And hate reigned here alone!-I sent thee here,
I followed thee: I saw thee in his bosom ;

Now hear he dies!

Flor. O heav'n!

Pes. He dies before thy face!

Flor. No, 'tis impossible

'Tis but to try, 'tis but to terrify me;

You do not mean the horrid deed you speak-
You are a man, you are a human creature!
Oh, no! thou wilt not! Have I not performed
Each dread condition? did I not appear

Shudd'ring before the altar! didst thou not promise,
Didst thou not swear? am-am I not your wife?

Pes. You are, and love my foe! Come forth, and seize him! [Executioners advance. Hem. And send me quickly from this cursed world, Where guilt, like his, can triumph.

Flor. Mercy!

Pes. Mercy!

Flor. Then, heav'n, where are thy lightnings?

Pes. In my grasp. Drag, drag him to your tortures ! Flor. Hold, tormentors!

Oh, kill-oh, kill me first; here, in my heart,

Quench your fell thirst for blood!

[Pescara drags her from them.

Oh! let me not behold it! Death, do thy work,

Thou art too slow within my raging breast!

Fall, mountains, down, and hide me from this horror! Burst, earth, and swallow me!-almighty_heav'n! Stretch forth thy arm, and save him! Ha! they drag

him,

They bear him to their torments !-why, O heav'n!
Why am I thus abandoned?

[Voices without.] "The Moors!"

[Florinda listens for a moment, and a shout is heard -she shrieks, and rushes towards the front and falls on her knees.Pescara stands appalled, the alarmbell rings.

Hem. That sound has raised me to the sun; my soul Now mounts in triumph !—well, infernal villain, Well mayst thou stand amazed! thy hour is come! Thou art enclosed in thy own den of blood.

Pes. Traitors and slaves!-ha! that thought!

[He clenches his dagger-Hemeya struggles with the executioners.

This, this is left me still! within my grasp

I clutch it like a fierce and desp'rate joy!
Look here! look here, vile Moor!-despite of fate
I still shall triumph o'er thee!

[Advances to stab Florinda-as he lifts the dagger, Hemeya, who has broken from his Executioners, rushes up, tears it from his hand, and stabs him— the Moors rush in with Malec at their head, L. U. E., while Florinda sinks into the arms of HemeyaPescara, after a vain attempt to speak, falls dead. Mal. Hail, glorious Moor!

Hem. My friend! my brave deliverer!

Mal. The Moors are up in arms-the Alpuxerras
Have poured their marshalled thousands to the field :
The crescent floats upon Grenada's tower,

And morning shall behold thee on the throne.
Kneel, Moors! behold your king!

Hem. Arise, my friends! Florinda, fate has poured
A thousand blessings in one rapturous hour-
But, in the thick'ning splendours of my stars,
Thou art my loveliest light.

Flor. If it be possible.

Thou, who dost weigh our mis'ries with our crimes,
Oh, take from death this agony! Hemeya,

While 'twas for thee I trembled, pain grew dull,
And lost its pow'r upon me; now, 'tis here!
Hem. Florinda!

Flor. Yes, I have kept my promise to thee:
This is its dread fulfilment !--you were wrong
To chide me for my falsehood: ere my marriage,
I poured a deadly draught within my veins:
That first was ice; but now in streams of fire
Comes rushing through my bosom !

Hem. Give me a sword!

Give me some means of death! bring, bring me poison!
Or bear me to the rack from which I'scaped!

Here, here, in mercy plunge your steels together!
Ha! what is't I see! I thank thee, fortune!

Thou hast struck the wound, but thou canst heal it, too.

[Perceives Pescara's dagger on the ground, and stabs himself-Florinda shrieks, and falls on her knees beside him.

Mal. Thou shouldst have lived! thy life was still thy country's!

And, but for that, I'd follow thee.

Hem. Florinda,

Fate cannot take the joy to look upon thee,
To die beholding thee !-

[Dies.--Florinda continues insensible

Mal. In the next battle

I'll find the way to join thee. Ha! Hemeya!
Is this the palace of thy monarchy ?

Is this thy throne? is this, thy silent corse,
All that remains of him that once I loved?

[While Malec is speaking, Florinda appears to staunch
the blood of Hemeya with her hair.

Flor. It still will flow; but I'll stay here forever!
I'll look on these cold lips-my shiv'ring hand
Shall press this cold, cold forehead!-and I'll staunch
This blood that still flows on.

Mal. Remove the body-poor distracted wretch,
I pity thee !-uplift that bleeding corse,
And bear it from the dungeon.

Flor. No, you shall not,

You shall not tear me hence: no! never! never!
He is my lord! my husband! death! 'twas death!
Death married us together! here I will dig

A bridal bed, and we'll lie there forever!

I will not go! ha! you may pluck my heart out,
But I will never go! Help!-help!-Hemeya!
They drag me to Pescara's cursed bed!

They rend the chains of fire that bind me to thee!
Help!-help!

[Dies..

No. XXI.

BOX AND COX.

A Romance of Real Life

IN ONE ACT.

BY JOHN MADDISON MORTON, ESQ.

WITH THE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHARACTERS, COS. TUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, &c.

NEW-YORK:

WM. TAYLOR & CO., 16 Park-Place.

BALTIMOBE, MD.

WM. & HENRY TAYLOR, Sun Iron Buildings.