Britain ... - Blue-Lite

148 THE DEVOTED ONE. [Act Tl.
So that my titles, wealth, and power remain ?
Censure and praise, brief shadows of an hour,
Ay, and hereafter obloquy and fame,
Although less fleeting, less substantial far,
Are equally my scorn. [Exit.
CANUTE.
By my
war-bracelet ! I Goes not with these dark u ; doings ( ) but my state,
protest my heart
My crown, my empire, all compel against
My better feelings. As I hope for heaven,
Hereafter deeds shall for this blood atone ;
And I will to all future ages leave
Memorials worthy of immortal Fame,
Who o'er them shall her golden sceptre wave,
Though the cold atoms which compose this form
Sleep where no mortal knows.
Edric, Turkeetul, T&olf-Iric,andEarls.
ZANDAGAST.
My sovereign lord, we thy commands await.
CANUTE.
Chieftains of England and of Denmark, learn
That Edmund is no more. His death makes void
The contract which divided England's crown,
And robbed it of its lustre. On our brows
That symbol now in full
refulgence shines,
And we will wear it
bravely. Gentle Earls,
To each, as doth his several merit claim,
We give high rule and power subordinate
O'er England's provinces.
Thou, Edric, still
Shalt be the Duke of Mercia ; thou, Turkeetul,
East-Anglia govern ;
and Northumberland,
Norwegian Iric of the magic sword,