If friendship can excite such strong emotions,
What tremors had a lover's presence caus'd?
Elw. Ungenerous man!

Dou. I feast upon her terrors.
The story of his death was well contriv'd;

[Aside. [To her. But it affects not me; I have a wife, Compar'd with whom cold Dian was unchaste. [Takes her hand. But mark me well-though it concerns not

you

If there's a sin more deeply black than others, Distinguish'd from the list of common crimes, A legion in itself, and doubly dear To the dark prince of hell, it is-hypocrisy. [Throws her from him, and exit. Elw. Yes, I will bear this fearful indignation!

Thou melting heart, be firm as adamant;
Ye shatter'd nerves, be strung with manly
force,

That I may conquer all my sex's weakness,
Nor let this bleeding bosom lodge one thought,
Cherish one wish, or harbour one desire,
That angels may not hear and Douglas know.
[Exit.

Edr. My lord

Dou. Dost thou expect I should recount my shame,

Dwell on each circumstance of my disgrace,
And swell my infamy into a tale?
Rage will not let me-But-my wife is false.
Edr. Art thou convinc'd?

Dou. The chronicles of hell
Cannot produce a falser. But what news
Of her cursed paramour?

Edr. He has escap'd.

Dou. Hast thou examin'd every avenue? Each spot? the grove? the bower, her favourite haunt?

Edr. I've search'd them all.
Dou. He shall be yet pursued.
Set guards at every gate.-Let none depart
Or gain admittance here, without my know-
ledge.

Edr. What can their purpose be?
Dou. Is it not clear?

Harcourt has raised his arm against my life;
He fail'd; the blow is now reserv'd for Percy;
Then, with his sword fresh reeking from my
heart,
He'll revel with that wanton o'er my tomb;
Nor will he bring her aught she'll hold so
dear,
[husband.
As the curs'd hand with which he slew her
But he shall die! I'll drown my rage in blood,
Which I will offer as a rich libation

On thy infernal altar, black revenge!

SCENE II.-The Garden. Enter ELWINA.

[Exeunt.

And lynx-ey'd Jealousy so broad awake,
Elw. Each avenue is so beset with guards,
He cannot pass unseen. Protect him, Heaven!
Enter BIRTHA.

My Birtha, is he safe? has he escap'd?

Bir. I know not. I despatch'd young Harcourt to him,

To bid him quit the castle, as you order'd,
Restore the scarf, and never see you more.
But how the hard injunction was receiv'd,
Or what has happen'd since, I'm yet to learn.

Elw. O when shall I be eas'd of all my Lay down this weary head!-I'm sick at And in the quiet bosom of the grave [cares, Should Douglas intercept his flight! [heart! Bir. Be calm;

With seeming peace.
Douglas this very moment left the castle,

Birtha, whene'er Suspicion feigns to sleep,
Elw. Ah, then, indeed there's danger!
"Tis but to make its careless prey secure.

Bir. Should Percy once again entreat to see

thee,

'Twere best admit him; from thy lips alone He will submit to hear his final doom Of everlasting exile.

Elw. Birtha, no;

If honour would allow the wife of Douglas To meet his rival, yet I durst not do it. Percy! too much this rebel heart is thine:

The scarf!

Edr. Lord Douglas.

Dou. [Still not hearing him.] Yes, the scarf! Percy, I thank thee for the glorious thought! I'll cherish it; 'twill sweeten all my pangs, And add a higher relish to revenge!

Edr. My lord!

Dou. How! Edric here? Edr. What new distress?

I cannot hate-but I will banish thee.
Inexorable duty, O forgive,
If I can do no more!

Bir. If he remains,

As I suspect, within the castle walls, 'Twere best I sought him out.

Elw. Then tell him, Birtha,

[him,

But, Oh! with gentleness, with mercy, tell That we must never, never meet again.

The purport of my tale must be severe, But let thy tenderness embalm the wound My virtue gives. O soften his despair; But say we meet no more.

Enter PERCY.

Rash man, he's here!

[She attempts to go, he seizes her hand. Per. I will be heard; nay, fly not; I will Lost as I am, I will not be denied [speak; The mournful consolation to complain."

Elw. Percy, 1 charge thee, leave me.
Per. Tyrant, no:

I blush at my obedience, blush to think
I left thee here alone, to brave the danger
I now return to share.

Elw. That danger's past:

Douglas was soon appeas'd; he nothing knows. Then leave me, I conjure thee, nor again Endanger my repose. Yet, ere thou goest, Restore the scarf.

Per. Unkind Elwina, never!

'Tis all that's left me of my buried joys,

All which reminds me that I once was happy.
My letter told thee I would ne'er restore it.
Elw. Letter! what letter?
Per. That I sent by Harcourt.

Who knows?

Elw. Which I ne'er receiv'd. Douglas per[hapsBir. Harcourt, t' elude his watchfulness, Might prudently retire.

Elw. Grant Heaven it prove so! [ELWINA going, PERCY holds her. Per. Hear me, Elwina; the most savage

honour

Forbids not that poor grace.

Elw. It bids me fly thee.

Per. But, love!

Elw. But, glory!

Per. Enough! a ray of thy sublimer spirit Has warm'd my dying honour to a flame! One effort and 'tis done. The world shall say, When they shall speak of my disastrous love, Percy deserv'd Elwina though he lost her. Fond tears, blind me not yet! a little longer, Let my sad eyes a little longer gaze, And leave their last beams here.

Elw. [Turns from him.] I do not weep. Per. Not weep? then why those eyes avoiding mine? [accents? And why that broken voice? those trembling That sigh which rends my soul?

Elw. No more, no more.

Per. That pang decides it. Come- I'll die

at once;

For they infringe no duty, stain no honour,
And blot no vow; but mine are criminal,
Are drops of shame which wash the cheek of
guilt,

And every tear I shed dishonours Douglas.
Per. I swear my jealous love e'en grudges

thee

Thy sad pre-eminence in wretchedness.

Elw. Kouse, rouse, my slumb'ring virtue! Percy hear me. Heaven, when it gives such high-wrought souls as thine,

Still gives as great occasions to exert them. If thou wast form'd so noble, great, and gen'rous,

'Twas to surmount the passions which enslave The gross of human-kind.-Then think, O think, [other's. She, whom thou once didst love, is now anPer. Go on-and tell me that' that other's Douglas.

Elw. Whate'er his name, he claims respect

from me :

His honour's in my keeping, and I hold The trust so pure, its sanctity is hurt E'en by thy presence.

Per. Thou again hast conquer'd. Celestial virtue, like the angel spirit, Whose flaming sword defended Paradise,

The

known,

Thus struggles to the last to keep his hold;
And when the dire convulsive groan of death
Dislodges the sad spirit-thus it stays,
And fondly hovers o'er the form it lov'd.
Once and no more-farewell, farewell!

Elw. For ever!

[They look at each other for some time, then exit PERCY, After a pause; 'Tis past-the conflict's past! retire, my Birtha,

som wants !

I would address me to the throne of grace.
Bir. May Heaven restore that peace thy bo-
[Exit BIRTHA.
Elw. [Kneels.] Look down, thou awful,
heart-inspecting Judge,
Look down with mercy on thy erring creature,
And teach my soul the lowliness it needs!
And if some sad remains of human weakness
Should sometimes mingle with my best re-
solves,

O breathe thy spirit on this wayward heart,
And teach me to repent th' intruding sin
In it's first birth of thought!

[Noise within.] What noise is that? [turn'd! The clash of swords! should Douglas be re

Enter DOUGLAS and PERCY, fighting.
Dou. Yield, villain, yield.

Per. Not till this good right arm Shall fail its master.

Dou. This to thy heart, then.
Per. Defend thy own.

[They fight; PERCY disarms DOUGLAS. Dou. Confusion, death, and hell! Edr. [Without.] This way I heard the noise. Enter EDRIC, and many Knights and Guards, from every part of the Stage.

Per. Cursed treachery!
But dearly will I sell my life.
Dou. Seize on him.

Per. I'm taken in the toils.

[PERCY is surrounded by Guards, who take his Sword.

Dou. In the cursed snare

Thou laidst for me, traitor, thyself art caught. Elw. He never sought thy life.

Dou. Adulteress, peace!

The villain Harcourt too--but he's at rest. Per. Douglas, I'm in thy power; but do not triumph,

Percy's betray'd, not conquer'd. Come, despatch me.

Elw. (To DOUGLAS.] O do not, do not kill him!

Per. Madam, forbear;

For by the glorious shades of my great fathers,
Their godlike spirit is not so extinct,
That I should owe my life to that vile Scot.
Though dangers close me round on every side,
And death besets me, I am Percy still.

Dou. Sorceress, I'll disappoint thee-he shall die,

Thy minion shall expire before thy face,
That I may feast my hatred with your pangs,
And make his dying groans, and thy fond tears,
A banquet for my vengeance.

Elw. Savage tyrant!

I would have fallen a silent sacrifice, So thou had'st spar'd my fame-I never wrong'd thee.

Per. She knew not of my coming;-I alone
Have been to blame-Spite of her interdiction,
I hither came. She's pure as spotless saints.
Elw. I will not be excus'd by Percy's crime;
So white my innocence, it does not ask
The shade of others' faults to set it off;
Nor shall he need to sully his fair fame
To throw a brighter lustre round my virtue.
Dou. Yet he can only die-but death for
honour!

Ye powers of hell, who take malignant joy
In human bloodshed, give me some dire means,
Wild as my hate, and desperate as my wrongs!
Per. Enough of words. Thou know'st I
hate thee, Douglas;

'Tis steadfast, fix'd, hereditary hate,
As thine for me; our fathers did bequeath it
As part of our unalienable birthright,
Which nought but death can end.-Come, end

it here.

Dou. Her scarf upon his breast! The blasting sight converts me into stone; Withers my powers like cowardice or age, Curdles the blood within my shiv'ring veins, And palsies my bold arm.

Per. [Ironically to the Knights.] Hear you, his friends!

Bear witness to the glorious, great exploit,
Record it in the annals of his race,
That Douglas, the renown'd-the valiant
Douglas,
[castle,
Fenc'd round with guards, and safe in his own
Surpris'd a knight unarm'd, and bravely slew
him.

Dou. [Throwing away his dagger.] "Tis true I am the very stain of knighthood. How is my glory dimm'd!

Elw. It blazes brighter!

Douglas was only brave-he now is generous! Per. This action has restor'd thee to thy

rank,

And makes thee worthy to contend with Percy.
Dou. Thy joy will be as short as 'tis insult-
ing.
[To ELWINA.
And thou,imperious boy, restrain thy boasting.
Thou hast sav'd my honour, not remov'd my
hate,

For my soul loathes thee for the obligation.
Give him his sword.

Per. Now thou'rt a noble foe,

And in the field of honour I will meet thee,
As knight encount'ring knight.

Elw. Stay, Percy, stay,

Strike at the wretched cause of all, strike here, [husband. Here sheathe thy thirsty sword, but spare my Dou. Turn, Madam, and address those vows

las;

Now your loose fancy kindles at the thought,
And, wildly rioting in lawless hope,
Indulges the adultery of the mind. [in.
But I'll defeat that wish.-Guards, bear her
Nay, do not struggle. [She is borne in.

Per. Let our deaths suffice,
And reverence virtue in that form inshrin'd.
Dou. Provoke my rage no farther.-I have
kindled

The burning torch of never-dying vengeance At love's expiring lamp. But mark me, friends,

If Percy's happier genius should prevail,
And I should fall, give him safe conduct hence,
Be all observance paid him.-Go, I follow
thee.
[Aside to EDRIC.
Within I've something for thy private ear.
Per. Now shall this mutual fury be ap-
peas'd!
[slaughter!
These eager hands sha!l soon be drench'd in
Yes-like two famish'd vultures snuffing
blood,

And panting to destroy, we'll rush to combat;
Yet I've the deepest, deadliest cause of hate,
I am but Percy, thou'rt-Elwina's husband.
[Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-ELWINA'S Apartment. Elw. Thou who in judgment still remem

ber'st mercy, [band! Look down upon my woes, preserve my husPreserve my husband! Ah, I dare not ask it; My very prayers may pull down ruin on ne! If Douglas should survive, what then becomes

Stay, flowing tears, and give me leave to speak. Elw. Thou sayest that Percy and my husband live;

Then why this sorrow?

Bir. What a task is mine!

Elw. Where are the knights? I summon you -approach!

Draw near, ye awful ministers of fate,
Dire instruments of posthumous revenge!
Come-I am ready; but your tardy justice
Defrauds the injur'd dead.-Go, haste, my
friend,

See that the castle be securely guarded,
Let every gate be barr'd-prevent his entrance.
Bir. Whose entrance?

Elw. His-the murderer of my husband.
Bir. He's single, we have hosts of friends.
Elw. No matter;

Who knows what love and madness may attempt?

But here I swear by all that binds the good,
Never to see him more.-Unhappy Douglas!
O if thy troubled spirit still is conscious
Of our past woes, look down, and hear me

swear,

grief,

And scarce acquainted with calamity.
Speak out, unfold thy tale, whate'er it be,
For I am so familiar with affliction,

It cannot come in any shape will shock me.
Bir. How shall I speak? Thy husband-
Elw. What of Douglas?

Bir. When all was ready for the fatal combat, [sword, He call'd his chosen knights, then drew his And on it made them swear a solemn oath, Confirm'd by every rite religion bids, That they would see perform'd his last request, Be it whate'er it would. Alas! they swore. Elw. What did the dreadful preparation mean?

Bir. Then to their hands he gave a poison'd

name?

Works at my heart, and conquers struggling

husband.

Elw. [Kneels.] Bless'd be the fountain of eter

nal mercy,

This load of guilt is spar'd me! Douglas lives! Perhaps both live! [To BIRTHA.] Could I be sure of that, [me.

The poison were superfluous, joy would kill Dou. Be honest now, for once, and curse thy

stars;

Curse thy detested fate which brings thee back
A hated husband, when thy guilty soul
Revell'd in fond, imaginary joys
With my too happy rival; when thou flew'st,
To gratify impatient, boundless passion,
And join adulterous lust to bloody murder;
Then to reverse the scene! polluted woman!
Mine is the transport now, and thine the pang.
Elw. Whence sprung the false report that
thou had'st fall'n?

Dou. To give thy guilty breast a deeper wound,

To add a deadlier sting to disappointment,
I rais'd it-I contriv'd-I sent it thee.

Elw. Thou seest me bold, but bold in con

scious virtue. [blood, -That my sad soul may not be stain'd with That I may spend my few short hours in peace, And die in holy hope of Heaven's forgiveness, Relieve the terrors of my lab'ring breast, Say I am clear of murder-say he lives,

Elw. [In a low broken voice.] Douglas-think not I faint, because thou seest The pale and bloodless cheek of wan despair. Fail me not yet, my spirits; thou cold heart, Cherish thy freezing current one short moment, And bear thy mighty load a little longer.

Dou. Percy, I must avow it, bravely fought,Died as a hero should;-but, as he fell, (Hear it, fond wanton!) call'd upon thy name, And his last guilty breath sigh'd out-Elwina! Come-give a loose to rage, and feed thy soul With wild complaints, and womanish upbraidings.

Elw. [In a low solemn voice.] No.

The sorrow's weak that wastes itself in words,
Mine is substantial anguish-deep, not loud;
I do not rave-Resentment's the return
Of common souls for common injuries.
Light grief is proud of state, and courts com-
passion;

But there's a dignity in cureless sorrow,
A sullen grandeur which disdains complaint;
Rage is for little wrongs-Despair is dumb.
[Exeunt ELWINA ani BIRTHA.
Dou. Why, this is well! her sense of woe is
strong!
The sharp, keen tooth of gnawing grief de-
vours her,
[pangs.
Feeds on her heart, and pays me back my
Since I must perish, 'twill be glorious ruin :
I fall not singly, but, like some proud tower,
I'll crush surrounding objects in the wreck,
And make the devastation wide and dreadful.

Enter RABY.

Raby. O whither shall a wretched father turn [here? Where fly for comfort? Douglas, art thou I do not ask for comfort at thy hands. I'd but one little casket, where I lodged My precious hoard of wealth, and, like an idiot,

Dou. Ha!

Raby. I,-I alone.

Confusion, honour, pride, parental fondness,
Distract my soul,-Percy was not to blame,
He was-the des in'd husband of Elwina!
He loved her-was belov'd-and I approv'd.
The tale is long.-I chang'd my purpose since,
Forbade their marriage-
Dou. And confirm'd my mis'ry! [Percy.
Twice did they meet to-day-my wife and
Raby. I know it.

Dou. Ha! thou knew'st of my dishonour? Thou wast a witness, an approving witness, At least a tame one!

Ruby. Percy came, 'tis true,
A constant, tender, but a guiltless lover!
Dou. I shall grow mad indeed; a guiltless
lover!

Percy, the guiltless lover of my wife?
Raby. He knew not she was married.
Dou. How? is't possible?

Raby. Douglas, 'tis true; both, both were

innocent;

He of her marriage, she of his return.