Lady R. No. It was dark December; wind and rain Had beat all night. Across the Carron lay The destin'd road; and in its swelling flood My faithful servant perish'd with my child. "Oh! hapless son of a most hapless sire! "But they are both at rest; and I alone "Dwell in this world of woe, condemn'd to walk, "Like a guilt-troubled ghost, my painful rounds;" Nor has despiteful fate permitted me The comfort of a solitary sorrow. Though dead to love, I was compell'd to wed "Such were my soothing thoughts, while I bewail'd "The slaughter'd father of a son unborn. "And when that son came, like a ray from heav'n, "Which shines and disappears; alas; my child! "How long did thy fond mother grasp the hope "Of having thee, she knew not how, restor❜d. "Year after year hath worn her hope away; "But left still undiminish'd her desire. "Anna. The hand that spins th' uneven thread of life, "May smooth the length that's yet to come of yours. "Lady R. Not in this world; I have consider'd well "It's various evils, and on whom they fall. "Alas! how oft does goodness wound itself? "And sweet affection prove the spring of woe." Anna. That God, whose ministers good angels are, Hath shut the book, in mercy to mankind; But we must leave this theme: Glenalvon comes: I saw him bend on you his thoughtful eyes, And hitherwards he slowly stalks his way. Lady R. I will avoid him. An ungracious person Is doubly irksome in an hour like this. Anna. Why speaks my lady thus of Randolph's heir? Lady R. Because he's not the heir of Randolph's virtues. Subtle and shrewd, he offers to mankind An artificial image of himself: And he with ease can vary to the taste Of different men, its features. "Self-denied, "And master of his appetites he seems: "But his fierce nature, like a fox chain'd up, Stay, and detain him till I reach the castle. [Exit Lady RANDOLPH. Anna. Oh happiness! where art thou to be found? I see thou dwellest not with birth and beauty, Tho' grac'd with grandeur and in wealth array'd: Nor dost thou, it would seem with virtue dwell; Else had this gentle lady miss'd thee not. Enter GLENALVON. Glen. What dost thou muse on, meditating maid? Like some entranc'd and visionary seer, On earth thou stand'st, thy thoughts ascend to heaven. Anna. Would that I were, e'en as thou say'st, a seer, To have my doubts by heavenly vision clear'd! With subjects intricate? Thy youth, thy beauty, Awakes the mem'ry of her antient woes. Exit ANNA. and by I'll woo her as the lion wooes his brides. The deed's a doing now, that makes me lord Randolph has liv'd too long: his better fate Had the ascendant once, and kept me down: 419 And for the righteous cause, a stranger's cause, Exit. Ꭰ ACT II. SCENE I. A Court, &c. Enter Servants and a Stranger at one door, and Lady RANDOLPH and ANNA at another. Lady Randolph. WHAT means this clamour? Stranger, speak secure; Hast thou been wrong'd? Have these rude men presum'd To vex the weary traveller on his way? F. Ser. By us no stranger ever suffered wrong: This man with outcry wild has called us forth; So sore afraid he cannot speak his fears. Enter Lord RANDOLPH and a young man, with their swords drawn and bloody. Lady R. Not vain the stranger's fears! how fares my lord. Lord R. That it fares well, thanks to this gallant youth, Whose valour sav'd me from a wretched death! At the cross way four armed men attack'd me: And mocking danger, made my foes his own. |