But, Artevelde, thou wilt not stain thy hands If thou'rt a soldier, do not such a deed. Soldiers by soldiers in the field are slain, ARTEVELDE. I grant thee. And if the name of soldier can be claim'd By both or one of you, ye shall not die. Bring forth the friar. (A FRIAR is brought forward.) Save you, holy Father! Say in the face of these two that stand here, That which thou said'st to me. FRIAR. Sir, it was this: Here in the hospital expir'd but now Confess'd to me that he received a bribe OCCO. Miscreant, he lied! Whoe'er procured him, it was never I. Master Van Artevelde, my Lord of Arlon, Believe not I would sin in such a sort. Have mercy on a miserable man! (Falls on his knees.) Oh God! there's some mistake, or else he lied. GILBERT MATTHEW. How say'st thou that he lied? Sirs, it is true I with this craven beggarly companion— For good and ample reasons, to remove Sir Walter D'Arlon from this troublesome world. Such chances as no prudence could forefend, Wherefore, sirs, God be with you! To the block! Aye, Gilbert, God forgive thee for thy sins! Thou steppest statelily the only walk Thou hast to take upon this solid earth. OCCO. Stop hear me yet. If through pretext of justice I am doomed, Than Gilbert or Romero should depose He Enter VAN RYK, conducting ADRIANA, who throws herself into the arms of VAN ARTEVELDE. supports her, and addresses himself to Occo. ARTEVELDE. Lo! here a witness! look upon this face, And bid death welcome. Lead him to the block. ADRIANA. Oh, spare Vengeance is God's, whose function take not thou! Relent, Van Artevelde, and spare his life. ARTEVELDE. Not though an angel plead. Vengeance is God's; But God doth oftentimes dispense it here He render'd victory this eventful day Let Flanders judge me from my deeds to-night, (Occo is led out.) Now, Adriana, I am wholly thine. (The curtain falls.) END OF THE FIRST PART. The curtain falls upon the fancied stage, Which, more than mine, shall make my meanings bright. That of that man who seeks a sovran sphere, The triumph is the trial most severe. And yet in times so stormy, in a land |