Page:Miscellaneous Plays 1.pdf/55

Rh

SCENE I. ''A wood: dark night, with a pale gleam of distant lightning seen once or twice on the edge of the horizon. Advancing by the bottom of the stage, a few moving lights, as if from lanthorns, are seen and at the same time several signal-calls and loud whistles are heard, with the distant answer returned to them from another part of the wood: Enter Count Zaterloo, Rayner, Sebastian, and others of the band, armed, and a few of them bearing in their hands dark lanthorns. It is particularly requested if this play should ever be acted, that no light may be permitted upon the stage but that which proceeds from the lanterns only.''

They must be near: didst thou not hear their call?

Methought I did; but who in this wild wood May credit give to either eye or ear? How oft we've been deceiv'd with our own voices, From rocky precipice or hollow cave, 'Midst the confused found of rustling leaves, And creaking boughs, and cries of nightly birds, Returning seeming answer!

Rayner, where standest thou?