Britain ... - Blue-Lite

134 THE DEVOTED ONE. [Act I.
That from the forest to my window come.
O, then no more talk thou to me of courts,
For I will make these woods my home for ever.
WULFNOTH.
Thou, Edith, art the daughter of Gunhilda,
Who was the sister of Canute's brave sire :
Meet therefore 'tis thy beauty find that state
So justly to thy noble birthright due,
And shine, protected by a sovereign's power,
The ornament of courts. I have concealed
From Godwin thy descent, lest, knowing well
His lofty thoughts, he might aspire to win
Thee for his bride, and make thy princely claims
The steps to his ambition.
EDITH.
So have I,
Lest it should place me at too great a distance,
And on the blossoms of his tender hopes,
Like winter's lagging frost on early flowers,
Fall blightingly. Ah, pray forgive in sooth
We love each other dearly, very dearly.
WULFNOTH.
Then doubly neeedful is it thou shouldst leave
My poor protection,
that so rich a flower
Should be transplanted from this desert soil,
To bloom beneath the sunshine and the care
Of kindred royalty.
EDITH.
Ah ! to be crushed
With every bud of hope by those fierce storms
That beat on dangerous greatness.
For such art thou to Edith, let me still
Dear, my father,
Dwell here with thee, till Godwin shall again