Percy Part 6

I live, I am return'd--am near Elwina!

Seest thou those turrets? Yes, that castle holds her; But wherefore tell thee this? for thou hast seen her.

How look'd, what said she? Did she hear the tale Of my imagin'd death without emotion?

_Sir H._ Percy, thou hast seen the musk-rose, newly blown, Disclose its bashful beauties to the sun, Till an unfriendly, chilling storm descended, Crush'd all its blus.h.i.+ng glories in their prime, Bow'd its fair head, and blasted all its sweetness; So droop'd the maid beneath the cruel weight Of my sad tale.

_Per._ So tender and so true!

_Sir H._ I left her fainting in her father's arms, The dying flower yet hanging on the tree.

Even Raby melted at the news I brought, And envy'd thee thy glory.

_Per._ Then I am blest!

His hate subdued, I've nothing more to fear.

_Sir H._ My emba.s.sy dispatch'd, I left the castle, Nor spoke to any of Lord Raby's household, For fear the king should chide the tardiness Of my return. My joy to find you living You have already heard.

_Per._ But where is Harcourt?

Ere this he should have seen her, told her all, How I surviv'd, return'd--and how I love!

I tremble at the near approach of bliss, And scarcely can sustain the joy which waits me.

_Sir H._ Grant, Heaven, the fair one prove but half so true!

_Per._ O she is truth itself!

_Sir H._ She may be chang'd, Spite of her tears, her fainting, and alarms.

I know the s.e.x, know them as nature made 'em, Not such as lovers wish and poets feign.

_Per._ To doubt her virtue were suspecting Heaven, 'Twere little less than infidelity!

And yet I tremble. Why does terror shake These firm-strung nerves? But 'twill be ever thus, When fate prepares us more than mortal bliss, And gives us only human strength to bear it.

_Sir H._ What beam of brightness breaks through yonder gloom?

_Per._ Hubert--she comes! by all my hopes, she comes!

'Tis she--the blissful vision is Elwina!

But ah! what mean those tears?--She weeps for me!

O transport!--go.--I'll listen un.o.bserv'd, And for a moment taste the precious joy, The banquet of a tear which falls for love.

[_exit Sir Hubert. Percy goes into the bower._

_Enter Elwina._

Shall I not weep? and have I then no cause?

If I could break the eternal bands of death, And wrench the sceptre from his iron grasp; If I could bid the yawning sepulchre Restore to life its long committed dust; If I could teach the slaughtering hand of war To give me back my dear, my murder'd Percy, Then I indeed might once more cease to weep.

[_Percy comes out of the bower._

_Per._ Then cease, for Percy lives.

_Elw._ Protect me, Heaven!

_Per._ O joy unspeakable! My life, my love!

End of my toils, and crown of all my cares!

Kind as consenting peace, as conquest bright, Dearer than arms, and lovelier than renown!

_Elw._ It is his voice--it is, it is, my Percy!

And dost thou live?

_Per._ I never liv'd till now.

_Elw._ And did my sighs, and did my sorrows, reach thee?

And art thou come at last to dry my tears?

How did'st thou 'scape the fury of the foe?

_Per._ Thy guardian genius hover'd o'er the field, And turn'd the hostile spear from Percy's breast, Lest thy fair image should be wounded there.

But Harcourt should have told thee all my fate, How I surviv'd----

_Elw._ Alas! I have not seen him.

Oh! I have suffer'd much.

_Per._ Of that no more; For every minute of our future lives Shall be so bless'd, that we will learn to wonder How we could ever think we were unhappy.

_Elw._ Percy--I cannot speak.

_Per._ Those tears how eloquent!

I would not change this motionless, mute, joy For the sweet strains of angels: I look down With pity on the rest of human kind, However great may be their fame of happiness, And think their n.i.g.g.ard fate has given them nothing, Not giving thee; or, granting some small blessing, Denies them my capacity to feel it.

_Elw._ Alas! what mean you?

_Per._ Can I speak my meaning?

'Tis of such magnitude that words would wrong it; But surely my Elwina's faithful bosom Should beat in kind responses of delight, And feel, but never question, what I mean.

_Elw._ Hold, hold, my heart, thou hast much more to suffer!

_Per._ Let the slow form, and tedious ceremony, Wait on the splendid victims of ambition.

Love stays for none of these. Thy father's soften'd, He will forget the fatal Cheviot chace; Raby is brave, and I have serv'd my country; I would not boast, it was for thee I conquer'd; Then come, my love.

_Elw._ O never, never, never!

_Per._ Am I awake? Is that Elwina's voice?

_Elw._ Percy, thou most ador'd, and most deceiv'd!

If ever fort.i.tude sustain'd thy soul, When vulgar minds have sank beneath the stroke, Let thy imperial spirit now support thee.-- If thou canst be so wond'rous merciful, Do not, O do not, curse me!--but thou wilt, Thou must--for I have done a fearful deed, A deed of wild despair, a deed of horror.

I am, I am--

_Per._ Speak, say, what art thou?

_Elw._ Married!

_Per._ Oh!

_Elw._ Percy, I think I begg'd thee not to curse me; But now I do revoke the fond pet.i.tion.

Speak! ease thy bursting soul; reproach, upbraid, O'erwhelm me with thy wrongs----I'll bear it all.