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So basely treated?

CATAGRINUS.

Do they then think our substance form'd of flint;

Or that our hearts are adamant itself?

Where is our brother? our dearest sister?

I fear, indeed, they had just cause for flight.

WORTIMERUS.

Let's to the Princes, and our troops will follow.

They like not the rude treatment of these Saxons!

CATAGRINUS.

I do accept thine offer.

Enter Lords.

SECOND LORD.

Most gentle Princes, whither are ye bound?

WORTIMERUS.

To quit oppression, and to seek for justice.

THIRD LORD.

Under your banners then we do enlist.

CATAGRINUS.

Speak, what hath now been done that thus ye quit

Your King, your country, and your weighty trust?

SECOND LORD.

The King, on the pretext of malady,

Most basely hath divorc'd your mother from him,

And means to take to Rowena for his wife.

WORTIMERUS.

Gods!

SECOND LORD.

And, her proud father, Hengist, to enrich,

He hath despoil'd me of mine heritage,

And from my sweet, my lovely babes cut off

Their rights, and ta'en from me my vast estate.

WORTIMERUS.

Then look you quick repair towards our camp,

Thither in secret we'll convey our mother;

So fare ye well, good lords.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.

Enter AURELIUS, UTER, PASCENTIUS,

and FLAVIA.

AURELIUS.

Though bloody battle calls us forth again,

I'll rather part with life, with all on earth,

Than leave thee, Flavia, unprotected.

UTER.

Hengist hath pitch'd on t'other side of Badon;

The noise of arms, and distant hum of soldiers,

Bespeak their hasty preparation;

'Twere best to attack them early in the morn.

AURELIUS.

Then be it so.

PASCENTIUS.

And yet I must not 'gainst my father arm!

FLAVIA.

Indeed, thou'dst arm against thy sister too;

Who wou'd protect me then, or calm my fear;

Who sit and tell me tales of hope? O! no one:

It were too much, you cannot, must not leave me.

Enter Officer.

OFFICER.

Two sons of Vortigern do crave admittance.

Enter WORTIMERUS and CATAGRINUS.

WORTIMERUS.

My brother and my sister here!

CATAGRINUS.

O! joy unthought of! Oh! unlook'd-for bliss!

FLAVIA.

Say! speak! how fares it with my gentle mother?

WORTIMERUS.

Beseech thee, ask me not of her sad story.

FLAVIA.

Sad, say'st thou? Heav'n forefend; she is not dead?

WORTIMERUS.

Calm thyself, dearest sister, she lives still.

FLAVIA.

O! where, where, tell me, that with these moist tears

I may rain comfort on her wounded soul.

WORTIMERUS.

Let us retire.

SCENE IX.

Enter the Saxon and British Armies; they

fight, and the Saxons are routed.

Enter HENGIST and Officer.

HENGIST.

All, all is lost. Fly, fly to the king's tent,

Bid him to London speedily repair;

Away, away, tarry not on your life

A curse upon his sons for quitting us;

Shou'd they but follow up this victory,

My hopes, my every wish, for ever's blasted.

Enter WORTIMERUS.

HENGIST.

Vile traitor both to your liege king and father,

What blasted fiend, blacker than hell itself,

Cou'd prompt thee to this damned treachery?

WORTIMERUS.

Can'st thou, vile Saxon, thou base braggart, ask it?

'Tis thou, and on thy soul I'll prove it so.

HENGIST.

Ask where's thy queen, and then I'll answer thee!

WORTIMERUS.

Dares thus thy tongue with notes unmannerly

My heart-strings tear asunder? Fiend, have at thee.

[They fight, Hengist falls.

HENGIST.

Thine hand be blasted for this fatal blow.

And must then all my hopes lie buried here?

WORTIMERUS.

Yea, and thou need'st not much of Kent's domain,

A little mole-hill now will serve!

HENGIST.

Yet chance one lives, that may avenge this deed;

'Tis the brave Horsus, 'tis my noble friend.

WORTIMERUS.

He fought his last,--

On him were found the secrets of thy plot:

Wou'dst thou not have enthrall'd my countrymen;

Was not thy daughter to have basely poison'd

Her king, and husband, and then wert not thou

To have seiz'd the crown? O! villain! villain! traitor!

HENGIST.

Yea, all, had I but liv'd a little longer.

Hell, swallow me not up! nor ope thy jaws

So wide. The fiends do tug and