Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene II.] THE ENGLISH SLAVE. 61
bitter tempest, too. Every thunder-clap seems to din in
our ears, ""Pis a most unmanly act.
FIRST ROBBER.
Pshaw ! never let honour be upon thy lips again,
when disobedience to orders sticks at thy fingers' ends.
Our commands were to kill her in this forest, and bury
her immediately.
Well, then, to business,
SECOND ROBBER.
since it must be so.
[Drawing his poniard.
FIRST ROBBER.
Stay ; we'll fasten her to this tree, and by the glimpses
of the lightning make her a fair mark for our
arrows I'll wager half my share of the next night's
booty, that I hit her in the heart with the first shaft.
ELFILIA (reviving.)
O, mercy, mercy ! Spare, O, spare my life !
FIRST ROBBER.
Thy prayers are vain. Our captain commanded us
to dispatch thee in this forest, and we never dispute his
orders. Reward is all we have to look to.
ELFILIA.
O think on that reward, which from the throne
Of Heaven's Almighty justice is dispensed
To the relentless murderer ! Hear ye not
His voice, who made the world and all its creatures ?
Mark, how in dreadful thunder it forbids
This most inhuman deed; while every flash
That your terrific forms to me reveals,
Is but the pale reflection of that vengeance,
Which at the hour of death shall be outpoured
In crimson cataracts on the soul of him,
Who dares to plunge his hand in guiltless blood !