Britain ... - Blue-Lite

7 THE ENGLISH SLAVE. [Act IV.
Hold ! not so fast, my
RODERICK.
lord. I will be now
Rewarded amply paid for all I've done.
Be generous, then. Remember, mighty Thane,
I hold these struggling sleuth-hounds in the leash ;
If I but let them slip, they'll hunt thee down
To racks and infamy. Where will be then
The boasted glory of thy far-spread fame ?
GONDABERT.
Death and all horrid things are in the thought !
RODERICK.
Then sign
this parchment with thy mark and 37
seal, ( )
(I've had it long for this event prepared ,)
To me devolving half thy vast estates.
Do it, and I these dangerous boys will lodge
Safely within thy towers.
[Gondabert stands for some moments dumb with
rage and astonishment.
GONDABERT.
Give thee half my
RODERICK.
Or lose the whole. I'm weary of this life
Of blood and plunder, and would fain reform,
And pass my latter days an honest man.
An honest man ?
GONDABERT.
RODERICK.
Yes, plundering,
An honest man I should be, did I wrest,
Ay, every foot of thy possessions from thee.
I am of British blood, and all thou claim'st
Did my forefathers through a glorious line
Justly inherit : thine, a Saxon race
estates ?
murderous miser !