Had reached his ears: But when my tongue unfolded
The ftory of his bravery and his peril,

Oh how the tears cours'd plenteous down his cheeks!
How did he lift unto the heav'ns his hands

In fpeechless tranfport! Yet he foon bethought him
Of Rome's invafion, and with fiery glance
Survey'd the cavern round; then fnatch'd his fpear,
And menac'd to pursue the flying traitor :

But I with prayers (Oh pardon, if they err'd)
Withheld his step, for to the left the youth

Had wing'd his way, where the thick underwood
Afforded fure retreat. Befides, if found,

Was age a match for youth?

CHORUS.

Maiden, enough;

Better perchance for us, if he were captive;

But in the justice of their caufe, and heav'n,

Do Mona's fons confide.

BARD, CHORUS, ELIDURUS, EVELINA.

BARD.

Druid, the rites

Are finish'd, all fave that which crowns the reft,

And which pertains to thy bleft hand alone;

For that he kneels before thee.

CHORUS.

CHORUS..

- bTake him hence, ofta

We may not truft him forth to fight our cause, odwod

ELIDUR U Santa on ba

Now by ANDRASTE's throne

CHORUS.

Nay, fwear not, youth,

The tie is broke, that held thy fealty:

Thy brother's fled.

ELIDUR US.

Fled!

CHORUS.

To the Romans fled;

Yes, thou haft caufe to tremble.

ELIDUR U S.

Ah, VELLINUS!

Does thus our love, does thus our friendship end!
Was I thy brother, youth, and haft thou left me!
Yes; and how left me, cruel as thou art,

The victim of thy crimes!

1

It may be fpeedy. I would fain bé dead,"
If this be life. Yet I must doubt ev'n that;
For falsehood of this strange stupendous fort
Sets firm-ey'd reason on a gaze, miftrufting,
That what she fees in palpable plain form,

The ftars in yon blue arch, these woods, these caverns,
Are all mere tricks of cozenage, nothing real,

The vision of a vision. If he's fled,

I ought to hate this brother.

CHORUS.

Yet thou dost not.

ELIDURUS.

But when astonishment will give me leave,

Perchance I fhall.-And yet he is my brother,

And he was virtuous once. Yes, ye vile Romans,

Yes, I muft die, before my thirfty sword

Drinks one rich drop of vengeance. Yet, ye robbers,

Yet will I curfe you with my dying lips :

'Twas you, that ftole away my brother's virtue.

CHORU S.

Now then prepare to die.

ELIDURUS.

I am prepar❜d.

Yet, fince I cannot now (what most I wish'd)

By

By manly prowefs guard this lovely maidení Vess to Permit that on your holieft earth I kneel,

And pour one fervent prayer for her protection.

Allow me this, for tho' you think me false,

The Gods will hear me.

EVELINA.

I can hold no longer!

Oh Druid, Druid, at thy feet I fall:

Yes, I must plead, (away with virgin-blushes)
For fuch a youth muft plead. I'll die to fave him,
Oh take my life, and let him fight for Mona.

CHORU S.

Virgin, arife. His virtue hath redeem'd him,
And he shall fight for thee and for his country.
Youth, thank us with thy deeds. The time is fhort,
And now with reverence take our high lustration:
Thrice do we sprinkle thee with day-break dew
Shook from the May-thorn bloffom; twice and thrice
Touch we thy forehead with our holy wand:

Now thou art fully purg'd. Now rise restor'd
To virtue and to us.

Hence then, my fon,

Hie thee, to yonder altar, where our Bards

Shall arm thee duly both with helm and sword

For warlike enterprise..

[Exit Elidurus.

CARACTACUS.

CARACTACUS, CHORUS, ARVIRAGUS,

EVELINA.

CARACTACUS.

"Tis true, my fon,

Bold are their bearings, and I fear me not
But they have hearts will not belie their looks.
I like them well. Yet would to righteous heav'n
Those valiant veterans, that on Snowdon guard
Their scanty pittance of bleak liberty,

Were here to join them; we would teach thefe wolves,
Tho' we permit their rage to prowl our coasts,

That vengeance 'waits them ere they rob our altars.
Hail, Druid, hail! we find thy valiant guards
Accoutred fo, as well befpeaks the wisdom

That fram'd their phalanx. We but wait thy bleffing

To lead them 'gainst the foe.

CHORU S.

CARACTACUS!

Behold this fword: The fword of old BELINUS,
Stain'd with the blood of giants, and its name
TRIFINGUS. Many an age its charmed blade
Has flept within yon confecrated trunk.

Lo, I unsheath it, King; Fwave it o'er thee;
Mark, what portentous streams of scarlet light

Flow

N