Vortigern Studies Index

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ACT V.

SCENE I. - APARTMENT IN VORTIGERN'S PALACE.

EDMUNDA on a couch.

FLAVIA and PASCENTIUS.

Soft Music.

Edm. Indeed, my gentle maid, indeed, thou'rt kind,
And by those tears that glaze thy lovely eyes,
'Twould seem, that truly, thou didst pity me.

Fla. Pity thee, 0, gods!

Edm. Nay, wherefore, weep ye both;
'Tis long, long since I was thus kindly treated:
Your pardon, but I fear you scoff me.

Pas. Doth she yet know you?

Fla. Would to heaven, she did!

Edm. And yet there was a maid that once did love me:
Heigho! she went alack! I know not whither:
Thou ne'er didst see her; else what I shall say,
Methinks, would make thee vain; but yet, indeed,
Thou seem'st right well to ape her pretty manners.

Fla. 0! 'tis too much; I cannot bear all this.

Edm. Nay, nay; why shouldst thou wail and tremble so?
Till this, I thought that grief was only mine;
It is not fair to rob me of all comfort.
I thought thee honest; but, indeed, the world
Doth flatter, fawn, and stroke upon the face,
And sadly censure when the back is turn'd.

Pas. 0! dearest mother, say, dost thou not know me?

Edm. Ay, ay, right well ; thou'rt one by name, a man:
Thy form is well enough, and thou may'st pass;
But, hast thou a heart for melting pity?
For better be a brute,
Than lack it under that most godlike form:
And yet I do thee wrong; for even now,
Thou didst add graces to that manly cheek,
With scalding tears : and for whom do you this?
For one that neither asks, nor merits it.

Enter WORTIMERUS and CATAGRINUS.

Wort. How doth she now ?

Pas. Alas! she wanders yet: her mind's diseas'd.

Fla. I am that maiden lost, your loving daughter.

Edm. Bring here my glasses, stand before me here!
Now, now, I'll judge thee well; I'll see this straight:
And first her look was mild - in this thou'lt do;
Then she was kind, most excellent, and good;
Well, and so seemest thou. Now for the last:
0! her heart was - but thine I cannot see;
There thou deceivest me: I know thee not.
Yet, if thou be my daughter,
On thy forehead is a mark -
Away, then, with those locks from off thy front
Now, let me look! 0, gods! 'tis she, tis she!

Pas. She faints, she faints! this shock is too afflicting
For such a shatter'd and disabled frame.

Fla. 0! dearest, kindest, most beloved mother!

Edm. Indeed, my brain is something cooler now:
I should know you, sir, and you too; nay, all!
I'm very faint - alas! this joy o'ercomes me!

Fla. Sweet mother, you need rest; we'll lead you in.

Edm. Then be it so; and wilt thou sit and watch me?

Fla. Ay; and I'll kneel and pray, and sometimes weep.

Edm. Lead, then; I'll in to rest: come, follow me.

[Exeunt.

Enter AURELIUS and UTER.

Aur. The breach is made; the southern gate is forc'd;
Yet still doth he hold out; and hath ta'en flight,
E'en to the Tower, and there he'll wait the siege.

Uter. Aurelius, your fair prisoner, is no more.

Aur. How, say'st thou?

Uter. Rowena swallow'd poison, and is dead.

Aur. Then hath a wicked spirit ta'en its flight
From the most lovely frame that e'er was form'd,
To charm or to deceive. [Exeunt.

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