Otho. Oh, my son! my son! Sigifred. This must not be-stop there! Ludolph. A little talk with her. no harm-haste! haste! Am I obey'd? Ludolph. Why do ye trouble me? out-out away! There she is! take that! and that! no, no, [The Doors open. Enter Page. Several Women are seen grouped about AuranTHE in the inner room. Page. Alas! My lord, my lord! they cannot move her! Her arms are stiff-her fingers clench'd and cold. Ludolph. She's dead! [Staggers and falls into their arms. Ethelbert. Take away the dagger. Gersa. Otho. Thank God for that! Sigifred. Softly; so! It could not harm him now. Gersa. No!-brief be his anguish ! Ludolph. She's gone! I am content. Nobles, good night! We are all weary-faint-set ope the doors- To-morrow THE CURTAIN FALLS. [Dies. KING STEPHEN.' A DRAMATIC FRAGMENT. ACT I. SCENE I.-Field of Battle. Alarum. Enter King STEPHEN, Knights, and Soldiers. I Stephen. F shame can on a soldier's vein-swoll'n front Spread deeper crimson than the battle's toil, Blush in your casing helmets! for see, see! Yonder my chivalry, my pride of war, . "As soon as Keats had finished Otho the Great,' I pointed out to him a subject for an English historical trag. edy in the reign of Stephen, beginning with his defeat by the Empress Maud and ending with the death of his son Eustace. He was struck with the variety of events and characters which must necessarily be introduced, and I offered to give, as before, their dramatic conduct. The play must open,' I began, with the field of battle, when Stephen's forces are retreating' -Stop,' he cried,' ' I have been too long in leadingstrings; I will do all this myself.' He immediately set about it, and wrote two or three scenes-about 170 lines." - CHARLES BROWN. Wrench'd with an iron hand from firm array, Ist Knight. The enemy Bears his flaunt standard close upon their rear. 2nd Knight. Sure of a bloody prey, seeing the fens Will swamp them girth-deep. Stephen. Over head and ears. No matter! 'Tis a gallant enemy; How like a comet he goes streaming on. But we must plague him in the flank,-hey, friends? We are well breath'd,-follow! Enter Earl BALDWIN and Soldiers, as defeated. Stephen. De Redvers ! What is the monstrous bugbear that can fright Baldwin? Baldwin. No scarecrow, but the fortunate star Of boisterous Chester, whose fell truncheon now Points level to the goal of victory. This way he comes, and if you would maintain Your person unaffronted by vile odds, Take horse, my Lord. Stephen. And which way spur for life? Now I thank heaven I am in the toils, That soldiers may bear witness how my arm Can burst the meshes. Not the eagle more Loves to beat up against a tyrannous blast, Than I to meet the torrent of my foes. SCENE II.-Another part of the Field. Trumpets sounding a Victory. Enter GLOCESTER, Knights, and Forces. Glocester. Now may we lift our bruised vizors up And take the flattering freshness of the air, While the wide din of battle dies away Into times past, yet to be echoed sure In the silent pages of our chroniclers. 1st Knight. Will Stephen's death be mark'd there, my good Lord, Or that we give him lodging in yon towers? Glocester. Fain would I know the great usurper's fate. Enter two Captains severally. 1st Captain. My Lord! 2nd Captain. Most noble Earl! 1st Captain. The King 2nd Captain. The Empress greets He sole and lone maintains Glocester. What of the King? Ist Captain. A hopeless bustle 'mid our swarming arms, And with a nimble savageness attacks, |