Serv. 'Tis all in vain, Go hence, and howl to those that will regard you. [She sits down at the door. J. Sho. A very beggar, and a wretch, indeed; For succour here; one perishing for want; Alic. And dost thou come to me, to me for bread? Where wanton hands upon the earth have scatter'd it, And hungry vulture, where they wind the prey; ་་ *The times have been, That, when the brains were out, the man would die, And there an end: but now, they rise again, With twenty mortal murders on their crowns, And push us from our stools. Macbeth, A. HII. S. IV. +"Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." To wind is to scent. Eccles. XI. I. "The dam will wake; and, if she wind you once," &c. Titus Andronicus, A. IV. S. 1, Prov. XXX. 17. §"The ravens of the valley". J. Sho. And yet there was a time, when my Alicia Ilas thought unhappy Shore her dearest blessing, And mourn'd that live-long day she pass'd without me; When, pair'd like turtles, we were still together, When, often as we prattled arm-in-arm,' Inclining fondly to me she has said, She lov'd me more than all the world beside. Alic. Ha! say'st thou! let me look upon thee well'Tis true—I know thee now-Yes, now I know thee! Thou art that fatal fair, that hated she, That set my brain a madding. Thou hast robb'd me; 'J. Sho. Alas I never wrong'd you 'O! then be good to me; have pity on me; I trusted all, gave my whole store to thee; The smallest pittance, give me but to eat, Lest I fall down, and perish here before thee. Alic. Nay! tell not me! Where is thy King, thy And all the smiling cringing train of courtiers, That bent the knee before thee? J. Sho. Oh! for mercy! Alic. Mercy! I know it not-for I am miserable. I'll give thee misery, for here she dwells; This is her house, where the sun never dawns, The bird of night sits screaming o'er the roof, *"Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich "man's table." Luke XVI. 21. And, see, the nodding ruin falls to crush me! 1 Serv. This sight disorders her- And leave this woman Alic. Let her take my counsel! brain! Go to him, woman, thou did'st steal him from me. A waving flood of blueish fire swells o'er me; But come not thou with mischief-making beauty [She runs off, her Servants following. J. Sho. Alas! she raves; her brain, I fear, is turn'd. In mercy look upon her, gracious Heaven, Nor visit her for any wrong to me. Sure I am near upon my journey's end; My head runs round, my eyes begin to fail, And dancing shadows swim before my sight: I can no more, [lies down] receive me, thou cold earth! Thou common parent, take me to thy bosom,* And let me rest with thee. Enter BELMour. Bel. Upon the ground! Thy miseries can never lay thee lower. Look up, thou poor afflicted one! thou mourner * Timon of Athens, when digging the earth, A. IV. S. 111. callsit" common mother,” and talks of its “ plenteous bosom”. + "She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: 66 among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her; all her friends "have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies." Lament. 1. 2. See also v. 21. "I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man; " neither found I any to comfort me." Psalm LXIX, 21, The dear companions of thy joyful days, And nothing shall divide us.'-Now where are they? J. Sho. Ah! Belmour, where indeed! They stand aloof, And view my desolation from afar;* When they pass by, they shake their heads in scorn, And cry, behold the harlot and her end!'+ And yet thy goodness turns aside to pity me! Bel. Yet raise thy drooping head; for I am come J. Sho. Dumont! ha! where! [Raising herself and looking about. Then Heaven has heard my prayer. His very name Renews the springs of life, and chears my soul. Has he, then, 'scap'd the snare? Bel. He has, but see He comes unlike to that Dumont you knew, And comes to visit you with peace and pardon. "My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my "trouble, and my kinsmen stood afar off." Psalm xxxvIII. 11. See also XXII. 17. Matt. XXVII. 55. +"All that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out their "All they that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag "their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city "that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole "" earth?" Lament. I. 15. "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, "that great city Babylon," ("the mother of harlots," XVII. 5.) "that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come." Rev. XVIII. 10. Enter SHORE. J. Sho. Speak, tell me! which is he? And oh! what would This dreadful vision! See, it comes upon me It is my husband-Ah! Shore. She faints! support her! [She swoons. 'Sustain her head, while I infuse this cordial Into her dying lips-from spicy drugs, Rich herbs and flowers, the potent juice is drawn; With wond'rous force it strikes the lazy spirits, 'Drives them around, and wakens life anew.' Bel. Her weakness could not bear the strong surprize. But, see, she stirs! and the returning blood Faintly begins to blush again, and kindle Upon her ashy cheek Shore. So-gently raise her [Raising her up. J. Sho. Ha! what art thou? Belmour!- J. Sho. My heart is thrill'd with horror- Your husband lives! 'Tis he, my worthiest friend- Oh, save me, Belmour, from his angry shade!* Oh! that my eyes could shut him out for ever- J. Sho, Oh! thou most injur'd-dost thou live indeed? * My Uncle Clarence' angry ghost. Richard 111. A. III. S. I. + That with the world, myself and thee, Bp. Kenn's Evening Hymn. |