Doug. Revenge! for what? offended? O. Norv. For being what you are; My mother warn'd me of Glenalvon's baseness: I mark'd his brave demeanor: him I'll trust. I wait my mother's coming: she shall know And cautious ever are a mother's counsels. You must depart; your presence may prevent O. Noro. My blessing rest upon thee! O may Heaven's hand, which sav'd thee from the wave, Turning mischance, if ought hangs o'er thy head, Doug. He loves me like a parent; And must not, shall not lose the son he loves, [Exit. Before he speaks it out I will accept; Like Douglas conquer, or like Douglas die.* Enter Lady RANDOLPH. Lady Rand. My son! I heard a voice——— Doug. -The voice was mine. [ear, Lady Rand. Didst thou complain aloud to nature's That thus in dusky shades, at mid-night hours, By stealth the mother and the son should meet? [Embracing him. Doug. No; on this happy day, this better birth-day, My thoughts and words are all of hope and joy. Lady Rand. Sad fear and melancholy still divide The empire of my breast with hope and joy. Now hear what I advise. Doug. First, let me tell What may the tenor of your counsel change. At eve, unseen by Randolph and Glenalvon, With dreadful threatnings; you they sometimes nam'd. Lady Rand. Defend us, gracious God! we are betray'd: They have found out the secret of thy birth; It must be so. That is the great discovery. Sir Malcolm's heir is come to claim his own; And they will be reveng'd.+ Perhaps even now, Arm'd and prepar'd for murder, they but wait A darker and more silent hour, to break Into the chamber where they think thou sleep'st. * Alluding to David and Goliath. See before, p. 279. Note* See also p. 303, and Note +. "When the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among "themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that "the inheritance may be ours." Luke xx. 14. See also Matt. XXI, 38. and Mark XII. 7. This moment, this, Heav'n hath ordain'd to save thee! Fly to the camp, my son! Doug. And leave you here? No: to the castle let us go together, Call up the ancient servants of your house, Some in your cause will arm. I ask but few Lady Rand. Thy courage, ardent youth, sees no obstructions. Thou genuine offspring of the daring Douglas! Doug. I yield me and obey: but yet my heart Lady Rand. If thou regard'st thy mother, or rever'st Thy father's mem'ry, think of this no more. One thing I have to say before we part: Long wert thou lost; and thou art found, my child, I have great cause to dread. Too well I see P The love of thee, before thou saw'st the light, Doug. What shall I say? how can I give you comfort? The God of battles of my life dispose As may be best for you! for whose dear sake But, yet, consider, as no vulgar name That which I boast sounds amongst martial men, [Embracing. I give my best, then bow to Heav'n's high will. Gaze not, on me, thou wilt mistake the path; [Separate. [Exeunt. [Just as they are separating, enter from the wood Lord RANDOLPH and GLENALVON.] Lord Rand. Not in her presence. Now I Glen. I'm prepar'd. Lord Rand. No: I command thee stay. go alone: it never shall be said That I took odds to combat mortal man. [Exit Lord Randolph. [Glenalvon makes some steps to the same side of the stage, listens and speaks. Glen. Now, my good sword, for double slaughter here! The lover and the husband both must die. [Lord Randolph behind the scenes Lord Rand. Draw, Villain! draw. Doug. Assail me not, Lord Randolph ; Not as thou lov'st thyself. [Clashing of swords. Glen. [Running out.] Now is the time. Enter Lady Randolph at the opposite side of the Stage faint and breathless. Lady Rand. Lord Randolph, hear me; all shall be But spare! oh spare my son! [thine own: Enter Douglas with a sword in each hand. Doug. My mother's voice! I can protect thee still. Lady Rand. He lives, he lives: For this, for this to Heaven eternal praise! But sure I saw thee fall? Doug. It was Glenalvon. Just as my arm had master'd Randolph's sword, Lady Rand. Behind thee! Ah; thou'rt wounded! O my child, How pale thou look'st! and shall I lose thee now? I hope it will not last. [Leans upon his sword. Lady Rand. There is no hope! And we must part! the hand of death is on thee! [Douglas growing more and more faint. Doug. So soon to part: I have not long been Douglas. Clouded and hid, a stranger to myself, Lost to my mother, lost to all that's great, In low and poor obscurity I liv'd. Lady Rand. Has Heav'n preserv'd thee for an end like Teach us, great Pow'r, to bend our wills to thine. [this? Doug. O had I fallen as my brave fathers fell, Turning with firm-strung arm the tide of battle! Like them I should have smil'd and welcom'd death. But thus to perish by a villain's hand! Lady Rand. Forget the villain; and look up to Heav'n, In whose unerring hand the villain is An instrument. [Douglas falls. Doug. True. But, unknown I die. |