Fate threw me to your sword.-You spar'd my youth, And, in the very whirl and rage of fight, Your eye was taught compassion-from that hour I vow'd my life the slave of your remembrance; Christina saw you then, and on your fate scorn Leer. I must unfold it. Gust. Yet forbear. [softThis way I hear some footing-pray you, If thou hast aught to urge against Arvida, The man of virtue, tell it not the wind; Lest slander catch the sound, and guilt should triumph. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Mountains of Dalecarlia. Enter ARVIDA, speaking to a MESSENGER. Arv. He's here--bear back my orders to your fellows, That not a man, on peril of his life, Mess. My lord, I will. [Exit. Arv. Have I not vow'd it, faithless as he is, Have I not vow'd his fall? Yet, good Heaven! Why start these sudden tears? On, on I must, For I am half way down the dizzy steep, Where my brain turns.-A draught of Lethe now Oh, that the world would sleep-to wake no more ! Or that the name of friendship bore no charm Empire! Christina! though th' affrighted sun Enter GUSTAVUS. [They look for some time on each other; ARVIDA lays his hand on his Sword, and withdraws it ty turns; then advances irresolutely.] Gust. Is it then so? Arv. Defend thyself. Gust. No strike I would unfold my bosom to thy sword, But that I know, the wound you give this breast Would doubly pierce thy own. Arr. I know thee not It is the time's eclipse, and what should be In nature, now is nameless. Gust. Ah, my brother! Are. What wouldst thou? Gust. Is it thus we two should meet? Arv. Art thou not false? Deep else, oh, deep indeed, Were my damnation. Gust. Dear, unhappy man! My heart bleeds for thee. False I'd surely Had I like thee been tempted. [been, Are. Ha! Speak, speak, Didst thou not send to treat with Christiern? I know thy error, but I know the arts, thee As now 'tis base, it thus should pour for par- | And joy, for that your lost Gustavus, 'scap'd don. Through wounds, imprisonments, and chains, [GUSTAVUS catches his arm, and in the Gust. Ha! hold, Arvida.- -No, I will not Forbid it, Heaven! thou shalt not rob me so; Arv. Expose me, cage me, brand me for the tool Of crafted villains, for the veriest slave, Shall look with loathing. Ah, my turpitude Gust. Not so, not so. He, who knows no fault, knows no perfection. and deaths, [ye. Thus sudden, thus unlook'd for, stands before Nor that one bloody, one remorseless hour My widow'd country! Sweden! when I think And vengeance that would choke them-tears And. Oh, they are villains, every Dane of Practis'd to stab and smile; to stab the babe, Arn. What accursed hours "Tis hence a thousand cordial charities This short lapse Shall to thy future foot give cautious treading, Arv. Give me leave. Gust. You shall not pass. Arv. I must. Gust. Whither? [Offers to pass. Gust. Danes, perhaps; [attire, Haste, intercept their passage to the camp. Gust. Perish th' opprobrious term! not so, Myself will be the guardian of thy fame; Enter ANDERSON, ARNOLDUS, SIVARD, And. Let us all see him! Gust. O liberty, Heaven's choice preroga tive! [perty, True bond of law, thou social soul of proThou breath of reason, life of life itself! For thee the valiant bleed. O sacred liberty! Wing'd from the summer's snare, from flattering ruin, Like the bold stork you seek the wintery shore, Cleave to the cold, and rest upon the storm. Are ye years, Aloof hath held invasion from your hills, Shrink from the hopes of the expecting world; The harvest of a thousand years of glory? Gust. Yes, die by piecemeal! Now from my soul I joy, I joy my friends, Yet kept aloof, yet trembling to assail ye. Of number short, but prevalent in virtue, counter. True courage but from opposition grows; lution, And his large honours from eternal infamy? What doubt we then? Shall we, shall we | But if, though in a foe, to reverence virtue, stand here! Withstand oppression, rescue injur'd inno Let us on! Oh, yes, I read your lovely fierce impatience! Divide our powers, and with the fam'd Olaus ACT IV. SCENE I.-The Palace. PETERSON. cence, Step boldly in betwixt my sire and guilt, tence. First perish crowns, dominion, all the shine Which murder must make sure, and crimes inglorious! The bulk of kingdoms, nay, the world is light, Does he live? Laer. He does, But death, ere night, must fill a long account; Enter CHRISTIERN, CHRISTINA, MARIANA, and As a rock'd infant's meekness; such as tempts Christina. I heard, it was your royal plea sure, Sir, I should attend your highness. But business interferes. [Exeunt CHRISTINA and MARIANA. Enter an OFFICER. Of. My sovereign liege, Wide o'er the western shelving of yon hill, We think, though indistinctly, we can spy, Like men in motion mustering on the heath; And there is one, who saith he can discern A few of martial gesture, and bright arms, Who this way bend their action. Christ. Friends, perhaps, For foes it were too daring.-Haste thee, Detach a thousand of our Danish horse SCENE II.-Another Apartment in the Palace. Enter CHRISTINA and MARIANA. Mar. Ha! did you mark, my princess, did you mark? Should some reverse, some wondrous whirl of fate, Once more return Gustavus to the battle, New nerve his arm, and wreathe his brow with conquest; Say, would you not repent that e'er you sav'd This dreadful man, the foe of your great race; Who pours impetuous in his country's cause To spoil you of a kingdom? Christina. No, my friend. Had I to death, or bondage, sold my sire, [don. I should not cease my suit to Heaven for par Against my faith, my country, and allegiance, Laer. I did; and warn'd him, but in vain; for death To him appear'd more grateful than to find Christina. Give me the manner-quicksoft, good Laertes ! Enter CHRISTIERN, PETERSON, Danes, &c. Christ. Damn'd, double traitor! O curs'd, false Arvida! Guard well the Swedish prisoners. Stand to your arms. -Bring forth the captives there! Enter AUGUSTA and Gustava, guarded. Peter. My liege Christ. Away! [more: Fortune! we will not trust the changeling Christ. And no more? That yet appear. Christ. We count six times their sum.Haste, soldier, take a trumpet, tell Gustavus We have of terms to offer, and would treat Touching his mother's ransom; say, her death, Suspended by our grace, but waits his answer. [Exit OFFICER. Madam, it should well suit with your authority, [TO AUGUSTA. To check this frenzy in your son- -Look to it, Or, by the saints, this hour's your last of life! Aug. Come, my Gustava, come, my little We shall be free: [captive, And I will give thee to thy father's fondness, And to the arms of all thy royal race In heaven; who sit on thrones, with loves and joys. Christ. Is this my answer? Come forth, ye ministers of death, come forth. Enter Ruffians, who seize Augusta and GUSTAVA. Pluck them asunder! We shall prove you, Thus on my knees, and lower, lower still- That look'st so like the 'habitants of heaven, Christ. Away, they come. I'll hear no more of your ill-timed petitions. Christina. Oh yet for pity! Christ. I will none on't, leave me. Pity! it is the infant fool of nature: Tear off her hold, and bear her to her tent. [Exeunt CHRISTINA, MARIANA, LAERTES, and Attendants. Gust. Mistaken man! I come empower'd, and strengther'd in thy weakness. For though the structure of a tyrant's throne Rise on the necks of half the suffering world, Fear trembles in the cement! Christ. Gustavus, wouldst thou yet return to grace, And hold thy motions in the sphere of duty, Acceptance might be found. Gust. Imperial spoiler ! Give me my father, give me back my kindred, Give me the fathers of ten thousand orphans, Give me the sons, in whom thy ruthless sword Has left our widows childless: mine they were, Both mine, and every Swede's, whose patriot breast Bleeds in his country's woundings! O thou canst not! Give me then, My all that's left, my gentle mother there, Compact with thee! and mean'st thou for my [country? For Sweden! No-so hold my heart but firm, Although it wring for't; though blood drop for tears, And at the sight my straining eyes start forthThey both shall perish first. Christ. Slaves, do your office. Gust. Hold yet. Thou canst not be so damn'd? my mother! I dare not ask thy blessing.-Where's Arvida? Where art thou? Come, my friend, thou'st known temptation And therefore best canst pity, or support me. Arv. Alas! I shall but serve to weigh thee downward, To pull thee from the dazzling, sightless Aug. See, my son relents; Behold, O king! yet spare us but a moment, Christ. Could I trust ye- Gust. Hold, my friend. [Here ARVIDA breaks from GUSTAVUS, and passes to CHRISTIERN's party, while AuGUSTA and GUSTAVA go over to GUSTAVUS. Aug. Is it then given, yet given me, ere I To see thy face, Gustavus? thus to gaze, [die To touch, to fold thee thus!-My son, my And have I liv'd to this? It is enough. [son! All arm'd and, in my country's precious cause, Terribly beauteous, to behold thee thus! Why, 'twas my only, hourly suit to Heaven, And now 'tis granted. O my glorious child, Bless'd were the throes I felt for thee, Gustavus! [bands For from the breast, from out your swathing You stepp'd the child of honour. Gust. O my mother! Aug. Why stands that water trembling in thy eye? Why heaves thy bosom? Turn not thus away, "Tis the last time that we must meet, my child, Gust. Speak, speak! Aug. "Tis felt for thee. Too well I know thy gentleness of soul, Melting as babes; even now the pressure's on thee, And bends thy loveliness to earth--Oh, child! Christ. Ah, thou trait'ress! My little captive waits for one embrace, Oh, that they were of force to fold thee ever, To let thee to my heart! there lock thee close, But 'twill not be! Arv. Hear me, thou most dear Gustavus! Thus low I bend my prayer, reject me not: If once, if ever, thou didst love Arvida, Oh leave me here to answer to the wrath Of this fell tyrant. Save thy honour'd mother And that sweet lamb from slaughter! Gust. Cruel friendship! Christ. And by my life I'd take thee at thy But that I know 'twould please thee. [word, Aug. No, generous prince, thy blood shall never be The price of our dishonour. Come, my child; Weep not, sweet babe, there shall no harm come nigh thee. Christ. "Tis well, proud dame; you are return'd, I see [tavus; Each to his charge-Here break we off, GusFor to the very teeth of thy rebellion We dash defiance back. Gust. Alas, my mother! Grief chokes up utterance, else I have to say What never tongue unfolded- -Yet return, Come back, and I will give up all to save Thou fountain of my life! [thee; Dearer than mercy is to kneeling penitence, Siv. Accurs'd be he, Who, in thy leading, will not fight and strive, Arn. Though, to yield us up, I see, For, oh, howe'er the partial passions sway, Here hold we on-though thwarting fiends Laer. Christina, fly! thou royal virgin, Gus- This morn beheld thee mistress of the north, Bright heir of Scandinavia; and this hour |