Lady Rand. Son, if thou hast discharg'd thy humble In the low cottage (which I think thou hast,) [duties A fame awaits thee in the realms of glory, 'Fore which all earthly fame is but a vapour.— Doug. Fame, say you? Fame?-And that was my ambition. Thy words are cheering.-Pardon me, great God, I've split. Lady Rand. There will e'en here, I trust, be found Some noble spirits, judging by themselves, Who may conjecture what thou might'st have prov'd, Doug. Thou'st pointed me to better fame, and stirr'd In my deluded mind more worthy thoughts. But who shall comfort thee? Lady Rand. The Pow'r Divine Can if he judge it fitting. Doug. Had it pleas'd That Pow'r to feed mine eyes a little while On thy-Alas! these eyes that gaze on thee Grow dim apace! my mother-O, my mother! Enter Lord RANDOLPH and ANNA. [Dies. Lord Rand. Thy words, the words of truth, have pierc'd my heart. I am the stain of knighthood and of arms. Oh! if my brave deliverer survives The traitor's sword Anna. Alas! look there, my lord. Lord Rand. The mother and her son! And of all this Was I the cause? Most guilty cause was I: Yon matchless villain did seduce my soul To frantic jealousy. Anna. My lady lives: The agony of grief hath but supprest Awhile her powers. Lord Rand. But my deliverer's dead! The world did once esteem Lord Randolph well, 'Sincere of heart, for spotless honour fam'd: C And, in my early days, glory I gain'd "Beneath the holy banner of the cross. Now past the noon of life, shame comes upon me; Are near at hand: for all mankind will think world! Whilst he did breathe, I could speak reason to him, But, who to me Shall now persuade submission and meek patience? Grief cannot break a heart so hard as mine, Tho' fiercely it assail. Lord Rand. O misery! 'Midst thy loud grief I must proclaim to thee My innocence. Lady Rand. Thy innocence! Lord Rand. My guilt Is innocence, compar'd with what thou think'st it. Who might make up to me their father's childhood, What am I now ?- -What soon to be I know not. Lord Rand. Follow her, Anna: I myself would follow, But in this instant she abhors my presence. [Exit Anna. *“ And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber "over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son "Absalom; my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for "thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!' 2 Samuel xv111. 33. "Olord! my hoy, my Arthur, my fair son! King John, A. 111. S. IV. Enter Old NORVAL. Old Norv. I heard the voice of woe; Heaven guard my Lord Rand. Already is the idle gaping croud, [child? The spiteful vulgar, come to gaze on Randolph. Begone. Old Norv. I fear thee not. Which, timely known, had rais'd thee far above These are the hairs that should have strew'd the ground, [Tears his hair, and throws himself on the ground. Lord Rand. I know thee now: thy boldness I for My crest is fallen.' For thee I will appoint Anna. My lord, my lord! Lord Rand. Speak: I can hear of horror. Anna. Horror indeed! Lord Rand. Matilda? Anna. She yet lives. How long, I dread to think. I left her guarded, Whose fearful summit tempted her wild mind, To seek release by that unnat❜ral act, Which is presumption against Heav'n's high will, [give: And does degrade us e'en below the brutes, Lord Rand. Would I might follow! but the time 's Self-murder?-Could she meditate that crime! [not yet. Anna. It was but too apparent: yet will she Regain a juster temper. Lord Rand. Soothe her, Anna. Guard her from mischief: and, if battle spare Henceforward steal into her good opinion, THE END. EPILOGUE. AN Epilogue I ask'd; but not one word For when its sacred streams the heart o'erflow, |