Dar'st thou to front me thus? Thy foolish pride,
Like the mock loftiness of mimick greatness,
Makes us contemned in the public eye,
And my tight rule more hateful. Get thee hence;
And be with hooded nuns a gorgeous saint,
For know, thou lackest meekness for a queen.
(Elb. seems much alarmed, but at the same time walks from him with great assumed haughtiness, and exit.)
Ethw. (alone.) This woman racks me to the very pitch!
Where I should look for gentle tenderness,
There find I heartless pride. Ah! there was one
Who would have sooth'd my troubles! there was one
Who would have cheer'dBut wherefore think I now?
(pausing thoughtfully.)
Elburga has of late been to my will
More pliant, oft assuming gentle looks:
What may this mean? under this alter'd guise
What treach'ry lurks?(pausing again for some time.)
And yet it should not be:
Her greatness must upon my fortune hang,
And this she knows full well. I've been rough with her.
Some have, from habit and united interest,
Amidst the wreck of other human ties,
The stedfast duty of a wife retain'd,
E'en where no early love or soft endearments
