Would for a while have won you from your woe. On him intent you gazed, with a look Lady R. Delighted, say'st thou? Oh! even there mine eye Found fuel for my life-consuming sorrow; I thought that had the son of Douglas liv'd, My boy with blooming Norval might have number'd. 180 I will protect thee, said I to myself, And arrows pointed at the breast of Norval. Lady R. Glenalvon's false and crafty head will work Against a rival in his kinsman's love, If I deter him not; I only can. Bold as he is, Glenalvon will beware How he pulls down the fabric that I raise. I'll be the artist of young Norval's fortune. 'Tis pleasing to admire! most apt was I "To this affection in my better days; "Though now I seem to you shrunk up, retir'd "Within the narrow compass of my woe. "Have you not sometimes seen an early flower "Open its bud, and spread its silken leaves, "To catch sweet airs, and odours to bestow; "Then, by the keen blast nipt, pull in its leaves, "And, though still living, die to scent and beauty? "Emblem of me; affliction, like a storm, "Hath kill'd the forward blossom of my heart.” Enter GLENALVON. 199 Glen. Where is my dearest kinsman, noble Randolph Lady R. Have you not heard, Glenalvon, of the baseGlen. I have; and that the villains may not 'scape, With a strong band I have begirt the wood. If they lurk there, alive they shall be taken, And torture force from them th' important secret, Whether some foe of Randolph hir'd their swords, Or if Lady R. That care becomes a kinsman's love. I have a counsel for Glenalvon's ear. [Exit Anna. Glen. To him your counsels always are commands. Lady R. I have not found so; thou art known to me. Glen. Known! Lady R. And most certain is my cause of knowledge. Glen. What do you know? By the most blessed cross, You much amaze me. No created being, Yourself except, durst thus accost Glenalvon. Lady R. Is guilt so bold and dost thou make a merit E 220 Of thy pretended meekness? This to me, Would make thee nothing; or, what's worse than that, An outcast beggar, and unpitied too : For mortals shudder at a crime like thine. First of womankind! Glen. Thy virtue awes me. Whom love transports beyond strict virtue's bounds, In fortune ruin'd, as in mind forlorn, Which on such beggars freely is bestow'd; Lady R. Reserve these accents for some other ear. To love's apology I listen not. 241 Mark thou my words; for it is meet thou shouldst. And loosen the good root he has in Randolph ; I give this early caution, and put on The friendless stranger my protection claims: [Exit. Glen. Child that I was to start at my own shadow, And be the shallow fool of coward conscience! I am not what I have been; what I should be. The darts of destiny have almost pierc'd My marble heart. Had I one grain of faith I should conclude there was an arm above 260 A favourite to hide the sun from me; More fierce than hate, ambition or revenge, Darkly a project peers upon my mind, Like the red moon when rising in the east, 280 Cross'd and divided by strange-colour'd clouds. Venom most fatal to his heedless lord. [Exit. ACT III. SCENE I. A Court, &c. as before. Enter ANNA. Anna. THY vassals, grief, great nature's order break, Enter Servant. Ser. One of the vile assasins is secur'd. We found the villain lurking in the wood : With dreadful imprecations he denies |