GUENDOLEN。
  AndGodshallmakethinehandagainsthimstrong。
  LOCRINE。
  Ay:whenthehearthsteadflames,therooftakesfire。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Woeworthhishandwhosetthehearthonflame!
  LOCRINE。
  Cursenotourfathers;thoughthyfiercedesireDrivethineownsonagainsthisfather,shameShouldreinthytonguefromspeechtooshameless。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Ay!
  Andthou,myholy—heartedlord,——thesameWhosehandwaslaidinmineandboundtolieTherefastforeveriffaithbefoundonearth—
  Iftruthbetrue,andshamenotwhollydie—
  Hastthounotmadethymockeryandthymirth,Thylaughterandthyscorn,ofshame?Butwe,Thywifebywedlock,andthysonbybirth,Whohavenopartinspiritandsoulwiththee,WillbearnopartinkingdomnorinlifeWithonewhohathputtoshamehischildandme。
  Thytrue—bornson,andIthatwasthywife,Willseetheedeadorperish。CallthymenAboutthee;bidthemgirdtheirloinsforstrifeMoredirethantheirswhostormthewildwolf’sden;
  ForifthoudarenotslayusheretodayThouartdead。
  LOCRINE。
  ThouknowestIdarenot,Guendolen,DarewhattheravenousbeastswhoselifeispreyDreamnotofdoing,thoughdrunkwithbloodshed。
  GUENDOLEN。
  No:
  Thouartgentle,andbeastsarehonest:nosuchwayLiesopentowardthyfearfulfoot:notsoShaltthoufindsuretyfromthesefoesofthine。
  Woeworththeetherefore!yea,asevenfoldwoeShallGodthroughusraindownonthee,Locrine。
  HadstthoutheheartGodhathnotgiventhee——thenOurbloodmightrunbeforethyfeetlikewineAndwashthywaytowardsininsightofmenSmooth,soft,andsafe。Butifthousheditnot—
  IfMadanlivetolookonGuendolenLiving——Iwotnotwhatshallbe——IwotWhatshallnot——thoushalthavenojoytoliveMorethanhavetheyforwhomGod’swrathgrowshot。
  LOCRINE。
  God’sgraceisnosuchgiftasthoucanstgive,Queen,orwithhold。Farewell。
  GUENDOLEN。
  IdarenotsayFarewell。
  LOCRINE。
  Andwhy?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thouhastnotsaid——Forgive。
  LOCRINE。
  Isayit——Ihavesaid。Thouwiltnothearme?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Nay。
  [Exeunt。
  ACTV。
  SCENEI。——FieldsneartheSevern。
  EnterononesideLOCRINEandhisarmy:ontheothersideGUENDOLEN,MADAN,andtheirarmy。
  LOCRINE。
  Standfast,andsoundaparley。
  MADAN。
  Halt:itseemsTheywouldhaveratherspeechthanstrokesofus。
  LOCRINE。
  Thislightofdawnislikeanevildream’sThatcomesandgoesandisnot。Yea,andthusOurhopeonbothsideswaveringdaresallowNolightbutfiretobidusdieorlive。
  —Son,andmywifethatwas,myrebelsnow,ThatherewestandwithdeathtotakeorgiveIcallthesunofheaven,God’slikenesswroughtOndarkness,whenceallspiritsbreatheandshine,Towitness,isnoworkofwillorthoughtConceivedorbredinbrainorheartofmine。
  Yehaveleviedwarsagainstme,andcompelledMywillunwillingandmypowerwithheldTostrikethestrokeIwouldnot,whenImight。
  Willyenotyettakethought,andsparethesemenWhomelsetheblindandburningfireoffightMustfeeduponforpasture?Guendolen,HadInotlefttheequeeninTroynovant,Thoughwifenomoreofmine,inallthislandNohandhadrisen,noeyehadglaredaskant,Againstme:thineiseachman’sheartandhandThatburnsandstrikesinallthisbattleraisedToserveandslakethyvengeance。WithmysonIpleadnot,seeinghispraiseinarmsdispraisedForever,andhisdeedsoftruthundoneBypatricidaltreason。ButwiththeePeacewouldIhave,ifpeaceagainmaybeBetweenus。BloodbywrathunnaturalshedOrspentincivicbattleburnsthelandWhereonitfallslikefire,andbrandsasredTheconqueror’sforeheadasthewarrior’shand。
  Ipraythee,sparethispeople:reigninpeaceWithseparatehonoursinaseveralstate:
  Aslovethatwashathceased,lethatredcease:
  LetnotourpersonalcausebemadethefateThatdamnstodeathmeninnocent,andturnsThejoyoflifetodarkness。ThinealoneIsallthiswar:toslaketheflamethatburnsThushighshouldcrowntheeroyal,andenthroneThypraiseinallmen’smemories。Ifthouwilt,Peacelettherebe:ifnot,bethinetheguilt。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Mine?Hearit,heaven,——andmen,bearwitness!MineThetreacherythathathrentourrealmintwain—
  Mine,minetheadulteroustreason。NotLocrine,Nothe,foundloyaltomyloveinvain,HathbroughtthecivicswordandfireofstrifeOnBritishfieldsandhomesteads,clothedwithjoy,Crownedwithcontentandcomfort:I,hiswife,HavebroughtonTroynovantthefiresofTroy。
  HeliftshisheadbeforethesunofheavenAndswearsit——lies,andlives。IsGod’sbrightswordBroken,wherewiththegatesofTroy——thesevenStronggatesthatgodswhobuiltthemheldinward—
  Werebrokenevenaswattledreedswithfire?
  Son,bywhatnameshallhonourcallthysire?
  MADAN。
  HowlongshallIandallthesemail—cladmenStandandgiveear,orgapeandcatchatflies,Whileyewagewarringwordsthatwoundnot?WhenHaveIbeenfoundofyousowordy—wiseThatthouorheshouldcalltocounseloneSoslowofspeechandwitasthouandhe,Whoknowmyhandnosluggard,knowyourson?
  Tillspeechbeclothediniron,bidnotmeSpeak。
  LOCRINE。
  Yethespeaksnotill。
  GUENDOLEN。
  DidInotknowMinehonourperfectasthyshame,Locrine,NowmightIsay,andturntopridemywoe,Mineonlywerethisboy,andnoneofthine。
  ButwhatthoumayestImaynot。WherearetheyWhoridenotwiththeirlordandsiretoday?
  ThysecretScythianandyourchangelingchild,WherehidetheynowtheirheadsthatlurknothiddenTherewherethytreasondeemedthemsafe,andsmiled?
  Whenarmswerelevied,andthyservantsbiddenAbouttheetowithstandthedoomofmenWhoseloyalangersflameduponoursideAgainstthee,fromthysmooth—skinnedshe—wolf’sdenHerwhelpandshesoughtcovertunespied,Butnotfromtheefaroff。ThouhastbornthemhitherForrefugeinthiswestthatstandsfortheeAgainstourcause,whoseverynameshouldwitherTheheartsofthemthathateit。Whereisshe?
  Hathshenothearttokeepthyside?orthou,DostthouthinkshametostandbesidehernowAndbidherlookuponthysonandwife?
  Nay,sheshouldrideatthyrighthandandlaughToseesofairalordlyfieldofstrifeShineforhersake,whoselipsthylovebidsquaffForpledgeoftrustlesstroththebloodofmen。
  LOCRINE。
  ShouldInotputherinthinehandtoslay?
  Hellhathlaidholduponthee,Guendolen,Andturnedthinehearttohell—fire。BethypreyThyself,thewolfishhuntress:andthebloodRestonthineheadthathereshallnowbespilt。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Letitrunbroaderthanthiswater’sfloodSwellsafterstorm,itshallnotcleansethyguilt。
  Givenowthewordofcharge;andGoddorightBetweenusinthefierycourtsoffight。
  [Exeunt。
  SCENEII。——ThebanksoftheSevern。
  EnterESTRILDandSABRINA。
  SABRINA。
  Whenwillmyfathercomeagain?
  ESTRILD。
  Godknows,Sweet。
  SABRINA。
  Hastthouseenhowwidethiswaterflows—
  Howsmoothitswellsandshinesfrombrimtobrim,Howfair,howfull?Nay,thenthineeyesaredim。
  ThoudostnotweepforfearlestevilmenOrthatmoreevilwoman——GuendolenDidstthounotcallheryesternightbyname?—
  Shouldputmyfather’smightinarmstoshame?
  WhatisshesotolevyshamefulstrifeAgainstmysireandthee?
  ESTRILD。
  Hiswife!hiswife!
  SABRINA。
  Why,thatartthou。
  ESTRILD
  Woeworthme!
  SABRINA。
  Nay,woeworthHerwickedness!HowmaytheheavensandearthEndureher?
  ESTRILD。
  Heavenisfire,andearthasword,Againstus。
  SABRINA。
  MaythewifewithstandherlordAndwaruponhim?Nay,nowifeisshe—
  Andnotruemotherthoutomockatme。
  ESTRILD。
  Yea,notruewifeormother,child,amI。
  Yet,child,thoushouldstnotsayit——andbidmedie。
  SABRINA。
  IbidtheeliveandlaughatwickedfoesEvenasmysireandIdo。What!’Godknows,’
  Thousayest,andyetartfearful?IshenotRighteous,thatweshouldfeartotakethelotForthofhishandthatdealsit?Andmysire,Kindasthesuninheaven,andstrongasfire,HathhenotGoduponhissideandours,Evenallthegodsandstarsandalltheirpowers?
  ESTRILD。
  Iknownot。FateatsightoftheeshouldbreakHiscovenant——doomgrowgentleforthysake。
  SABRINA。
  Wherefore?
  ESTRILD。
  Becausethouknowestnotwherefore。Child,Mydaysweredarkened,andthewayswerewildWherethroughmydarkdoomledmetowardthisend,EreIbeheldthysire,mylord,myfriend,Myking,mystay,mysaviour。LetthinehandLiestillinmine。Thoucanstnotunderstand,YetwouldItelltheesomewhat。EreIknewIfaughtofevilorgoodwerefalseortrue,Ifaughtoflifewereworthourhopeorfear,Therefellonmethefatethatsetsushere。
  Forinmyfather’skingdomoversea—
  SABRINA。
  ThouwastnotborninBritain?
  ESTRILD。
  Woeisme,No:happierhaphadmineperchancebeenthen。
  SABRINA。
  AndwasnotI?Aretheseallstrangermen?
  ESTRILD。
  Ay,wastthou,child——aBritonborn:GodgiveThynamethegraceonBritishtonguestolive!
  SABRINA。
  IsthatsogoodagiftofGod’s——todieAndleaveanamealiveinmemory?I
  Wouldratherlivethisriver’slife,andbeHeldofnolessormoreaccountthanhe。
  Lo,howhelivesandlaughs!andhathnoname,Thousayest——oroneforgottenevenoffameThatlivesonpoormen’slipsandfaltersdownTonothing。Butthyfather?andhiscrown?
  Didhelesshatethecoilofitthanmine,Orlovetheeless——nay,thenhewerenotthine—
  Thanhe,mysire,lovesme?
  ESTRILD。
  AndwiltthouhearAll?Child,mychild,lovebornoflove,moredearThanverylovewasever!Hearkenthen。
  Thisplague,thisfire,thathuntsus——Guendolen—
  WasweddedtothysireereIandheCastevereyesoneither。Woeisme!
  Thoucanstnotdream,sweet,whatmysoulwouldsayAndnotaffrightthee。
  SABRINA。
  Thouaffrightme?Nay,Mocknot。Thisevilwoman——whenheknewThee,thismysweetgoodmother,wiseandtrue—
  Hecastfromhimandhated。
  ESTRILD。
  Yea——andnowForthatshallhaplyheandIandthouDie。
  SABRINA。
  Whatisdeath?IneversawhisfaceThatIshouldfearit。
  ESTRILD。
  WhethergrieforgraceOrcurseorblessingbreathefromit,andgiveAughtworseorbetterthanthelifewelive,Iknownomorethanthouknowest;perchance,Less。Whenwesleep,theysay,orfallintrance,Wedieawhile。Wellspakethineinnocentbreath—
  ITHINKTHEREISNODEATHBUTFEAROFDEATH。
  SABRINA。
  DidIsaythis?butthatwaslongago—
  Months。NowIknownot——yetIthinkIknow—
  WhetherIfearorfearnotit。HardbyMenfightevennow——theystrikeandkillanddieRed—handed;nay,weheartheroarandseeThelightningofthebattle:canitbeThatwhatnosoulofallthesebravemenfearsShouldsoundsofearfulsaveinfoolishears?
  ButallthiswhileIknownotwhereitlay,Thyfather’skingdom。
  ESTRILD。
  FarfromhereawayItliesbeyondthewidewastewater’sboundThatclaspswithbitterwavesthissweetlandround。
  Thouhastseenthegreatseanever,norcanstdreamHowfairerfarthanearth’smostlordlystreamItrollsitsroyalwatershereandthere,Mostgloriousbornofallthingsanywhere,Mostfatefulandmostgodlike;fittomakeMenlovelifebetterforthesweetsight’ssakeAndlessfeardeathifdeathforthemshouldbeShrinedinthesacredsplendoursoftheseaAsGodinheavensmidmystery。NightanddayForthofmytower—girthomesteadwouldIstrayTogazethereonasthouuponthebrightSoftriverwhencethysoultooklessdelightThanmineoftheoutersea,albeitIknowHowgreatthyjoywasofit。Now——forsoThehighgodswilleditshouldbe——onceatmornStrangementherelandingboremethenceforlornAcrossthewanwildwatersintheirbark,Iwistnotwhere,throughchangeoflightanddark,Tilltheirfiercelord,thesonofspoilandstrife,Mademebyforcefulmarriage—riteshiswife。
  Thensailedtheytowardthewhiteandflower—sweetstrandWhosefreefolkfollowonthyfather’shand,Andwarredagainsthim,slayinghisbrother:andheHurledalltheirforcebackhurtlingtowardthesea,Andslewmylordtheirking;butmehegaveGrace,andreceivednotasawanderingslave,Butonewhomseeinghelovedforpity:whyShouldelseasadstrangewomansuchasI
  Findinhisfairsightfavour?andformeHebuiltthebowerwhereinIbarehimthee,Andwhencebutnowhehathbroughtuswestward,hereToabidetheextremeofutmosthopeorfear。
  Andcomewhatendmayever,deathorlife,Iliveordie,iftruthbetruth,hiswife;
  AndnonebutIandthou,thoughdaywaxdim,Thoughnightgrowstrong,hathanypartinhim。
  SABRINA。
  Whatshouldwefear,then?whencemightanyFallonus?
  ESTRILD。
  Ah!Ahme!Godanswershere。
  EnterLOCRINE,wounded。
  LOCRINE。
  Praisedbethegodswhohavebroughtmesafe——todieBesidethee。Nay,butkneelnot——rise,andflyEredeathtakeholdontheetoo。BidthechildKissme。Thewaysallroundarewideandwild—
  Yemaywinsafeaway。Theydeemedmedead—
  Mylastfriendsleft——whosawmefallen,andfledNoshameistheirs——theyfoughttotheend。Butye,Fly:notyourlovecankeepmylifeinme—
  Noteventhesightandsenseofyousonear。
  SABRINA。
  Howcanwefly,father?
  ESTRILD。
  Shewouldnotfear—
  Thyverychildisshe——noheartlesshighThanthinesustainsher——andwewillnotfly。
  LOCRINE。
  Soshalltheirworkbeperfect。Yea,IknowOurfateisfallenuponus,anditswoe。
  Yethavewelackednotgladness——andthisendIsnotsohard。Wehavehadsweetlifetofriend,Andfindnotdeathourenemy。AllmenbornDie,andbutfewfindeveningonewithmornAsIdo,seeingthesunofallmylifeLightenmydeathinsightofchildandwife。
  Iwouldnotliveagaintolosethatkiss,Anddiesomedeathnothalfsosweetasthis。
  [Dies。
  ESTRILD。
  Thouthought’sttocleaveintwainmylifeandTocastmyhandawayindeath,Locrine?
  Seenowifdeathhavedrawntheefarfromme!
  [Stabsherself。
  SABRINA。
  Thoudiest,andhastnotslainme,mother?
  ESTRILD。
  Thee?
  Forgiveme,child!andsomaytheyforgive。
  [Dies。
  SABRINA。
  Omother,canstthoudieandbidmelive?
  EnterGUENDOLEN,MADAN,andSoldiers。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Dead?Ah!mytraitorwithhisharlotfledHellward?
  MADAN。
  Theirchildisleftthee。
  GUENDOLEN。
  She!notdead?
  SABRINA。
  Thouhastslainmymotherandsire——thouhastslainthylord—
  Strikenow,andslayme。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Smiteherwiththysword。
  MADAN。
  IknownotifIdare。Idarenot。
  GUENDOLEN。
  ShameConsumethee!——Thou——whatcallthey,girl,thyname?
  DaughterofEstrild,——daughterofLocrine,—
  Daughterofdeathanddarkness!
  SABRINA。
  Yetnotthine。
  Darknessanddeatharecomeonus,andthou,Whoseservantsarethey:heavenbehindtheenowStands,andwithholdsthethunder:yetonmeHegivestheenot,whohelpsandcomfortsthee,Powerforonehourofdarkness。ErethinehandCanputforthpowertoslaymewhereIstandSafeshallIsleepasthesethatherelieslain。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Shedaresnot——thoughtheheartinherbefain,Thefleshdrawsbackforfear。Shedaresnot。
  SABRINA。
  See!
  IchangenomoreofwarringwordswiththeeOfather,Omymother,hereamI:
  Theyhurtmenotwhocanbutbidmedie。
  [Sheleapsintotheriver。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Saveher!Godpardonme!
  MADAN。
  ThewaterwhirlsDownoutofsighthertenderface,andhurlsHersoftlightlimbstodeathward。Godforgive—
  Thee,sayestthou,mother?Wouldstthoubidherlive?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Whathavewedone?
  MADAN。
  Theworkwecametodo。
  ThatGod,thousaid’st,shouldstandforjudgeofyouWhosejudgmentsmotewithmortalfireandswordTroy,forsuchcauseasbadetheeslaythylord。
  Now,asbetweenhisfathersandtheirfoesThelordofgodsdealtjudgment,wingedwithwoesAndgirtaboutwithruin,hathhesentOnthesedestruction。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Yea。
  MADAN。
  Artthoucontent?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thegodsarewisewholeadus——nowtosmite,Andnowtospare:wedwellbutintheirsighAndworkbutwhattheirwillis。WhathathbeenIspast。Butthese,thatoncewerekingandqueen,Thesun,thatfeedsondeath,shallnotconsumeNaked。NotIwouldsundertombfromtombOfthesetwainfoesofmine,indeathmadeone—
  I,thatwhendarknesshidesmefromthesunShallsleepalone,withnonetorestbyme。
  Butthou——thisonetimemoreIlookonthee—
  Fairface,bravehand,weakheartthatwastnotmine—
  Sleepsound——andGodbegoodtothee,Locrine。
  Iwasnot。ShewasfairasheaveninspringWhomthoudidstloveindeed。Sleep,queenandking,Forgiven;andif——Godknows——beingdead,yelive,Andkeepremembranceyetofme——forgive。
  [Exeunt。]