4
The Life of
Cloister, Cartesmunda breaks out into the following beautiful exclamation:
- The raging foe pursues, defend us Heaven!
- Take virgin tears, the balm of martyr'd saints
- As tribute due, to thy tribunal throne;
- With thy right hand keep us from rage and murder
- Let not our danger fright us, but our sins;
- Misfortunes touch our bodies, not our souls.
When Canutus advances, and first sees Cartesmunda, his speech is poetical, and conceived in the
true spirit of Tragedy.
- Ha! who holds my conquering hand? what
- power unknown,
- By magic thus transforms me to a statue,
- Senseless of all the faculties of life?
- My blood runs back, I have no power to strike;
- Call in our guards and bid 'em all give o'er.
- Sheath up your swords with me, and cease to
- kill:
- Her angel beauty cries, she must not die,
- Nor live but mine: O I am strangely touch'd!
- Methinks I lift my sword, againft myself,
- When I oppose her—all perfection!
- O see! the pearled dew drops from her eyes;
- Arise in peace, sweet soul.
In the same scene the following is extremely beautiful.
- I'm struck with lightening from the torrid zone;
- Stand all between me, and that flaming sun!
- Go Erkinwald, convey her to my tent.
- Let her be guarded with more watchful eyes
- Than heaven has stars :
- If here she stay I shall consume to death,
- 'Tis time can give my passions remedy,
Art
