410
KING STEPHEN.
Into times past, yet to be echoed sure
In the silent pages of our chroniclers.
In the silent pages of our chroniclers.
1st Knight. Will Stephen's death be mark'd there, my good Lord,
Or that we gave him lodging in yon towers?
Or that we gave him lodging in yon towers?
Glocester. Fain would I know the great usurper's fate.
Enter two Captains severally.
1st Captain. My lord!
2d Captain. Most noble Earl!
1st Captain. The King—
2d Captain.The Empress greets—
Glocester. What of the King?
1st Captain.He sole and lone maintains
A hopeless bustle 'mid our swarming arms,
And with a nimble savageness attacks,
Escapes, makes fiercer onset, then anew
Eludes death, giving death to most that dare
Trespass within the circuit of this sword!
He must by this have fallen. Baldwin is taken;
And for the Duke of Bretagne, like a stag
He flies, for the Welsh beagles to hunt down.
God save the Empress.
A hopeless bustle 'mid our swarming arms,
And with a nimble savageness attacks,
Escapes, makes fiercer onset, then anew
Eludes death, giving death to most that dare
Trespass within the circuit of this sword!
He must by this have fallen. Baldwin is taken;
And for the Duke of Bretagne, like a stag
He flies, for the Welsh beagles to hunt down.
God save the Empress.
Glocester.Now our dreaded Queen:
What message from her Highness?
What message from her Highness?
2d Captain.Royal Maud.
From the throng'd towers of Lincoln hath look'd down,
Like Pallas from the walls of Ilion,
And seen her enemies havock'd at her feet.
She greets most noble Glocester from her heart,
From the throng'd towers of Lincoln hath look'd down,
Like Pallas from the walls of Ilion,
And seen her enemies havock'd at her feet.
She greets most noble Glocester from her heart,
