Remain till dawn shall favour thy escape

To Douglas' tent.-And now-heart-rending moments!—
I know not how to speak it—we must part.-

May guardian Angels shield thee.-Tis too much-
Too much for

Oh!

[Faints in the arms of Douglas, who throws away his sword to assist her.]

Doug. Oh, Heav'n! she dies! she dies!

Help, help! for mercy's sake! To yonder cot

[Speaking to 0. Norval, who goes out

Fly for assistance.-My beloved mother,

Live, live! behold thy son, whom gracious Hear'n Doth spare to comfort thee.-She breathes, she moves! How fares it, madam?

Lady Rand. [recovering] Save him, O save him! O stop your barb'rous hands!

Where is my son ?—

Doug. Compose yourself-behold him-He is safe. Lady Rand. And art thou safe, my child? Still, Still I fear.

[While Lady R. is leaning on Douglas, Lord RANDOLPH enters with his sword drawn.

Lord Rand. Ha! Have I found you? in fond dalliance too!.

Now then for vengeance-Villain, take the fruits
Of thy presumptuous love! Not e'en her arms
Shall yield thee shelter-False, dissembling woman!
Thy perfidy shall seal the traitor's doom,

[He attempts to stab Douglas, but Lady R. seizer

his arm.

Lady Rand. Stop, vile assassin! pierce this woe-wora heart;

But spare, O spare my Son!

Lord Rand. [drops his sword.] Thy son! Amazement! Lady Rand. falling on her knees.] Spare him, spare

him to me!

His precious life at any price I'll buy..

My castle, my domains, I want them not;

His life is all I ask,-O grant it, Randolph!

Lord Rand. Thy son! It cannot be—but rise, unfold This dark, mysterious tale.

Lady Rand. The vile Glenalvon,

That harden'd villain, first discover'd him,
And urg'd thee 'gainst thy nature to destroy
My long-lost child.-Yet I preserv'd that wretch,
That treacherous kinsman, from a husband's wrath,
Nor let thee know his villainous attempts
Against the sacred honour of thy wife.

And he repaid me, like the wretch he was,
He sought to stain thy soul with Douglas' blood!
Lord Rand. With Douglas' blood! Thy words are
full of wonder.

May I believe thee? Is that youth thy son?
Lady Rand. Ha! knew you not he was?
Lord Rand. Never. But explain-

Lady Rand. Then learn, that Douglas, wond'rous as it seems,

Was his great father, and my wedded lord.

I see amazement doth with-hold your words,
But, oh! give way to mercy.

Lord Rand. Amazing chance!-Thy words unlock
my senses.

I feel thy sufferings,-thy long-hidden woes
Pierce thro' my heart-that true and faithful heart,
Where thou, Matilda, evermore must reign.
Lady Rand. My tragic tale,

When time more aptly serves, I will unfold.
Nor can I longer doubt its power to move
Thy gen'rous nature, which, with joy, I see
Is still unchang'd, spite of Glenalvon's arts.

Enter an Officer.

Officer. My noble lord, one of the daring villains, Whose sword assail'd thy life, has of himself

Surrender'd to thy mercy, declaring

Who led him to attempt the horrid deed.

Lord Rand. And have you learnt the name of his em ployer?

Officer. We have, my lord, but most unwilling are Our lips to utter such a heinous charge.

Lord Rand. Speak, I command thee-What makes you hesitate?

Officer. So shocking is the import of his words,
That we can scarcely credit them, my lord.
He says, nay solemnly avers-it was

Glenalvon.

Lady Rand. Mysterious Providence !

Lord Rand. Secure the wretch-and mind you keep him safe,

Till leisure serve to question him more fully.
False! false Glenalvon! he escap'd too well,
Tho' slain and baffled by the hand he hated:
The matchless villain did seduce my soul
To frantic jealousy.-Belov'd Matilda!
Can'st thou forgive the errors of thy lord,
Who madly question'd thy transcendent virtue?
But to my bosom thy brave son I'll take,
And shall with pride and joy-unfeign'd invest him
With all the honours he may justlý claim.

Lady Rand. My heart's too full to speak its gratitude, It's boundless gratitude to Heav'n and thee.

But ev'ry action of my future life

Shall testify how much I feel thy kindness.
But for debt to Heav'n!-Its wond'rous mercy
my
Will deign, I trust, t' acccept that gratitude

Its bounty has inspir'd.-As for my son's

Increasing honours-his past and present hopes,-
Doug. Hear me, as now I solemnly declare,

That, being Douglas, and Matilda's son,
This breast aspires not after farther honours,
Than what henceforth in arms I may attain ;
And to recover noble Randolph's friendship
The only restoration I desire.-

Lord Rand. Learn, noble youth, that Randolph has a

soul

Too warm to be surpass'd in gen'rous deeds.

But, come, Matilda, I have much to ask,
And ere the newly-dawning sun shall peer,

The trumpet's voice shall call us to the field,
Your darling son shall be our fondest care,
His fame his own, nor can be better guarded.
Yet
my nerv'd arm shall aid your zealous Douglas,
And be his bulwark in his deeds of glory.

Enter ANNA and OLD NORVAL.

Anna. My honour'd mistress! Oh, may I speak my joy.

Lady Rand. My faithful Anna, what a blessed change! How wretched was I,-and how happy now!

Anna. None can feel more delight, more grateful joy, My much-lov'd lady, than your Anna does At this most unexpected, happy fortune.

Lady Rand. I know it well, my lov'd and faithful
Anna.-

My honour'd lord, here is the good old man,
Who, under Heaven, has preserv'd my son.

O. Norval. Oh happy, happy day!-Now my poor

eyes

May close in peace, my life will end in comfort.
Lord Rand. You will be dear to us, and share our

care.

But, lov'd Matilda, now our time is pressing

Lady Rand. Tho' hard it is so very soon to part,
Yet now I feel the spirit-kindling hope,

That shortly we shall meet again, when conquest
Hath deck'd your banners with bright glory's wreath.
And tho' no happiness with me can dwell,
Till safe from hostile fields you both return,
Yet something whispers my still-anxious mind,-
Matilda's sun of life will set serene.

THE END.

In the title page to Douglas I have stated that it was performed at Edinburgh in the year 1756. I since find, from Jackson's Hist. of the Scottish Stage, that it was performed December 14.

In the Appendix to that work, No. XVI. is printed the ADMONITION and EXHORTATION by the Reverend Presbytery of Edinburgh, to all within their bounds, dated Edinburgh, January 5, 1757, which was issued in consequence of Douglas being performed at the Theatre. And in No. XVII. RESOLUTIONS of the Presbytery of Glasgow, respecting the representation of the Tragedy of Douglas, as inserted in the public prints, February 2, 1757.

March 26.