Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene I.]
THE VARANGIAN.
To such a hopeless cause, when I have sworn
Allegiance to the King ? 'Tis a base plot !
It must be base, or that ungrateful herd
Of Normans had not joined it.
JUDITH.
Good my lord,
Why muse you
Reflect not on the past.
WALTHEOF.
He who from manhood's prime begins to wane,
thus with sorrow-troubled brow ?
Loves oft, with thoughts of mingled grief and joy,
To turn the leaves of memory, there to read
The tale of years departed, when o'er youth
Wild dreams of future fame and glory flung
Their morning splendours, brightened to full day,
Or faded, like the eve-sky's thronging pomps,
In darkness and despair,
To mark how many, once well known and loved,
Shall ne'er be known again, with all those scenes
Of sunshine and of storm through which we have passed
The actors on life's
stage. Judith, dismiss
Thy handmaid from thy presence.
MATILDA (aside.)
And nurse thy seedling wit ! To
Folly bless thee,
what tends all
This sober homily ? Would such a fool
But take the cowl, it were a joyous riddance.
JUDITH.
[Exit.
Thy words, my lord, veer widely from thy thoughts ;
These are of present things things of high moment :
I've not beheld thee so o'erwhelmed before.
Give me to know the cause.