This fatal form that drew on my undoing,
Fasting, and tears, and hardship shall destroy;
Nor light, nor food, nor comfort will I know,
Nor ought that may continue hated life.
Then, when you see me meagre, wan, and chang'd,
Stretch'd at my length, and dying in my cave,
On that cold earth I mean shall be my grave,
Perhaps you may relent, and sighing say,
At length her tears have wash'd her stains away;
At length 'tis time her punishment should cease;
Die, thou poor suff'ring wretch, and be at peace.
[Exit Calista.

Sci. Who of my servants wait there?

Enter two or three Servants.

Raise that body, and bear it in. On your lives
Take care my doors be guarded well, that none
Pass out, or enter, but by my appointment.

[Exeunt Servants, with Lothario's body. Alt. There is a fatal fury in your visage, It blazes fierce, and menaces destruction.] "My father, I am sick of many sorrows, "Ev'n now my easy heart is breaking with 'em; "Yet, above all, one fear distracts me most;' I tremble at the vengeance which you meditate On the poor, faithless, lovely, dear Calista.

Sci. Hast thou not read what brave Virginius did? With his own hand he slew his only daughter, To save her from the fierce Decemvir's lust. He slew her, yet unspotted, to prevent

The shame which she might know, Then what should

I do?

240

But thou hast ty'd my hand.—I wo' not kill her;
Yet, by the ruin she has brought upon us,
The common infamy that brands us both,
She shall not 'scape.

Alt. You mean that she shall die then?

Sci. Ask me not what, nor how I have resolv'd,
For all within is anarchy and uproar.

Oh, Altamont! What a vast scheme of joy
Has this one day destroy'd? Well did I hope
This daughter would have blest my latter days;
That I should live to see you the world's wonder,
So happy, great, and good that none were like you.
While I, from busy life and care set free,

Had spent the evening of my age at home,
Among a little prattling race of yours:

There, like an old man, talk'd a-while, and then
Laid down and slept in peace. Instead of this,
Sorrow and shame must bring me to my grave---
"Oh, damn her! damn her!"

Enter a Servant.

Serv. Arm yourself, my lord:

Rossano, who but now escap'd the garden,

Has gather'd in the street a band of rioters,

260

[Exit.

Who threaten you and all your friends with ruin,
Unless Lothario be return'd in safety.

Sci. By Heav'n, their fury rises to my wish,
Nor shall misfortune know my house alone,

But thou, Lothario, and thy race shall pay me
For all the sorrows which my age is curs'd with.
I think my name as great, my friends as potent,
As any in the state; all shall be summon'd;
I know that all will join their hands to ours,
And vindicate thy vengeance. When our force
Is full, and arm'd, we shall expect thy sword
To join with us, and sacrifice to justice.-

[Exit Sciolto.

"Alt. There is a stupid weight upon my senses; "A dismal sullen stillness, that succeeds "The storm of rage and grief, like silent death, "After the tumult and the noise of life.

"Would it were death, as sure 'tis wond'rous like it, "For I am sick of living; my soul's pall'd, "She kindles not with anger or revenge: "Love was th' informing, active fire within: "Now that is quench'd, the mass forgets to move, "And longs to mingle with its kindred earth.”

280

[A tumultuous noise, with clashing of swords, as at a little distance.

Enter LAVINIA, with two Servants, their swords drawn.
Lav. Fly, swiftly fly; to my Horatio's aid,
Nor lose your vain officious cares on me;
Bring me my lord, my husband, to my arms;
He is Lavinia's life; bring him me safe,
And I shall be at ease, be well and happy.

[Exeunt Servants.

Alt. Art thou Lavinia? Oh! what barb'rous hand

Could wrong thy poor defenceless innocence,
And leave such marks of more than savage fury?
Lav. My brother! Oh, my heart is full of fears;
Perhaps ev'n now my dear Horatio bleeds.-
Not far from hence, as passing to the port,
By a mad multitude we were surrounded,
Who ran upon us with uplifted swords,

And cry'd aloud for vengeance, and Lothario.
My lord, with ready boldness, stood the shock,
To shelter me from danger; but in vain,
Had not a party from Sciolto's palace

Rush'd out, and snatch'd me from amidst the fray.
Alt. What of my friend?

Lav. Ha! by my joys, 'tis he!

301

[Looking out,

He lives, he comes to bless me, he is safe!

Enter HORATIO, with two or three Servants, their swords

drawn.

1st Ser. 'Twere at the utmost hazard of your life To venture forth again, till we are stronger :

Their number trebles ours.

Hor. No matter, let it ;

Death is not half so shocking as that traitor.
My honest soul is mad with indignation,
To think her plainness could be so abus'd,
As to mistake that wretch, and call him friend;
I cannot bear the sight.

Alt. Open, thou earth,

Gape wide, and take me down to thy dark bosom,
To hide me from Horatio.

Hor. Oh, Lavinia !

Believe not but I joy to see thee safe :

Would our ill-fortune had not drove us hither:
I could ev'n wish we rather had been wreck'd
On any other shore, than sav'd on this.

320

Lav. Oh, let us bless the mercy that preserv'd us, That gracious pow'r that sav'd us for each other: And, to adorn the sacrifice of praise,

Offer forgiveness too; be thou like Heav'n,
And put away th' offences of thy friend,
Far, far from thy remembrance.

"Alt. I have mark'd him,

"To see if one forgiving glance stole hither; "If any spark of friendship were alive, "That would by sympathy at meeting glow, "And strive to kindle up the flame a-new; "'Tis lost, 'tis gone; his soul is quite estrang'd, "And knows me for its counterpart no more. "Hor. Thou know'st thy rule, thy empire in Ho

ratio ;

"Nor canst thou ask in vain, command in vain, "Where nature, reason, nay, where love is judge; "But when you urge my temper to comply "With what it most abhors, I cannot do it. "Lav. Where didst thou get this sullen gloomy hate ?

"It was not in thy nature to be thus; "Come, put it off, and let thy heart be cheerful, "Be gay again, and know the joys of friendship, "The trust, security, and mutual tenderness,

340