Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene I.]
THE VARANGIAN.
EDGAR.
My gracious sovereign, I confess my crime,
And to thine abler hands resign for aye
The diadem of England. In return,
Grant me : thy pardon then a long farewell
To these loved shores I'll bid, and on the plains
4
Of Palestine till
fight bravely I die ( ?)
For the blest Sepulchre, against the fierce
Blood-drinking Saracen.
KING (raising him.)
Once more we take
Thee to our heart, and be oblivion flung
O'er all thine errors past.
FITZ-ROLLO (aside to the King.)
Better it were
That he should die a traitor's death, than hazard
What may betide hereafter.
KING (to Fitz-Rollo.J
Fitz-Rollo, no;
We scorn to take the life of one so meek,
A dying faction's tool ; while to the world
Such clemency shall o'er our sternness past
Shine like the rainbow wings of Peace, when from
The parting storm she strews the earth with flowers.
Rebellion now shall perish, like a stream
Whose fountain is dried up, nor ever more
Its turbulent and crimson billows roll
Through
this war-harassed land.
Enter Hereward and Saxon Soldiers.
HEREWARD.
Ho, ye base, hireling slaves ! ye
coward fools !
That yield your throats to yon fell slayer's knife,