Scene II.
Enter E DMUND .
EDMUND.
I sought thee, Edrick,
Now when each heart expands with happiness,
When the poor slave of sickness feebly wears
A transitory smile, wilt thou alone,
Thou, my Companion, Brother, dearest Friend,
Stand sadly brooding o'er forgotten ills.
EDRICK, ( aside )
O Virtue! pow'rful is thy influence;
E'en Envy seels thy charms, I almost wish
That I could love him.
EDMUND.
Wherefore doth thine eye
Thus measure me with apprehensive strangeness?
Thy varying colour speaks some strong emotion!
Art thou displeas'd, the Dane and I are bound
In union firm? Dost thou suppose this heart
Too narrow to admit another friend,
Without rejecting thee? His gen'rous treatment
Of those, whom war subjected to his power;
His fearless, open, soldier-like demeanour,
Whilst yet my foe, enforc'd my admiration:
But when he stak'd our fortunes on the chance
Of single fight, and liberally gave
The Crown I could not win, — he made my heart
His own for ever?
EDRICK.
Dost thou love him then?
EDMUND.
Aye, can my Brother wonder, that I do?
EDRICK.
To love the Dane, — the fell invading Dane, —
Whose steps, in Britain, leave the print of blood:
To trust Canutus, him whose deeds avow,
Ambition is his law, may note a temper
Generous and open; but believe me, Sire,
Implies the want of prudence. Canst thou think
The brittle tie of treaties, or of oaths,
Hold souls like his?
EDMUND.
And does not Edrick know,
No injury aggrieves the heart of man
So much as mean suspicion? Let me fall,
And artful treason triumph in my ruin,
Rather than merit want my confidence.
EDRICK.
His high-wrought soul repels my vain attacks
But one more trial. Now assist me, Fraud.
Yet was my saith to thee but ill express'd,
Did I conceal the fearful news: Thy Friend,
Thy new-made Friend deceives thee.
EDMUND.
Ha! deceives me?
EDRICK.
Soon as the morning dawns, when his curst troops
Find entrance in the city, he intends
To give up thee and all that hold thee dear,
Thy Edrick first, to certain death. O Edmund!
Awake thy courage; mar the soul design:
His few attendants may be soon surpriz'd,
Just victims to our vengeance.
EDMUND.
Heavens! No, Edrick,
To doom th' unheard is infamous. I'll go,
And boldly charge him with his vile intentions.
EDRICK.
You must not. — Hold — 'Tis madness.
EDMUND.
Should I fear?
The voice of Truth is terrible to guilt.
I shall discover all. His conscious eye,
His trembling frame, his blushes, will betray him.
But Edrick! if thy envy rais'd this slander,
Behold my face no more.
EDRICK.
O Edmund! stay —
By all that's sacred, if thou go'st, thoul't die!
EDMUND.
I am determind. — Loose me. —
EDRICK.
Oh! permit
Thy Edrick thus to take his last farewell!
EDMUND.
Is it thy last? Why hang these horrid fears
Round thy distracted soul?
EDRICK.
I cannot strike,
EDMUND.
Oh! cast aside this peevish discontent.
My Brother, we shall yet have happy days,
When the possession of a peaceful Crown
Will be my least felicity.
EDRICK.
The Crown?
Rage! Hell! Ambition give me courage.
Die!
What fall so soon? Edmund! O cursed steel!
Thou did'st the deed too quick. The vital blood
Pours in an ample stream. Ah! turn aside
Thy dying eyes, they are too terrible.
He groans! The torments of the damn'd have seiz'd me,
And I am doom'd for everlasting years
To listen to those groans! What shall I do?
Ask Heaven for mercy? but how list to Heaven
My bloody hands? how bend my stubborn heart
To holy meek contrition? Can I pray?
Thou, who alone can'st mitigate despair,
Forgive! — Oh! no, thi eternal law is rigid.
Blood will have blood, there can be no remission,
The Castle conscious shakes. Fall on this head,
Ye rocking battlements, conceal my crimes!
Infernal fiends, what would ye now with Edrick?
Your dire behests obeyed, there — there he lies!
Ah! do ye mock me now, and grin around me?
Why prosser me a dagger? What no more?
Takes up the dagger .
Ye promis'd once, a Crown should recompence.
Where would ye drive me? to the gates of Hell?
Horror! Despair! — Oh! whither shall I fly?
Enter E DMUND .
EDMUND.
I sought thee, Edrick,
Now when each heart expands with happiness,
When the poor slave of sickness feebly wears
A transitory smile, wilt thou alone,
Thou, my Companion, Brother, dearest Friend,
Stand sadly brooding o'er forgotten ills.
EDRICK, ( aside )
O Virtue! pow'rful is thy influence;
E'en Envy seels thy charms, I almost wish
That I could love him.
EDMUND.
Wherefore doth thine eye
Thus measure me with apprehensive strangeness?
Thy varying colour speaks some strong emotion!
Art thou displeas'd, the Dane and I are bound
In union firm? Dost thou suppose this heart
Too narrow to admit another friend,
Without rejecting thee? His gen'rous treatment
Of those, whom war subjected to his power;
His fearless, open, soldier-like demeanour,
Whilst yet my foe, enforc'd my admiration:
But when he stak'd our fortunes on the chance
Of single fight, and liberally gave
The Crown I could not win, — he made my heart
His own for ever?
EDRICK.
Dost thou love him then?
EDMUND.
Aye, can my Brother wonder, that I do?
EDRICK.
To love the Dane, — the fell invading Dane, —
Whose steps, in Britain, leave the print of blood:
To trust Canutus, him whose deeds avow,
Ambition is his law, may note a temper
Generous and open; but believe me, Sire,
Implies the want of prudence. Canst thou think
The brittle tie of treaties, or of oaths,
Hold souls like his?
EDMUND.
And does not Edrick know,
No injury aggrieves the heart of man
So much as mean suspicion? Let me fall,
And artful treason triumph in my ruin,
Rather than merit want my confidence.
EDRICK.
His high-wrought soul repels my vain attacks
But one more trial. Now assist me, Fraud.
Yet was my saith to thee but ill express'd,
Did I conceal the fearful news: Thy Friend,
Thy new-made Friend deceives thee.
EDMUND.
Ha! deceives me?
EDRICK.
Soon as the morning dawns, when his curst troops
Find entrance in the city, he intends
To give up thee and all that hold thee dear,
Thy Edrick first, to certain death. O Edmund!
Awake thy courage; mar the soul design:
His few attendants may be soon surpriz'd,
Just victims to our vengeance.
EDMUND.
Heavens! No, Edrick,
To doom th' unheard is infamous. I'll go,
And boldly charge him with his vile intentions.
EDRICK.
You must not. — Hold — 'Tis madness.
EDMUND.
Should I fear?
The voice of Truth is terrible to guilt.
I shall discover all. His conscious eye,
His trembling frame, his blushes, will betray him.
But Edrick! if thy envy rais'd this slander,
Behold my face no more.
EDRICK.
O Edmund! stay —
By all that's sacred, if thou go'st, thoul't die!
EDMUND.
I am determind. — Loose me. —
EDRICK.
Oh! permit
Thy Edrick thus to take his last farewell!
EDMUND.
Is it thy last? Why hang these horrid fears
Round thy distracted soul?
EDRICK.
I cannot strike,
EDMUND.
Oh! cast aside this peevish discontent.
My Brother, we shall yet have happy days,
When the possession of a peaceful Crown
Will be my least felicity.
EDRICK.
The Crown?
Rage! Hell! Ambition give me courage.
Die!
What fall so soon? Edmund! O cursed steel!
Thou did'st the deed too quick. The vital blood
Pours in an ample stream. Ah! turn aside
Thy dying eyes, they are too terrible.
He groans! The torments of the damn'd have seiz'd me,
And I am doom'd for everlasting years
To listen to those groans! What shall I do?
Ask Heaven for mercy? but how list to Heaven
My bloody hands? how bend my stubborn heart
To holy meek contrition? Can I pray?
Thou, who alone can'st mitigate despair,
Forgive! — Oh! no, thi eternal law is rigid.
Blood will have blood, there can be no remission,
The Castle conscious shakes. Fall on this head,
Ye rocking battlements, conceal my crimes!
Infernal fiends, what would ye now with Edrick?
Your dire behests obeyed, there — there he lies!
Ah! do ye mock me now, and grin around me?
Why prosser me a dagger? What no more?
Takes up the dagger .
Ye promis'd once, a Crown should recompence.
Where would ye drive me? to the gates of Hell?
Horror! Despair! — Oh! whither shall I fly?