Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene I.] THE DEVOTED ONE. 165
The poor ambition of those northern kings,
Whose highest fame is plunder and destruction.
I would be great ay, truly, nobly great !
And though my rising be overcast and dimmed
With lurid clouds of blood, shine forth 1 shall
In all those princely virtues which make kings
The representatives of God on earth ;
And ere I set, the glory of my reign
In blessings shall outspread o'er many nations.
EDRIC (aside.)
This King, with all his power, is but a fool !
Make others blest ! Let me be blest myself,
And I reck not on whom misfortune lights.
He that on man showers benefits, doth cast
Seed on a naked rock, or in a soil
Where nothing springs but rank ingratitude.
Ha !
Enter Ulfmando, and Godwin in a rich habit.
CANUTE.
art thou not the shadow of thyself
Risen from the grave, my brother ? Mortal still
I feel thou art. A thousand welcomes home !
We deemed thee on our day of victory fallen :
What caused so long thine absence ?
ULFMANDO.
I was lost.
The foe pursuing in dim Selwood's forest ;
From whence I had not 'scaped this tale to tell,
But for a faithful friend.
In us a friend ;
CANUTE.
That friend shall find
and if his fortunes need