_Dou._ Yield, villain, yield! _Per._ Not till this good right arm Shall fail its master. _Dou._ This to thy heart, then. _Per._ Defend thy own. [_they fight; Percy disarms Douglas._ _Dou._ Confusion, death, and hell! _Edr._ [_without_] This way I heard the noise. _Enter Edric, and many Knights and Guards, from every part of the stage._ _Per._ Cursed treachery! But dearly will I sell my life. _Dou._ Seize on him. _Per._ I'm taken in the toils. [_Percy is surrounded by Guards, who take his sword._ _Dou._ In the cursed snare Thou laid'st for me, traitor, thyself art caught. _Elw._ He never sought thy life. _Dou._ Adulteress, peace! The villain Harcourt too--but he's at rest. _Per._ Douglas, I'm in thy power; but do not triumph, Percy's betray'd, not conquer'd. Come, dispatch me. _Elw._ [_to Douglas_] O do not, do not, kill him! _Per._ Madam, forbear; For by the glorious shades of my great fathers, Their godlike spirit is not so extinct, That I should owe my life to that vile Scot. Though dangers close me round on every side, And death besets me, I am Percy still. _Dou._ Sorceress, I'll disappoint thee--he shall die, Thy minion shall expire before thy face, That I may feast my hatred with your pangs, And make his dying groans, and thy fond tears, A banquet for my vengeance. _Elw._ Savage tyrant! I would have fallen a silent sacrifice, So thou had'st spar'd my fame.--I never wrong'd thee. _Per._ She knew not of my coming;--I alone Have been to blame--Spite of her interdiction, I hither came. She's pure as spotless saints. _Elw._ I will not be excus'd by Percy's crime; So white my innocence, it does not ask The shade of others' faults to set it off; Nor shall he need to sully his fair fame To throw a brighter lustre round my virtue. _Dou._ Yet he can only die--but death for honour! Ye powers of hell, who take malignant joy In human bloodshed, give me some dire means, Wild as my hate, and desperate as my wrongs! _Per._ Enough of words. Thou know'st I hate thee, Douglas; 'Tis stedfast, fix'd, hereditary hate, As thine for me; our fathers did bequeath it As part of our unalienable birthright, Which nought but death can end.--Come, end it here. _Elw._ [_kneels_] Hold, Douglas, hold!--not for myself I kneel, I do not plead for Percy, but for thee: Arm not thy hand against thy future peace, Spare thy brave breast the tortures of remorse,-- Stain not a life of unpolluted honour, For, oh! as surely as thou strik'st at Percy, Thou wilt for ever stab the fame of Douglas. _Per._ Finish the bloody work. _Dou._ Then take thy wish. _Per._ Why dost thou start? [_Percy bares his bosom. Douglas advances to stab him, and discovers the scarf._ _Dou._ Her scarf upon his breast! The blasting sight converts me into stone; Withers my powers like cowardice or age, Curdles the blood within my shiv'ring veins, And palsies my bold arm.