Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 2.djvu/14

 Cloister, Cartesmunda breaks out into the following beautiful exclamation:


 * The raging foe pursues, defend us Heaven!
 * Take virgin tears, the balm of martyr'd saints
 * As tribute due, to thy tribunal throne;
 * With thy right hand keep us from rage and murder
 * Let not our danger fright us, but our sins;
 * Misfortunes touch our bodies, not our souls.

When Canutus advances, and first sees Cartesmunda, his speech is poetical, and conceived in the true spirit of Tragedy.


 * Ha! who holds my conquering hand? what
 * power unknown,
 * By magic thus transforms me to a statue,
 * Senseless of all the faculties of life?
 * My blood runs back, I have no power to strike;
 * Call in our guards and bid 'em all give o'er.
 * Sheath up your swords with me, and cease to
 * kill:
 * Her angel beauty cries, she must not die,
 * Nor live but mine: O I am strangely touch'd!
 * Methinks I lift my sword, againft myself,
 * When I oppose her—all perfection!
 * O see! the pearled dew drops from her eyes;
 * Arise in peace, sweet soul.

In the same scene the following is extremely beautiful.


 * I'm struck with lightening from the torrid zone;
 * Stand all between me, and that flaming sun!
 * Go Erkinwald, convey her to my tent.
 * Let her be guarded with more watchful eyes
 * Than heaven has stars :
 * If here she stay I shall consume to death,
 * 'Tis time can give my passions remedy,

Art