ACT I.
SCENE I. Repreſents a Gothic Temple, being a Place of Heathen Worſhip; the three Saxon Gods, Woden, Thor, and Freya, placed on Pedeſtals.
Enter OSWALD and OSMOND.
OSWALD.
FATHER of gods and men, great Woden, hear:
Give conqueſt to the Saxon race, and me.
Oſm.
Thor, Freya, Woden, hear, and ſpell your Saxons,
With ſacred Runic rhymes, from death in battle;
Edge their bright ſwords, and blunt the Britons darts.
Grimbald, a fierce earthly ſpirit, ariſes.
No more, great Prince, for ſee my truſty fiend,
Who all the night has wing'd the duſky air.
What [...]ews, my Grimbald?
Grim.
[2]I have play'd my part;
For I have ſteel'd the fools that are to die;
Six fools, ſo prodigal of life and ſoul,
That, for their country, they devote their lives
A ſacrifice to mother Earth, and Woden.
Oſm.
Say, where's thy fellow-ſervant, Philidel?
Why comes not he?
Grim.
For he's a puling ſprite—but half a devil!
Why didſt thou chuſe a tender airy form,
Unequal to the mighty work of miſchief?
For when with ſure ſucceſs he might have ſped
His baneful errand 'gainſt the Chriſtian camp,
He ſpy'd the red-croſs banners of their hoſt,
And ſaid he durſt not add to his damnation.
Oſm.
I'll puniſh him at leiſure.
Call in the victims to propitiate hell.
Grim.
That's my kind maſter, I ſhall breakfaſt on 'em.
[Exit Grim.
Oſw.
Ambitious fools we are,
And yet ambition is a godlike fault;
Or rather, 'tis no fault in ſouls born great,
Who dare extend their glory by their deeds.
Grimbald re-enters with ſix Saxons in white, with ſwords in their hands, prieſts and ſingers.
SACRIFICE SONG.
RECITATIVE I.
Mr. DANBY.Woden, firſt to thee,
A milk-white ſteed, in battle won,
We have ſacrific'd.
Chor.
We have ſacrific'd.
[3]RECIT. II.
Mr. WILLIAMES.Let our next oblation be
To Thor, thy thundering ſon,
Of ſuch another.
Chor.
We have ſacrific'd.
RECIT. III.
Mr. DANBY.A third (of Friezeland breed was he)
To Woden's wife, and to Thor's mother:
And now we have aton'd all three.
We have ſacrific'd.
Chor.
We have ſacrific'd.
CHORUS.
Brave ſouls to be renown'd in ſtory,
Honour prizing,
Death deſpiſing,
Fame acquiring,
By expiring,
Die and reap the fruit of glory.
[All retire, and the ſcene cloſes upon them.
SCENE II. A Landſcape.
Enter AURELIUS and CONON.
Con.
Then this is the deciding day, to fix
Great Britain's ſcepter in great Arthur's hand.
Aur.
Or put it in the bold invader's gripe.
Oſwald is valiant—
Con.
It was the character he then maintain'd,
When in my Court he ſought my daughter's love;
My fair, blind Emmeline.
Aur.
[4]For that defeat in love he rais'd this war.
For royal Arthur reigned within her heart,
'Ere Oſwald mov'd the ſuit.
Con.
Arthur is all that's excellent in Oſwald;
And void of all his faults: in battle brave,
But ſtill ſerene in all the ſtormy war,
Like heaven above the clouds; and after fight,
As merciful and kind to vanquiſh'd foes,
As a forgiving God. But ſee, he's here,
And praiſe is dumb before him.
Enter King ARTHUR, reading a letter, with Attendants.
Arth.
[reading.]
" Go o
[...], auſpicious Prince, the ſtars are kind.
" Unfold thy banners to the willing wind;
" While I, with airy legions, help thy arms;
" Confronting art with art, and charms with charms."
So Merlin writes; nor can we doubt th' event,
[To Con,
With heav'n and you, our friends. Oh! noble Conon,
You taught my tender hands the trade of war:
And now again you helm your hoary head,
And under double weight of age and arms,
Aſſert your country's freedom and my crown.
Con.
No more, my ſon.
Arth.
Moſt happy in that name!
Your Emmeline, to Oſwald's vows refus'd,
You made my plighted bride:
Your charming daughter, who like love, born blind,
Un-aiming hits, with ſureſt archery,
And innocently kills.
Con.
Remember, ſon,
You are a General; orther wars require you,
For ſee the Saxon groſs begins to move.
Arth.
By heav'n 'tis beauteous horror!
The noble Oſwald has provok'd my envy.
[] Enter EMMELINE, led by MATILDA.
Ha! now my beauteous Emmeline appears,
A new, but Oh! a ſofter flame inſpires me:
E'en Rage and Vengeance ſlumber at her ſight.
Con.
Haſte your farewell; I'll chear my troops, and wait ye.
[Exit Conon.
Em.
O father! father! I am ſure you're here;
Becauſe I ſee your voice.
Arth.
No, thou miſtak'ſt thy hearing for thy ſight:
He's gone, my Emmeline;
And I but ſtay to gaze on thoſe fair eyes,
Which cannot view the conqueſt they have made.
Oh! ſtar-light night, dark only to thy ſelf,
But full of glory, as thoſe lamps of heaven,
That ſee not, when they ſhine.
Em.
What is this heav'n, and ſtars, and night, and day,
To which you thus compare my eyes and me?
I underſtand you, when you ſay you love:
For, when my father claſps my hand in his,
That's cold, and I can feel it hard and wrinkled;
But when you graſp it, then I ſigh, and pant,
And ſomething preſſes to my heart.
Arth.
Oh artleſs love! where the ſoul move the tongue,
And only Nature ſpeaks what Nature thinks!
Had ſhe but eyes!
Em.
Juſt now you ſaid I had.
Arth.
But neither ſee.
Em.
I'm ſure they hear you then:
What can your eyes do more?
Arth.
They view your beauties.
Em.
Do not I ſee? you have a face like mine.
Arth.
It is not ſight, but touching with your hands.
Em.
Then 'tis my hand that ſees, and that's all one:
For is not ſeeing, touching with your eyes?
Arth.
No, for I ſee at a diſtance, where I touch not.
Em.
[]If you can ſee ſo fat, and yet not touch,
I fear you ſee my naked legs and feet
Quite through my clothes; pray do not ſee ſo well.
Arth.
Fear not, ſweet innocence;
I view the lovely features of your face;
Your lips carnation, your dark-ſhaded eye brows,
Black eyes, and ſnow-white forehead; all the colours
That make your beauty, and produce my love.
Em
Nay, then, you do not love on equal terms;
I love you dearly, without all theſe helps:
I cannot ſee your lip's carnation,
Nor your ſhaded eye-brows, nor your milk-white eyes.
Arth.
Alas! 'tis vain t' inſtruct your innocence.
You have no notion of light or colours
[Trumpet ſounds within.
Em.
Why, is not that a trumpet?
Arth.
Yes.
Em.
I knew it.
And I can tell you how the ſound on't looks;
It looks as if it had an angry fighting face.
Arth.
'Tis now indeed a ſharp unpleaſant ſound,
Becauſe it calls me hence, from her I love,
To meet ten thouſand foes.
Em.
How does ſo many men e'er come to meet?
This devil trumpet vexes 'em, and then
They feel about for one another's faces;
And ſo they meet and kill.
Arth.
I'll tell ye all, when we have gain'd the field;
One kiſs of your fair hand, the pledge of conqueſt.
And ſo ſhort a farewel.
[Kiſſes her hand, and exit with Aurel. and at⯑tendants.
Em.
My heart and vows go with him to the fight;
May every foe be that, which they call blind,
[7] And none of all their ſwords have eyes to find him.
But lead me nearer to the trumpet's face;
For that brave ſound upholds my fainting heart;
And while I hear, methinks I fight my part.
[Exit led by Matilda.
SCENE III. A Camp, Drums, Trumpets, and military Shouts.
MARTIAL SONG, ſung by Mr. WILLIAMS.
Come if you dare, our trumpets ſound;
Come if you dare, the foes rebound:
We come, we come, we come, we come,
Says the double, double, double beat of the thund'ring drum.
Now they charge on amain,
Now they rally again:
The gods from above the mad labour behold,
And pity mankind that will periſh for gold.
Cho.
Now they charge, &c.
[Exeunt drums and trumpet, a march.
SCENE IV. A general Engagement between the Britons and Saxons, in which the Britons are Conquerors.
SCENE V. A Rural Proſpect.
Enter Philidel.
Phil.
Alas, for pity, of this bloody field!
Piteous it needs muſt be, when I, ſpirit,
Can have ſo ſoft a ſenſe of human woes!
SCENE VI. Draws and diſcovers Merlin's Cave.
[8]He comes forward.
Mer.
What art thou, ſpirit? of what name or order?
(For I have view'd thee in my magic glaſs)
Making thy moan among the midnight wolves,
That bay the ſilent moon: ſpeak, I conjure thee.
'Tis Merlin bids thee.
Phil.
An airy ſhape, the tend'reſt of my kind,
The laſt ſeduc'd, and leaſt deform'd of hell;
Half white, and ſhuffl'd in the crowd, I fell,
Deſirous to repent, and loth to ſin:
My name is Philidel.
Mer.
Thy buſineſs here?
Phil.
To ſhun the Saxon wizard's dire commands.
Oſmond, the awfull'ſt name next thine below.
'Cauſe I refuſe to hurl a noiſom fog
On chriſten'd heads, the hue-and-cry of hell
Is rais'd againſt me.
Mer.
Oſmond ſhall know, a greater power protects thee:
Now mark me, Philidel,
I will employ thee for thy future good:
Thou know'ſt, in ſpite of valiant Oſwald's arms,
Or Oſmond's powerful ſpells, the field is ours—
Phil.
Oh maſter! Grimbald is at hand,
I ſnuff his earthy ſcent:
The conquering Britons he miſleads to rivers,
Or dreadful downfalls of unheeded rocks;
Mer.
Be that thy care,
Warn off the bold purſuers from the chace:
But leſt fierce Grimbald's pond'rous bulk oppreſs
Thy tender flitting air, I'll leave my band
Of ſpirits with united ſtrength to aid thee,
[Exeunt Merlin and Philidel into the cave.
SCENE, A Wood.
[9]Enter GRIMBALD and his followers diſguiſed like ſhep⯑herds, leading King ARTHUR, CONON, AURE⯑LIUS, and attendants.
Grim.
Thus wrapt in Shepherd's weeds, I, and my fel⯑low fiends,
The ſottiſh Britons chuſe us for their guides:
Here, this way, Britons, follow Oſwald's flight.
Arth.
I thank thee, ſhepherd;
Expect reward, lead on, we follow thee.
[As Arthur is going off, enter Philidel and his followers.
SONG. Sung by Philidel.
Hither this way, this way bend,
Truſt not that malicious fiend:
Thoſe are falſe deluding lights,
Wafted far and near by ſprites,
Truſt 'em not, for they'll deceive ye;
And in bogs and marſhes leave you.
Chor. of Phil. Spirits.
Hither this way, this way bend.
Chor. of Grimb. Spirits.
This way, this way bend.
Phil.
ſings.
If you ſtep, no danger thinking,
Down you fall, a furlong ſinking:
'Tis a fiend who has annoy'd ye;
Name but Heav'n, and he'll avoid ye.
Chor. of Phil. Spirits.
Hither this way, this way bend.
Chor. of Grimb. Spirits.
This way, this way bend.
Philidel's Spirits.
Truſt not that malicious fiend.
Grimbald's Spirits.
Truſt me, I am no malicious fiend.
Philidel's Spirits.
Hither this way, &c.
Grimb.
[10]By Hell ſhe ſ [...]gs them back, in my deſpite.
I had a voice in Heav'n, [...]re ſulph'rous ſteams
Had damp'd it to a hoarſeneſs: try it now.
SONG.—Grimbald.
Let not a moon-born elf miſlead ye
From your prey, and from your glory.
Too far, alas! he has betray'd ye:
Follow the flames, that wave before ye:
Sometimes ſev'n, and ſometimes one;
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry on.
II.
See, ſee, the footſteps plain appearing,
That way Oſwald choſe for flying:
Firm is the turf, and fit for bearing,
Where yonder pearly dews are lying,
Far he cannot hence be gone;
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry on.
Arth.
'Tis true, he ſays; the footſteps yet are freſh
Upon the ſod, no falling dew-drops have
Diſturb'd the print.
[All are going to follow Grimbald.
Phil.
ſings.
Hither this way.
Chorus of Phil. Spirits.
Hither this way, this way bend.
Chorus of Grimb. Spirits.
This way, this way bend.
Philidel's Spirits.
Truſt not that malicious fiend.
Grimb. Spirits.
Truſt me, I am no malicious fiend.
Philidel's Spirits.
Hither this way, &c.
[They all incline to Philidel.
Grim.
ſpeaks.
Curſe on his voice, I muſt my prey forego;
Thou Philidel, ſhalt anſwer this below.
[Grimbald ſinks in a flaſh of fire.
Arth.
[11]At laſt the cheat is plain;
The cloven-footed fiend is vaniſh'd from us;
Good angels be our guides, and bring us back.
Phil.
ſinging.
Come follow, follow, follow me.
Chor.
Come follow, &c.
And me. And me. And me.
Verſ. 2 Voc.
And green-ſward all your way ſhall be.
Chor.
Come follow, &c.
Verſ.
No goblin or elf ſhall dare to offend ye.
Chor.
No, no, no, &c.
No goblin or elf ſhall dare to offend ye.
Verſ. 3 Voc.
We brethren of air,
Your heroes will bear
To the kind and the fair that attend ye.
Chor.
We brethren, &c.
[Philidel, and the ſpirits go off ſinging, with King Arthur, and the reſt in the middle of them.
SCENE VIII. A Camp, and Emmeline's Pavilion, with a bank. Moonlight.
Enter EMMELINE led by MATILDA.
Em.
No news of my dear love, or of my father?
Mat.
None, madam, ſince the gaining of the battle:
Em.
If Arthur's ſlain,
I mean to die: but there's a greater doubt;
Since I ne'er ſaw him here,
How ſhall I meet him in another world?
Mat.
Indeed I know not.
Em.
I ſhould find him,
Among a thouſand Angels in the ſky.
Mat.
[12]But what a kind of man do you ſuppoſe him?
Em.
He muſt be made of the moſt precious things,
And I believe his mouth, and eyes, and cheeks,
And noſe, and all his face, are made of gold.
Mat.
Heav'n bleſs us, Madam, what a face you make him!
Em.
Yet I muſt know him better: of all colours,
Tell me which is the pureſt, and the ſofteſt.
Mat.
They ſay 'tis black.
Em.
Why then, ſince gold is hard, and yet is precious,
His face muſt all be made of ſoft black gold.
Mat.
But, Madam—
Em.
No more; I have learn'd enough for once.
Enter, on the other ſide of the Stage, OSWALD and GUILLAMAR.
Oſw.
The night has wilder'd us; and we are fall'n
Among their formoſt tents.
Guil.
Ha! what are theſe!
They ſeem of more than vulgar quality.
Em.
What ſounds are thoſe? they cannot far be diſtant;
Where are we now, Matilda?
Mat.
Juſt before your tent.
Fear not, they muſt be friends, and they approach.
Em.
My Arthur, ſpeak my love, are you return'd
To bleſs your Emmeline?
Oſw.
[to Guillamar]
I know that face:
'Tis the ungrateful fair, who, ſcorning mine,
Accepts my rival's love: heaven, thou'rt bounteous,
Thou ow'ſt me nothing now.
Mat.
Fear grows upon me:
Speak what you are; ſpeak, or I call for help.
Oſw.
We are your guards.
Mat.
Ah me! we are betray'd; 'tis Oſwald's voice.
Em.
[13]Let them not ſee our voices, and then they cannot find us.
Oſw.
Paſſions in men oppreſs'd are doubly ſtrong,
I take her from King Arthur; there's revenge.
Fear nothing, ladies, you ſhall be ſafe.
[Oſwald and Guillamar ſeize Emmeline and Matilda.
Em. and Mat.
Help! help!
Oſw.
By heav'n ye injure me! tho' force is us'd,
Your honour ſhall be ſacred.
Em.
Help! help! Oh Britons! help!
Oſw.
Your Britons cannot help you;
This arm, thro' all their troops, ſhall force my way;
Yet neither quit my honour nor my prey.
[Exeunt; the women ſtill crying.
[An alarm within; and a cry of Follow! follow! follow!
SCENE IX. Of Rocks and Water.
Enter AURELIUS and SOLDIERS.
Aur.
Furl up our colours, and unbrace our drums;
Diſlodge betimes, we muſt give up this fatal poſt,
Th' imbattl'd legions of fire, air, and earth,
Are banded for our foes. But who are theſe?
Stand!—Conon, what's th' alarm?
Enter CONON, Captain of GUARDS, and SOLDIERS.
Con.
Our victory is marr'd,
And we are outwitted by the Saxons,
My Emmeline, my daughter's ſtol'n!
Aur.
Miſchance indeed!—and here
Some more than mortal power aſſails our guards.
How fares it with great Arthur?
Con.
[14]As when the lover with the King is mixt,
He puts the gain of Britain in one ſcale,
Which weighing with the loſs of Emmeline,
He thinks he's ſcarce a ſaver.
He comes, with Merlin, whoſe ſtrong aid we hope.
Enter MERLIN and ARTHUR.
Mer.
Wait Heav'n's time, th' attempt's too dange⯑rous;
There's not a tree in that enchanted grove,
But's number'd out, and giv'n by tale to fiends.
Arth.
Hadſt thou been here, (for what can thwart thy ſkill?)
Nor Emmeline had been the boaſt of Oſwald;
Nor I, forewarn'd, been wanting to her guard.
Con.
Her darken'd eyes had ſeen the light of Heav'n;
That was thy promiſe too, and this the time.
Mer.
Nor has my aid been abſent, tho' unſeen;
I have employ'd a ſubtle airy ſprite
T' explore the paſſage, and prepare thy way.
Myſelf, mean time, will view the magic wood,
To learn whereon depends its force.
Con.
But Emmeline—
Mer.
Fear not: her ſight ere long ſhall be reſtor'd.
Arth.
Oh might I hope (and what's impoſſible
To Merlin's art?) to be myſelf the bearer,
That with the light of Heav'n ſhe may diſcern
Her lover firſt.
Mer.
'Tis wond'rous hazardous;
Yet I foreſee th' event, 'tis fortunate.
I'll bear ye ſafe, and bring you back unharm'd:
Then loſe not precious time, but follow me.
[Exeunt omnes, Merlin leading Arthur.
SCENE X. A Wood, with the Sun.
[15]Enter PHILIDEL.
Phil.
I left all ſafe behind:
At every walk I paſs'd, I drew a ſpell;
So that if any fiend, abhorring Heav'n,
There ſets his foot, it roots him to the ground.
Now could I but diſcover Emmeline,
My taſk was fairly done.
GRIMBALD ruſhes out: he ſeizes Philidel, and binds him in a Chain.
Grim.
O rebel! have I caught thee?
Phil.
Ah me! what hard miſhap!
Grim.
What juſt revenge!
Thou miſcreant elf, thou renegado ſcout!
So clean, ſo furbiſh'd, ſo renew'd in white,
The livery of our foes; I ſee thee thro':
What mak'ſt thou here? Thou trim apoſtate, ſpeak.
Phil.
Ah! mighty Grimbald,
Who would not fear, when ſeiz'd in thy ſtrong gripe!
I'm fled from Merlin, free as air that bore me,
T'unfold to Oſmond all his deep deſigns.
Grim.
I believe nothing: oh, thou fond impoſtor,
But ſince thou ſay'ſt thy errand was to Oſmond,
To Oſmond ſhalt thou go: March, know thy driver.
Phil.
[kneeling]
O ſpare me, Grimbald, and I'll be thy ſlave:
Tempt hermits for thee in their holy cells,
And virgins in their dreams.
Grim.
Canſt thou, a devil, hope to cheat a devil?
A ſpy! why that's a name abhorr'd in hell.
[16] Haſte, forward, forward, or I'll goad thee on
With iron ſpurs.
Phil.
But uſe me kindly then:
Pull not ſo hard, to hurt my airy limbs;
I'll follow thee unforc'd: Look, there's thy way.
Grim.
Ay, there's thy way indeed; but for more ſurety
I'll keep an eye behind: Not one word more,
But follow decently.
[Grim. goes out, dragging Phil.
Phil.
So catch him, ſpell.
[Aſide.
Grim.
[within.]
O help me! help me Philidel!
Phil.
Why, what's the matter?
Grim.
Oh, I am enſnar'd;
Heav'n's birdlime wraps me round, and glues my wings.
Looſe me, and I will free thee:
Do, and I'll be thy ſlave.
Phil.
What, to a ſpy, a name abhorr'd in hell?
Grim.
Do not inſult. Oh! oh! I grow to ground;
The fiery net draws cloſer on my limbs. Oh! oh! oh!
Phil.
Thou ſhalt not have the eaſe to curſe in tor⯑ments:
Be dumb for one half hour: ſo long my charm
Can keep thee ſilent, and there lie
Till Oſmond breaks thy chain.
[Philadel unbinds his own fetters.
Enter to him Merlin.
Mer.
Well haſt thou wrought thy ſafety with thy wit,
My Philidel; go meritorious one:
Me other work requires, to view the wood,
And learn to make the dire inchantments void;
Meantime thy fellows ſummon, and call forth
[17] The precious drops I taught thee to compound,
And to the ſpirit of light his taſk aſſign;
Then may'ſt thou ſhow King Arthur to his love,
Tho' ſhort muſt be their interview.
[Exit.
Phil.
Pleas'd I obey, and haſte the myſtic charm,
That gives fair Emmeline to light and love.
SONG and CHORUS.
Phil.
Come away,
From ſhades and cool fountains,
Bright ſpirits of day,
Who gild the high mountains.
Chorus.
We come, we obey,
With delight we attend thee.
Phil.
To fair Emmeline bear
Your heav'n born treaſure,
Chorus.
Come away, we obey!
Phil.
With fair Emmeline ſhare
Your pure light, love, and pleaſure.
Chorus.
Lead on, point the way,
With delight we attend thee,
Lead on, point the way,
Love to light ſhall befriend thee.
[Exeunt.
END OF ACT FIRST.
ACT II.
[18]SCENE I. A Landſcape.
Enter PHILIDEL.
RECITATIVE.
SPIRIT of light, attend—the charm's complete.
[Spirit of light deſcends.
Phil.
Thou gentle ſpirit of etherial light,
By Merlin's will the grateful taſk is thine,
T'unveil the beauteous eyes of Emmeline.
Spirit.
Delighted, I fulfil his generous purpoſe.
SONG.
Spirit.
Oh ſight, the mother of deſires,
What charming objects doſt thou yield!
'Tis ſweet when tedious night expires.
To ſee the roſy morning gild
The mountain tops, and paint the field!
But when ſweet Emm'line comes in ſight,
She makes the ſummer's day more bright,
And when ſhe goes away 'tis night.
'Tis ſweet the bluſhing morn to view;
And plains adorn'd with pearly dew.
But ſuch cheap delights to ſee,
Heaven and nature
Give each creature;
They have eyes as well as we;
This is the joy, all joys above,
To ſee, to ſee,
That only ſhe
Whoſe eyes can light with love.
Phil.
[19]Now ſee where Emmeline approaches,
I leave her to thy art, and haſte to guide
Impatient Arthur to her new-born ſight.
[Exit.
Enter EMMELINE and MATILDA.
Mat.
This way, Madam, and we are ſhaded.
[Spirit approaches Emmeline, ſprinkling ſome of the water over her eyes out of the vial.]
Spirit.
Thus, thus I infuſe
Theſe ſovereign dews.
Fly back, ye films, that cloud her ſight:
And you, ye chryſtal humours bright,
Your noxious vapours purg'd away,
Recover and admit the day.
Now caſt your eyes abroad, and ſee
All but me.
[Exit.
Em.
Ha! What was that? Who ſpoke?
Mat.
I heard the voice; 'tis one of Oſmond's fiends.
Em.
Some bleſſed angel ſure; I feel my eyes
Unſeal'd, they walk abroad, and a new world
Comes ruſhing on, and ſtands all gay before me.
Mat.
Oh heav'ns! oh joy of joy ſhe has her ſight!
Em.
I am new-born; I ſhall run man for pleaſure.
[Staring on Mat.
Are women ſuch as thou? Such glorious creatures?
Enter ARTHUR and PHILIDEL.
Arth.
[aſide]
Oh! how I envy her, to be firſt ſeen!
Phil.
Approach not yet.
Em.
Stand farther; let me take my fill of ſight.
[Looking up.
What's that above that weakens my new eyes,
Makes me not ſee, by ſeeing?
Mat.
'Tis the ſun.
Em.
The ſun! 'tis ſure a God, if that be Heav'n:
[20] Oh! if thou art a creature, beſt and faireſt,
How haſt thou lighten'd even my very ſoul,
And let in knowledge by another ſenſe!
Art thou not pleas'd, Matilda? Why, like me,
Doſt thou not look and wonder?
Mat.
For theſe ſights
Are to my eyes familiar.
Em.
That's my joy,
Not to have ſeen before: for nature now
Comes all at once, confounding my delight.
But ah! what thing am I? Fain would I know;
Or am I blind, or do I ſee but half?
With all my care, and looking round about,
I cannot view my face.
Mat.
None ſee themſelves
But by reflection; in this glaſs you may.
[Gives her a glaſs.
Em.
[looking in the glaſs]
What's this?
It holds a face within it: O ſweet face!
It draws the mouth, and ſmiles, and looks upon me;
And talks, but yet I cannot hear it ſpeak;
The pretty thing is dumb.
Mat.
The pretty thing
You ſee within the glaſs, is You.
Em.
What, am I two? Is this another me?
Indeed it wears my cloaths, had hands like mine,
And mocks whate'er I do; but that I'm ſure
It cannot be, I'd ſwear it were my child.
[Matilda looks.
Look, my Matilda; we both are in the glaſs.
Oh, now I know it plain; they are our names,
That peep upon us there.
Mat.
Our ſhadows, Madam.
Em.
Mine is the prettier ſhadow far, than thine.
I love it; let me kiſs my t'other ſelf.
[Kiſſing the glaſs.
[21] Alas! I've kiſs'd it dead; the fine thing's gone;
Indeed it kiſs'd ſo cold as if'twere dying.
[Arthur comes forward ſoftly; ſhowing himſelf behind her.
'Tis here again.
Oh no, this face is neither mine nor thine:
I think the glaſs hath borne another child.
[She turns and ſees Arthur.
Ha! What art thou, with a new kind of face,
And other cloaths, a noble creature too,
But taller, bigger, fiercer in thy look;
Of a controuling eye, majeſtic make?
Mat.
Do you not know him, Madam?
Em.
Is't a man?
Arth.
Yes, and the moſt unhappy of my kind,
If you have chang'd your love.
Em.
My deareſt Lord!
Was my ſoul blind; and could not that look out,
To know you, ere you ſpoke? Oh counterpart
Of our ſoft ſex! Well are you made our Lords:
So bold, ſo great, ſo godlike are you form'd.
How can you love ſuch ſilly things as women?
Arth.
Beauty like your's commands; and man was made
But a more boiſterous, and a ſtronger ſlave
To you, the beſt delights of human kind.
Em.
But are ye mine? Is there an end of war?
Are all thoſe trumpets dead themſelves, at laſt,
That us'd to kill men with their thund'ring ſounds?
Arth.
The ſum of war is undecided yet;
And many a breathing body muſt be cold,
Ere you are free.
Em.
How came you hither then?
Arth.
By Merlin's art, to ſnatch a ſhort-liv'd bliſs;
To feed my famiſh'd love upon your eyes,
One moment, and depart.
Em.
[22]Oh moment! worth
Whole ages paſt, and all that are to come!
Let love-ſick Oſwald now unpity'd mourn;
Let Oſmond mutter charms to ſprites in vain,
To make me love him; all ſhall not change my ſoul.
Arth.
Ha! Does th' enchanter practiſe hell upon you?
Is he my rival too?
Em.
Yes, but I hate him;
For when he ſpoke, thro' my ſhut eyes I ſaw him;
His voice look'd ugly, and breath'd brimſtone on me:
And then I firſt was glad that I was blind,
Not to behold perdition.
Enter MERLIN.
Merl.
My Sovereign, we have hazarded too far;
But love excuſes you, and preſcience me.
Make haſte; for Oſmond is even now alarm'd,
And greedy of revenge is haſting home.
Arth.
Oh take my love with us, or leave me here.
Merl.
I cannot, for ſhe's held by charms too ſtrong,
Which, with th' enchanted grove, muſt be deſtroy'd:
Till when, my art is vain: but fear not, Emmeline;
Th' enchanter has no power on innocence.
Em.
[to Arth.]
Farwell, ſince we muſt part: When you are gone,
I'll look into my glaſs, juſt where you look'd,
To find your face again;
If'tis not there, I'll think on you ſo long,
My heart ſhall make your picture for my eyes.
Arth.
Where e'er I go, my ſoul ſhall ſtay with thee:
'Tis but my ſhadow that I take away:
True love is never happy but by halves;
An April ſunſhine, that by fits appears,
It ſmiles by moments, but it mourns by years.
Em.
[23]May all good Angels ſpread their wings,
And ſhield my love from harm.
[Ex. Arth. and Mer.
Now my Arthur's gone, the lovelieſt object
To my new-born ſight, I'll look round and round
Upon the leſſer beauties of creation.
Enter OSMOND at the other Door, who gazes on Emmeline, and ſhe on him.
Em.
Ha! I'm deceiv'd; ſave me from this ugly thing,
This foe to ſight! ſpeak; doſt thou know him?
Mat.
Too well; 'tis Oſwald's friend, the great ma⯑gician.
Em.
It cannot be a man, he's ſo unlike the man I love.
Oſm.
[Aſide.]
Death to my eyes, ſhe ſees!
Em.
I wiſh I could not; but I'll cloſe my ſight,
And ſhut out all I can—It wo'not be;
Winking, I ſee thee ſtill, thy odious image
Stares full into my ſoul; and there infects the room
My Arthur ſhou'd poſſeſs.
Oſm.
[Aſide.]
I find too late,
That Merlin and her lover have been here.
Em.
I pr'ythee, dreadful thing, tell me thy buſineſs here;
And, if thou canſt, reform that odious face;
Look not ſo grim upon me.
Oſm.
My name is Oſmond; and my buſineſs, love.
Em.
Thou haſt a grizly look forbidding what thou aſk'ſt,
If I durſt tell thee ſo.
Oſm.
My pent-houſe eye-brows, and my ſhaggy beard,
Offend your ſight, but theſe are manly ſigns:
[24] Faint white and red abuſe your expectations;
Be woman; know your ſex, and love full pleaſures.
Em.
Love from a monſter, fiend?
Oſm.
Come, you muſt love; or you muſt ſuffer love;
No coyneſs, none, for I am maſter here.
Em.
And when did Oſwald give away his power?
Oſm.
O'er-labour'd with the fight, oppreſt with thirſt,
That Oſwald, whom you mention'd, call'd for drink.
I mix'd a ſleepy potion in his bowl,
Which he quaffd greedily.
The happy doſe wrought the deſir'd effect;
Then to a dungeon's depth I ſent him bound;
Now know you are my ſlave. No coying therefore
But make me happy.
Em.
From my ſight,
Thou, all thy devils in one, thou dar'ſt not force me.
Oſm.
You teach me well;
I'll give you that excuſe your ſex deſire.
[He ſeizes her, and ſhe ſtruggles.
Grim.
[within]
O maſter, maſter!
Oſm.
Who's that? my Grimbald!
Enter GRIMBALD haſtily.
Grim.
O maſter! danger threatens thee:
There's a black cloud deſcending from above,
Full of Heav'n's venom, burſting o'er thy head.
Oſm.
Malicious fiend, thou ly'ſt; for I am fenc'd
By millions of thy fellows, in my grove.
I bade thee, when I freed thee from the charm,
Run ſcouting thro' the wood, from tree to tree,
And look if all my devils were on duty.
Grim.
When did a devil fail in diligence?
Poor mortal, thou thyſelf art overſeen;
I have been there, and thence I bring this news.
Thy fatal foe, great Arthur, is at hand:
[25] Merlin has ta'en his time, while thou wert abſent,
To counterwork thy ſpells.
Oſm.
Perdition ſeize on Merlin!
I'll caſt 'em all a-new, and inſtantly,
All of another mould; be thou at hand.
Their compoſition was, before, of horror;
Now they ſhall be of blandiſhment, and love;
On my return, proud fair,
Reſolve to meet my love;
But if you will not fairly be enjoy'd,
A little honeſt force is well employ'd.
[Exeunt Oſm. and Grimb.
Em.
Heav'n! ever preſent to the ſuppliant's aid,
Protect and pity innocence betray'd.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II. A Wood, with a large Oak in the front.
Enter ARTHUR, and MERLIN on the other ſide.
Merl.
Thus far it is permitted me to go;
But all beyond this ſpot is fenc'd with charms;
I may no more, but only with advice.
Arth.
My ſword ſhall do the reſt.
Merl.
Remember well, that all is but illuſion.
Arth.
Doubt me not.
Merl.
Yet in prevention
Of what may come, I'll leave my Philidel
To watch thy ſteps, and with him leave my wand:
Farewell, and proſper.
[Exit Merlin.
Arth.
[walking.]
No danger yet, I ſee no walls of fire,
No city of the fiends, with forms obſcene,
To grin from far on flaming battlements.
This is indeed the grove I ſhould deſtroy;
[26] But where's the horror? ſure the prophet err'd.
Hark! muſic, and the warbling notes of birds;
[Singing of birds, within.
More wonders yet; yet all delightful too.
The Scene opens and diſcovers a pleaſant River, ſhaded with Trees, a golden Bridge over it.
A ſilver current here forbids my paſſage,
And yet t'invite me, ſtands a golden bridge;
Perhaps a trap for my unwary feet,
To ſink and whelm me underneath the waves.
With fire or water let him wage his war,
Or all the elements at once, I'll on.
[As he is going forward, Nymphs and Sylvans come out from behind the Trees.
SONG. Miſs STAGELDOIR.
How happy the lover!
How eaſy his chain,
How pleaſing his pain,
How ſweet to diſcover
He ſighs not in vain.
For love every creature
Is form'd by his nature;
No joys are above
The pleaſures of love.
Arth.
And what are theſe fantaſtic fairy joys,
To love like mine? Falſe joys, falſe welcomes all.
Be gone, ye ſylvan trippers of the green,
Fly after night, and overtake the moon.
[Singers vaniſh.
This goodly tree ſeems queen of all the grove.
The ringlets round her trunk declare her guilty
[27] Of many midnight ſabbaths revell'd here.
Her will I firſt attempt.
[Arthur ſtrikes at the Tree, and cuts it; blood ſpouts out of it, a groan follows, then a ſhrick.
Good heav'n, what monſtrous prodigies are theſe!
Blood follows from my blow; the wounded rind
Spouts on my ſword, and ſanguine dyes the plain.
[He ſtrikes again: a voice of Emmeline from behind.
Em.
[from behind.]
Forbear, if thou haſt pity, ah, for
⯑bear!
Theſe groans proceed not from a ſenſeleſs plant,
No ſpouts of blood run welling from a tree.
Arth.
Speak what thou art; I charge thee ſpeak thy being.
[Emmeline breaks out of the tree, ſhowing her arm bloody.
Em.
Whom thou haſt hurt, unkind and cruel, ſee.
Arth.
'Tis ſhe: amazement roots me to the ground!
Em.
By cruel charms, dragg'd from my peaceful bower,
Fierce Oſmond clos'd me in this bleeding bark;
So that whatever ſword, or ſounding axe,
Shall violate this plant, muſt pierce my fleſh,
And, when that falls I die.—
Arth.
If this be true,
O never, never to be ended charm,
At leaſt by me! Yet all may be illuſion.
Break up, ye thick'ning fogs, and filmy miſts,
All that bely my ſight, and cheat my ſenſe;
For reaſon ſtill pronounces, 'tis not ſhe,
And thus reſolv'd—
[Lifts up his ſword, as going to ſtrike.
Em.
Do, ſtrike, barbarian, ſtrike;
And ſtrew my mangled limbs, with every ſtroke.
Wound me, and doubly kill me, with unkindneſs,
That, by thy hand I fell.
Arth.
O love! O Merlin! whom ſhould I believe?
Em.
[28]Believe thyſelf, thy youth, thy love, and me;
Diſarm thy hand, that mine may meet it bare.
Arth.
If falling for the firſt created fair
Was Adam's fault, great grandſire, I forgive thee;
Eden was loſt, as all thy ſons would loſe it.
[Going toward Emmeline, and pulling off his gaunt [...]
Enter PHILIDEL running.
Phil.
Hold, poor deluded mortal, hold thy hand;
Which, if thou giv'ſt, is plighted to a fiend.
For proof, behold the virtue of this wand;
[Strikes Emmeline with a wand, who ſtraight deſcends: Grimbald appears in her place.
Now ſee to whoſe embraces thou wert falling.
Behold the maiden modeſty of Grimbald!
Arth.
Horror ſeizes me,
To think what headlong ruin I have tempted.
Phil.
Haſte to thy work; a noble ſtroke or two
Ends all the charms, and diſenchants the grove.
I'll hold thy miſtreſs bound.
[Chains Grimbald.
Arth.
Then here's for earneſt;
[Strikes twice or thrice, the tree ſinks amidſt thunder and lightning, and the bridge breaks down.
'Tis finiſh'd, and the duſk, that yet remains,
Is but the native horror of the wood.
On yon proud towers, before this day be done,
My glittering banners ſhall be wav'd againſt the ſetting ſun.
[Exit Arthur.
Phil.
Come on, my ſurly ſlave; come ſtalk along,
And drag thy chain.
Grim.
I'll champ and foam upon't, till the blue venom.
Work upwards to thy hands, and looſe their hold.
Phil.
Know'ſt thou this pow'rful wand? 'tis lifted up;
[29] A ſecond ſtroke wou'd ſend thee to the centre,
Benumb'd and dead, as far as ſouls can die.
Grim.
I wou'd thou wou'd'ſt, to rid me of my ſenſe.
SONG. PHILIDEL.
Iopeans fill the ſkies,
The monſter is in chains;
Beneath my feet he lies,
Virtue triumphant reigns!
CHORUS.
Victory! Victory! Vice is in chains;
Victory! Victory! Virtue reigns.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III. A Camp.
Enter OSMOND, as affrighted.
Oſm.
Grimbald made priſoner, and my grove deſtroy'd!
Now what can ſave me—Hark the drums and trumpets!
[Drums and trumpets within.
Arthur is marching onward to the fort.
I have but one recourſe, and that's to Oſwald;
But will he fight for me, whom I have injur'd?
No, not for me, but for himſelf he muſt;
I'll urge him with the laſt neceſſity:
Better give up my miſtreſs than my life.
And freed I'll help him with my utmoſt art,
And try t'unravel fate.
[Exit Oſmond.
Enter ARTHUR, CONON, AURELIUS, and SOLDIERS.
Con.
Now there remains but this one labour more;
And if we have the hearts of true-born Britons,
The forcing of that caſtle crowns the day.
Aur.
[30]The works are weak, the garriſon but thin,
Arth.
Then, where you ſee them cluſt'ring moſt, [...] motion,
And ſtaggering in their ranks, there preſs 'em home;
For that's a coward's heap—How's this, a ſally?
Enter OSWALD, GUILLAMAR, and SOLDIERS, on the other ſide.
Beyond my hopes to meet 'em on the ſquare.
Oſw.
Brave Britons, hold; and thou their famous chief,
[Advancing.
Attend what Saxon Oſwald will propoſe.
He owns your victory; but whether owing
To valour, or to fortune, that he doubts.
If Arthur dares aſcribe it to the firſt,
And ſingled from a croud, will tempt a conqueſt,
This Oſwald offers, let our troops retire,
And hand to hand let us decide our ſtrife:
This if refus'd, bear witneſs earth and heav'n,
Thou ſteal'ſt a crown and miſtreſs undeſerv'd.
Arth.
I'll not uſurp thy title of a robber,
Nor will upbraid thee, that before I proffer'd
This ſingle combat, which thou did'ſt avoid;
So glad I am, on any terms to meet thee,
And not diſcourage thy repenting ſhame.
As once Aeneas, my fam'd Anceſtor,
Betwixt the Trojan and Rutilian bands,
Fought for a crown, and bright Lavinia's bed;
So will I meet thee, hand to hand oppos'd:
My auguting mind aſſures the ſame ſucceſs.
[To his men.]
Hence out of view; if I am ſlain or yield,
Renounce me, Britons, for a recreant knight;
And let the Saxon peacefully enjoy
His former footing in our famous iſle.
To ratify theſe terms, I ſwear—
Oſw.
[31]You need not;
Your honour is of force, without your oath.
I only add, that if I fall, or yield,
Your's be the crown, and Emmeline.
Arth.
That's two crowns.
No more; we keep the looking heav'n and ſun
Too long in expectation of our arms.
[both armies go off the ſtage.
[Arthur and Oſwald fight. Oſwald retreats. Enter Oſmond from among the trees, and with his wand ſtrikes Arthur's ſword out of his hand, and exit. Oſwald purſues Arthur. Merlin enters, and gives Arthur his ſword, and exit. They cloſe, and Arthur in the fall diſarms Oſwald.]
Arth.
Confeſs thyſelf o'ercome, and aſk thy life.
Oſw.
'Tis not worth aſking, when 'tis in thy power.
Arth.
Then take it as my gift.
Oſw.
A wretched gift,
With loſs of empire, liberty, and love.
[A concert of trumpets within, proclaiming Arthur's victory; while they ſound, Arthur and Oſwald ſeem to confer.
'Tis too much bounty to a vanquiſh'd foe;
Yet not enough to make me fortunate.
Arth.
Thy life, thy liberty, thy honour ſafe,
Lead back thy Saxons to their ancient Elb:
I wou'd reſtore thee fruitful Kent, the gift
Of Vortigern for Hengiſt's ill-bought aid,
But that my Britons brook no foreign power,
To lord it in a land, ſacred to freedom,
And of its rights tenacious to the laſt.
Oſw.
Nor more than thou haſt offer'd wou'd I take;
I would refuſe all Britain held in homage;
And own no other maſters but the gods.
[32] Enter on one ſide, Merlin, Emmeline, and Matilda, Co⯑non, Aurelius, with Britiſh ſoldiers, bearing King Ar⯑thur's ſtandard diſplayed. On the other ſide, Guillam [...] and Oſmond, with Saxon ſoldiers, dragging their colours on the ground.
[Arth. going to Emme, and embracing her.
Arth.
At length, at length, I have thee in my arms.
Em.
We are ſo fitted for each other's hearts,
That heav'n had erred, in making of a third,
To get betwixt, and intercept our loves.
Oſw.
Were there but this, this only ſight to ſee,
The price of Britain ſhould not buy my ſtay.
Mer.
Take hence that monſter of ingratitude,
And in that loathſome dungeon plunge him deep,
Where he plung'd noble Oſwald.
Oſm.
That indeed is fitteſt for me,
For there I ſhall be near my kindred fiends,
And ſpare my Grimbald's pains to bear me to 'em.
[Is carried off.
Mer.
[to Arth.]
Arthur, thou haſt acquir'd immortal fame,
And of three Chriſtian worthies, art the firſt:
And now at once to treat thy ſight and ſoul,
Behold what rolling ages ſhall produce:
The wealth, the loves, the glories, of our iſle.
Nor thou, brave Saxon Prince,
[to Oſwald]
diſdain our triumph:
Britons and Saxons ſhall be once one people;
One common tongue, one common faith, ſhall bind
Our jarring bands, in a perpetual peace.
Merlin waves his wand; the ſcene changes, and diſcovers the Britiſh ocean in a ſtorm. Aeolus in a cloud above.
[33] Enter NEPTUNE.
Ye bluſt'ring brethren of the ſkies,
Whoſe breath has ruffl'd all the wat'ry plain,
Retire and let Britannia riſe,
In triumph o'er the main.
Serene and calm, and void of fear,
The queen of iſlands muſt appear.
[Aeolus aſcends, and the four winds fly off; Britannia riſes from the ſea.
Enter VENUS and CUPID.
SONG.—Miſs PHILLIPS.
Faireſt iſle, all iſles excelling,
Seat of pleaſures and of loves;
Venus here will chuſe her dwelling,
And for ſake her Cyprian groves.
Cupid, from his fav'rite nation,
Care and Envy will remove;
Jealouſy, that poiſons paſſion,
And Deſpair that dies for love.
Gentle murmurs, ſweet complaining,
Sighs that blow the fire of love;
Soft repulſes, kind diſdaining,
Shall be all the pains you prove.
Every ſwain ſhall pay his duty,
Grateful every nymph ſhall prove;
And as theſe excel in beauty,
Thoſe ſhall be renown'd for love.
Mer.
Thoſe who next enter are our valiant Britons,
Who ſhall by ſea and land repel our foes,
[A march, while the Britiſh ſailors and grena⯑diers come to the front of the ſtage.
[34] Now look above, and in Heav'n's high abyſs,
Behold what fame attends thoſe future heroes.
[The Order of the Garter deſcends.
SONG.—By Mr. WILLIAMES.
I.
St. George, the patron of our iſle.
A ſoldier, and a ſaint,
On that auſpicious Order ſmile,
Which love and arms will plant.
II.
Our natives not alone appear
To court this martial prize;
But foreign Kings adopted here,
Their crowns at home deſpiſe.
III.
Our Sovereign high, in awful ſtate,
His honours ſhall beſtow;
And ſee his ſcepter'd ſubjects wait
On his commands below.
FINIS.