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Tell me high Heaven, is this your justice?

Did I not nourish them, aye, teach them, love them?

Yes, little drops, Oh! come, cool my poor face;

Speak! aye, ye come I know to say I did.

Now please your highness, and what wou'd you more?

Say, are not here a host of witnesses?

Longer, O let me not detain the Court,

For in such plenty they do now rush forth,

That you, Sir, you who fill yon seat of justice,

Must throw away your gown and swim for life.

FIRST MAID.

Will't please we lead you in?

EDMUNDA.

I'gin indeed to think I do need support,

For I am even weaker than a babe.

Hush! hush! come hither both, I'll tell you something;

Now then your ears, I'm mad, ha! ha! ha!

Say! is not this Whitsuntide?

SECOND MAID.

Aye an't please you madam.

EDMUNDA.

Then listen.

She sings

Last Whitsunday they brought me

Roses, and lilies fair,

Violets too they gave me

To bind my auburn hair;

But then my face look'd smiling,

Cause that my babes were near,

Now yon stinging nettle bring,

'Twill better suit this tear.

How you like this?

FIRST MAID.

Excellently well, madam.

EDMUNDA.

The time has been! when thus thou might'st have said,

What, must these poor eyes never see them more?

And have I need of these vile rags; off! off!

I'll follow thee to th' extreme point o'th' world,

And naked bear thy icy mountains cold,

And the dread scorches o'that ball of fire

'Till I have found them i'the antipodes;

Shou'd I not meet them there, I will rail so!--

Pardon these starts! in troth I will not harm ye,

Indeed, indeed, I'm wrong'd! most sadly wrong'd!

Did these sweet notes then charm ye? then I'll die,

For look you, I will then sing sweeter far,

Than dying swan at ninety and nine years!

Lack, lack, a day! I'm faint! your arm sweet maid.

There is my gage, farewell; good night, sweet! good night!--

[Exeunt.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

AURELIUS' Camp.

Enter AURELIUS, UTER, PASCENTIUS,

and FLAVIA.

AURELIUS.

You then escaped disguised in man's attire?

FLAVIA.

'Tis true I did, but ne'er did rapier yet

Adorn a side less fitting to support it.

AURELIUS.

To you Pascentius my best thanks are due.

PASCENTIUS.

Nay, nay, 'tis little that to me you owe.

FLAVIA.

Indeed, but for his aid, I long ere this

Had broke my sacred vow, and wedded death.

UTER.

Brother, the enemy is near at hand,

Straight let us forth, and range our troops for battle.

AURELIUS.

Go you before and swift I'll follow.

Now to thy care my dearest friend, I trust

Thy beauteous sister, and my sweetest love.

Should victory proclaim the day our own,

All will be well; but shou'd the loss be ours,

To Heav'ns just guard I must resign you both.

Two trusty servants have I placed without,

Who will conduct you westward of our camp,

If we be beaten, thither we'll retreat:

Haste! fare thee well, sweet love.

FLAVIA.

This token let me brace around thine arm,

Think of me in the field, nor let revenge

Blot from thy gen'rous breast the sense of pity.

AURELIUS.

O! cruel fortune, so soon to wrench from me

This lovely form, to steal this beauteous hand,

And offer to my grasp this weighty steel.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Camp of HENGIST.

Enter HENGIST and HORSUS.

HENGIST.

Have Vortigern's brave sons yet ta'en their station?

HORSUS.

Yea, to our right the Briton's strength is form'd.

HENGIST.

Then bid them wait the enemies attack.

[Exit Horsus.

Now, O yet Gods! prove but propitious to me;

And yield me but the victory this day:

A mightier force I've summon'd to this island,

And with them my fair daughter will arrive;

If then her beauty catch this vicious King,

E'en as mine own I'll hail this fertile land,

And these brave Britons by my arts and arms,

Bind to a foreign yoke.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

A Wood.

Enter Britons and Saxons, they encounter

the Scots, and after a hard contest, the Scots are defeated.

Enter AURELIUS and UTER.

AURELIUS.

O brother! fortune frowns, the day is lost.

UTER.

But it hath cost them dear!