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Hath shut the book, in mercy to mankind.
But we must leave this theme: Glenalvon comes;
I saw him bend on you his thoughtful eyes,
And hitherwards he slowly stalks his way.

Lady R. I will avoid him. An ungracious person Is doubly irksome in an hour like this.

Anna. Why speaks my lady thus of Randolph's heir? Lady R. Because he's not the heir of Randolph's virtues.

Subtle and shrewd, he offers to mankind
An artificial image of himself:

Yet is he brave and politic in war,

And stands aloft in these unruly times.
Why I describe him thus I'll tell hereafter.
Stay, and detain him till I reach the castle.

[Exit.

Anna. Oh happiness! where art thou to be found?

I see thou dwellest not with birth and beauty, Though grac'd with grandeur, and in wealth array'd; Nor dost thou, it would seem, with virtue dwell; Else had this gentle lady miss'd thee not.

Enter GLENALVON.

Glen. What dost thou muse on, meditating maid? Like some entranc'd and visionary seer,

On earth thou stand'st, thy thoughts ascend to heaven. Anna. Would that I were, e'en as thou say'st, a seer, To have my doubts by heavenly vision clear'd.

Glen. What dost thou doubt of? What hast thou to

do

With subjects intricate? Thy youth, thy beauty,
Cannot be question'd: think of these good gifts;
And then thy contemplations will be pleasing.
Anna. Let women view yon monument of woe,
Then boast of beauty: who so fair as she?
But I must follow; this revolving day
Awakes the memory of her ancient woes.

[Exit.

Glen. So!-Lady Randolph shuns me; by-and-by

I'll woo her as the lion wooes his brides."
The deed's a doing now, that makes me lord
Of these rich valleys, and a chief of pow'r.

The season is most apt; my sounding steps
Will not be heard amidst the din of arms.
Randolph has liv'd too long; his belter fate
Had the ascendant once, and kept me down :
When I had seiz'd the dame, by chance he came,
Rescu'd, and had the lady for his labour:
I scap'd unknown; a slender consolation!
Heav'n is my witness that I do not love
To sow in peril, and let others reap
The jocund harvest. Yet I am not safe;
By love, or something like it, stung, inflam'd,
Madly I blabb'd my passion to his wife,
And she has threaten'd to acquaint him of it.
The way of woman's will I do not know:
But well I know the baron's wrath is deadly.
I will not live in fear; the man I dread
Is as a Dane to me; ay, and the man
Who stands betwixt me and my chief desire-
No bar but he; she has no kinsman near;
No brother in his sister's quarrel bold;
And for the righteous cause, a stranger's cause,
I know no chief that will defy Glenalvon.

[Exit.

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Enter Servants and a Stranger at one Door, and LADY RANDOLPH and ANNA at another.

Lady R. What means this clamour? Stranger, speak

secure;

Hast thou been wrong'd? have these rude men presum'd To vex the weary traveller on his way?

1 Serv. By us no stranger ever suffer'd wrong: This man with outcry wild has call'd us forth; So sore afraid he cannot speak his fears.

Enter LORD RANDOLPH and NORVAL, with their Swords drawn and bloody.

lord?

Lady R. Not vain the stranger's fears! how fares my [youth, Lord R. That it fares well, thanks to this gallant Whose valour sav'd me from a wretched death. As down the winding dale I walk'd alone, At the cross way four armed men attack'd me; Rovers, I judge, from the licentious camp, Who would have quickly laid lord Randolph low, Had not this brave and generous stranger come, Like my good angel, in the hour of fate,

And mocking danger, made my foes his own.
They turn'd upon him, but his active arın

Struck to the ground, from whence they rose no more,
The fiercest two; the others fled amain,
And left him master of the bloody field.
Speak, lady Randolph, upon beauty's tongue
Dwell accents pleasing to the brave and bold;
Speak, noble dame, and thank him for thy lord.
Lady R. My lord, I cannot speak what now I feel;
My heart o'erflows with gratitude to heaven,
And to this noble youth, who, all unknown
To you and yours, deliberated not,

Nor paus'd at peril, but, humanely brave,
Fought on your side against such fearful odds.

Have you not learn'd of him whom we should thank ?
Whom call the saviour of lord Randolph's life?

Lord R. I ask'd that question, and he answer'd not; But I must know who my deliverer is.

[To Norval. Nor. A low-born man, of parentage obscure, Who nought can boast, but his desire to be

A soldier, and to gain a name in arms.

Lord R. Whoe'er thou art, thy spirit is ennobl'd
By the great King of kings: thou art ordain'd
And stamp'd a hero, by the sovereign hand
Of nature! Blush not, flower of modesty
As well as valour, to declare thy birth.

Nor. My name is Norval: on the Grampian hills
My father feeds his flocks; a frugal swain,
Whose constant cares were to increase his store,
And keep his only son, myself, at home.
For I had heard of battles, and I long'd
To follow to the field some warlike lord:
And heav'n soon granted what my sire denied.
This moon which rose last night, round as my shield,
Had not yet fill'd her horns, when, by her light,
A band of fierce barbarians, from the bills,
Rush'd like a torrent down upon the vale,
Sweeping our flocks and herds. The shepherds fled
For safety and for succour. I alone,

With bended bow, and quiver full of arrows,
Hover'd about the enemy, and mark'd

The road he took; then hasted to my friends,
Whom, with a troop of fifty chosen men,
I met advancing. The pursuit I led,

Till we o'ertook the spoil-encumber'd foe.

We fought and conquer'd. Ere a sword was drawn,
An arrow from my bow had pierc'd their chief,
Who wore that day the arms which now I wear.
Returning home in triumph, I disdain'd

The shepherd's slothful life; and having heard
That our good king had summon'd his bold peers
To lead their warriors to the Carron side,
I left my father's house, and took with me
A chosen servant to conduct my steps;
Yon trembling coward, who forsook his master.
Journeying with this intent, I pass'd these towers,
And, heaven directed, came this day to do
The happy deed that gilds my humble name.

Lord R. He is as wise as brave. Was ever tale
With such a gallant modesty rehears'd?
My brave deliverer! thou shalt enter now
A nobler list, and in a monarch's sight
Contend with princes for the prize of fame.
I will present thee to our Scottish king,
Whose valiant spirit ever valour lov'd.
Ah! my Matilda, wherefore starts that tear?
Lady R. I cannot say; for various affections,
And strangely mingled, in my bosom swell;
Yet each of them may well command a tear.
I joy that thou art safe; and I admire

Him and his fortunes, who hath wrought thy safety;
Yea, as my mind predicts, with thine his own.
Obscure and friendless he the army sought,
Bent upon peril, in the range of death
Resolv'd to hunt for fame, and with his sword
To gain distinction which his birth denied.
In this attempt, unknown he might have perish'd,
And gain'd with all his valour, but oblivion.
Now grac'd by thee, his virtues serve no more
Beneath despair. The soldier now of hope,
He stands conspicuous; fame and great renown
Are brought within the compass of his sword.

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