Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene I.] THE ENGLISH SLAVE. 9
I may be torn to-morrow from thine arms.
And in the market sold to some new lord ;
Or, by men-stealers borne beyond the seas,
Pine in far-distant lands. 8
( )
EDITHA.
O,
My heart, wert thou sold from me.
ALBERT.
it would break
Another passion stirs within this bosom.
Where is Elfilia?
EDITHA.
In the forest, boy,
Keeping our herd of swine.
ALBERT.
Ay, and now
O, how I love
No words can tell how much I love that maid,
Who to our cottage came one stormy night,
And craved to share with us a home of bondage.
Her eye, when on its lashes hangs a tear,
Is like the azure violet, full of dew.
Her beauty Pshaw ! I'm barren of all words
When I would praise her. Soon I'll make her mine.
A powerful spur is that to urge me on
To freedom's happy goal ;
for while a slave
Were she my wife, this Earl might tear her from me,
And sell her to some merchant, cursed thought !
Mother adieu ! Til to thine arms return,
And thou no more shalt call thy son a slave.
I will be free free from this galling badge,
Or we, dear mother, ne'er shall meet again. [Exit.
EDITHA.
Ah, I do love him e'en as if he were