Britain ... - Blue-Lite

362 THE VARANGIAN. [Act III.
Is it rank treason to declare her crown
Hath from the anointed brows of her loved prince,
Her Darling, by vile hands been rudely plucked
To grace a bastard robber ? Is it treason
To say the lawless sword hath long been drunk
With England^s noblest blood ? that her sad widows
And orphans 'mid the ashes of their homes
Lamenting sit, and to the angry heavens
Cry out for vengeance ? O, if thus to speak
Treason be deemed, then boldly I proclaim
Such treasons to the world ! Even on the necks,
The necks of Normans, hath the tyrant laid
His iron yoke ; but these our brave compeers
Have dashed it off, and will obedience yield
To some more rightful prince, whose gentle sway
Shall heal our country's bleeding wounds, and bid
Saxons and Normans henceforth live in peace.
ABBOT.
Behold him, then ! Sound, sound the warlike trump !
Hail to the King ! and long live " England's Darling F
[A grandflourish. The folding doors behind the
Abbot are suddenly flung open, and discover
Edgar seated on a throne, with the crown of
England on a cushion by his side, and surrounded
by attendants and the ensigns of royalty.
The conspirators all shout, whileWaltheof
appears confounded with astonishment. The
Abbot leads Edgar forward, the crown borne
before him.
WALTHEOF.
I am overwhelmed ! Wine, wonder, hope,
Of darker evils, make my dizzy brain
and fear
Whirl round and round. Is it indeed loved Edgar ?