Ludolph. Oh! thou good man, against whose sacred head I was a mad conspirator, chiefly too For the sake of my fair newly wedded wife, Dear son, Otho. Ludolph. To that demon? Not so! No! She is in temple-stall, Upon the altar of wrath! She stings me through!— Landolph. I will, When I have finish'd it! Now,-now, I'm pight, Tight-footed for the deed! Erminia. Alas! Alas! Ludolph. What angel's voice is that? Erminia Ah! gentlest creature, whose sweet innocence Was almost murder'd; I am penitent. Wilt thou forgive me? And thou holy man, Ludolph. Otho. I feel it possible. Physician. I fear, he is past my skill. Otho. Physician? Not so! Ludolph. I see it-I see it-I have been wan dering! Half mad-not right here-I forget my purpose. Otho. A little talk with her-no harm-haste! haste! Am I obey'd? [Exit Page. Set her before me-never fear I can strike. Several voices. My lord! My lord! Gersa. Good Prince ! Ludolph. Why do ye trouble me ? out-out away! There she is! take that! and that! no, no, [The Doors open. Enter Page. Several Women are seen grouped about AURANTHE in the inner Room. Page. Alas! My lord, my lord! they cannot move her! Her arms are stiff-her fingers clench'd and cold. Ludolph. She's dead! [Staggers and falls into their arms. Ethelbert. Take away the dagger. Gersa Otho. Thank God for that! Sigifred. Softly; so! It could not harm him now. Gersa. No!-brief be his anguish! Ludolph. She's gone! I am content. Nobles, good night! We are all weary-faint-set ope the doors KING STEPHEN." A DRAMATIC FRAGMENT ACT I. SCENE I.-Field of Battle. Alarum. Enter King STEPHEN, Knights, and Soldiers. Stephen. F shame can on a soldier's vein-swoll'n front Spread deeper crimson than the battle's Blush in your casing helmets! for see, see! 1 "As soon as Keats had finished Otho the Great,' I pointed out to him a subject for an English historica! tragedy in the reign of Stephen, beginning with his defeat by the Empress Maud and ending with the death of his son Eustace. He was struck with the variety of events and characters which must necessarily be introduced, and I offered to give, as before, their dramatic conduct. The play must open,' I began, with the field of battle, when Stephen's forces are retreating'' Stop,' he cried, I have been too long in leading-strings; I will do all this myself.' He immediately set about it, and wrote two or three scenes-about 170 lines." -CHARLES BROWN. Fly, cowards, fly! Glocester is at your backs! Throw your slack bridles o'er the flurried manes, Ply well the rowel with faint trembling heels, Scampering to death at last! 1st Knight. The enemy Bears his flaunt standard close upon their rear. 2nd Knight. Sure of a bloody prey, seeing the fens Will swamp them girth-deep. Stephen. Over head and ears. No matter! "Tis a gallant enemy; How like a comet he goes streaming on. But we must plague him in the flank,-hey, friends ? We are well breath'd,-follow! Enter Earl BALDWIN and soldiers, as defeated Stephen. De Redvers ! What is the monstrous bugbear that can fright Baldwin? Baldwin. No scarecrow, but the fortunate star Of boisterous Chester, whose fell truncheon now Points level to the goal of victory. This way he comes, and if you would maintain Take horse, my Lord. Stephen. And which way spur for life? Now I thank heaven I am in the toils, That soldiers may bear witness how my arm Can burst the meshes. Not the eagle more Loves to beat up against a tyrannous blast, Than I to meet the torrent of my foes. This is a brag,-be't so,—but if I fall, Carve it upon my 'scutcheon'd sepulchre. On, fellow soldiers! Earl of Redvers, back! Not twenty Earls of Chester shall brow-beat The diadem. [Exeunt. Alarum |