Britain ... - Blue-Lite

168 THE DEVOTED ONE. [Act III.
That hated brother's son ? Ere long will I
My dark suspicions
or confirm or end :
Let them be true or false, no rest for me
Till this new favourite of the court I've crushed. [Exit.
ULFMANDO.
And wherefore is Earl Godwin thoughtful grown ?
Comes joy not with thine honours ?
GODWIN.
Ha! Earl Godwin?
Why dost thou mock me ? Pardon, good my lord,
I did forget myself. Earl Godwin ! O,
Could but my father hear that blissful sound,
And gentle Edith, how their hearts would leap
With joy to hail my glory ! Ah
!
sweet maid,
Thou of my lofty greatness oft mayst hear,
But not behold, for meet" we must no more !
My
soul is in a whirlwind tossed and torn
With fiercely struggling passions. [ Aside.
ULFMANDO.
Art thou sad
To hear me name my sister for thy spouse ?
Though she hath beauty, and an ample dower
Might claim a princely bridegroom, yet if thou
The pledge of my full gratitude decline,
Still I must be thy friend.
GODWIN.
Decline, my
Should I refuse and scorn a gift so bright,
I were more fit to be a slave, than stand
Honoured in Honour's presence.
lord ?
No, my lords,
I'll never prove ungrateful. Why, by Heaven,
Greatness, which should ennoble, makes me base,
Ay, a base lying
villain ! for to Edith