English

The beating of the guns grows louder.
" Not long, boys, now. "
My heart burns whiter, fearfuller, prouder.
Hurricanes grow
As guns redouble their fire.
Through the shaken periscope peeping,
I glimpse their wire:
Black earth, fountains of earth rise, leaping,
Spouting like shocks of meeting waves.
Death's fountains are playing.
Shells like shrieking birds rush over;
Crash and din rises higher.
A stream of lead raves
Over us from the left ... (we safe under cover!)
Crash! Reverberation! Crash!

In the raftered barn we lie,
Sprawl, scrawl postcards, laugh and speak —
Just mere men a trifle weary,
Worn in heart, a trifle weak:
Because alway
At close of day
Thought steals to England far away. . . .
" Alf! " " O ay. "
" Gi' us a tune, mate. " " Well, wot say? "
" Swipe " The Policeman's 'Oliday" ... "
" Tiddle-iddle-um-tum,
Tum - TUM . "

Sprawling on my aching back,
Think Inought; but I am glad —
Dear, rare lads of pick and pack!
Aie me too! I'm sad ... I'm sad:

Scene VI.

Enter E DRICK , C EFRID , K ENELM , H AROLD , and Lords.

CANUTUS.

Hell-hound! come on.
There turn thine eyes — survey that ghastly form —
Bring all his gen'rous actions to thy view.
Think — tremble and despair.

EDRICK.

I own the deed.

CANUTUS.

Dost thou avow it, Villain? Yon bright stars

Scene V.

Enter C EFRID .

CEFRID.

Where is my King?

CANUTUS.

There, Cefrid, — dead to all his people's prayers.

CEFRID.

Then all my fears are true.

CANUTUS.

What fears?

CEFRID.

Vile Edrick;

Scene IV.

Enter C ANUTUS and Attendants.

CANUTUS.

In tears, my Princess? what unseemly sorrow
Presumes to violate the sacred day,
That gives thee to my faithful vows?

EMMA.

Behold!

CANUTUS.

My Friend, why art thou thus?

EMMA.

Bear hence the Queen;
With tender care recall her wand'ring sense.

Scene III.

Enter E LGIVA and Emma a attended.

ELGIVA.

Auspicious day, be thou for ever held
Sacred in Britain! Emma — never more
Shall desolation scourge the ruin'd land,
Or discord tear my Edmand from these arms.

EMMA.

But my Canutus —

ELGIVA.

He is truly noble!
The Hero shines distinguish'd in each action.

Scene II.

Enter E DMUND .

EDMUND.

I sought thee, Edrick,
Now when each heart expands with happiness,
When the poor slave of sickness feebly wears
A transitory smile, wilt thou alone,
Thou, my Companion, Brother, dearest Friend,
Stand sadly brooding o'er forgotten ills.

EDRICK, ( aside )

O Virtue! pow'rful is thy influence;
E'en Envy seels thy charms, I almost wish

ACT V.

Scene I. — Gloucester Castle.

Enter EDRICK.

Displeas'd with bounded power, sad, tho' in Heaven,
Angels through envy sinn'd, and were accurs'd,
Am I like them? — Yon scene of joy and love
Stings me to madness. Would their cups were poison;
Their music, spells of baleful conjuration!
Now will the Dane be Edmund's bosom-friend;
His rugged soul foils all my artifice.
My ruin then is certain. Allwyn too

Scene V.

Enter E DMUND and C ANUTUS .

EDMUND.

My Elgiva?

ELGIVA.

The voice of Edmund!

EDMUND.

Check thy anxious fears,
And give thy hand, the tender sign of Friendship,
To great Canutus, who restores thine Edmund,
Whate'er his sword hath gain'd.

CANUTUS.

Oh! royal Lady!

Scene IV. — The Castle.

Enter ELGIVA.

I would entreat for Edmund, could I frame
My scatter'd thoughts to holy offices.
Should the Dane conquer, what remains for me
But to inter the honourable corse,
With pious rites, then close my eyes for ever?
But ah! my Child! could I abandon him
To the stern frown of callous Arrogance,
Grown mighty by his ruin!

Enter EDRICK.

Oh! my Sister!
Death has been busy on yon fatal plain.