Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene II.] THE VARANGIAN. 315
And lofty rank a nameless slave would scorn,
Even as the kingly mountain-bird disdains
To combat with the simple-singing wren.
HEREWARD.
The days have been, that in the embattled field
Victory her banner o'er my knightly crest
To shout of armies waved ; and though my fame
Behind the heavy clouds of bondage lie,
111 dash those clouds aside, and make the world
Start at its sudden glory !
Who is this chieftain of baronial pride ?
And what the name he bears ?
JUDITH.
Must I pronounce it ?
MATILDA (aside to the Countess. )
That he will falter be not you afraid.
O, I can to his heart-core pierce, and read
Undaunted resolution written there
In characters of blood, plain as I see
The fires of his dark eye. Mark, how they flash,
Like summer lightning from the clouds of eve
Along the dim horizon. We shall hear
The thunder rolling shortly.
JUDITH.
Yes,
I must
His hated name pronounce, or, Cardoc, thou
Wouldst in thy guessings, like a blind man, err,
Nor ever find the pathway to revenge ;
For, as thou art a Briton, he must be
Thy foe as well as mine. It is my husband
HEREWARD ( aside.)
Thy husband ? Heaven confound thy dark intents,
Thou base, and bloody-minded Norman wife !