7. Sh. Ah, Belmour! where indeed? They stand

aloof,

nd view my desolation from afar}

When they pass by, they shake their heads in scorn,
And cry, behold the harlot and her end!"

nd yet thy goodness turns aside to pity me.
las! there may be danger; get thee gone?
et me not pull a ruin on thy head.
eave me to die alone, for I am fall'n
ever to rise, and all relief is vain.

Bel. Yet raise thy drooping head; for I am come o chase away despair. Behold! where yonder hat honest man, that faithful, brave Dumont, hasting to thy aid

J. Sh. Dumont! Ha! where !

[Raising herself, and looking about. "hen Heav'n has heard my pray`r; his very name Renews the springs of life, and cheers my soul. Has he then 'scap'd the snare ?

Bel. He has; but see

He comes unlike to that Dumont you knew,
`or now he wears your better angel's form,
And comes to visit you with peace and pardon.

Enter SHORE.

J. Sh. Speak, tell me! Which is he? And hot

what would

This dreadful vision! See it comes upon me

It is my husband- -Ahl

Sh. She faints! support her!

H

[She swooons.

"Sustain her head, while I infuse this cordial
"Into her dying lips-from spicy drugs,
"Rich herbs and flow'rs, 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 sur
prize.

But see, she stirrs! And the returning blood
Faintly begins to blush again, and kindle
Upon her ashy cheek-

Sh. So-gently raise her—

[Raising her up.

7. Sh. Ha! What art thou? Belmour!
Bel. How fare you, lady ?

J. Sh. My heart is thrill'd with horror

Bel. Be of courage

Your husband lives! 'tis he, my worthiest friend7. Sh. Still art thou there!-Still dost thou hover round me!

Oh, save me, Belmour, from his angry shade! Bel. 'Tis he himself!-he lives! look up7. Sh. I dare not!

Oh! that my eyes could shut him out for ever

Sh. Am I so hateful, then, so deadly to thee, To blast thy eyes with horror? Since I'm grown A burthen to the world, myself, and thee, Wou'd I had ne'er surviv'd to see thee more.

J. Sh. Oh! thou most injur'd-dost thou live, in

deed!

Fall then, ye mountains, on my guilty head;

Hide me, ye rocks, within your secret caverns;

Cast thy black veil upon my shame, O night!
And shield me with thy sable wings for ever.

Sh. Why dost thou turn away?Why tremble thus ?

Why thus indulge thy fears? and in despair,
Abandon thy distracted soul to horror?
Cast every black and guilty thought behind thee,
And let 'em never vex thy quiet more.
My arms, my heart, are open to receive thee,
To bring thee back to thy forsaken home,
With tender joy, with fond forgiving love,
And all the longings of my first desires.

"J. Sh. No, arm thy brow with vengeance and

appear

"The minister of Heaven's inquiring justice.
"Array thyself all terrible for judgment,
"Wrath in thy eyes, and thunder in thy voice;
"Pronounce my sentence, and if yet there be
"A woe I have not felt, inflict it on me.

"Sh. The measure of my sorrows is compleat! "And I am come to snatch thee from injustice. "The hand of pow'r no more shall crush thy weak

ness,

"Nor proud oppression grind thy humble soul.

J. Sh. Art thou not risen by miracle from death? "Thy shroud is fall'n from off thee, and the grave "Was bid to give thee up, that thou might'st come "The messenger of grace and goodness to me, "To seal my peace, and bless me e'er I go.

"Oh! let me then fall down beneath thy feet, "And weep my gratitude for ever there; "Give me your drops, ye soft descending rains, "Give me your streams, ye never ceasing springs, "That my sad eyes may still supply my duty, "And feed an everlasting flood of sorrow.

"Sh. Waste not thy feeble spirits-I have long "Beheld, unknown, thy mourning and repentance; "Therefore my heart has set aside the past, "And holds thee white, as unoffending innocence: "Therefore in spite of cruel Gloster's rage, "Soon as my friend had broke my prison doors, "I flew to thy assistance." Let us haste, Now while occasion seems to smile upon us, Forsake this place of shame, and find a shelter. J. Sh. What shall I say to you? But I obeySh. Lean on my arm→→→

7. Sh. Alas! I'm wond'rous faint:

But that's not strange, I have not eat these three days.

Sh. Oh, merciless! "Look here, my love, I've brought thee

"Some rich conserves

"J. Sh. How can you be so good?

“But you were ever thus. I well remember "With what fond care, what diligence of love,

"You lavish'd out your wealth to buy me plea

66

sures,

Preventing every wish: have you forgot

"The costly string of pearl you brought me home,

"And ty'd about my neck?

you?

How could I leave

"Sh. Taste some of this, or this

"J. Sh. You're strangely alter'd

"Say, gentle Belmour, is he not? How pale "Your visage is become? Your eyes are hollow; "Nay, you are wrinkled too- -Alas, the day! "My wretchedness has cost you many a tear, "And many a bitter pang, since last we parted. "Sh. No more of that-Thou talk'st, but do'st not eat.

"J. Sh. My feeble jaws forget their common office,

"My tasteless tongue cleaves to the clammy roof, "And now a gen'ral loathing grows upon me." Oh! I am sick at heart!

Sh. Thou murd'rous sorrow!

Wo't thou still drink her blood, pursue her still!
Must she then die! Oh, my poor penitent!
Speak peace to thy sad heart: she hears me not;
Grief masters ev'ry sense-" help me to hold her”—

Enter CATESBY, with a guard.

Cat. Seize on 'em both, as traitors to the stateBel. What means this violence?

[Guards lay held on Shore and Belmour.

Cat. Have we not found you,

In scorn of the protector's strict command,