For nature will break out: mild with the mild, 160 I set myself against his warlike bent; Anna. Just are your transports: "ne'er was woman's heart "Prov'd with such fierce extremes. High fated dame!" But yet remember that you are beheld By servile eyes; your gestures may be seen Impassion'd, strange; perhaps your words o'erheard. Lady R. Well dost thou counsel, Anna: Heav'n bestow On me that wisdom which my state requires. "Anna. The moments of deliberation pass, "And soon you must resolve. This useful man "Must be dismissed in safety, ere my lord "Shall with his brave deliverer return." Pris. If I, amidst astonishment and fear, Have of your words and gestures rightly judg'd, Thou art the daughter of my ancient master; The child I rescu'd from the flood is thine. 180 Lady R. With thee dissimulation now were vain, I am indeed the daughter of Sir Malcolm ; The child thou rescu'dst from the flood is mine. Pris. Blest be the hour that made me a poor man, My poverty has sav'd my master's house! Lady R. Thy words surprize me: sure thou dost not feign! The tear stands in thine eye; such love from thee Sir Malcolm's house deserve not; if aright Thou told'st the story of thy own distress. Pris. Sir Malcolm of our barons was the flower; The fastest friend, the best, the kindest master. But ah! he knew not of my sad estate. After that battle, where his gallant son, 200 Lady R. His race shall yet reward thee. On thy faith Depends the fate of thy lov'd master's house. Pris. I remember the cottage of the cliffs. Lady R. 'Tis that I mean: There dwells a man of venerable age, 'Till I shall call upon thee to declare, Before the king and nobles, what thou now Thy son so long shall call thee father still, 220 Pris. Fear not that I shall mar so fair an harvest, By putting in my sickle ere 'tis ripe. Why did I leave my home and ancient dame? [Lady RANDOLPH goes towards the Servants. Lady R. This man is not th' assassin you suspected, Though chance combin'd some likelihoods against him. He is the faithful bearer of the jewels To their right owner, whom in haste he seeks. My faithful Anna! Reaching from heav'n to earth, Jehovah's arm 240 Snatch'd from the waves, and brings to me my son! Judge of the widow, and the orphan's father, How soon he gaz'd on bright and burning arms, Spurn'd the low dunghill where his fate had thrown him, And tower'd up to the region of his sire! Anna. How fondly did your eyes devour the boy! Mysterious nature, with the unseen cord Of pow'rful instinct, drew you to your own— 260 Anna. With wary caution you must bear yourself In public, lest your tenderness break forth, And in observers stir conjectures strange. "For, if a cherub in the shape of woman "Should walk this world, yet defamation would, "Like a vile cur, bark at the angel's train." To-day the baron started at your tears. Lady R. He did so, Anna! well thy mistress knows If the least circumstance, mote of offence, Should touch the baron's eye, his sight would be F 34 With jealousy disorder'd. But the more The birth of Douglas, and assert his rights. Sat observation; on each glance of thought Anna. That demon haunts you still : Lady R. Now I shun him not. This day I brav'd him in behalf of Norval: Enter GLENALVON. Glen. Noble dame ! The hovering Dane at last his men hath landed: 280 Lady R. But whence comes this intelligence, Gle halvon? 291 |