By the moon's light I saw, whirl'd round and round, A basket soon I drew it to the bank, And nestled curious there an infant lay. Pris. He was. Lady R. Inhuman that thou art! 100 How couldst thou kill what waves and tempests spared? Pris. I am not so inhuman. Lady R. Didst thou not? Anna. My noble mistress, you are mov'd too much: This man has not the aspect of stern murder; Let him go on, and you, I hope, will hear Good tidings of your kinsman's long-lost child. Pris. The needy man who has known better days, One whom distress has spited at the world, Is he whom tempting fiends would pitch upon To do such deeds as make the prosperous men Lift up their hands and wonder who could do them. And such a man was I; a man declin'd, Who saw no end of black adversity: Yet, for the wealth of kingdoms, I would not Lady R. Ha! dost thou say so; then perhaps he lives! Lady R. O God of Heav'n! did he then die so lately? Him, flourishing in youth, and health, and beauty. Pris. Alas! I know not where. 121 Lady R. Oh, fate! I fear thee still. Thou riddler, speak Direct and clear; else I will search thy soul. Anna. "Permit me, ever honour'd! Keen impatience, "Though hard to be restrain'd, defeats itself.”--Pursue thy story with a faithful tongue, To the last hour that thou didst keep the child. shame; Within the cradle where the infant lay, Was stow'd a mighty store of gold and jewels; Meanwhile the stripling grew in years and beauty; 110 And, as we oft observ'd, he bore himself, Not as the offspring of our cottage blood; For nature will break out: mild with the mild, But all in vain; for when a desperate band Lady R. Eternal Providence! What is thy name? Pris. My name is Norval; and my name he bears. Lady R. 'Tis hel 'tis he himself! It is my son! 160 Oh, sovereign mercy! 'Twas my child I saw ! No wonder, Anna, that my bosom burn'd. Anna. Just are your transports: "ne'er was woman's heart "Prov'd with such fierce extremes. High fated dame !" But yet remember that you are beheld By servile eyes; your gestures may be seen Impassion'd, strange; perhaps your words o'erheard. Lady R. Well dost thou counsel, Anna: Heav'n be stow On me that wisdom which my state requires. "Anna. The moments of deliberation pass, Pris. If I, amidst astonishment and fear, The child thou rescu'dst from the flood is mine. 189 Pris. Blest be the hour that made me a poor man, My poverty hath sav'd my master's house! Lady R. Thy words surprize me: sure thou dost not feign! The tear stands in thine eye; such love from thee Sir Malcolm's house deserv'd not; if aright Thou told's the story of thy own distress. Pris. Sir Malcolm of our barons was the flower; The fastest friend, the best, the kindest master. But ah! he knew not of my sad estate. After that battle, where his gallant son, Your own brave brother, fell, the good old lord By them I was thrust out, and them I blame : Lady R. His race shall yet reward thee. faith Depends the fate of thy lov'd master's house. That like a holy hermitage appears Pris. I remember the cottage of the cliffs. There dwells a man of venerable age, On thy 200 'Till I shall call upon thee to declare, Before the king and nobles, what thou now Thy son so long shall call thee father still, Pris. Fear not that I shall mar so fair an harvest, By putting in my sickle ere 'tis ripe. Why did I leave my home and ancient dame ? 220 To find the youth, to tell him all I knew, And make him wear these jewels in his arms, Which might, I thought, be challeng'd, and so bring To light the secret of his noble birth, [Lady RANDOLPH goes towards the Servants. Lady R. This man is not th' assassin you suspected, Though chance combin'd some likelihoods against him. He is the faithful bearer of the jewels To their right owner, whom in haste he seeks. [Exeunt Stranger and Servants. My faithful Anna! dost thou share my joy? I know thou dost. Unparallel'd event! Reaching from heav'n to earth, Jehovah's arm Snatch'd from the waves, and brings to me my son ! |