For surely death itself is not so painful [absolute. Sir R. You heard the duke's commands to me were Therefore, my lord, address you to your shrift, With all good speed you may. Summon your courage, And be yourself; for you must die this instant. Lord H. Yes, Ratcliffe, I will take thy friendly counsel, And die as a man should; 'tis somewhat hard, To call my scatter'd spirits home at once: But since what must be, must be-let necessity Supply the place of time and preparation, And arm me for the blow. "Tis but to die, "Tis but to venture on the common hazard, Which many a time in battle I have run; "Tis but to close my eyes and shut out day-light, To view no more the wicked ways of men, No longer to behold the tyrant Gloster, And be a weeping witness of the woes, The desolation, slaughter, and calamities, Which he shall bring on this unhappy land Enter ALICIA. Alic. Stand off, and let me pass-I will, I must Catch him once more in these despairing arms, And hold him to my heart-O Hastings! Hastings! Lord H. Alas! why com'st thou at this dreadful moment To fill me with new terrors, new distractions; Alic. Stop a minute Till my full griefs find passage-O the tyrant! [sion! But I have murder'd thee-Oh, I could tell thee! They tear my hurry'd soul: All claim attention, And but a minute's time to get it done in. Alic. That, that's my grief-'tis I that urge thee Thus haunt thee to the toil, sweep thee from earth, And drive thee down this precipice of fate. on, [hand Lord H. Thy reason is grown wild. Could thy weak Bring on this mighty ruin? If it could, What have I done so grievous to thy soul, So deadly, so beyond the reach of pardon, That nothing but my life can make atonement? Alic. Thy cruel scorn hath stung me to the heart, And writ I know not what-told the protector, Lord H. O thou inhuman! Turn thy eyes away, Alic. Canst thou-O cruel Hastings, leave me thus? Hear me, I beg thee-I conjure thee, hear me! While with an agonizing heart, I swear, By all the pangs I feel, by all the sorrows, The terrors and despair thy loss shall give me, My hate was ou my rival bent alone. Oh! had I once divin'd, false as thou art, A danger to thy life, I would have died, I would have inet it for thee. [award: Lord H. Now mark! and tremble at heaven's just While thy insatiate wrath and fell revenge, Pursu'd the innocence which never wrong'd thee, For me, the snares of death are wound about me, And now, in one poor moment, I am gone. [Kneeling. And recommend my parting soul to mercy. [Raising her. Most righteous doom! for, oh, while I behold thee, And charge thy ruin on me; thy fair fame, Lord H. Here, then, exchange we mutual forgiveness: So may the guilt of all my broken vows, My perjuries to thee, be all forgotten, me, For loitering in my duty Lord H. I obey. Alic. Insatiate, savage monster! Is a moment So tedious to thy malice? Oh, repay him, Thou great avenger! Give him blood for blood: To want that moment he denies thee now. [him! Lord H. This rage is all in vain, that tears thy bosom: Retire, I beg thee; To see thee thus, thou know'st not how it wounds me ; And make the burden more than I can bear. And bring thee peace and comfort from above. [Exit. Re-enter LORD HASTINGS. Lord H. One thing I had forgot I charge thee, by our present common miseries; The innocence of thy unhappy friend; Thou know'st who 'tis I mean; Oh! shouldst thou wrong her, Just heav'n shall double all thy woes upon thee,. Farewell, for ever! [The Guards carry Hastings off. Oh, who can bear to be a wretch for ever! [Exit. }} SCENE I. A Street. Enter BELMOUR and DUMONT. Dum. You saw her, then? Bel. I met her, as returning, In solemn penance from the public cross. Slaves in authority, the knaves of justice, With insolence and lewd reproach pursu'd her, Hooting and railing, and with villanous hands Gath'ring the filth from out the common ways, To hurl upon her head. Dum. Inhuman dogs! How did she bear it? |