Page:Representative American plays.pdf/134

Rh Mary. A pliglit of faith: A vow to live or die,

Each for the other. Alice. Lost, lost girl.

Mary. Why, ay,

It may be so ; if so, 't is Heaven's will.

You have my secret, Alice.

{Enter from the House, Ravensworth and Walford.)

Alice. Peace; our fathers.

{They retire into house.) Rav. No, Walford, no : I have no charity For what you term the weakness of our

nature. The soul should rise above it. It was this That made the fathers of this land pre- vail, When man and the elements opposed,

and win Their heritage from the heathen. Walf. True ; the times

Impos'd a virtue, almost superhuman. But surely, the necessity is pass'd For trampling on our nature. Rav. We have grown

Luke-warm in zeal, degenerate in

spirit ; — I would root out with an unsparing hand. The weeds that choke the soil; — pride

and rank luxury Spring up around us; — alien sectaries. Spite of the whip and axe, infest our

limits ; Bold infidelity, dark sorcery — Walf. Nay,

Nay, Ravensworth — Rav. I tell thee, Walford, yea :

The powers of darkness are at work

among us. Not distant we have seen the fagot blaze, And soon the stake may ask its victim here. Walf. What victim point you at ? Rav. Turn your eye — thither

Upon yon haughty mansion — you have heard?— Walf. Much idle rumour. Rav. Do you deem it so.

Whence then, and who is this imperious

dame, That holds herself above her fellow crea- tures, And scorns our church's discipline: her

means — Her business here? Walf. The ignorant and envious

May find. ir» her superior intellect —

E'en in her ample wealth and proud re- serve ' Food for their hate, and therefore their

suspicion ; But for us, Ravensworth — Rav. No more, ere long,

These questions must be answer'd. Walf. Be it so ;

I shall be ready in all lawful ways To seek the truth. Rav. 'T is well, we soon may need you.

What public tidings hear you? Walf. That King Philip

Our savage foe, after his late defeat. Has gained his rocky hold, where he now

lies. With scarce a fragment of his former force. Rav. Where are our troops? Walf. They watch the enemy.

Rav. They should have followed up their victory^, To the extermination of the heathen. — Has there aught chanc'd in the village? Walf. There have aiTived

Two persons from the court of Charles. Rav. More vanity!

What do they here? Walf. The elder, it is said.

Brings letters to the government.

{Crosses.)

Rav. Charles Stuart,

Is gTOwing much concern'd about the

people His family have scourg'd, hunted and

driven From shed and shelter in their native

land. We needs must thank that most paternal

care, That, when the expos'd infant climbs to

manhood Comes for the first time, then, to claim his service. Walf. You broach a startling topic^ But the day wears — Fare thee well, Ravensworth, Rav. Farewell, farewell,

(Exit Walford.) Timid, weak-minded man.

(Enter Mary, from House.)

Come hither, daughter. Mary. Father! {Bunning to him.)

Rav, What mean these tears?

Mary, I cannot check them.

Rav, They do displease me, tears can only flow