Therefore, beyond my hopes. Ard. O Mosby, Michael, Green, Why have you drawn my blood upon your souls? Mos. Behold her there, to whom I was betroth 'd, And ask no farther Green. Think on thy abbey-lands From injur'd Green. Ard. You now are your own judges, But we shall meet again where right and truthWho-who are these? But I forgive you all. Thy hand, Alicia Alic. I'll not give it thee. [too? Ard. O wretched woman! have they kill'd thee A deadly paleness, agony, and horror, On thy sad visage sit. My soul hangs on thee, And, though departing-just departing-loves Is loath to leave, unreconcil'd to thee, [thee: This useless, mangled tenement of clay. Dismiss her pleas'd, and say thou'rt innocent. Alic. All hell contains not such a guilty wretch. Ard. Then, welcome death! though in the shape of murder. How have I doted to idolatry! Vain, foolish wretch, and thoughtless of hereafter, Nor hoped, nor wish'd, a heaven beyond her love. Now, unprepar'd, I perish by her hate. Alic. Though blacker, and more guilty, than the My soul is white from this accursed deed. [fiends, O Arden! hear me Ard. Full of doubts I come, O thou Supreme, to seek thy awful presence. [Dics, Alic. Turn not from me: Behold me, pity me, survey my sorrows, I, who despis'd the duty of a wife, Will be thy slave.-Spit on me, spurn me, Sir, I'll love the still- couldst thou court my scorn, And now abhor me, when I love thee more, If possible, than e'er thou lov'dst Alicia! Mos Mad fool! he's dead and hears thee not. Alic. 'Tis false B. Will. Use them yourself: He smiles upon me, and applauds my vengeance. I hope we're as safe as you. [Snatches a dagger, and strikes at MOSBY. -A knocking at the gate. Mos. Damnation !— Mos. Why, gentlemen-Arden, I us'd thee worse! [Aside. B. Will. We shall take care, however, for our My sliding feet, as I move trembling forwards, Are drench'd in blood. O may I only fancy, That Arden there lies murder'd Mos. How fares Alicia ?— [hell Alic. As the howling damn'd; and thou my Mar. Unhappy brother! If thou hast done this deed, hope not to 'scape: Mercy herself, who only seeks for crimes, That she may pardon and reform the guilty, Would change her nature at a sight like this. Enter MICHAEL. Mich. The guests are come-the servants all return'd. Mos. Alicia, be thyself; and mask thy heart, [Lifts up ALICIA. From every prying eye, with courteous smiles. Alic. Thou canst not think me mean enough to live. Mos. You would not choose an ignominious death? Alic. That's all I dread-might but the silent grave, When it receives me to its dark abode, Green. I will, but cannot answer for my own. O Arden! Arden! could we change conditions! [Exit. B. Will. Why, what a crew of cowards! In the same moment, murdering and repenting. Mos. Give me the ring that is on Arden's finger. Shake. There. Will you have his purse too? Mos. No, keep that. B. Will. Thanks for our own: we should have kept the ring, Were it not too remarkable. But how must we dispose of the body? Mos. Nay, gentlemen Shake. Pretend to direct us! Mos. For your own sakes-Arden will soon be miss'd. Shake. We know our business, Sir. Mos. I doubt it not. Mos. 'Tis very well-I hope we all are friends. So-softly-softly-Michael, not that door [MICHAEL going out at the wrong door So-make what speed you can: I'll wait you there. [Exeunt. SCENE II-A Hall in ARDEN's House. MOSBY alone. They must pass undescry'd: gardens and fields Arden is dead; now count thy gains at leisure. As hell can equal, only murderers feel. [A pause. Mich. Dead Arden lies Mos. That's much Should you be question'd as to Arden's death, You'll not confess? Mich. No, so Maria 's mine. Mos. She's thine, if all a brother canMich. What's if? I bought her dear, at hazard of my soul, And force shall make her mine.— Mos. Why, how now, coward! Enter MARIA. Mar. The guests refuse to take their seats without you. Alicia's grief, too, borders on distraction. Mos. Increase it, rather. Mar. Michael, your absence too has been ob serv'd. Mos. Say, we are coming. [Exit MARIA. Mich. One thing I'd forgot. [Returning Soon as the company have left the house, There's your reward. The horses both are saddled, The ruffians will return. And ready for your flight. Mos. What would the villains? 628 Enter MOSBY. To apprehend two most notorious ruffians; [Aside Green. I'm glad it is no worse. Mayor. I know my duty, Sir, and that respect, Alic. Heavens! where, indeed! [Aside. Each precious drop of murder'd Arden's blood geance. Mayor. What says the lady? Mos. Oh! Sir, heed her not: Her husband has not been at home to-night, Mayor. Scarce an hour, Mos. I am asham'd I've made you wait: be Since 1 beheld him enter here with you. seated. Green. Madam, first take your place. Alic. Make me not mad To me all places are alike. [Sits. Mos. Come, since we want the master of the house, I'll take his seat for once. Alic. Dares he do this? [Aside. Mos. I'm much afflicted that he stays so late; The times are perilous. Green. And he has enemies, Tho' no man, sure, did e'er deserve them less. Mos. Would I were with him now! How fare you, Madam? [Aside. Alic. I'm lost in admiration of your brother. Madam, be merry. [Aside. Mos. Michael, some wine. Health and long [Drinks. Alic. The good you wish, and have procur'd for Light on thyself! [Rising, in desperation. Mar. For Heaven's sake!- [Comes forward, Mos. The darkness of the night deceiv'd you, It was a stranger, since departed hence. Frank. [Without.] Within there-ho!-bar [FRANKLIN and others enter, with lights. Frank. First hear me; and then judge, Whether on slight presumptions I accuse them. These honest men, (neighbours and townsmen all) Conducted me, dropping with grief and fear, Not to be trusted to the faithless memory. Mayor. Search 'em. Mich. I thought I'd thrown it down the well. [Aside. Mayor. [To an OFFICER.] Enter that room, search the lady there; We may perhaps discover more. [OFFICER goes out, and re-enters; in the mean time another OFFICER searches MOSBY and GREEN. 1st Officer. On Arden's wife I found this letter. 2d Officer. And I, this ring on Mosby. Mayor. Righteous Heaven! Well may'st thou hang thy head, detested villain: This very day did Arden wear this ring, I saw it on his hand.— Mos. I freely yield me to my fate. Enter another OFFICER. Officer. We've seiz'd two men behind some stacks of wood. Mayor. Well, bring 'em in. [BLACK WILL and SHAKEBAG brought in. They answer the description: But let them wait 'till I have done with these. Heavens! what a scene of villany is here! [Having read the letter. B. Will. Since we're sure to die, though I could wish 'twere in better company, (for I hate that fawning rascal, Mosby,) I'll tell the truth for once. He has been long engaged in an affair with Arden's wife there; but fearing a discovery, and hoping to get into his estate, hired us to hide him. -That's all. Mayor. And you the horrid deed perform'd ? Shake. We did, with his assistance, and Green's, and Michael's. Mayor. This letter proves, Alicia, from the first. Was made acquainted with your black design. B. Will. I know nothing of that: but, if she was, she repented of it afterwards. So I think, you call that a change of mind. Mayor. That may avail her at the bar of Heaven, But is no plea at ours. [ALICIA brought in.] Load them with irons, make them feel their guilt, Alic. I adore Th' unerring hand of justice; and with silence Had yielded to my fate, but for this maid, Who, as my soul dreads justice on her crimes, Knew not, or e'er consented to this deed. Mayor. But did she not consent to keep it secret? Mos. To save a brother and most wretched friend. Mayor. She has undone herself-Behold how innocence May suffer in bad fellowship.-And Bradshaw, My honest neighbour Bradshaw too-I read it With grief and wonder. Brad. Madam, I appeal To you; as you are shortly to appear Alic. You brought the letter; Shall clear these mysteries. A. Fowl. If I'm condemn'd, My blood be on his head that gives the sentence. I'm not accus'd, and only ask for justice. Frank. You shall have justice all, and rig'rous justice. So shall the growth of such enormous crimes, 55 THE JEALOUS WIFE: A COMEDY, IN FIVE ACTS. BY GEORGE COLEMAN, Esq. REMARKS. THIS piece was originally performed at Drury-lane, and met with astonishing success. The plot is taken from Fielding's "Tom Jones," at the period when Sophia takes refuge at the house of Lady Bellaston. The portion of plot borrowed from that work, however, only serves to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Oakly, the jealous wife and her husband. The passions of the lady are certainly worked up to a sufficient height, and Mr. Oakly's vexation and domestic misery, in consequence of her behaviour, very strongly supported; yet, perhaps, the author would have better answered his purpose with respect to exposing the absurdity of the passion, had he made her appear somewhat less of the virago, and Mr. Oakly not so much of the hen-pecked husband. Mrs. Oakly now rather appears a lady, who, from a consciousness of her own power, is desirous of supporting the appearance of jealousy, to procure an undue influence over her husband and family, than one who, feeling the reality of that turbalent yet fluctuating passion, becomes equally absurd in the suddenness of forming unjust suspicions, and in that hastiness of being satisfied, which love, the only true basis of jealousy, will constantly occasion. Tell me, I say, this instant, every circumstance relating to this letter. Oak. How can I tell you, when you will not so much as let me see it? Mrs. O. Look you, Mr. Oakly, this usage is not Mrs. O. [Within.] Don't tell me I know it is to be borne. You take a pleasure in abusing my so-It's monstrous, and I will not bear it. tenderness and soft disposition.-To be perpetualOak. [Within.] But my dear!ly running over the whole town, nay, the whole Mrs. O. Nay, nay, &c. [Squabbling within. kingdom too, in pursuit of your amours!--Did not Enter MRS. OAKLY with a letter, followed by Mrs. O. Say what you will, Mr. Oakly, you Oak. I can assure you, my love- I discover that you was great with Mademoiselle, my own woman?-Did not you contract a shameful familiarity with Mrs. Freeman? Did not I detect your intrigue with Lady Wealthy? Was not you Oak. Oons! Madam, the grand Turk himself has not half so many mistresses. You throw me out of all patience. Do I know any body but o your-common friends? Am I visited by any body that |