And O, how graceful! every eye to him
Was turn'd, and every face smil'd honours on him;
Yet his proud station quickly did he leave
To greet his humbler friends who stood aloof.
The meanest follower of these walls, already,
Some mark of kind acknowledgment hath had—
He look'd not up—I am alone forgotten!
Sig. Be patient, child: he will not long delay
To seek thee in thy modest privacy;
Approving more to see thee here retired
Than, boldly to the army's eye exposed,
Greeting his first approach. I, the mean while,
Intrusted am with orders from the Thane,
Which must not be neglected.(Exit.
(Bertha, after walking up and down, agitated and frequently stopping to listen.)
No bounding steps approach.
(She sits down despondingly. Enter Ethwald behind, and steals softly up to her.)
Ethw. Bertha!
Berth. (starting up) My Ethwald! (he holds out his arms to her joyfully, and she bursts into tears.)
Ethw. Thou dost not grieve that I am safe return'd?
Berth. O no! I do not grieve, yet I must weep.
Hast thou, in truth, been kind? I will not chide:
I cannot do it now.
Ethw. O, fie upon thee! like a wayward child
To look upon me thus! cheer up, my love.
