor my presence. [Erit ANNA Enter Old Norval. Old Nor. I heard the voice of woe: Heave guard my child! Lord R. Already is the idle gaping crowd, The spiteful vulgar, come to gaze on Rando Begone. Old Nor. I fear thee not. I will not go. e I'll remain. I'm an accomplice, lord, h thee in murder. Yes, my sins did help crush down to the ground this lovely plant. noblest youth that ever yet was born! etest and best, gentlest and bravest spirit, it ever blest the world! Wretch that I am, o saw that noble spirit swell and rise ove the narrow limits that confined it, never was by all thy virtues won do thee justice, and reveal the secret, ich, timely known, had raised thee far above villain's snare. Oh! I am punished now! se are the hairs that should have strewed the ground, 1 not the looks of Douglas. [Tears his hair, and throws himself upon the body of Douglas. ord R. I know three now: thy boldness I forgive: crest is fallen. For thee I will appoint sed, cursed Glenalvon! he escaped too well, Enter ANNA. Anna. My lord! My lord! ord R. Speak: I can hear of horror. Anna. Horror, indeed! Lord R. Matilda- Anna. Is no more: She ran, she flew like lightning up the hill, Lord R. 'Twas I, alas! 'twas I That filled her breast with fury; drove her down The precipice of death! Wretch that I am! Anna. Oh, had you seen her last despairing look! Upon the brink she stood, and cast her eyes Down on the deep: then, lifting up her head And her white hands to Heaven, seeming to say, Why am I forced to this? she plunged herself Into the empty air. Lord R. I will not vent, In vain complaints, the passion of my soul. Epilogue I ask't; but not one word EPILOGUE. r bard will write. He vows 'tis most absurd th comic wit to contradict the strain tragedy, and make your sorrows vain. dly he says, that pity is the best, d noblest passion of the human breast: when its sacred streams the heart o'erflow, gushes pleasure with the tide of woe: And when its waves retire, like those of Nile, CLEONE. BY DODSLEY. PROLOGUE. BY WILLIAM MELMOTH, ESQ.-SPOKEN BY MR ROSS. 'Twas once the mode inglorious war to wage With each bold bard that durst attempt the stage, And prologues were but preludes to engage. Then mourn'd the muse not story'd woes alone, Condemn'd to weep, with tears unfeign'd, her own. Past are those hostile days: and wits no more And Heav'n-born arts their chosen land possest) Yes; they whom candour and true taste inspire Where arts new force from kindred arts acquire move, To melt the soul by scenes of fabled woe, And bid the tear for fancy'd sorrows flow; Far humbler paths he treads in quest of fame, And trusts to Nature what from Nature came. SCENE L-A Room in Sifroy's House. ACT I. Enter GLANVILLE and ISABELLA. Glan. WHAT means this diffidence, this idle fear? ve I not given thee proof my heart is thine? oof that I mean to sanctify our joys sacred wedlock! Why then doubt my truth? hy hesitate, why tremble thus to join deeds, which justice and my love to thee >ne inspire? If we are one, our hopes, r views, our interests ought to be the same. d canst thou tamely see this proud Sifroy umphant lord it o'er my baffled rights? ose late acquir'd demesnes, by partial hand nsign'd to him, in equity are mine. Isab. The story oft I've heard: yet sure Sifroy th every legal title to that wealth will bequeath'd; and childless should he die, e whole were thine. Wait then till timeGlan. Art thou, Isabella, thou an advocate r him whose hand, with felon arts, with-holds ose treasures which I covet but for thee? here is thy plighted faith?-thy vows?thy truth? Isab. Forbear reproach!-O Glanville, love to thee ath robb'd me of my truth-seduc'd me on om step to step, till virtue quite forsook me. Ise if I am, 'tis to myself, not thee; ou hast my heart, and thou shalt guide my will, Glan. What news, Dear Ragozin? How did Sifroy receive Rag. All you could wish. A whirlwind is but To the wild storm that agitates his breast. I know his friendship, know his honest heart- Glan. Good, very good!--I knew 'twould Rag. His smother'd grief at length burst forth He started from the floor-he drew his sword--- Glan. How eagerly he runs into the toils, [GLANVILLE opens the letter and reads. "Though thou hast stabb'd me to the heart, I cannot but thank thy goodness for the tender regard thou hast shewn to my honour. The traitor Paulet shall die by my own hand: that righteous vengeance must be mine. Mean time, forbi |