'Tis late; the lights of festival are ever 49 Quench'd in the morn.

Ludolph. "T is not to-morrow then?
Sigifred. 'Tis early dawn.
Gersa.

We'll have her presently; ay, you shall see her,

And wonder at her, friends, she is so fair; She is the world's chief jewel, and, by heaven,

She's mine by right of marriage! — she is mine !

Patience, good people, in fit time I send
A summoner, - she will obey my call,
Being a wife most mild and dutiful.
First I would hear what music is prepared
To herald and receive her; let me hear!
Sigifred. Bid the musicians soothe him
tenderly.

80

[A soft strain of Music. Ludolph. Ye have none better? am content;

No, I

Say you so, Prince ?

Full and majestic; it is well enough,
And will be sweeter, when you see her pace
Sweeping into this presence, glistened o'er
With emptied caskets, and her train upheld
By ladies, habited in robes of lawn,
Sprinkled with golden crescents, others
bright

In silks, with spangles shower'd, and bow'd

to

By Duchesses and pearled Margravines! Sad, that the fairest creature of the earth

I pray you mind me not 't is sad, I say, That the extremest beauty of the world Should so entrench herself away from me, Behind a barrier of engender'd guilt! 2d Lady. Ah! what a moan! 1st Knight.

89

Most piteous indeed! Ludolph. She shall be brought before this

company,

And then-then

1st Lady. He muses. Gersa.

end?

O, Fortune, where will this

Sigifred. I guess his purpose! Indeed he must not have

And take the flattering freshness of the air,

While the wide din of battle dies away
Into times past, yet to be echoed sure
In the silent pages of our chroniclers.

1st Knight. Will Stephen's death be mark'd there, my good Lord, Or that we gave him lodging in yon towers? Glocester. Fain would I know the great usurper's fate.

Enter two Captains severally.

1st Captain. My Lord! 2d Captain.