(Paces rapidly up and down, and then stopping short.)
Can there be virtue in penances suffered by the body to do away offences of the soul? If there be—O if there be! let them runnel my body with stripes, and swaith me round in one continued girth of wounds! Any thing that can be endured here is mercy compared to the dreadful abiding of what may be hereafter.
Enter Wovelreid behind, followed by Soldiers, who range themselves at the bottom of the stage. Osterloo, turning round, runs up to him eagerly.
Ha! my dear Albert, returned to me again, with all my noble fellows at thy back.Pardon me, I mistook you for one of my Captains.
Wov. I am the Prior's Captain.
Ost. And those men too?
Wov. They are the Prior's soldiers, who have been ordered from distant quarters to repair to the monastery immediately.
Ost. In such haste!
Wov. Aye, in truth: we received our orders after sun-set, and have marched two good leagues since.
Ost. What may this mean?
Wov. Faith, I know not. My duty is to obey the Prior, and pray to our good saint; and whether I am commanded to surprise the strong-
