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Aro. Those are the Danes that witness to my shame!

Gust. Perish the opprobrious term! Not so, Arvida;

Myself will be the guardian of thy fame;
Trust me, I will.-Our friends approach.-O
clear,

While I attend them, clear that cloud, my brother,
That sits upon the morning of thy youth!
It hangs too near the heart of thy Gustavus.

[Exit. Arv. Of thy Gustavus! O wretch, wretch, cursed wretch!

What is this time and place, and toys of circum

stance,

That wind our actions so, as Heaven's own hand
What's done may not unravel?-Pardon may!--
There's the Lethean sweet, the snow of Heaven,
New blanching o'er the negro front of guilt,
That, to the eye of mercy, all appears
Fair as the unwritten page-yet, self-convict,
Though Heaven's free power should pardon,
where's my peace?

Thus, thus to be driven out from my own breast!
To have no shed, no sheltering nook at home,
To take reflection in! How looks the wretch
Whose heart cries Villain' to itself? I'll not
Endure its battery-Something must be done,
Of high import, e'er night, that I may sleep,
Or wake for ever!

Enter GUSTAVus, followed by the Dalecarlians,
ANDERSON, ARNOLDUS, SIVARD, Officers, &c.
1st Dale. Let us all see him!
2d Dale. Yes, and hear him too.

3d Dale. Let us be sure 'tis he himself. 4th Dale. Our general.

5th Dale. And we will fight while weapons can be found.

6th Dale. Or hands to wield them. 7th Dale. Get on the bank, Gustavus. And. Do, my lord.

Gust. My countrymen !

1st Dale. Ho! hear him!

2d Dale. Peace!

3d Dale. Peace!

4th Dale. Peace!

Gust. Amazement, I perceive, hath filled your hearts,

And joy, for that your lost Gustavus, 'scaped, Through wounds, imprisonments, and chains, and deaths,

Thus sudden, thus unlooked for, stands before ye!
As one escaped from cruel hands I come,
From hearts that ne'er knew pity; dark and
vengeful!

Who quaff the tears of orphans, bathe in blood,
And know no music but the groans of Sweden!
Yet, not for that my sister's early innocence,
And mother's age, now grind beneath captivity;
Nor that one bloody, one remorseless hour,
Swept my great sire, and kindred, from my side;
VOL. I.

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And. O, they are villains, every Dane of them, Practised to stab and smile-to stab the babe That smiles upon them!

Arn. What accursed hours

Roll o'er those wretches, who, to fiends like these,
In their dear liberty, have bartered more
Than worlds will rate for?

Gust. O Liberty! Heaven's choice prerogative!
True bond of law, thou social soul of property,
Thou breath of reason, life of life itself!
For thee the valiant bleed! O sacred Liberty!
Winged from the summer's snare, from flatter-
ing ruin,

Like the bold stork you seek the wintery shore,
Leave courts, and pomps, and palaces, to slaves,
Cleave to the cold, and rest upon the storm!
Upborn by thee, my soul disdained the terms
Of empire-offered at the hands of tyrants!
With thee, I sought this favourite soil; with thee,
These favourite sons I sought-thy sons, O Liberty!
For, even amid the wilds of life, you lead them,
Lift their low rafted cottage to the clouds,
Smile o'er their heaths, and from their mountain
tops

Beam glory to the nations!

All. Liberty! Liberty!

Gust. Are ye not marked, ye men of Dalecar.

lia,

Are ye not marked, by all the circling world,
As the great stake, the last effort for liberty?
Say, is it not your wealth, the thirst, the food,
The scope, and bright ambition, of your souls?
Why else have you, and your renowned forefa-
thers,

From the proud summit of their glittering thrones
Cast down the mightiest of your lawful kings,
That dared the bold infringement? What, but
liberty,

Through the famed course of thirteen hundred years,

Aloof hath held invasion from your hills,
And sanctified their shade?—And will ye, will ye
Shrink from the hopes of the expecting world,
Bid your high honours stoop to foreign insult,
And, in one hour, give up to infamy
The harvest of a thousand years of glory?
1st Dale. No!

2d Dale. Never, never!
3d Dale. Perish all first!

4th Dale. Die all!

Gust. Yes, die by piecemeal!

Leave not a limb o'er which a Dane may triumph!

Now, from my soul, I joy, I joy, my friends, 3 S

To see ye feared; to see that even your foes
Do justice to your valour !—There they be,
The power of kingdoms, summed in yonder host,
Yet kept aloof, yet trembling to assail ye!
And, O! when I look round, and see you here,
Of number short, but prevalent in virtue,
My heart swells high, and burns for the encoun-

ter:

True courage but from opposition grows;
And what are fifty, what a thousand slaves,
Matched to the sinew of a single arm,

That strikes for liberty?-That strikes to save
His fields from fire, his infants from the sword,
His couch from lust, his daughters from pollu-
tion,

And his large honours from eternal infamy? What, doubt we then? Shall we, shall we stand here,

Till motives, that might warm an ague's frost,
And nerve the coward's arm, shall poorly serve
To wake us to resistance? Let us on!
O, yes, I read your lovely fierce impatience;
You shall not be withheld; we will rush on them.
This is, indeed, to triumph, where we hold
Three kingdoms in our toil! Is it not glorious,
Thus to appal the bold, meet force with fury,
And push yon torrent back, till every wave
Flee to its fountain?

3d Dale. On! lead us on, Gustavus! one word

more

Is but delay of conquest.

Gust. Take your wish.

He, who wants arms, may grapple with the foe,
And so be furnished. You, most noble Anderson,
Divide our powers, and, with the famed Olaus,
Take the left rout.-You, Eric, great in arms!
With the renowned Nederbi, hold the right,
And skirt the forest down; then wheel at once,
Confessed to view, and close upon the vale:
Myself, and my most valiant cousin here,
The invincible Arvida, gallant Sivard,
Arnoldus, and these hundred hardy veterans,
Will pour directly on, and lead the onset.
Joy, joy, I see confessed from every eye!
Your limbs tread vigorous, and your breasts beat
high!

Thin though our ranks, though scanty be our bands,

Bold are our hearts, and nervous are our hands! With us, truth, justice, fame, and freedom close, Each, singly, equal to an host of foes.

I feel, I feel them fill me out for fight, They lift my limbs as feathered Hermes light! Or, like the bird of glory, towering high, Thunder within his grasp, and lightning in his eye! [Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-Before the camp. Enter CRISTIERN, TROLLIO, and Attendants. Crist. YOUR observation's just; I see it, Trollio: Men are machines, with all their boasted freedom;

Their movements turn upon some favourite sion;

Let art but find the latent foible out,

And to the spur unspeedy: They who boast it
Are traitors, rivals of their king, my Trollio,
And, wanting other subjects, greatly dare
To lord it o'er themselves. Such is Gustavus,
If yet he be

And such Arvida was; though now, I trust, pas-He is too far advanced in our designs To think of a retreat.

We touch the spring, and wind them at our plea

sure.

Troll. Let Heaven spy out for virtue, and then starve it!

But vice and frailty are the statesman's quarry, The objects of our search, and of our science; Marked by our smiles, and cherished by our bounty.

'Tis hence, you lord it o'er your servile senates; How low the slaves will stoop to gorge their lusts, When aptly baited! even the tongues of patriots (Those sons of clamour) oft relax the nerve Within the warmth of favour.

Crist. How else should kings subsist? For what

is power, But the nice conduct of another's weakness? That thing called virtue is the bane of govern

ment,

A libel on the state, that asks suppression;
It has a hateful and unbending quality;
It serves no end, still restive to the rein,

Troll. Impossible!

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Crist. Then you have seen him? Tell me, tell me, Peterson;

What said he? Eh! How looked the mighty rebel?

His means, his scope, the pride of his presump

tion

Give me the whole!

Peter. Last night, my gracious lord, While yet I held your messenger in conference, Arrived, who brought a letter from Gustavus, Wherein, digesting many flagrant terms Of mutinous import against the state Of your high dignity, by morning light He prayed me to attend him; boasting much

Of plenteous hopes, and means of boldest enterprize.

Of this I gave you notice; and ere dawn
Set out for fresh intelligence-I came ;
I saw him shrunk, that glory of the north,
Soiled with the vileness of a slave's attire;
Where in the depth and darkness of the mines,
For six long months he hath not seen the sun.
Colleagued with circling horrors, hourly toil
Hath been his watch, and penury his earning;
But, like the lion, newly broke from bonds,
The mingling passions from his eyes dart glory;
Pride lifts his stature, and his opening front
Still looks dominion.

Crist. Who were his adherents?

Peter. The traitor Anderson, and a few friends, To whom, ere I set out, he stood revealed. And when I seemed to question on his powers Of rivalship, the props whereon he meant To lift contention to the princely front Of such high opposition; he replied, His powers were near your person. Crist. How! what's here?

[Looks on the pacquet. To Laurens, Aland, Haquin, and Roderic! Confusion! Treason's in our camp! Who's there? Gent. My liege!

Crist. Bear this to Norbi

The Swedish captains.

-Bid him seize

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Once more return Gustavus to the battle, [Gives a signet. New nerve his arm, and wreath his brow with

Troll. Might I but presumeCrist. I will not be controuled-bid him seize all,

Soldiers and chiefs! by hell, there's not a Swede, But lurks an instrument to prompt rebellion, And plots upon my life! Look there, 'tis evident: [Gives Trollio a letter. They are all leagued, confederate with Gustavus, The abettors of his treason.

Trol. It should seem so:

And yet it should not-Tell me, Peterson,
Art thou assured thy credit with Gustavus
Will answer to a trust like this? Ha! Say.
Peter. Yes, well assured: my zeal appeared

too warm

To give the least cold colour for suspicion. Troll. I fear, my friend, I fear he has o'erreached you.

conquest;

Say, would you not repent that e'er you saved This dreadful man, the foe of your great race; Who pours impetuous in his country's cause To spoil you of a kingdom?

Cristina. No, my friend.

Had I to death, or bondage, sold my sire,
Or had Gustavus on our native realms
Made hostile inroad, then, my Mariana!
Had I then saved him from the stroke of justice,
I should not cease my suit to Heaven for pardon.
But if, though in a foc, to reverence virtue,
Withstand oppression, rescue injured innocence,
Step boldly in betwixt my sire and guilt,
And save my king, my father, from dishonour;
If this be sin, I have shook hands with penitence.
First, perish crowns, dominion, all the shine
And transience of this world, ere guilt shall serve
To buy the vain incumbrance.

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But death ere night must fill a long account;
The camp, the country's in confusion: War
And changes ride upon the hour, that hastes
To intercept my tongue-I else could tell
Of virtues hitherto beyond my ken;
Courage, to which the lion stoops his crest,
Yet grafted upon qualities as soft

As a rocked infant's meekness; such as tempts,
Against my faith, my country, and allegiance,
To wish thee speed, Gustavus.

Cristina. Then you found him.

Luer. I did: and warned him, but in vain; for death

To him appeared more grateful than to find
His friend's dishonour.

Cristina. Give me the manner-quick-soft, good Laertes!

Enter CRISTIERN, TROLLIO, Peterson,
Danes, &c.

Crist. Damned, double traitor! O cursed, false Arvida!

Guard well the Swedish prisoners, bind them

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With gallant shew your thousand Danes rode forth,

But shall return no more! I marked for action, A band of desperate resolutes rush on them, Scarce numbering to a tenth, and in mid way They closed; the shock was dreadful, nor your Danes

Could bear the madding charge; a while they stood;

Then shrunk, and broke, and turned- -When, lo, behind,

Fast wheeling from the right and left, there poured,

Who intercepted their return, and, caught
Within the toil, they perished.

Crist. 'Tis Gustavus !

No mortal else, not Ammon's boasted son,
Not Cæsar would have dared it. Tell me, say,
What numbers in the whole may they amount to?
Offi. About five thousand.

Crist. And no more?

Offi. No more,

That yet appear.

Crist. We count six times their sum.
Haste, soldier, take a trumpet, tell Gustavus
We have of terms to offer, and would treat
Touching his mother's ransom; say, her death,
Suspended by our grace, but waits his answer.
[Exit Officer.
Madam, it should well suit with your authority,
[To Augusta.

To check this frenzy in your son-look to it,
Or by the saints this hour's your last of life!

Aug. Come, my Gustava, come, my little cap

tive!.

We shall be free; our tyrant is grown kind;
And for these chains that bind thy pretty arms,
The golden cherubim shall lend thee wings,
And thou shalt mount amid the smiling choir
Of little heavenly songsters, like thyself,
All robed in innocence.

Gustava. Will you go, mother?

Aug. So help me, mercy! Yes, I'll go, my
child;

And I will give thee to thy father's fondness,
And to the arms of all thy royal race

In Heaven; who sit on thrones, with loves, and joys,
And pleasures smiling round.

Crist. Is this my answer?

Come forth, ye ministers of death, come forth! Enter Ruffians, whọ seize Augusta and Gustava. Pluck them asunder! We shall prove you, lady! 'Tis my damned lot, thus ever to be crossed With rank blown pride, and insolence eternal. Gustava. O mother, take me, take me from these men!

They fright me with their looks.

Aug. Alas, my child, I cannot take thee from them.

Gustava. O, they will hurt me: can't you take

me, mother?

Aug. They can't, they cannot hurt you, my | Too narrow for thy claim. But if thou think'st

Gustava.

Fear not, my little one! your name should be A charm o'er cowardice, for you are called After your valiant brother; he'll disown you, He will not love you, if you fear, Gustava. Cristina. Ah! I can hold no longer.

sir,

Royal

Thus on my knees, and lower, lower still-
Crist. My child! What mean you?
Cristina. O my gracious father!
Kill, kill me rather-let me perish first,
But do not stain the sanctity of kings
With the sweet blood of helpless innocence;
Do not, my father! Spare the little orphans,
And let the lambs go free!

Aug. Ha! who art thou?

That look'st so like the inhabitants of Heaven,
Like mercy sent upon the morning's blush,
To glad the heart, and cheer a gloomy world
With light 'till now unknown?

Crist. Away, they come.

I'll hear no more of your ill-timed petitions.
Cristina. O yet for pity!

Crist. I will none on't; leave me !
Pity! it is the infant fool of nature:
Tear off her hold, and bear her to her tent.
[Exeunt Cristina, Mar. Laer. and attendants.
Enter an Officer.

Offi. My liege, Gustavus, though with much re-
luctance,

Consents to one hour's truce. His soldiers rest
Upon their arms, and, followed by a few,
He comes to know your terms.

Crist. I see, fall back

Stand firm-Be ready, slaves, and, on the word,
Plunge deep your daggers in their bosoms.
[Points to Augusta.
Enter GUSTAVUS, ARVIDA, ANDERSON, ARNOL-
DUS, SIVARD, &c.

Hold!

Gust. Ha! it is, it is my mother!

Crist. Tell me, Gustavus, tell me why is this?
That, as a stream diverted from the banks
Of smooth obedience, thou hast drawn those men
Upon a dry unchannelled enterprize
To turn their inundation ?-Are the lives
Of my misguided people held so light,
That thus thou'dst push them on the keen rebuke
Of guarded majesty; where justice waits,
All awful, and resistless to assert

The imperious rights, the sanctitude of kings,
And blast rebellion?

Gust. Justice! Sanctitude!

That crowns are vilely propertied, like coin,
To be the means, the specialty of lust,
And sensual attribution-If thou think'st,
That empire is of titled birth, or blood;
That nature, in the proud behalf of one,
Shall disenfranchise all her lordly race,
And bow her general issue to the yoke
Of private domination-then, thou proud one,
Here know me for thy king-flowe'er be told,
Not claim hereditary, not the trust
Of frank election;

Not even the high anointing hand of Heaven
Can authorize oppression; give a law
For lawless power; wed faith to violation;
On reason build misrule, or justly bind
Allegiance to injustice-Tyranny

Absolves all faith; and who invades our rights,
Howe'er his own commence, can never be
But an usurper-But for thee, for thee
There is no name !-thou hast abjured mankind;
Dashed safety from thy bleak unsocial side,
And waged wild war with universal nature!

Crist. Licentious traitor! thou canst talk it.
largely;

Who made thee umpire of the rights of kings,
And power, prime attribute? As on thy tongue
The poise of battle lay, and arms, of force,
To throw defiance in the front of duty.
Look round, unruly boy! thy battle comes
Like raw, disjointed must'ring; feeble wrath!
A war of waters borne against the rock
Of our firm continent, to fume, and chafe,
And shiver in the toil.

Gust. Mistaken man!

I come, empowered and strengthened in thy weak

ness.

For though the structure of a tyrant's throne
Rise on the necks of half the suffering world,
Fear trembles in the cement: Prayers and tears,
And secret curses, sap its mouldering base,
And steal the pillars of allegiance from it;
Then, let a single arm but dare the sway,
Headlong it turns, and drives upon destruction.

Troll. Profane, and alien to the love of heaven!
Art thou still hardened to the wrath divine,
That hangs o'er thy rebellion?-Know'st thou not
Thou art at enmity with grace? Cast out,
Made an anathema, a curse enrolled
Among the faithful, thou and thy adherents
Shorn from our holy church, and offered up

As sacred to damnation?

Gust. Yes, I know,

When such as thou, with sacrilegious hand,
Seize on the apostolic key of heaven,
It then becomes a tool for crafty knaves

And rights! O patience! Rights! What rights, To shut out virtue, and unfold those gates,

thou tyrant?

Yes, if perdition be the rule of power;

If wrongs give right; O then, supreme in mischief!

Thou wert the lord, the monarch of the world!

That heaven itself had barred against the lusts
Of avarice and ambition. Soft, and sweet,
As looks of charity, or voice of lambs
That bleat upon the morning, are the words
Of christian meekness! Mission all divine!

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