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! 320 Glen. What dost thou doubt of? What hast thon to do With subjects intricate? Thy youth, thy beauty, Anna. Let women view yon monument of woe, Awakes the mem'ry of her antient woes. [Exit ANNA. Glen. [solus] So!-Lady Randolph shuns me; by 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 340 Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. A Court, &c. Enter Servants and a Stranger at onedoor, and Lady RANDOLPH and ANNA at another. WHA Lady Randolph. HAT means this clamour? Stranger, speak secure ; Hast thou been wrong'd? Have these rude men pre sum'd To vex the weary traveller on his way? F. Ser. By us no stranger ever suffered wrong; 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! As down the winding dale I walk'd alone, At the cross way four armed men attack'd me: And mocking danger, made my foes his own. They turn'd upon him, but his active arm 20 Struck to the ground, from whence they rose no more, And left him master of the bloody field. And to this noble youth, who, all unknown Nor paus'd at peril, but humanely brave, [To the Stranger. Stran. A low-born man, of parentage obscure, Who nought can boast but his desire to be A soldier and to gain a name in arms. Lord R. Whoe'er thou art, thy spirit is ennobl❜d By the great King of kings! thou art ordain'd And stamp'd a hero, by the sovereign hand Of Nature! blush not, flower of modesty As well as valour, to declare thy birth. Stran. My name is Norval: on the Grampion hills My father feeds his flocks; a frugal swain, Whose constant cares were to increase his store, And keep his only son, myself, at home. For I had heard of battles, and I long'd To follow to the field some warlike lord: And Heav'n soon granted what my sire deny'd. With bended bow, and quiver full of arrows, The road he took; then hasted to my friends, 3 I left my father's house, and took with me Yon trembling coward, who forsook his master. 60 Was ever tale Lord Ran. He is as wise as brave. With such a gallant modesty rehears'd ? |