Locrine monologue (Act 5) — Locrine: A Tragedy

This light of dawn is like an evil dream’s That comes and goes and is not. Yea, and thus Our hope on both sides wavering dares allow No light but fire to bid us die or live. —Son, and my wife that was, my rebels now, That here we stand with death to take or give I call the sun of heaven, God’s likeness wrought On darkness, whence all spirits breathe and shine, To witness, is no work of will or thought Conceived or bred in brain or heart of mine. Ye have levied wars against me, and compelled My will unwilling and my power withheld To strike the stroke I would not, when I might. Will ye not yet take thought, and spare these men Whom else the blind and burning fire of fight Must feed upon for pasture? Guendolen, Had I not left thee queen in Troynovant, Though wife no more of mine, in all this land No hand had risen, no eye had glared askant, Against me: thine is each man’s heart and hand That burns and strikes in all this battle raised To serve and slake thy vengeance. With my son I plead not, seeing his praise in arms dispraised For ever, and his deeds of truth undone By patricidal treason. But with thee Peace would I have, if peace again may be Between us. Blood by wrath unnatural shed Or spent in civic battle burns the land Whereon it falls like fire, and brands as red The conqueror’s forehead as the warrior’s hand. I pray thee, spare this people: reign in peace With separate honours in a several state: As love that was hath ceased, let hatred cease: Let not our personal cause be made the fate That damns to death men innocent, and turns The joy of life to darkness. Thine alone Is all this war: to slake the flame that burns Thus high should crown thee royal, and enthrone Thy praise in all men’s memories. If thou wilt, Peace let there be: if not, be thine the guilt.