an affection is calculated to produce, and is as guilty as imprudence and selfishness can render him. Of De Montfort we shall not speak. It is too well known to require our recommendation. It has been twice produced upon the stage. It was, at its first representation, worthily supported by the finest performance that can be conceived, on the parts of Mrs Siddons and Mr Kemble. It was subsequently caricatured at Drury Lane. In the course of a debate, originated by a petition for a new theatre, when the misapplication of the two great patent theatres to shows and pantomimes, was alleged as another motive for allowing such an infringement of their licensed monopoly-it was argued by the late Mr Sheridan, that all sentiment for legitimate drama had perished in this country-that the proprietors had been unwillingly urged to this miserable degradation of the stage by the unanimous call of the public; and that the failure of De Montfort was a sufficient evidence of the corruption of the public taste.* The two parts of Ethwald, are Tragedies on Ambition ;-they form the history of an imaginary Sovereign, whose existence this great dramatist has feigned during the half-civilized, half-barbarous times of the Heptarchy, with such a persuasive truth of sentiment, of manners, and of character, as almost to induce the reader to seek in the pages of authentic history for the records of her hero's actions. From this play we shall make our extracts, and lay before our readers a selection of scenes from the first part of Ethwald, containing the fate of the gentle and guileless Bertha, the object of that love which Ethwald sacrificed to ambition. Ethwald, a stripling, the younger son of an inferior Thane, is discovered leaning against a pillar, in a small apartment of his father's castle. After a pause, he comes forward. Is it delusion this? Or wears the mind of man within itself Of vivid real persuasion, as do make And my dilating form tower on its way? As doth the heavy, dense, sulphureous air (Pulling up the sleeve of his garment, and baring his right arm from the shoulder.) A firmer strung, a stronger arm than this, Own'd ever valiant chief of ancient story? And lacks my soul within, what should impel it? Ah! but occasion, like th' unveiling moon, Which calls the advent'rer forth, did shine Mr Kemble always attributed this failure to the bad acting of the performer who 'played Rezenvelt. And who was wont to tell thee, when a boy, Of all the bloody wars of furious Penda? E'en now he is at work before the gate, With heaps of pliant rushes round him strew'd; In which birds, dogs, and children roll and nestle, Whilst, crouching by his side, with watch ful eye The playful kitten marks each trembling rush As he entwists his many circling bands. Nay, men and matrons, too, around him flock, And Ethelbert, low seated on a stone, Eth. This magic girdle will compel thy steps. (Bertha's face changes immediately; she bursts into tears, and turns away to conceal it.) Eth. (Soothing her.) My gentle Bertha ! Little foolish maid! Why fall those tears? Wilt thou not look on me? Dost thou not know I am a wayward man, Sullen by fits, but meaning no unkindness? Ber. O, thou wert wont to make the hall rejoice, And clear the gloomy face of dark December! Eth. And will, perhaps, again. Cheer up, my love! (Assuming a cheerful voice.) I saw him by his sovereign stand, And O, how graceful! every eye to him Was turn'd, and ev'ry face smiled honours on him; Yet his proud station quickly did he leave, To greet his humbler friends who stood aloof. The meanest follower of these walls, already Some mark of kind acknowledgment hath had He look'd not up-I am alone forgotten! Sig. Be patient, child: he will not long delay To seek thee in thy modest privacy; Approving more to see thee here retired, Than, boldly to the army's eye exposed, Greeting his first approach. I, the mean while, Intrusted am with orders from the Thane, Which must not be neglected. (Exit.) (Bertha, after waiking up and down, agitated, and frequently stopping to listen.) Ah no! deceived again! I need not listen! No bounding steps approach. (She sits down despondingly. Enter Ethwald behind, and steals softly up to her.) Eth. Bertha ! Ber. (Starting up.) My Ethwald ! (He holds out his arms to her joyful. ly, and she bursts into tears.) Eth. Thou dost not grieve that I am safe return'd? Ber O no! I do not grieve, yet I must weep. Hast thou, in truth, been kind? I will not chide : I cannot do it now. Eth. O fie upon thee! like a wayward child To look upon me thus ! cheer up, my love. (He smiles upon her joyfully, and her countenance brightens. She then puts her hand upon his arm, and stepping back a little space, surveys him with delight.) Ber. Thou man of mighty deeds! Thou, whom the brave shall love, and princes honour! Dost thou, in truth, return to me again, Eth. No, that were paltry: I return to thee A thousandfold the lover thou hast known me. I have, of late, been careless of thee, Bertha. But now the enliv'ning breeze of fortune wakes My torpid soul-When did I ever fold thee To such a warm and bounding heart as this? (Embraces her.) The king has given me Mairneth's earldom Nay, smile, my Bertha ! Ber. So I do, my Ethwald. Eth. The noble Ethling greatly honours How once thou wert, within these happy walls, A little cheerful boy, with curly pate, Who led the infant Bertha by the hand, Storing her lap with every gaudy flower; With speckled eggs stol'n from the hedgeling's nest, And berries from the tree: ay, think on this, And then I know thou'lt love me! (Trumpet sounds-catching hold of him cagerly.) Hear'st thou that sound? the blessed saints preserve thee! Must thou depart so soon? Eth. Yes, of necessity: reasons of weight Constrain the king; and I, new in his service, Must seem to follow him with willing steps. But go thou with me to the castle gate, We will not part until the latest moment. Ber. Yet stop, I pray, thou must receive my pledge. See'st thou this woven band of many dyes, Like to a mottled snake? its shiny woof Was whiten'd in the pearly dew of eve, Beneath the silver moon; its varied warp Was dyed with potent herbs, at midnight cull'd. It hath a wond'rous charm: the breast that wears it No change of soft affection ever knows. Eth. (Receiving it with a smile.) I'll wear it, Bertha. (Trumpet sounds.) Hark! it calls me hence, Ber. O, go not yet! here is another gift. This ring, enrich'd with stone of basilisk, Whenever press'd by the kind wearer's hand, Presents the giver's image to his mind. Eth. (Receiving it.) Yes, and press it too. (Taking out a purse.) Eth. What! still another charm? (Laughing.) Thou simple maid! Ber. Nay, laugh, but wear them. (Putting them in his breast.) Here are they lodged, and cursed be the hand That plucks them forth! And now receive my pledge. It is a jewel of no vulgar worth: (Ties it on her arm.) Wear it, and think of me. But yet, belike, It must be steep'd into some wizard's pot, Or have some mystic rhyming mutter'd o'er it, Ere it will serve the turn. Ber. (Pressing the jewel on her arm.) O no! right well I feel there is no need. Eth. Come, let us go: we do not part, thou know'st, But at the castle gate. Cheer up, my Bertha! I'll soon return, and oft return again. (Exeunt.) Vol. II. page 143 to 148. But he does not return. Fortune smiles on the schemes of his ambition. The aged monarch dies; the young Edward, the lawful heir to the crown, is artfully dispossessed of his right: Ethwald, having usurped his power, is united to the daughter of the deceased king, the cold, the imperious, the cheerless Elburga; and it is not till she and her ladies are awaiting the approach of Ethwald to join in the coronation procession, that the tender and forgotten Bertha is again introduced. A song heard without. Ah, maiden! bear the biting smart, 1st Lady. 'Tis strangely melancholy. (Enter Bertha, with a wild unsettled air, and her hair scattered upon her shoulders. The ladies gather about her with curiosity.) 1st Lady. How fair she is! 2d Lady. Her eyes of lovely blue, Gentle but restless. Dost thou see that glance ? (To 1st Lady.) I fear to look upon her. Dwina. Fie, fie upon it! press not near her thus ; She seems offended: I will speak to her. (To Bertha.) Sweet lady, art thou sad? (Bertha looks steadfastly at her, then drops her head upon her breast and makes no answer.) We would be kind to thee. (Bertha then looks more gently on her, 1st Lady. Dost thou not speak, thou Ber. The night was dark. I met spirits on my way. They sung me sweet songs, but they were sorrowful. Drina. Ah, woe is me! and dost thou wander, then, In the dark night alone, no one to tend thee? Ber. When the moon's dark, I follow the night bird's cry, [Shrinks from Elburga, walking back- They say a royal dame has won his faith, As on my pressed breast he sits and groans. Dwina. What is thy name, sweet lady? Ber. (Rubbing her hand across her forehead as if trying to recollect) I had a name that kind friends called me by; And with a blessing did the holy man Bestow it on me. But I've wander'd far Through woods and wilds, and strangely on my head The numbing winds have beat, and I have lost it. Be not offended with me; For, lady, thou art gentle, and I fear thee. (Bowing submissively to Dwina.) Enter ETHELBERT. Eth. (To Dwina, after looking at Ber tha.) What maid is that so haggard and so wild? Distracted in her mind, who is in search, As she conceits it, of some faithless lover. She sings sweet songs of wildest harmony, And at the queen's command we led her in. Ethw. Seeking her love! distracted in her mind! Have any of my followers wrong'd her? Speak! If it be so, by righteous heaven, I swear! The man, whoe'er he be, shall dearly rue it. (Bertha shrieks again, and breaking through the crowd, runs up to Ethwald. He starts back, and covers his eyes with one hand, whilst she, catching hold of the other, presses it to her breast.) Ber. I've found thee now, and let the black fiend growl, I will not part with thee. I've follow'd thee Through crag and moor and wild. I've heard thy voice Sound from the dark hill's side, and follow'd thee. I've seen thee on the gath'ring twilight clouds, Ride with the stately spirits of the storm. But thou look'st sternly on me. O be not angry! I will kneel to thee; For thou art glorious now, as I am told, And must have worship. (Kneeling and bowing her head meekly to the ground.) Eth. (Turning away.) O God! O God! where art thou, Ethelbert ? Thou might'st have saved me this. (Looking round and seeing that Ethelbert weeps, he also becomes softened, and turns to Bertha with great emotion.) Ber. They say she's fair and glorious; woe is me! I am but form'd as simple maidens are, But scorn me not: I have a powerful spell, A Druid gave it me, which on mine arm When once enclasp'd, will make me fair as she ; So thou wilt turn to me. Eth. O Ethelbert! I pray thee pity me! This sight doth move me, e'en to agony. Remove her hence; but O deal gently with her! (Ethelbert endeavours again to lead her off, and the ladies crowd about her. She is then carried out, and is heard to scream as they are carrying her.) Vol. II. pp. 221-227. We omit the splendid conclusion of the first part of Ethwald, and many passages of extraordinary beauty, to present to our readers a short extract from the concluding scene of the ty rant's life, descriptive of the jealous apprehensions of his wakeful night. It possesses an earnestness and a reality that we never remember to have seen surpassed. The Queen is watch |