Anna. The moments of deliberation pass, Old Norv. If I, amidst astonishment and fear, Lady Rand. With thee dissimulation now were vain. I am indeed the daughter of Sir Malcolm; The child thou rescu'd'st from the flood is mine. Embracing him. Old Norv. Blest be the hour that made me a poor man! My poverty hath sav'd my master's house! Lady Rand. Thy words surprize me: sure thou dost not feign: The tear stands in thine eye: such love from thee Thou told'st the story of thy own distress. Old Norv. Sir Malcolm of our barons was the flower; The fastest friend, the best and kindest master. But ah! he knew not of my sad estate. After that battle, where his gallant son, Your own brave brother, fell, the good old lord Grew desperate and reckless of the world; And never, as he erst was wont, went forth To overlook the conduct of his servants. By them I was thrust out, and them I blame: May Heaven so judge me as I judge my master! And God so love me as I love his race! Lady Rand. His race shall yet reward thee; and For what his age neglected. On thy faith Depends the fate of thy lov'd master's house. Rememb'rest thou a little lonely hut, That like a holy hermitage appears Among the clifts of Carron? Old Nord. I remember The cottage of the clifts. Lady Rand. 'Tis that I mean: There dwells a man of venerable age, [make up Who in my father's service spent his youth: Before the king and nobles, what thou now Old Norv. 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? Which might, I thought, be challeng'd, and so bring [Lady R. goes towards the servants. Lady Rand. This man is not th' assassin you suspected, Tho' chance combin'd some likelihoods against him. He is the faithful bearer of the jewels To their right owner, whom in his haste he seeks. 'Tis meet that you should put him on his way, Since your mistaken zeal hath dragg'd him hither. [Exeunt Old Norval and Servants. How soon he gaz'd on bright and burning arms, "He is a father to the fatherless, and defendeth the cause of the "widows: even God in his holy habitation." Psalm LXVIII. 5.See p. 304. Note. Anna. How fondly did your eyes devour the boy! Thro' years of eager looking for your son, [judgment, Lady Rand. Yet not enough was there to form a Not e'en to say within myself, Is't he? How I now long to see his face again, Examine every feature, and find out The lineaments of Douglas, or my own. But, most of all, I long to let him know Who his true parents are, to clasp his neck, And tell him all the story of his father. Anna. With wary caution you must bear yourself In public, lest your tenderness break forth, And in observers stir conjectures strange. 6 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 trainTo-day the baron started at your tears. Lady Rand. He did so, Anna! well thy mistress If the least circumstance, mote of offence, [knows, It does behove me instant to declare Sat Observation; on each glance of thought Pursues the flash. * "A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye." Hamlet, A. I. S. 1. + There is a passage in Archbishop Newcome's Observations on Anna. That demon haunts Behold Glenalvon. you still: Lady Rand. Now I shun him not. This day I brav'd him in behalf of Norval; Enter GLEN ALVON. Glen. Noble dame! The hov'ring Dane at last his men hath landed: Lady Rand. But whence comes this intelligence, Glen. A nimble courier sent from yonder camp, ( Amazing Bass looks o'er a fertile land. Lady Rand. Then must this western army march to The warlike troops that guard Edena's tow'rs. Glen. Beyond all question. If impairing time Has not effac'd the image of a place, "Once perfect in my breast, there is a wild [join Our Lord's Conduct, on decision of judgment, so excellent, that I eannot forego this opportunity of presenting it to the reader: "I shall end the remarks under this head with the words of a "*most eminent author, though I think that, through haste of writing, “too weak an expression has escaped him. 46 "There is scarce any thing which proves both wisdom and rightness of mind more fully, than proper behaviour on sudden occa sions, and proper answers to unforeseen questions: for what a 46 man shews himself to be at such times, we have in general great 46 cause to believe he really is. Now to this trial our Saviour, living a public life, in the midst of persons taking all advantages to inspare him, was perpetually exposed; and bis character never suf fered by it. It was indeed exalted by every such occasion of shewing his wisdom and sedateness; insomuch that his enemies 65 were ashamed, amazed, and silenced; nay, even paid him the unwilling tribute of public approbation." 2d. Ed. S. vII. p. 134. 46 46 "Secker's Sermons, Vol. IV. p. 206, Engl. ed." "Which lies to westward of that mighty rock, To our swift-scow'ring horse, the bloody field 'Must man to man, and foot to foot, be fought.' Lady Rand. How many mothers shall bewail their How many widows weep their husbands slain! [sons! Ye dames of Denmark! e'en for you I feel, Who, sadly sitting on the sea-beat shore, Glen. Oft has the unconquer'd Caledonian sword Come, as I hope, to meet their fathers' fate. Scorn is more grievous than the pains of death; Lady Rand. I scorn thee not, but when I ought to [scorn; I own thy worth, Glenalvon; none more apt And turn death from him, with a guardian arm. |