History of the Clan MacLean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period

466
Appendix.
Lorn. I pray, my lord —
Will you vouchsafe to hear me?
Arg. Thoughtless boy!
How far unlike thy noble Lorn I thought thee!—
Proud as I am, far rather would I see thee
Join'd to the daughter of my meanest vassal,
Than see thy manly, noble worth engaged
In such foul raid as this.
Lorn. Nay. nay! be pacified!
I'd rather take, in f.iith. the tawny hand
Of homeliest maid, that doth, o'holidays.
Her sun-burnt locks with worsted ribbon bind.
Fairly and freely won, than brightest dame
That e'er in stately bower or regal hall
In graceful beauty shone, gain'd by such wrong-
By such base treachery as you have glanced at.
These are plain words: then treat me like a man
Who hath been wont the manly truth to speak.
Arg. Ha! now thy countenance and tone again
Are John of Lorn s. That look, and whispering
voice,
So strange appear'<i. in truth I liked it not.
Give me thy hand.— Where is the stranger dame?
If she in trouble be —
Lorn., (.\side.) Make these withdraw,
And I will lead her Iiither.
(Exit while the earl waves his hand, and Dugai.d
and attendants, etc., go out: presently re-enter
Lorn, leading in Helen, covered closely up in
a mantle.)
Lorn. This is the dame who, houseless and de-
serted.
Seeks shelter here, nor fears to be rejected.
Hel. (Sinking down and clasping Argyle's
knees.) My father!
Arg. That voice!— O God! Unveil— unveil, for
mercy!
(Tearing off the mantle that conceals her.>
My child! my Helen! (Clasping her to his heart,
and holding her there for some time, unable to
speak.)
My child! my dearest ehild!—my soul! my pride!
Deserted!— houseless!— com'st thou to me thus?
Here is thy house— thy home: this aged bosom
Thy shelter is, which thou shalt quit no more.
My child! my child!
(Embracing her again: Helen and he weeping
upon one another's necks.)
Houseless! deserted!— 'neath the cope of heaven
Breathes there a wretch who could desert thee? —
Speak,
If he hath so abused his precious trust.
If he — it makes me tear these hoary locks
To think what I have done!— Oh thoughtless
father!
Thoughtless and selfish too! (Tearing his hair,
beating his forehead withall the violent gestures
of rage and grief. )
Hel. Oh, oh! forbear! It was not you, my father;
I gave myself away: I did it willingly;
We acted both for good; and now your love
Repays me richly— stands to me instead
Of many blessings.— Noble Lorn, besides —
O, he hath been to me so kind— so tender!
(Taking her brother's hand, and pressing it to her
breast; then joining her father's to it, and
pressing them both ardently to her lips.)
Say not I am deserted: heaven hath chid me —
Hath chid me sorely; but hath bless'd me too,—
O, dearly bless'd me!
Arg. Hath chid thee sorely!— how I burn to
hear it!
What hast thou suffer'd?
Lorn. We will not tell thee now. Go to thy
climber.
And be a while composed. We have, my father,
A tale to tell that will demand of the^
Recruited strength to hear.— We'll follow thee.
(Exeunt Lorn, supporting his father and Helen
into the chamber.)
Scene II. — The garden of the castle.
(Enter Argyle, Lorn, and Sir Hubert de Grey',
speaking as they enter.)
Lorn. A month!— A week or two!— No, not an
hour
Would 1 suspend our vengeance. Such atrocity
Makes e'en the little term between our summons
And the dark crowding round our martial pipes.
Of plumed bonnets nodding to the wind.
Most tedious seem; yea, makes the impatient foot
To smite the very earth beneath its tread,
For being fi.x'd and ertless. —
Arg. Be less impatient, John: thou canst not
doubt
A father's keen resentment of such wrong:
But let us still be wise: this short delay
Will make revenge the surer; to its aim
A just direction give.
De Grei/. The earl is right:
We shall but work in the dark, impatient Lorn,
If we too soon begin.
Arg. How far MacLean
Hath to this horrible attempt consented.
Or privy been, we may be certified.
By waiting silently to learn the tale
That he will tell us of his lady's loss.
When he shall send to give us notice of it.
As doubtless soon he will.
De Grey. If he, beset and threatened, to those
fiends.
Unknowing of their purpose, hath unwillingly
Committed her, he will himself, belike.
If pride prevent him not. your aid solicit
To set him free from his disgraceful thraldom.
Lorn. And if he should, shrunk be this sinew'd
arm,
If it unsheath a weapon in his cause!
Let ev'ry ragged stripling on his lands
In wanton mock'ry mouth him with contempt!
Benlora head his vassals: and Lochtarisli —
That serpent, full of ev'ry devilish wile,
His prison keeper and his master be!
De Grey. Ay; and the keeper also of his son.
The infant heir.
Lorn. (Starting.) I did not think of this.
Arg. Then let thy head-strong fury pause upon it.
Thanks to Sir Hubert's prudence! thou as yet
Before thy followers hast restrained been;
And who this lady is, whom to the castle.
Like a mysterious stranger, ye have brought,
From them remains conceal'd. — My brave De Grey!
This thy considerate foresight, join'd to all
Thy other service in this woeful matter,
Hath made us much thy debtor.