SCENE IV.-Another Room. ARDEN sleeping on a couch. Enter ALICIA, with a dagger in her hand. While fearful guilt knows no security, That pierced my ears, and cried, 'Alicia, hold!" Precede the horrid act, what must ensue? [Alicia drops the dagger. ARDEN starts up. Ard. Her dagger, Michael-seize it, and I'm safe. How strong she is! Oh! What a fearful dream! hence -I am wrapped in wonder Hast lost all sense of fear, as well as shame, That thou dar'st haunt me thus, asleep and wa king, Thou idol, and thou torment of my soul? Alic. My bleeding heart! Ard. Away! begone and leave me! Lest, in the transports of unbounded rage, I rush upon thee, and deface these charms, That first enslaved my soul; mangle that face, Where, spite of falsehood, beauty triumphs still; Mar that fair frame, and crush thee into atoms. Avoid me, and be safe-Nay now you drive me hence. [Alicia kneels, he turns away. Cruel and false as thou hast been to me, I cannot see thee wring thy suppliant hands, And weep, and kncel in vain. Alic. This, this is he [Exit Arden. I came prepared to murder. Curst Alicia! ACT III. -SCENE I.-A road or highway near Feversham. | it but naked in your hand, he would have stab BLACK WILL and SHAKEBAG. bed himself as he walked, B. Will. I had not power to do it: a sudden Shake. Damnation! posted as you were, to damp came over me; I never felt so in my life. let him escape! B. Will. I pray thee, peace. Shake. Green and I beheld him pass carelessly by within reach of your dagger. If you had held A kind of palsy seized me. Shake. Palsy! when you're upon your duty! Go, go and sleep, or drink away your fears. You tremble still B. Will. I tremble! my courage was never yet called in question, villain. When I fought at Boulogne under the late king, both armies knew, and feared me. Shake. That might be, because they did not know you. Dog, I'll shake you off to your old trade of filching in a throng-Murder's too genteel a business for your capacity.—Sirrah, I have taken more gold at noon-day, than ever you filched copper by candle-light. B. Will. Cowardly slave, you lye. Shake. A coward! S'blood! that shall be proved. Come on. B. Will. To thy heart's blood. Enter GREEN. [They fight. Green. This broil will ruin all. Shake. He begun it. B. Will. Ay, and will end it too. L. Chey. Arden, well met. You're to the isle of Shippey Grown quite a stranger. Shall we see you there? Ard. I purposed soon to have waited on your lordship. L. Chey. Well, will you sup with me to night at Shorlow? Ard. Franklin, my lord, who is my guest at present, Expects me at my house. L. Chey. Then will you dine with me to morrow? Ard. I'll not fail your lordship. L. Chey. Believe me, worthy friend, I'm glad to see you. Walk you towards Feversham? Ard. So please your lordship. [Exeunt Lord Cheyney, and Arden. B. Will. Just as I'd taken aim too!-S'blood, I could kill myself for vexation, These strange escapes have almost staggered me; Green. Arden, you know, returns, and will But thinking of my wrongs, I'm more confirmed. you let him Escape a second time? Shake. Who did the first? Green. No matter, that may be repaired. B. Will. Brand me with cowardice! Green. Come, come, you're both to blame. Speak, will you lay aside this senseless broil? B. Will. Nay, let him speak. Shake. Why, rather than lose this opportunity[Puts up his sword. B. Will. Ay-We'll defer it, 'till Arden's dead. I'm for doing business first, and then for play. Shake. Challenge me, when thou darest. Green. The night draws on. Are you resolved? Shake. We are. Green. Enough.-See where he comes. must withdraw; I B. Will. Well said, my man of resolution! A gentleman commits a murder with double the satisfaction for such a heart.-We must lay our snares more cunning for the future.. Green. We should consult with Michael, The pigmy-hearted wretch, though long ago Green. I wonder at his absence, as he knew Of this attempt, and promised to be here. Mos. I come, Alicia, to partake thy griefs; For fire divided burns with lesser force. Alic. I know thee: thou art come to fan the flame Thy breath hath kindled here, till it consume us. Mos. -Is heroic love, That formed the bright examples of thy sex, Made their lives glorious, and their fame immortal, A crime in thee? Art thou not mine by oaths, I had no right to make, or you to ask? In me, 'twas foolish guilt and disobedience; Mos. And dost thou glory in thy perjuries? Till thy first falsehood; call it not obedience! Thy marriage with this Arden made me despe My promised faith! Mos. First, let the world dissolve. Alic. There is no joy, nor peace for you, or me: All our engagements cannot but be fatal. Mos. The time may come, when you'll have Till then, farewell.-[Aside.] Now, fortune, do I should have banished him my sight for ever. And each hour bends him lower towards his grave. Ard. I know thy friendship, and perceive its I'll bear my wrongs, for sure I have been wronged. Frank. To cast away, and on suspicion only, The clock has strucken ten. Frank. I thought it not so much. Ard. Why, thus it is: Our happy hours are few, and fly so swift, Frank. Come, let us to rest. Impartial as the grave, Sleep robs the cruel tyrant of his power, cares, And time will end them. Ard. True, for time brings death, Is it life chequered with the sleep of death? But, if ye parley with the foe, you're lost. [Erit. Heaven send you good repose. SCENE III.-Another room in Arden's house. ARDEN and FRANKLIN sitting together on a couch: ARDEN thoughtful. Frank. Nay, wonder not. Though every cir cumstance [Gives Franklin a candle. Frank. The like to you. Mich. Shall I attend you, sir? Frank. No, no, I choose to be alone. Good night. [Exit Franklin. Michael attends his master with the other light, and returns.] Mich. I, who should take my weapon in my hand, Ard. To bed, Enter ARDEN and FRANKLIN, undressed at se- And, as you prize my favour, be more careful. veral doors. [Exit Michael. Frank. Tis very cold. Once more, my friend— Ard. Good night. [Exit Arden. SCENE IV.-Changes to the street before Arden's Enter BLACK WILL, and SHAKEBAG. ACT IV. SCENE I.-An Inn, the Flower-de-Luce. MOSBY and MICHAEL. Mich. Though I with oaths appealed to con- That Arden rose, and shut the doors himself, ed me. We must desist-Franklin and sweet Maria To interfere. Mos. Such ever be the employ Of him I hate! Mich. The mourning fair, all changed, Bid opportunity and fortune wait; Green. How strange a providence attends this "Tis vain to strive with Heaven.-Let's give it o'er. Mos. No; when I do, may I be curst for ever, Hopeless to love, and hate without revenge! May I ne'er know an end of disappointment, But, prest with hard necessity, like thee, By me conjures you (and with tears she spake it), Live the contempt of my insulting foe! Not to involve yourself, and her, in ruin, By seeking to renew a correspondence, She has renounced for ever. Mos. How! confusion! Green. I scorn the abject thought. Had he a life Hung on each hair, he dies!-If we succeed, Mich. And hopes, as Heaven, in answer to her This very night Maria shall be thine. prayers, Hath reconciled her duty and affection, You will approve her resolution Mos. Doubtless! Mich. And learn, by her example, to subdue Your guilty passion. Mos. Ha, ha, ha! exquisite woman! So! rather than not change, she'll love her husband! But she will not persevere. Mich. Yes, sure she will. Mos. Have I, then, slighted her whole sighing sex, Mich. I am a man again. Mos. I've thought a way, [To Michael. That may be easy under friendship's mask, Mos. You know him not. You, with your ruffians, in the street shall seek I follow at some distance. They begin pear, Forget all wrongs, and draw in his defence; |