Percy Part 11

_Dou._ Her scarf upon his breast!

The blasting sight converts me into stone; Withers my powers like cowardice or age, Curdles the blood within my shiv'ring veins, And palsies my bold arm.

_Per._ [_ironically to the Knights_] Hear you, his friends!

Bear witness to the glorious, great exploit, Record it in the annals of his race, That Douglas, the renown'd--the valiant Douglas, Fenc'd round with guards, and safe in his own castle, Surpris'd a knight unarm'd, and bravely slew him.

_Dou._ [_throwing away his dagger_]

'Tis true--I am the very stain of knighthood.

How is my glory dimm'd!

_Elw._ It blazes brighter!

Douglas was only brave--he now is generous!

_Per._ This action has restor'd thee to thy rank, And makes thee worthy to contend with Percy.

_Dou._ Thy joy will be as short as 'tis insulting. [_to Elwina._ And thou, imperious boy, restrain thy boasting.

Thou hast sav'd my honour, not remov'd my hate, For my soul loaths thee for the obligation.

Give him his sword.

_Per._ Now thou'rt a n.o.ble foe, And in the field of honour I will meet thee, As knight encount'ring knight.

_Elw._ Stay, Percy, stay, Strike at the wretched cause of all, strike here, Here sheath thy thirsty sword, but spare my husband.

_Dou._ Turn, madam, and address those vows to me, To spare the precious life of him you love.

Even now you triumph in the death of Douglas; Now your loose fancy kindles at the thought, And, wildly rioting in lawless hope, Indulges the adultery of the mind.

But I'll defeat that wish.--Guards, bear her in.

Nay, do not struggle. [_she is borne in._

_Per._ Let our deaths suffice, And reverence virtue in that form inshrin'd.

_Dou._ Provoke my rage no farther.--I have kindled The burning torch of never-dying vengeance At love's expiring lamp.--But mark me, friends, If Percy's happier genius should prevail, And I should fall, give him safe conduct hence, Be all observance paid him.--Go, I follow thee. [_aside to Edric._ Within I've something for thy private ear.

_Per._ Now shall this mutual fury be appeas'd!

These eager hands shall soon be drench'd in slaughter!

Yes--like two famish'd vultures snuffing blood, And panting to destroy, we'll rush to combat; Yet I've the deepest, deadliest, cause of hate, I am but Percy, thou'rt--Elwina's husband. [_exeunt._

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE I. ELWINA'S APARTMENT.

_Elw._ Thou who in judgment still remember'st mercy, Look down upon my woes, preserve my husband!

Preserve my husband! Ah, I dare not ask it; My very prayers may pull down ruin on me!

If Douglas should survive, what then becomes Of--him--I dare not name? And if he conquers, I've slain my husband. Agonizing state!

When I can neither hope, nor think, nor pray, But guilt involves me. Sure to know the worst Cannot exceed the torture of suspense, When each event is big with equal horror. [_looks out._ What, no one yet? This solitude is dreadful!

My horrors multiply!

_Enter Birtha._

Thou messenger of woe!

_Bir._ Of woe, indeed!

_Elw._ How, is my husband dead?

Oh, speak!

_Bir._ Your husband lives.

_Elw._ Then farewell, Percy!

He was the tenderest, truest!--Bless him, heaven, With crowns of glory and immortal joys!

_Bir._ Still are you wrong; the combat is not over.

Stay, flowing tears, and give me leave to speak.

_Elw._ Thou sayest that Percy and my husband live; Then why this sorrow?

_Bir._ What a task is mine!

_Elw._ Thou talk'st as if I were a child in grief, And scarce acquainted with calamity.

Speak out, unfold thy tale, whate'er it be, For I am so familiar with affliction, It cannot come in any shape will shock me.

_Bir._ How shall I speak? Thy husband----

_Elw._ What of Douglas?

_Bir._ When all was ready for the fatal combat, He call'd his chosen knights, then drew his sword, And on it made them swear a solemn oath, Confirm'd by every rite religion bids, That they would see perform'd his last request, Be it whate'er it would. Alas! they swore.

_Elw._ What did the dreadful preparation mean?

_Bir._ Then to their hands he gave a poison'd cup, Compounded of the deadliest herbs and drugs; Take this, said he, it is a husband's legacy; Percy may conquer--and--I have a wife!

If Douglas falls, Elwina must not live.

_Elw._ Spirit of Herod! Why, 'twas greatly thought!

'Twas worthy of the bosom which conceiv'd it!

Yet 'twas too merciful to be his own.

Yes, Douglas, yes, my husband, I'll obey thee, And bless thy genius which has found the means To reconcile thy vengeance with my peace, The deadly means to make obedience pleasant.

_Bir._ O spare, for pity spare, my bleeding heart: Inhuman to the last! Unnatural poison!

_Elw._ My gentle friend, what is there in a name?

The means are little where the end is kind.

If it disturb thee, do not call it poison; Call it the sweet oblivion of my cares, My balm of woe, my cordial of affliction, The drop of mercy to my fainting soul, My kind dismission from a world of sorrow, My cap of bliss, my pa.s.sport to the skies.

_Bir._ Hark! what alarm is that?

_Elw._ The combat's over! [_Birtha goes out._