Page:A Series of Plays on the Passions Volume 3.pdf/318

A face less welcome than the one you look'd for.
Pardon a stranger's presence; I've presumed
Thus to intrude, as friend of Ermingard,
Who bade me—

Aur.Bade thee! is he then at hand?

Gar. Ah, would he were!
'Twas in a hostile and a distant land
He did commit to me these precious tokens,
Desiring me to give them to Aurora,
And with them too his sad and last farewel.

Aur. And he is dead!

Gar. Nay, wring not thus your hands:
He was alive and well when he entrusted me
With what I now return.
(Offering her a small casket.}

Aur. Alive and well, and sends me back my tokens!

Gar. He sent them back to thee as Ulrick's wife;
For such, forc'd by intelligence from hence
Of strong authority, he did believe thee;
And in that fatal fight, which shortly follow'd,
He fought for death as shrewdly as for fame.
Fame he indeed hath earn'd.

Aur.But not the other?
Ah, do not say he has! Amongst the slain
His body was not found.

Gar. As we have learnt, the Knights of blest St. John
Did from the field of dying and of wounded
Many convey, who in their house of charity
All care and solace had; but with the names