The fatal sweetness of the powerful spell
I strive in vain to break!

Ina. Saxon, thou'rt free.
Os. Recal thy words!

Ina. I speak my father's will.

Os. Why does he give me liberty

Ina. Because

His Ina begg'd the boon.

Os. Why did she so?

Would she had begg'd my death! I did not ask
For freedom;-thraldom was more kind to me,
Which chain'd me unto that I ought to fly,
But fain would cling to. Honour did not swerve
That was constrain'd to look upon its bane;
And if it look'd till it forgot itself,

'Twas its mischance—not crime.—Now, if it falls,
It falls of its own will! O maid, too fair!
Help me to 'scape the ruin thou hast wrought!
Think-think-'tis an apostate kneels to thee!
Instruct thy melting eye to flash with scorn-
Teach thy sweet tongue harsh indignation's note—
Erect thy form with dread severity—

Till, like a seraph, sterner in thy frown

For what thou look'st and breathest of beauteous heaven, Thou awest me into virtue.

Ina. Wouldest thou be free,

Thou art so.

Os. Am I? Lady, there are bonds,

The wearing which endears them to the slave,
So that he hugs them-would not be set free!
Free me from these!

Ina. What bonds?

Os. E'en such, as not

Our limbs imprison, but the things that rule them—
Our thoughts and wills—as coil about our hearts,
And keep their hold, when links of steel were wax.
Ina. Methinks I have a guess what bonds you mean:
Are they not heavy ones when worn alone,
But light when others share them?
Hadst thou such partnership, would'st thou be free?
I would not, so had I!

Is it so?

Os. It cannot be !

Half she reveals her heart, and veils her eyes.
Do her veil'd eyes unveil the other half?
Am I so bless'd, so cursed, as to be loved?
Nay, then, 'tis fate I'd cope with, and must yield!
Oh, to have fallen in battle !—to have fallen
When honour was my mistress !-to have fallen
When in her radiant eye I drew my sword,
And deem'd my life a stake not worth a thought
To venture for her smile! When wooing her,
I strode more blithely through the battle-field,
Than e'er I bounded down the festive hall!
Ina. What makes thee wish for death?

Os. The dread to lose

What was my more than life; but now seems poorLike to be cast away, since I have found

A good I covet more than life and it!

Ina. What dost thou covet so ?

Os. Thee, lady, thee!

Thou art that good of value paramount!
Oh, to have met thee with a heart at large!
No solemn debt-no knotted tie upon it!
Free to be all thy own-to render thee
Its whole of love, hope, honour, loyalty—
One large, unbroken, everlasting gift-

The hand which now, in doubtful joy, I take—
How had I caught, in tranced ecstacy,

And kneeling, laid the offering at thy feet!

Enter EDRIC.

Edr. Let go that hand! 'Tis mine!

Os. What fire is this,

That with the light'ning's speed darts through me, and feels As all consuming!-Thine!

Ina. Believe him not.

Oswith, believe him not--believe the maid
With thought of thee, that all forgets herself-
Casts off the bashful 'tire of virginhood,
And, unenforced, stands confess'd thine own!
The eyes turns on thee she would still avert,

And lets thee see them, though they stream with love

Calls on thee with the tongue that ne'er till now
Betray'd her secret, to receive't for thine!
Believe him not, he sports with thee-thy heart
Is not more surely seated in thy breast,
Than is thy image lodged within my heart-
Not more the spring of life to thee, than that
Is life itself to Ina! 'Fore the world

Do I proclaim me thine, and cleave to thee!
But plight me faith for faith.

Os. I do, sweet maid!

Edr. [drawing his sword.] My right's a bar, which thou must first remove!

Os. 'Twixt me and life! Strong love hath made me

weak

As a poor straw upon a torrent's breast,
And bears as swift away!

Ina. Give me thy hand! Take it from thy sword!

thy arm

Thy right! What right? [Half drawing his sword. Give me thy hand, I say! Thou'rt mine! Thy hand

Thy all! Have I not given my all for thee?
Paid down for thee a virgin's heart, that ne'er
Before in love was barter'd. Give me thy hand!
Or thou'rt the falsest, most forsworn of men,

Breaking the vow that scarce hath left thy lips,
And I'm the poorest, most abused of maids!
Give me thy hand! Nay, an thou wilt not, thus
Upon thy arm I'll hang, and be thy shield,
Taking the blows upon my fearless breast,
That threaten wound to thine.

Os. [taking his hand from his sword.] Thy right?
What right?

Edr. Dost wish to learn? Such as the bridegroom claims

As makes the lover bless his stars, and gives
Fulfilment of his long-enduring hopes-

As turns his blissful dreams to substances,

So rich, past credence, still he thinks he dreams-
Asks if he wakes-believes it-doubts it-sickens
Lest day prove night, and laughing morning come,
And in his very arms his treasures fade!

Os. [half drawing his sword.] A bridegroom's right!
Ina. That right is thine alone!

O how thy frame with fearful passion shakes!
While thy full orbs strain on thy countryman,
With deadly purpose fixed! Turn them on me!
Read who is Ina's bridegroom in her face!
See whom her eyes with fondness strain upon,
As thine on him with hate! O what a fee
Thou makest me pay for that which costs thee nought !
I call thee lord-If that contents thee not,
Why then the dearer name of husband take,
And give me in exchange, an only look !
Os. [to EDR.] Explain thy words.
Edr. The service I have done

The Dane, he bids me name requital for ;
And by his God he binds himself, whate'er
The boon, to grant it. Ina was the boon!

[OsWITH draws his sword.
Ina. List to me, Oswith-Oswith-by thy love!-
My father's oath has made me his! Hear mine!
By Odin, I'll be bride to none but thee!

Edr. Force will exact what frowardness denies !
Os. And thou could'st wed the bride that loathed
Edr. Yes.

Os. Put up thy sword. I'd whisper thee.

[thee?

[They whisper.

More than her own it feeds

Thy Ina's life! O, 'tis a treacherous breath,

To play the traitor to its mistress thus !

Speak out, I say! Thou heed'st me not! False friend!

Friend cruel and unfair, that gives me nought,

Whilst I give all to him!

Edr. 'Tis well.

Ina. 'Tis ill!

[Goes out.

Not half so plain thy gleaming brandish'd sword
Could threaten death, as does thy flashing eye!

Os. Ina, thy fears are causeless. Prithee hence,
Back to the camp; whilst I revolve the means
Shall bring the course of our now thwarted loves
To prosperous issue.

Ina. I'll revolve them with thee;

And thou shalt find how thrifty woman's wit,
When set to work by love.

Os. My Ina!-Love!

Bride!-Wife!-for wedded they whom love has wed

I'd be alone.

Ina. I will not leave thee! Come!

We'll go to the camp together.

Os. Sweet! my way

Lies this way.

Ina. So does mine, then.

Os. Nay, farewell!

Ina. You leave me not! I'll cling to thee till death Disjoins us! Drag me if thou wilt, I'll ne'er

Let

go my hold! Oh was there ever maid

So lost for love! that knelt-that bent the kneePleaded her cause with her bold tongue-paid tribute, Large as her eyes could furnish, of her tears

To an unheeding lover, deaf to her,

And scarce confess'd an hour!

Re-enter EDRIC.

Edr. Was it for this

Thou sent'st me hence? to give thee pause for dalliance!

Traitor!

Os. Ha!

Edr. Coward!

[Both draw.

Enter GUTHRUM and ALfred.

Guth. Hold! forbear! Who stirs,

There's but a single step 'twixt him and death,

And he has trod it. What's your cause of quarrel?

Ina, my child! what share hast thou in't?

Dost turn from me?

Ina. My father!

What!
[Angrily.

[Pressing her to him.

Art thou in tears?

Guth. There! there! there!

Did I speak roughly to thee?

To start at but a sound!

Silly fawn,

It does concern thee, then? How, Ina, speak!

Dost hear me? Answer, girl! Well; never heed. You would if you could! No matter!

Declare thy cause of quarrel to thy friend.

Noble Edric,