For nature will break out: mild with the mild, But all in vain; for when a desperate band Lady R. Eternal Providence! What is thy name? Pris. My name is Norval; and my name he bears. Lady R. 'Tis hel 'tis he himself! It is my son! 160 Oh, sovereign mercy! 'Twas my child I saw ! No wonder, Anna, that my bosom burn'd. Anna. Just are your transports: " ne'er was woman's heart "Prov'd with such fierce extremes. High fated dame!" But yet remember that you are beheld By servile eyes; your gestures may be seen Impassion'd, strange; perhaps your words o'erheard. Lady R. Well dost thou counsel, Anna: Heav'n be stow On me that wisdom which my state requires. Pris. If I, amidst astonishment and fear, The child thou rescu'dst from the flood is mine. 180 Pris. Blest be the hour that made me a poor man, My poverty hath sav'd my master's house! Lady R. Thy words surprize me: sure thou dost not feign! The tear stands in thine eye; such love from thee Thou told's the story of thy own distress. Pris. Sir Malcolm of our barons was the flower; Your own brave brother, fell, the good old lord By them I was thrust out, and them I blame : Lady R. His race shall yet reward thee. On thy faith Depends the fate of thy lov'd master's house. That like a holy hermitage appears Among the cliffs of Carron? Pris. I remember the cottage of the cliffs. There dwells a man of venerable age, 200 'Till I shall call upon thee to declare, Before the king and nobles, what thou now 220 Pris. Fear not that I shall mar so fair an harvest, By putting in my sickle ere 'tis ripe. Why did I leave my home and ancient dame ? To find the youth, to tell him all I knew, And make him wear these jewels in his arms, Which might, I thought, be challeng'd, and so bring To light the secret of his noble birth, [Lady RANDOLPH goes towards the Servants. Lady R. This man is not th' assassin you suspected, Though chance combin'd some likelihoods against him. He is the faithful bearer of the jewels To their right owner, whom in haste he seeks. [Exeunt Stranger and Servants. My faithful Anna! dost thou share my joy? I know thou dost. Unparallel'd event!! Reaching from heav'n to earth, Jehovah's arm Snatch'd from the waves, and brings to me my son ! Judge of the widow, and the orphan's father, For such a gift! What does my Anna think How soon he gaz'd on bright and burning arms, Spurn'd the low dunghill where his fate had thrown him, And tower'd up to the region of his sire! 240 Anna. How fondly did your eyes devour the boy! Mysterious nature, with the unseen cord Of pow'rful instinct, drew you to your ownLady R. The ready story of his birth believ'd Supprest my fancy quite; nor did he owe Το any likeness my so sudden favour : Anna. With wary caution you must bear yourself In public, lest your tenderness break forth, And in observers stir conjectures strange. "For, if a cherub in the shape of woman "Should walk this world, yet defamation would, "Like a vile cur, bark at the angel's train.". To-day the baron started at your tears. 260 Lady R. He did so, Anna! well thy mistress knows If the least circumstance, mote of offence, With jealousy disorder'd. But the more It does behove me instant to declare The birth of Douglas, and assert his rights. Pursues the flash. Anna. That demon haunts you still: Benold Glenalvon Lady R. Now I shun him not. This day I brav'd him in behalf of Norval : Perhaps too far: at least my nicer fears Enter GLENALVON. Glen. Noble dame ! The hovering Dane at last his men hath landed: That come to settle where their valour conquers : 280 Lady R. But whence comes this intelligence, Gle nalvon ? |