Alas! there have been changes since that time; VIPONT. And thence comes it, That while look'd on many a well-known crest And blazon'd shield, as hitherward we came, The faces of the barons who display'd them Were all unknown to me. Brave youths they seem'd; Yet, surely fitter to adorn the tilt-yard, Than to be leaders of a war. Their followers, Young like themselves, seem like themselves unpractised Look at their battle-rank. PRIOR. I cannot gaze on 't with undazzled eye, So thick the rays dart back from shield and helmet, VIPONT. Ay, but 't was Bruce that led them. Reverend Father, The brows of most were free from grizzled hair. PRIOR. Too true, alas! But well you know, in Scotland, Few hairs are silver'd underneath the helmet; PRIOR. Heaven forefend! My prayer shall be, that Heaven will close my eyes, Before they look upon the wrath to come. VIPONT. Retire, retire, good father!-Pray for ScotlandThink not on me. Here comes an ancient friend, Brother in arms, with whom to-day I'll join me. Back to your choir, assemble all your brotherhood, And weary Heaven with prayers for victory. PRIOR. Heaven's blessing rest with thee, Champion of Heaven, and of thy suffering country! [Exit PRIOR. VIPONT draws a little aside, and lets down the beaver of his helmet. Enter SWINTON, followed by REYNALD and others, to whom he speaks as he enters. SWINTON. Halt here, and plant my pennon, till the Regent Assign our band its station in the host. REYNALD. That must be by the standard. We have had That right since good Saint David's reign at least. Fain would I see the Marcher would dispute it. SWINTON." Peace, Reynald! Where the general plants the soldier, Of some disorder'd hunting, where, pell-mell, There needed not, to blazon forth the Swinton, As doth his frame the champion. Hail, brave Swinton! SWINTON. Brave Templar, thanks! Such your cross'd shoulder speaks you; But the closed visor, which conceals your features, No; one less worthy of our sacred order. Yet, unless Syrian suns have scorch'd my features SWINTON (embracing him). As the blithe reaper Welcomes a practised mate, when the ripe harvest 1 men." Alles and vamais, thou wert went to lead A thousand folowers shrank to sixty heces SWINTON. Tennar, what chink st thou me?-See yonder rock, F¬m vuch the fountain gushes-is it less Impact of adamant, though waters flow from it? Trn bears have moister eyes.-They are avenged; vigt noc all they were-till the proud Gordon Tai va as life-blood dyed my father's sword, la rumina that he thian'd my father's lineage, knt then I weșt my sons; and, as the Gordon La x my feet, there was a tear for him, Then a mped with the rest.-We had been friends, Tai shared the banquet and the chase together, ught side by side-and our first cause of strife, The as the pride of both, was but a light one. VIPONT. You are at fed, then, with the mighty Gordon?" SWINTON. X: Bendly feud. Here in this Border-land, Where the sire's quarrels descend upon the son, As fue a part of his inheritance As the strong castle and the ancient Blazon, Where private vengeance holds the scales of justice, Igning each drop of blood as scrupulously ¡As Jews or Lombards balance silver pence, Not in this land, "twixt Solway and Saint Abb's, Rages a bitterer fend than mine and theirs, The Swinton and the Gordon. VIPONT. You with some threescore lances-and the Gordon In twelve years' space —And thy brave sons, Sir Alan, Leading a thousand followers. SWINTON. All dain, De Vipont. In my emper home A pony babe lisps to a widow'd mother. « Where is mygrandsite" wherefore do you weep b But for that prattler. Lyalph's house is heirless. I'm an old oak, from which the foresters Have hewid four goodly boughs, and left beside me VIPONT. All shain-alas! SWINTON. Ay, all, De Vipont. And their attributes, John with the Long Spear-Archibald with the Axe— VIPONT. These wars with England, they have rooted out SWINTON. You rate him far too low. Since you sought Palestine, VIPONT. When you were friends, I was the friend of both, SWINTON. The flowers of Christendom. Knights, who might win Spoke like the generous knight, who gave up all, SWINTON. Unholy warfare? ay, well hast thou named it; VIPONT. Since thou dost weep, their death is unavenged? ` Lea ling and lordship, in a heathen land So fame doth vouch him,-amorous, quick, and vahan, The summit of Halidon Hill, before the Regent's Tent. The Royal Standard of Scotland is seen in the back ground, with the Pennons and Banners of the principal Nobles around it. "Council of Scottish Nobles and Chiefs. SUTHERLAND, Ross, LENNOX, MAXWELL, and other Nobles of the highest rank, are close to the REGENT'S person, and in the act of keen debate. VIPONT, with GORDON and others, remain grouped at some distance on the right hand of the stage. On the left, standing also apart, is SWINTON, alone and bare-headed. The Nobles are dressed in Highland or Lowland habits, as historical costume requires. Trumpets, Heralds, etc. are in attendance. LENNOX. Nay, lordings, put no shame upon my counsels; I did but say, if we retired a little, We should have fairer field and better vantage., REGENT. Ay, but King Edward sent a haughty message, This very hill of Halidon; if we leave it A perilous honour, that allows the enemy,, [During this speech the debate among the My lords, methinks great Morarchat has doubts, SWINTON (apart). Nay, then a stone would speak. (Addresses the REGENT.) May 't please your grace, Pray you, do not so; VIPONT. Anon I'll give you reason why you should not. There's other work in hand—— GORDON. I will but ask his name. There's in his presence I'm bound to fear nought earthly--and I fear nought [Accosts SWINTON Sir Knight, I pray you, of your gentle courtesy, SWINTON (shows emotion, but instantly subdues it). It is a name that soundeth in my ear Like to a death-knell—ay, and like the call Of the shrill trumpet to the mortal lists; Yet 't is a name which ne'er hath been dishonour'd, The mystery is needful. Follow me. [They retire behind the side Scene SWINTON (looking after them). 'Tis a brave youth. How blush'd his noble cheek, While youthful modesty, and the embarrassment Of curiosity, combined with wonder, And half suspicion of some slight intended, All mingled in the flush; but soon 't will deepen Into revenge's glow. How slow is Vipont!I wait the issue, as I've seen spectators Suspend the motion even of the eye-lids, When the slow gunner, with his lighted match, Approach'd the charged cannon, in the act To waken its dread slumbers.-Now 't is out; He draws his sword, and rushes towards me, Who will nor seek nor shun him. Enter GORDON, withheld by VIPONT. VIPONT. Hold, for the sake of Heaven!-O, for the sake And must you, therefore, be yourself a parricide, Deserts, that he may wreak a private wrong?- GORDON. He hath come here to brave me!-Off!-Unhand me!— VIPONT.. You know not Swinton. Scarce one passing thought Enter MAXWELL from the Tent. SWINTON. How go our councils, Maxwell, may I ask? MAXWELL. As wild, as if the very wind and sea SWINTON. Most sure they are possess'd! Some evil spirit, GORDON. I see the giant form which all men speak of, At such gray hairs, and face of such command; VIPONT. Need I again remind you, that the place Permits not private quarrel? GORDON. I'm calm, I will not seek-nay, I will shun it- VIPONT. Such it at times hath been; and then the Cross Thus shall it be then, since we may no befter, O, sage discipline, That leaves to chance the marshalling of a battle! GORDON. Move him to speech, De Vipont. |