All knowledge of the crime. But this is not Anna. Let me look on them. Ha! here is a heart, The chosen crest of Douglas' These are no vulgar jewels. valiant name? Guard the wretch. zo Pris. I know no more than does the child unborn Of what you charge me with. 1st Ser. You say so, Sir! But torture soon shall make you speak the truth. Enter Lady RANDOLPH and ANNA. Anna. Summon your utmost fortitude, before You speak with him. Your dignity, your fame, Are now at stake. Think of the fatal secret, Which in a moment from your lips may fly. Lady R. Thou shalt behold me, with a desperate heart, Hear how my infant perish'd. See, he kneels. 32 [The Prisoner kneels. Pris. Heav'n bless that countenance so sweet and mild! A judge like thee makes innocence more bold. Who have attack'd and seiz'd me; who accuse 40 Lady R. Of this man's guilt what proof can ye pro duce ? 1st Ser. We found him lurking in the hollow glynn. When view'd and call'd upon, amaz'd he fled, We overtook him, and enquir'd from whence And what he was: he said he came from far, And was upon his journey to the camp. Not satisfied with this, we search'd his clothes, And found these jewels, whose rich value plead Most powerfully against him. Hard he seems, And old in villainy. Permit us try His stubbornness against the torture's force. Pris. Oh, gentle lady by your lord's dear life ; And my grey hairs bring to the grave with pain. 61 [Anna removes the servants and returns.] Pris. Alas! I'm sore beset! let never man, For sake of lucre, sin against his soul! Eternal justice is in this most just! I, guiltless now, must former guilt reveal. Lady R. Oh! Anna hear 1-once more I charge thee speak The truth direct; for these to me foretel And certify a part of thy narration; With which, if the remainder tallies not, Pris. Then, thus adjur'd, I'll speak to you as just As if you were the minister of heaven, Sent down to search the secret sins of men : Some eighteen years ago I rented land Of brave Sir Malcolm, then Balarmo's lord; All that I had, and then turn'd me and mine, Received us: there hard labour, and the skill Beneath the ford, us'd oft to bring within 80 My reach, whatever floating thing the stream By the moon's light I saw, whirl'd round and round, soon I drew it to the bank, A basket And nestled curious there an infant lay. Lady R. Was he alive? Pris. He was. Lady R. Inhuman that thou art! 100 How couldst thou kill what waves and tempests spared? Pris. I am not so inhuman. Lady R. Didst thou not? Anna. My noble mistrsss, you are mov'd too much : Good tidings of your kinsman's long-lost child. Who saw no end of black adversity: Yet, for the wealth of kingdoms, I would not Lady R. Ha! dost thou say so; then perhaps he lives! Lady R. O God of Heav'n! did he then die so lately? 121 Him, flourishing in youth, and health, and beauty. Pris. Alas! I know not where. ད Lady R. Oh, fate! I fear thee still. Thou riddler, speak Direct and clear; else I will search thy soul. Anna. "Permit me, ever honour'd! Keen impatience, "Though hard to be restrain'd, defeats itself."- To the last hour that thou didst keep the child. shame; Within the cradle where the infant lay, Was stow'd a mighty store of gold and jewels; 140 That none might mark the change of our estate, We left the country, travell'd to the north, Bought flocks and herds, and gradually brought forth Not as the offspring of our cottage blood; |