Thou canst not miss thy way.-The house is theirs. I am suspected-Michael guards the door- Enter GREEN, BLACK WILL, SHAKEBAG, and Could I prevail on him!-O, Sir [Talks apart with GREEN. B. Will. What a fair house! rich furniture! what piles of massy plate. And, then, yon iron chest. Good plunder, comrade. Shake. And Madam Arden there-A prize worth them all, to me. B. Will. And shall that fawning, whitelivered, coward, Mosby, enjoy all these? Shake. No doubt, he would, were we the fools he thinks us. Green. Had he as many lives as drops of blood, I'd have them all. [TO ALICIA. Alic. But for one single nightGreen. I'd not defer his fate a single hour, Though I were sure myself to die the next. So, peace, irresolute woman-and be thankful For thy own life. Alic. O mercy, mercy— Green. Yes, Such mercy as the nursing lioness, When drain'd of moisture by her eager young Green. She would prevent us; but our steady courage Laughs at her coward arts. Why, Michael? Mich. Sir! [Knocking gently at the gate. Green. Thou bloodless coward, what dost tremble at ? [Aside. [Going. Ard. Alicia! No-she has no will but mine. Mos. It is not fit she should :--and yet-perhaps 'Twere better, Sir-permit me to retire. Will clear her injur'd virtue to the world. I owe to both your fames, and pay it freely. Bring us the tables, Michael [They sit and play. Alic. [Aside.] O just Heaven! [pause! Wilt thou not interpose?-How dread this Ten thousand terrors crowd the narrow space. Ard. Your thoughts are absent, Mosby. B. Will. Blood! why don't Mosby give the word? Mich. Give back; the game's against him. Alic. Fly, Franklin! fly, to save thy Arden's life: Murder herself, that chases him in view, Ard. Come, give it up; I told you I should Mos. Now I take you. BLACK WILL throws a scarf over ARDEN'S head, in order to strangle him; iut ARDEN disengages himself, wrests a dagger from SHAKEBAG, and stands on his defence, 'till MOSBY getting behind and seizing his arm, the rest assassinate him. Alic. O power Omnipotent! make strong his arm, Give him to conquer. Ha! my prayers are curses, And draw down vengeance where they meant Ard. Inhospitable villain! Ard. O hold your bloody-Mosby, too! I yield me to my fate.-Is this, Alicia, Therefore, beyond my hopes. Ard. O Mosby, Michael, Green, [souls? Why have you drawn my blood upon your Mos. Behold her there, to whom I was be[troth'd, And ask no farther Green. Think on thy Abbey-lands From injur'd Green. Ard. You now are your own judges, Who-who are these? But I forgive you all. Alic. I'll not give it thee. Ard. O wretched woman! have they kill'd thee too? Are drench'd in blood. O may I only fancy, Alic. As the howling damn'd: and thou my Mar. Unhappy brother! If thou hast done this deed, hope not to 'scape: Mich. The guests are come-the servants all Mos. Alicia, be thyself; and mask thy heart, From every prying eye, with courteous smiles. [Lifts up ALICIA. Alic. Thou canst not think me mean enough to live. If not, may awful justice have her course. A deadly paleness, agony, and horror, Ard. Then, welcome death! though in the How have I doted to idolatry! Alic. Though blacker, and more guilty, than My soul is white from this accursed deed. Ard. Full of doubts I come, O thou Supreme, to seek thy awful presence. Alic. Turn not from me: [Dies. Behold me, pity me, survey my sorrows. Alic. "Tis false- Mos. Damnation! B. Will. 'Sdeath! we shall leave our work unfinished, and be betrayed at last.-Let's hide the body. Mos. Force her away. [Exit. Mos. Sister! our lives are thine- 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! finger. Shake. There. Will you have his purse too? B. Will. Thanks for our own: we should But how must we dispose of the body? [way. B. Will. Sir, if you doubt our conduct, do't yourself. Mos. Nay, gentlemen Shake. Pretend to direct us! Mos. For your own sakes-Arden will soon Shake. We know our business, Sir. [dled, There's your reward. The horses both are sad- B. Will. Use them yourself: Mos. Why, gentlemen-Arden, I us'd thee worse! [Aside. B. Will. We shall take care, however, for our own sakes. Mos. 'Tis very well-I hope we all are friends. So-softly-softly-Michael, not that door[MICHAEL going out at the wrong door. [She swoons, as she is forced from the body. So-make what speed you can: I'll wait you there. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-A Hall in ARDEN's House. MOSBY alone. Enter MARIA. Mar. Mosby here! My sliding feet, as I move trembling forwards, They must pass undescry'd: gardens and fields Contracts new horrors, and a deeper black From this damn'd deed.-Mosby, thou hast thy wish. Arden is dead; now count thy gains at leisure. Dangers without, on every side suspicion; Within, my starting conscience makes such wounds, As hell can equal, only murderers feel. [A pause. This, this the end of all my flattering hopes! O! happiest was I in my humble state: Though I lay down in want, I slept in peace: My daily toil begat my night's repose, [me. My night's repose made day-light pleasing to But now I've climb'd the top-bough of the tree, And sought to build my nest among the clouds, The gentlest gales of summer shake my bed, And dreams of murder harrow up my soul. But hark!-Not yet:-'tis dreadful being alone. This awful silence, that unbroken reigns Through earth and air, awakes attention more Than thunder bursting from ten thousand 'Sdeath!-'tis but Michael-say Enter MICHAEL. Mich. Dead Arden lies Behind the abbey-'tis a dismal sight! [clouds: It snow'd apace while we dispos'd the body. Mos. And not as you return'd? Mich. No, Sir 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 can- I bought her dear, at hazard of my soul, 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 observ'd. [Exit MARIA. Mos. Say, we are coming. Mich. One thing I'd forgot. [Returning. Soon as the company have left the house, The ruffians will return. Mos. What would the villains? Mich. They mutter'd threats and curses, And seem'd not satisfied with their reward. [Exit. Mos. Let them take all.—Ambition, av'rice, lust, That drove me on to murder, now forsake me. [Exit. Alic. Dares he do this? [house, [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. This day he was assaulted in the street. Green. You sav'd him then. Mos. Would I were with him now! Mar. She starts, her looks are wild. [Aside. How fare you, Madam? Alic. I'm lost in admiration of your brother. Mar. I fear her more than ever. [Aside. Madam, be merry. Mos. Michael, some wine. Health and long life to Arden. [Drinks. Alic. The good you wish, and have procur'd for Arden, Light on thyself! [Rising, in desperation. [Comes forward. Mar. For Heaven's sake!- Let them despatch, and send me to my hus band: I've liv'd too long with falsehood and deceit. [All rise. [Knocking at the gate. A. Fowl. What noise is that? Green. I'm glad it is no worse. Mos. And can you think that Arden entertains [here, Villains like those you speak of? were he You'd not be thank'd for this officiousness. Mayor. I know my duty, Sir, and that respect, So justly due to our good neighbour's worth.- Alic. Heavens! where, indeed! Alic. If I were silent, [Aside. Each precious drop of murder'd Arden's blood Would find a tongue, and cry to Heaven for vengeance. Mayor. What says the lady? Her husband has not been at home to-night, Mayor. Scarce an hour, Since I beheld him enter here with you. Mos. The darkness of the night deceiv'd you, Sir: It was a stranger, since departed hence. Mayor. That's most surprising. No man knows him better. Frank. [Without.] Within there-ho!-bar up your gates with care, And set a watch-Let not a man go by [FRANKLIN and others enter, with lights. And every tongue, that gave not its consent To Arden's death, join mine and cry aloud To Heaven and earth for justice. Honest My friend is murder'd. Mayor. Murder'd! Green. How? Mos. By whom? [Arden, Frank. How shall I utter what my eyes have seen! Horrid with many a gaping wound he lies O vengeance! vengeance! Mayor. Justly art thou mov'd. Passion is reason in a cause like this. Frank. Eternal Providence, to whose bright A. Fowl. And mine. 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, To where the body lay;-with them, I took these notes, Not to be trusted to the faithless memory. "Huge clots of blood and some of Arden's hair May still be seen upon the garden wall; Many such rushes, as these floors are strew'd with, Stick to his shoes and garments: and the prints Mos. Are these your proofs ? Frank. And this scarf, Known to be Arden's, in the court was found, All blood. Mayor. Search 'em.— Mich. I thought I'd thrown it down the well. [Aside. Mayor. [To un OFFICER.] Enter that room, search the lady there; 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! [lain: Well may'st thou hang thy head, detested vilThis 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, 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-1 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. [tence. A. Fowl. If I'm condemn'd, My blood be on his head that gives the senI'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, By their dread fate be check'd in future times. Of Avarice, Mosby a dread instance prove; [OFFICER goes out and re-enters; in the And poor Alicia, of unlawful Love. [Exeunt, We may perhaps discover more. THE JEALOUS WIFE: A COMEDY, IN FIVE ACTS. BY GEORGE COLEMAN, Esq. REMARKS. THIS picce 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 con sciousness 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 turbulent 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. ACT I. SCENE I-A Room in OAKLY's House. Noise heard within. Mrs. O. [Within.] Don't tell me I know it Enter MRS OAKLY with a letter, followed by Mrs. O. Say what you will, Mr. Oakly, you shall never persuade me but this is some filthy intrigue of yours. 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 to be borne. You take a pleasure in abusing my tenderness and soft disposition.-To be perpetually running over the whole town, nay, the whole kingdom too, in pursuit of your amours-Did not 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 Mrs, O. Your love!-Don't I know your body but our common friends? Am I visited Oak. I can assure you, my love |