Sci. Oh! truly guess'd-see'st thou, this trembling hand [Holding up a dagger. Thrice justice urg'd—and thrice the slack'ning sinews Forgot their office, and confess'd the father. At length the stubborn virtue has prevail'd, It must, it must be so-Oh! take it then, And know the rest untaught. [Giving the dagger. Cal. I understand you. It is but thus, and both are satisfy'd. [She offers to kill herself: Sciolto catches hold Sci. A moment, give me yet a moment's space. And put off ev'ry tender human thought, Cal. Ha! is it possible; and is there yet Sci. Oh! when I think what pleasure I took in thee, 120 What joys thou gav'st me in thy prattling infancy, I could curse Nature, and that tyrant, honour, For making me thy father, and thy judge; Cal. For that kind word, Thus let me fall, thus humbly to the earth, Weep on your feet, and bless you for this goodness. This parricide, that murders with her crimes, And life without it were not worth our taking: Sci. I'm summon'd hence; ere this my friends ex- There is I know not what of sad presage, That tells me, I shall never see thee more; And these the parting pangs, which nature feels, Cal. Now think, thou curst Calista, now behold The desolation, horror, blood, and ruin, That loudly cry for vengeance on thy head; Yet Heav'n, who knows our weak, imperfect natures, How blind with passions, and how prone to evil, Makes not too strict inquiry for offences, But is aton'd by penitence and pray'r : Cheap recompence! here 'twould not be receiv'd, Enter ALTAMONT. 160 Alt. Hail to you, horrors! hail, thou house of death! And thou, the lovely mistress of these shades, But know, I stand upon the brink of life, And in a moment mean to set me free From shame and thy upbraiding. Alt. Falsely, falsely Dost thou accuse me! When did I complain, 180 Cal. Oh, Altamont! 'tis hard for souls like mine, Haughty and fierce, to yield they've done amiss. But, Oh, behold! my proud disdainful heart Bends to thy gentler virtue. Yes, I own, Such is thy truth, thy tenderness, and love; "Such are the graces that adorn thy youth," That, were I not abandon'd to destruction, With thee I might have liv'd for ages bless'd, And dy'd in peace within thy faithful arms. Alt. Then happiness is still within our reach. Here let remembrance lose our past misfortunes, 200 Tear all records that hold the fatal story; Here let our joys begin, from hence go on, In long successive order. Cal. What! in death? Alt. Then, art thou fix'd to die ? -But be it so; We'll go together; my advent'rous love Shall follow thee" to those uncertain beings. "Whether our lifeless shades are doom'd to wander "In gloomy groves, with discontented ghosts; "Or whether thro' the upper air we fleet, "And tread the fields of light; still I'll pursue thee," "Till fate ordains that we shall part no more. Cal. Oh, no! Heav'n has some other better lot in store To crown thee with. Live, and be happy long; Nor known the arts of ours; she shall reward thee, Charm thee with sweetness, beauty, and with truth; 220 Be blest in thee alone, and thou in her. Enter, HORATIO. Hor. Now, mourn indeed, ye miserable pair; The great, the good Sciolto dies this moment. Alt. That's a deadly stroke, indeed. Hor. Not long ago he privately went forth, Attended but by few, and those unbidden. I heard which way he took, and straight pursu'd him; But found him compass'd by Lothario's faction, Almost alone, amidst a crowd of foes. Too late we brought him aid, and drove them back; Ere that, his frantic valour had provok'd The death he seem'd to wish for from their swords. |