Vil. You and your accomplices design'd To murder Biron ?- -Speak. Ped. We did. Vil. Did you engage upon your private wrongs, Or were employ'd ? Ped. He never did us wrong. Vil. You were set on then? Ped. We were set on. Vil. What do you know of me? Ped. Nothing, nothing: You sav'd his life, and have discover'd me. Vil. He has acquitted me. If you would be resolv'd of any thing, He stands upon his answer. Bel. Who set you on to act this horrid deed? C. Bald. I'll know the villain; give me quick his name, Or I will tear it from thy bleeding heart. Ped. I will confess. C. Bald. Do then. Ped. It was my master, Carlos, your own son. C. Bald. Oh, monstrous monstrous ! most un natural! Bel. Did he employ you to murder his own brother? Ped. He did; and he was with us when 'twas done. C. Bald. If this be true, this horrid, horrid tale, It is but just upon me: Biron's wrongs Must be reveng'd; and I the cause of all. Fr. What will you do with him? 1 C. Bald. Take him a-part I know too much. [Pedro goes in. dying son [Gives it to Baldwin. Vil. I had forgot-Your wretched, I dare deliver it. It speaks of me, C. Bald. You know the hand. " SIR, ) [Belford reads the Letter. "I find I am come only to lay my death at your door. I am now going out of the world; but cannot forgive you, nor my brother Carlos, for not hinder! ing my poor wife Isabella from marrying with Villeroy; when you both knew, from so many letters, that I was alive. Vil. How Did you know it then? Enter CARLOS, with Officers. BIRON." Oh, Carlos! are you come? Your brother here, To you and me-Have you done any thing To hasten his sad end? Car. Bless me, sir, I do any thing! Who, I I never heard of any-Did you know He was alive? } Car. Alive! Heav'n knows, not I. C. Bald. Had you no news of him, from a report, Or letter, never? Car. Never, never I. Bel. That's strange, indeed: I know he often writ To lay before you the conditions Of his hard slavery and more I know, That he had several answers to his letters. [To C. Bald. He said, they came from you; you are his brother. Car. Never from me. Bel. That will appear. The letters, I believe, are still about him; C. Bald. What did those answers say? To let him perish there. C. Bald. Oh, Carlos! Carlos! hadst thou been a brother Car. This is a plot upon me. I never knew He was in slavery, or was alive, Or heard of him, before this fatal hour. Bel. There, sir, I must confront you. He sent you a letter, to my knowledge, last night; Bring out that wretch before him. [Pedro produced. Car. Ha! Pedro there!-Then I am caught, in» deed. Bel. You start at sight of him; He has confess'd the bloody deed. Car. Well then, he has confess'd, And I must answer it. Bel. Is there no more? Car. Why-what would you have more? I know the worst, And I expect it. C. Bald. Why hast thou done all this ? Car. Why, that which damns most men has ruin'd me; The making of my fortune. Biron stood Between me and your favour: while he liv'd, I had not that; hardly was thought a son, I could not bear a younger brother's lot, C. Bald. 'Tis too true; I never lov'd thee, as I should have done: To all their children; common in their care, And in their love of 'em-I am unhappy, For loving one too well. Vil. You knew your brother liv'd; why did you take Such pains to marry me to Isabella? Car. I had my reasons for't Vil. More than I thought you had. I knew my brother lov'd his wife so well, Bel. If you rely'd on that, why did you kill him? all. Where must I go? I am tired of your questions. C. Bald. I leave the judge to tell thee what thou art; A father cannot find a name for thee. But parricide is highest treason, sure, So sentenc'd in thy crimes. Take him away— That drives thee out, thou poison of my blood, Infected long, and only foul in thee. [Carlos led off 1 |