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The friendless stranger my protection claims:
His friend I am, and be not thou his foe.

[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
In holy legends and religious tales,

I should conclude there was an arm above
That fought against me, and malignant turn'd,
To catch myself, the subtle snare I set.
Why, rape and murder are not simple means!
Th' imperfect rape to Randolph gave a spouse;
And the intended murder introduc'd

A favourite to hide the sun from me;
And worst of all, a rival. Burning hell!

This were thy center, if I thought she loved him!
'Tis certain she contemns me; nay, commands me,
And waves the flag of her displeasure o'er me,
In his behalf. And shall I thus be brav'd?
Curb'd, as she calls it, by dame Chastity?
Infernal fiends, if any fiends there are

More fierce than hate, ambition, and revenge,
Rise up, and fill my bosom with your fires
"And policy remorseless? Chance may spoil
"A single aim; but perseverance must
"Prosper at last. For chance and fate are words:
"Persistive wisdom is the fate of man."

Darkly a project peers upon my mind,
Like the red moon when rising in the east,

Cross'd and divided by strange-colour'd clouds.
I'll seek the slave who came with Norval hither,
And for his cowardice was spurned from him.
I've known a follower's rankled bosom breed
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,
And change the noon-tide to the midnight hour,
Whilst lady Randolph sleeps, I will walk forth,
And taste the air that breathes on yonder bank.
Sweet may her slumbers be! Ye ministers
Of gracious Heaven who love the human race,
Angels and seraphs who delight in goodness!
Forsake your skies, and to her couch descend!
There from her fancy chase those dismal forms
That haunt her waking; her sad spirit charm
With images celestial, such as please
The blest above upon their golden beds.

Enter Servant.

Ser. One of the vile assassins is secur'd. We found the villain lurking in the wood: With dreadful imprecations he denies

All knowledge of the crime. But this is not
His first essay these jewels were conceal'd
In the most secret places of his garment;
Belike the spoils of some that he has murder'd.

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Anna. Let me look on them. Ha! here is a heart, The chosen crest of Douglas' valiant name! These are no vulgar jewels. Guard the wretch.

Enter Servants with a Prisoner.

[Exit Anna.

Pris. I know no more than does the child unborn

Of what you charge me with.

1st Ser. You say so, Sir!

But torture soon shall make you speak the truth.
Behold, the lady of lord Randolph comes:
Prepare yourself to meet her just revenge.

Enter Lady RANDOLPH and ANNA.

Anna. Summon your utmost fortitude, before You speak with him. Your dignity, your fame, Are now at stake. Think of the fatal secret, Which in a moment from your lips may fly.

Lady R. Thou shalt behold me, with a desperate

heart,

Hear how my infant perish'd. See, he kneels.

[The Prisoner kneels.

Pris. Heav'n bless that countenance so sweet and

mild!

A judge like thee makes innocence more bold.
Oh, save me, lady! from these cruel men,
E

Who have attack'd and seiz'd me; who accuse
Me of intended murder. As I hope
For mercy at the judgment-seat of Heaven,
The tender lamb, that never nipt the grass,
Is not more innocent than I of murder.

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Lady R. Of this man's guilt what proof can ye produce?

1st Ser. We found him lurking in the hollow glynn. When view'd and call'd upon, amaz'd he fled, We overtook him, and enquir'd from whence And what he was: he said he came from far, And was upon his journey to the camp. Not satisfied with this, we search'd his clothes, And found these jewels, whose rich value plead Most pow'rfully against him. Hard he seems, And old in villainy, Permit us try

His stubbornness against the torture's force.

Pris. Oh, gentle lady! by your lord's dear life; Which these weak hands, I swear, did ne'er assail; And by your children's welfare, spare my age! Let not the iron tear my ancient joints,

And my grey hairs bring to the grave with pain.

Lady R. Account for these; thine own they cannot be: For these, I say: be stedfast to the truth; Detected falshood is most certain death.

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[Anna removes the Servants and returns.]

Pris. Alas! I'm sore beset! let never man, For sake of lucre, sin against his soul! Eternal justice is in this most just!

I, guiltless now, must former guilt reveal.

Lady R. Oh! Anna hear!—once more I charge thee

speak

The truth direct; for these to me foretel

And certify a part of thy narration;

With which, if the remainder tallies not,
An instant and a dreadful death abides thee.
Pris. Then, thus adjur'd, I'll speak to you as just
As if you were the minister of heaven,

Sent down to search the secret sins of men:

Some eighteen years ago I rented land

Of brave Sir Malcolm, then Balarmo's lord;
But falling to decay, his servants seiz'd

All that I had, and then turn'd me and mine,
(Four helpless infants and their weeping mother)
Out to the mercy of the winter winds.
A little hovel by the river's side

Received us: there hard labour, and the skill
In fishing, which was formerly my sport,
Supported life. Whilst thus we poorly liv'd,
One stormy night, as I remember well,
The wind and rain beat hard upon our roof;
Red came the river down, and loud and oft
The angry spirit of the water shriek’d.
At the dead hour of night was heard the cry
Of one in jeopardy. I rose, and ran
To where the circling eddy of a pool,

Beneath the ford, us'd oft to bring within
My reach, whatever floating thing the stream

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Had caught. The voice was ceas'd; the person lost: But looking sad and earnest on the waters,

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