I love thy merit, and esteem thy virtues. Lord R. Straight to the camp, Where every warrior on the tip-toe stands Lady R. O, may adverse winds, Far from the coast of Scotland, drive their fleet! In peace and safety to his pleasant home! Lord R. Thou speak'st a woman's, hear a warrior's wish: Right from their native land, the stormy north, Then shall our foes repent their bold invasion, Lady R. "War I detest: but war with foreign foes, "Whose manners, language, and whose looks are strange, "Is not so horrid, nor to me so hateful, "As that which with our neighbours oft we wage. "A river here, there an ideal line, “By fancy drawn, divide the sister kingdoms. "As twins are to each other; valiant both; "But with each other fight in cruel conflict. "Gallant in strife, and noble in their ire, "The battle is their pastime. They go forth "Gay in the morning, as to summer sport; "When ev'ning comes, the glory of the morn, "The youthful warrior is a clod of clay. "Thus fall the prime of either hapless land; "And such the fruit of Scotch and English wars. "Lord R. I'll hear no more: this melody would make "A soldier drop his sword, and doff his arms, "Sit down and weep the conquests he has made; "Yea, (like a monk), sing rest and peace in heav'n "To souls of warriors in his battles slain." Lady, farewel: I leave thee not alone; Yonder comes one whose love makes duty light. 220 [Exit. Enter ANNA. Anna. Forgive the rashness of your Anna's love : Urg'd by affection, I have thus presum'd To interrupt your solitary thoughts; And warn you of the hours that you neglect, Lady R. So to lose my hours Is all the use I wish to make of time. Anna. To blame thee, lady, suits not with my state: But sure I am, since death first prey'd on man, Never did sister thus a brother mourn. What had your sorrows been if you had lost, Lady R. Oh! Anna. Have I distress'd you with officious love, These piteous tears, I'd throw my life away. 240 Lady R. What power directed thy unconscious tongue To speak as thou hast done? to name Anna. I know not: But since my words have made my mistress tremble, I will speak so no more: but silent mix My tears with hers. Lady R. No, thou shalt not be silent. I'll trust thy faithful love, and thou shalt be Anna. What means my noble mistress? Lady R. Did'st thou not ask what had my sorrows been, If I in early youth had lost a husband ?— In the cold bosom of the earth is lodg'd, Mangl'd with wounds, the husband of my youth; And in some cavern of the ocean lies My child and his. Anna. Oh! Lady most rever'd! 260 The tale wrapt up in your amazing words Lady R. Alas! an ancient feud, Hereditary evil, was the source Of my misfortunes. Ruling fate decreed, Under a borrow'd name.-My heart he gain'd; My brother's presence authoris'd our marriage. In spite of all my tears, did Malcolm go. Thy onward path, although the earth should gape, Anna. Alas! how few of woman's fearful kind Lady R. The first truth Is easiest to avow. This moral learn, That Douglas and my brother both were slain. Anna. My dearest lady! many a tale of tears Lady R. In the first days Of my distracting grief, I found myself 300 As women wish to be who love their lords. Till time should make my father's fortune mine. Set out with him to reach her sister's house: Or heard of, Anna, since that fatal hour. "My murder'd child !—had thy fond Mother fear'd "The loss of thee, she had loud fame defy'd, 66 Despis'd her father's rage, her father's grief, “And wander'd with thee through the scorning world." Anna. Not seen nor heard of! then perhaps he lives. |