_A Council Chamber in the Castle._
_Enter_ LORD DUNBAR, SIR ALEXANDER SETON, SIR ALEXANDER RAMSAY, _&c._
SETON.
The messenger return’d, says, All is lost!
The Regent mortally wounded; aged Lennox,
With the Earls of Ross, Monteith, and Sutherland,
Carrick and Athole, with the gallant Stewart,
And knights unnumber’d, (what a fearful catalogue!)
With fourteen thousand commoners, are slain!
O, would to Heaven, that we had render’d sooner,
It might have saved my son; now God preserve
My wife from Edward’s vengeance.
DUNBAR.
My nobles, now, we must go strike the flag
Ere ’tis pulled down! and by capitulation
Seek to secure our rights, if not too late,
And save the city from the mercenaries!
RAMSAY.
Scotland is like a mighty cataract,
That bears the weight of navies on its bosom,
And hurls them to destruction. When divided
In many petty streams, it frets, and foams,
And wastes itself away like idle spray,
And does no execution. Were thy nobles
United, they might brave the power of Edward;
But thy proud barons leagued against each other,
Destroy their country and defeat themselves,
The victims of extremes. I will not stay
To bow to Edward; but, with a few friends,
Will cut my way through the victorious hosts,
Were they thrice doubled, and shall meet the war
That soon must burst upon thy towers, Dunbar!
DUNBAR.
Go, faithful Ramsay, aid my noble wife
In this most perilous time; for though the blood
Of Randolph warms her veins, she’s but a woman
Who needs thy manly counsel—warriors arm
To aid defensive measures; since the traitor
Too often lurks beneath a friendly mask
In these sad times, to aid the cunning foe.
If possible, escort the Lady Seton
To place of safety.
RAMSAY.
’Tis impracticable!
Since I must take the high road to Dunbar;
But were her ladyship at Colbrand’s path
I’d guarantee her safety.
DUNBAR.
See to this,
Good Seton; seek the aid of Prendergest.
RAMSAY.
The soldier, Aubery, knows each secret path
By shady Pease.
SETON.
Well thought! sir knights, I speed;
For time, alas! has turn’d an arrant racer,
And flies with winged speed towards his goal.
[_Exit_ SETON.
DUNBAR.
My gallant Ramsay, tell my noble wife
To be of cheer, her castle is impregnable,
Which if she cannot keep, let her destroy!
Tell her to hold out though her lord may yield
To suit occasion; so may we deceive
Edward, and trick the treacherous.
RAMSAY.
Trust me, my lord.—I go; for, hark! these shouts
Announce the foe. [_Exeunt._