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148
ETHWALD:


Ethw. Come, let us go: we do not part thou know'st,
But at the castle gate. Cheer up, my Bertha!
I'll soon return, and oft return again.(Exeunt.


SCENE IV. An apartment in a royal castle. Enter Ethwald and Alwy, speaking as they enter.

Ethw. What peace! peace, say'st thou, with these glorious arms,
In conquest red, occasion bright'ning round us,
And smiling victory, with beck'ning hand,
Pointing to future fields of nobler strife,
With richer honours crown'd! What, on the face
Of such fair prospects draw the veil of peace!
Cold blasting peace! The blackest fiend of hell
Hath not a thought more dev'lish!

Alwy. It is, indeed, a flat unpleasant tale
For a young warriour's ear: but well hast thou
Improv'd the little term of bold occasion;
Thou wert short while old Mollo's younger son,
Now art thou Mairnieth's lord.

Ethw. And what is Mairnieth's lordship! I will own
That, to my distant view, such state appear'd
A point of fair and noble eminence;
But now—what is it now? O! it has sunk
Into a petty knoll! I am as one
Who doth attempt some lofty mountain's height,
And having gained what to the upcast eye
The summit's point appear'd, astonish'd sees