Act IV.

AFTER THE BATTLE.

The Hall at Darnlinvarach Castle. Annot Lyle seated with harp.

SONG BY ANNOT: Mary Morison.

Yestre'en, when to the trembling string,
The dance gaed round the lighted ha',

To thee my fancy took its wing,

I sat, but neither heard nor saw:
Tho' this was fair, and that was braw,
And yon the toast of a' the town,
I sighed, and said amang them a',
"Ye are na Mary Morison."

O Mary, canst thou wreck his peace
Wha for thy sake wad gladly dee?
Or canst thou break that heart of his,
Whase only faut is loving thee?

If love for love thou wilt na gie,
At least be pity to me shown!

A thought ungentle canna be

The thought o' Mary Morison.

[Enter Menteith.

Annot (springing to meet him). What news, what news of the battle?

Menteith. The battle is won; Argyle and his troops are flying in confusion to Inverness, and the victorious. Montrose is riding hither now to prepare for a start to England.

Annot. And our friends?

Menteith. We have lost some good ones. But Angus and the Knight of Ardenvohr, in short, those nearest

to us are unscathed.

Annot, my time is brief for speaking, and speak I must. I have come to ask for your love.

Annot. Nay, do not speak of this, my lord, you cannot mean it, and if you do, you should not.

Menteith. Annot, do you not love me?

Annot. Too well, my lord, I hope, to let you blight your high career by taking as bride the daughter of an outcast clan.

Menteith. Without you, Annot, this career is nothing. Will you take from me the hope that is my guiding star?

Annot. Let me keep your friendship, my lord; beyond that portal ask me not to go, and do not, do not compel me to speak again. You do not know what pain it is.

Menteith. I'll win her yet.

[Exit.

[Exit. Enter Angus and Jeun. Angus. We are back, fair Jean, and on our way to merry England.

Jean. So soon? Is there no rest, no peace to be hoped for?

Angus. No peace till our king has his own again. But think not of that, ere long we shall be again in the Highlands, our good work finished.

Jean. Heaven grant it.

Angus. One more victory I must win, dear Jeanfrom your dark eyes.

Jean. Angus-you do not mean

Angus. I mean no less; will you give me this to live for? Dearest Jean, may I ask your love? In these wild times grant me the right to guard and protect you.

DUET: JEAN AND ANGUS.

Oh! Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast.

Oh, wert thou in the cauld blast,
On yonder lea,

My plaidie to the angry airt,

I'd shelter thee.

Or did misfortune's bitter storms
Around thee blaw,

Thy bield should be my bosom,
To share it a'.

Or were I in the wildest waste,
Sae bleak and bare,

The desert were a paradise,

If thou wert there.

Or were I a monarch o' the globe,
Wi' thee to reign,

The brightest jewel in my crown
Wad be my Jean.

[The piper is heard outside, preceding chieftains. Enter Montrose, Sir Duncan, Menteith, Evan, Vich Alister, Dalgetty, Eracht, and Donald. Enter Annot to meet them.

Montrose. Gentlemen, we come now to a happy occasion. Sir Duncan and I have arranged a union between. the houses of Campbell and Menteith, and all that now remains is the formal betrothal of the Earl of Menteith to the heiress of Sir Duncan Campbell.

[Consternation among the lovers. Angus expostulates with

Sir Duncan, and Menteith with Montrose. Both shake their heads.

Montrose. The welfare of the clans depends on it.

Sir Duncan. Our combination will never hold together without this union.

Dalgetty (perceiving Annot). Ah, Mistress Annot Lyle, I presume you have forgotten Captain Dalgetty, who now takes occasion to salute you, heiress of the broadest lands of Scotland.

will give

[Annot turns away in disgust. Menteith steps to Dalgetty. Menteith. What the devil do you mean? Dalgetty. Why simply this, my lord, if you me time, or as we used to say at the Mareschal Menteith. In Heaven's name, proceed!

Dalgetty. Well, if you will be so precipitate, as the immortal Gustavus said when

Menteith. Proceed, man! go on, go on!

Dalgetty. Well, then, audite, whilk is to say, if you must have it, -Ranald MacEagh, a man not without his good qualities, in respect that he died in saving my life though I cannot say that I admire his uncivilized. modes of warfare, seeing that he used no better artillery than bows and arrows

Montrose. What has all this to do with Mistress Annot Lyle?

Dalgetty. Merely this, my lord; this same Ranald

gave me, as a dying charge, this packet, to bear to Sir Duncan Campbell; which he averred would prove to him that Mistress Annot Lyle here, than whom I may say there are few fairer, is his youngest child, spared by him out of compassion, at the spoiling of Ardenvohr, when the rest died under his dirk.

Sir Duncan. Show me the proofs. (Examines packet.) Annot. Can this man speak truth, or is this some strange delusion?

Sir Duncan. My child - she is my child!

Montrose. Menteith, this seems to prosper your suit. Sir Duncan, if I mistake not. this discovery falls well in line with the wishes of these young people.

Sir Duncan. But Jean

Angus. Sir Duncan, I wished your niece's hand before this news arrived, and now I wish it more than ever. Will you give us your blessing?

Sir Duncan. But Annot—

Montrose. Sir Duncan, I think you will find Annot's heart in some commotion, between a new-found father and an old lover. Menteith desired her hand before he knew her real name and rank.

Sir Duncan. Why, then, if you have arranged all these matters beforehand

Montrose. We will drink a cup to the happiness of these lovers. [Cups are passed around and healths are duly proposed to the lovers.

Montrose. Now, gallants, we must prepare for a start to the border.

All. To the border! To the border!