Could wrong thy poor defenceless innocence, And cry'd aloud for vengeance, and Lothario. Rush'd out, and snatch'd me from amidst the fray. Lav. Ha! by my joys, 'tis he! 301 [Looking out He lives, he comes to bless me, he is safe! Enter HORATIO, with two or three Servants, their swords drawn. 1st Ser. 'Twere at the utmost hazard of your life To venture forth again, till we are stronger : Their number trebles ours. Hor. No matter, let it ; Death is not half so shocking as that traitor. Alt. Open, thou earth, Gape wide, and take me down to thy dark bosom, Hor. Oh, Lavinia ! Believe not but I joy to see thee safe : Would our ill-fortune had not drove us hither: 320 Lav. Oh, let us bless the mercy that preserv'd us, That gracious pow'r that sav'd us for each other: And, to adorn the sacrifice of praise, Offer forgiveness too; be thou like Heav'n, "Alt. I have mark'd him, "To see if one forgiving glance stole hither; "Hor. Thou know'st thy rule, thy empire in Ho ratio; "Nor canst thou ask in vain, command in vain, "Where nature, reason, nay, where love is judge; "But when you urge my temper to comply "With what it most abhors, I cannot do it. "Lav. Where didst thou get this sullen gloomy hate? "It was not in thy nature to be thus ; 340 "The double joys, where each is glad for both; Friendship, the wealth, the last retreat and strength, "Secure against ill fortune, and the world." Hor. I am not apt to take a light offence. I own, Alt. Thou hast forgot me. Hor. No. Alt. Why are thy eyes Impatient of me then, scornful, and fierce ? Hor. Because they speak the meaning of my heart; Because they're honest, and disdain a villain. Alt. I've wrong'd thee much, Horatio. Hor. True, thou hast. When I forget it, may I be a wretch, Vile as thyself, a false perfidious fellow, An infamous, believing, British husband. 360 Alt. I've wrong'd thee much, and Heav'n has well aveng'd it. I have not, since we parted, been at peace, Nor known one joy sincere; "our broken friendship "Pursu'd me to the last retreat of love, "Stood glaring like a ghost, and made me cold with horror. "Misfortunes on misfortunes press upon me, "Swell o'er my head like waves, and dash me down; “Sorrow, remorse, and shame, have torn my soul ? "They hang, like winter, on my youthful hopes, “And blast the spring and promise of my year." Lav. "So flow'rs are gather'd to adorn a grave, "To lose their freshness amongst bones and rottenness, "And have their odours stifled in the dust." Canst thou hear this, thou cruel, hard Horatio? "That gentle, that dear youth! canst thou behold him," His poor heart broken, death in his pale visage, 380 And groaning out his woes, yet stand unmov'd? Hor. The brave and wise I pity in misfortune; But when ingratitude and folly suffers, 'Tis weakness to be touch'd. Alt. I wo'not ask thee To pity or forgive me; but confess, This scorn, this insolence of hate, is just ; Cou'd ne'er have stood it out; but I had ran, Hor. I must hear no more, Thy weakness is contagious; I shall catch it, Lav. Where would'st thou go? Would'st thou part thus? you shall not, 'tis impossible; For I will bar thy passage, kneeling thus Perhaps thy cruel hand may spurn me off, 400 But I will throw my body in thy way, And thou shalt trample o'er my faithful bosom, Alt. Urge not in vain thy pious suit, Lavinia, [Falls. [Lavinia runs to him, and endeavors to raise him. "Lav. Speak to me, Altamont. "He faints! he dies! Now, turn and see thy triumph! "My brother! But our cares shall end together; “ Here will I lay me down by thy dear side, "Bemoan thy too hard fate, then share it with thee, "And never see my cruel lord again." [Horatio runs to Altamont, and raises him in his arms. Hor. It is too much to bear! Look up, my Alta mont My stubborn, unrelenting heart has kill'd him. [He revives. "Do thou and my Lavinia both forgive me; A flood of tenderness comes o'er my soul; 420 I cannot speak—I love, forgive, and pity thee— soul; That long ere this her flight had reach'd the stars; |