Aur.Hear me out.
I cannot so attend thee—noon and eve
Thy near companion be; but I have heard
That, near the sacred houses of your Order,
Convents of maids devout in Holy Land
Establish'd are—maids who in deeds of charity
To pilgrims and to all in warfare maim'd,
In sacred warfare for the holy cross,
Are deem'd the humble partners of your zeal.
Erm. Aye, such there are; but what availeth this?
Aur. There will I dwell, a vow'd and humble sister.
We shall not far be sever'd. The same winds
That do o' nights through your still cloisters sigh,
Our quiet cells visiting with mournful harmony,
Shall lull my pillow too. Our window'd towers
Shall sometimes show me on the neighbouring plains,
Amidst thy brave companions, thy mail'd form
Crested with glory, on thy pawing steed
Returning from the wars. And when at last
Thou art in sickness laid—who will forbid
The dear sad pleasure?—like a holy bride
I'll by thy death-bed stand, and look to heaven,
Where all bless'd union is. O! at the thought,
Methinks this span of life to nothing shrinks,
And we are bless'd already. Thou art silent:
Dost thou despise my words?
Erm. O no! speak to me thus: say what thou wilt:
I am subdued. And yet these bursting tears!
My heart is rent in twain: I fear—I fear I am rebellious still.
School me or chide me now: do what thou wilt:
I am resign'd and humble."
Remember, if you can, that The Beacon is not a Tragedy; therefore it ends not in separation of loving hearts in the cloister, or the grave. The Legate—for Joanna, like her master, Shakspeare, loves to show Christianity in any creed sincerely embraced—takes Aurora under his own guardian care,
"Till we before the holy Father come;"
orders Ulrick, whom he sees through, to give account of his wardship to him who holds the See; and says to Sir Ermingard
"If the blessed Cross
Thou hast assumed, supposing other vows
That did before engage thee were annull'd,
By false reports deceived; the holy Urban,
Our wise enlighten'd father, will, I trust,
A dispensation grant, that shall empower thee
To doff with honour this thy sacred mantle,
And in its stead a bridegroom's robe assume."
Ermingard and Aurora both embrace the Legate's knees, who raises them up gently—and says to Aurora—
"Blush not, sweet maid, nor check thy ardent thoughts;
That generous ardent spirit is a power
Which in the virtuous mind doth all things conquer;
It bears the hero on to arduous deeds;
It lifts the Saint to Heaven."
Spenser—Collins—Cowper—Campbell—Joanna Baillie—for a while farewell!
