Britain ... - Blue-Lite

206 THE DEVOTED ONE. [Act IV.
The hope and staff of my declining years,
A loving father's prayers shall oft invoke
The shadow of 28
thy presence. ( )
WALDIMAR.
Dearest parents !
Where'er my disembodied spirit roam,
If to the regions of the golden sun,
Where night nor shadow yet hath found a home,
And in their undecaying beauty bloom
The flowers of paradise ;
if doomed to ride
The struggling whirlwind with eternal darkness,
Still shall I think of you with filial love.
With honour and due reverence. Heaven protect
And bless you, bless you both ! A thousand thoughts
Rush to my dying heart, but not a word
Gives to them utterance. Then farewell for ever !
ERMINGILD.
He nobly will become that lofty station
The gods have destined for him. Rouse thyself.
Come, be not so cast down. We shall, ere
long,
Behold him in his glory.
ZANDAGAST.
Ah ! no more
Shall I behold my boy, my gallant boy !
My soul can not endure eternal parting
With one so dear in this un warlike guise.
I'll call him back. Ho, Waldimar ! Return
To thy sad father's arms ! I'll hold thee fast,
[Exit.
Fast to my heart, nor earth nor heaven shall part us !
ERMINGILD,
Forbear, Lord Zandagast. If thou persist
In this unmanly weakness, all the gods
Will rain down curses on thee.