Part 2 / Act 2 — SCENE I.
Reading edition
The Council Chamber.
Lord Dunbar, Sir Alexander Seton, and Sir Alexander Ramsay, in conversation. Attendants in waiting in the back-ground.
[Flourish of Drums and Trumpets.
Enter Herald.
HERALD.
In name of puissant Edward, King of England,
The Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquatine,
I summon thee to render town and castle,
Ceded to us by John of Scotland, king,
In recompense for ancient services
Done to your country by our gracious sovereign.
131DUNBAR.
We know no services your king has rendered
To this devoted land, unless ’tis service
To stir her factious nobles up to strife,
Then slay them in detail. Call ye this service?
We own no prince but David; here we stand
Receiving daily succour, and determined
To hold out while we may.
HERALD.
Enough, great baron!
Who estimatest an action by its success,
Not by its moral worth. Whence blows the wind,
The wavering wind of thy state politics? [Aside.
My purport is to tell thee, England’s king
Has sworn procrastination’s at an end,
He hates thy evasive measures. In the name
Of England I defy thee; as a token
I throw my gauntlet thus upon the ground.
[Ramsay, unable to conceal his rage, kicks it away.
Thank ye, sir knight! We will not starve you out,
But beat you out by force. Should still your gates
Remain shut up against our monarch’s mercy,
Wo be within your walls.
RAMSAY.
Sooner than yield,
132I’ll fight until the walls become my monument;
Sooner than starve, I’ll plough the unpaved streets,
And wait till spring shall whiten them with grain.
SETON.
Peace, gentle Ramsay!
RAMSAY.
No!—war to the hilt!
O for the Douglas now to lead you on!
[Exit Ramsay.
SETON.
My worthy Herald, tell your puissant lord,
We crave delay, in terms of the truce,
Till Sir William Keith’s return.
DUNBAR.
’Tis meet we wait despatches from the Regent.
HERALD.
Wo be within your walls—wo to your matrons;
For high in air, like scarecrows, each young hostage
Shall teach obedience to my royal master.
SETON.
If heavenly truth remains the brightest gem
In the king’s crown; (for prince’s words are sacred,)
I crave delay in terms of the truce.
O tell your master, as he hopes for mercy
In the great day, so he will spare our feelings!
133DUNBAR.
Tell king Edward,
Should not two hundred men by break of day
Break through the English host, we pay him homage.
HERALD.
Again I give defiance, and take leave,
For in my person ye’ve insulted England;
The ultimatum is, lend ears and hear,
Should ye hold out till vesper-bell be rung,
Sir Alexander Seton’s son is hung. [Exit Herald.
DUNBAR.
There goes a puppet! I should like, by heaven,
To have him in my castle’s massy Keep;
I’d wring politeness from him. Let us now
Prepare for war; but, Seton, be of cheer,
For Heaven will help, and Keith will soon be here.
[Exeunt.