Britain ... - Blue-Lite

398 THE VARANGIAN. [Act V.
Live with eternal years. Ha, Edgar ! Edgar !
Hast thou cast off thy fame, thy friends, thy country ?
Nay, then the lamb hath sought the prowling wolf,
The dove flown to the falcon for protection ;
And thou wilt be the next to learn how kind
The gentle mercies are of yonder Duke.
KIXG.
Peace, foul tongued slanderer ! peace,
Our rigour was the offspring of your treason.
But 'tis not king-beseeming parley thus
To hold with rebels. Down, ye
audacious slave !
traitorous herd !
Down with your weapons, and conditionless
Submit to us your sovereign.
HEREWARD.
Never yet
Have I to thee, Duke William, sworn allegiance,
Or owned thee, thou
blood-sceptred chief, my King ;
Nor will I homage pay thee, but with those,
Whose noble hearts love their poor country still,
it out ! !
Fight, bravely fight Ho
ye that yet
Will draw a sword for England, follow me !
[Exeunt Hereward and Soldiers.
[The Saooons who had joined the King rush 1
off,
shouting,
ward r
"A Hereward! England and Here-
FITZ-ROLLO.
Now comes the fight, for which so long Fve sighed
Like a fond lover for the bridal hour.
'Tis not becoming thee, sir King, to draw
Thy sword against these vile brigands and slaves ;
Let me, I pray, meet the Varangian dog,
And I his heart will bring thee to thy tent.