? What dark design, by blackest fiends inspir'd, Enter BEAUFORT senior, Officers, &c. Beauf. sen. Seize there your victim. Glan. What means this outrage?-Upon what pre tence Beauf. sen. The bloody hand of murder points out thee To strong suspicion. Turn'st thou pale?-Owretch! Thy guilt drinks up thy blood. Glan. Not guilt, but rage! Who dares accuse me? Beauf. sen. I. Where's Paulet? where My daughter? who thou basely said'st were fled Glan. That his poinard found the way To part their steps, impeaches not my truth. Beauf. sen. His poinard! Glan. His. I should have scorn'd to charge The man, whose honour I think deeply wrong'd; But my own life attempted thus, demands That truth should rise to light. Cam'st thou not here, Driven by the fury of a dire revenge ? What other motive urg'd thy desperate haste? Sif. Insidious slave! hast thou insnar'd my soul By treacherous arts?-Hast thou with falsehood vile Inflam'd this hapless breast?-And would'st thou now Infer my guilt, from my provok'd resentment? Glan. Lean'd I on feeble inference-I would ask, These trivial pleas—I build on certain proof. Glan. The strongest-his own hand and seal [Shewing the letter. Would do the righteous deed-for 30 his rage Calls Paulet's murder. Beauf. sen. Ha! What can I think! Unhappy man! and hast thou to the crime Of rash suspicion, added that of murder? That views each human step, and still detects The murderer's deed; of this imputed crime No weight? and is his own attesting hand To hide thy daughter's shame, thou seek'st my life. Beauf. sen. To that thou art consign'd: and may the hand Of strict enquiry drag to open day All secret guilt, tho' shame indelible Should brand a daughter nearest to my heart. I'll follow you. The justice thou demand'st, Glan. 'Tis well: I ask no more. Let Ragozin, let Isabella too Attend the magistrate-on them I call To clear my slander'd name. Beauf. sen. It shall be so. Take them this instant to your strictest care. Thou too, Sifroy, be ready to attend. Sif. O think not I will leave him, till full proof Condemn him or acquit. Beauf. sen. The cause demands it. [Exeunt Officers with Glanville guarded. Sif. Whence has the miscreant this unusual firmness? Can guilt be free from terror? Beauf. sen. No, my son : And thro' the mask of smooth hypocrisy, innocent. But oh, my love!-Conduct me where she strays Her tender heart perhaps this moment breaks Enter BEAUFORT junior. Beauf. jun. Thy soul's sweet peace !-Never, no never more To be regain'd!-Shame, anguish, and despair Beauf. sen. What means my son ? Sif. My brother!-If I may conjure thee yet By that dear name.— Beauf, jun. Thou may'st not-I disclaim it. Sif. Why dost thou still alarm my shuddering soul With rising terrors? Beauf. sen. My dear son, relieve Thy father from this dread suspence! Beauf. jun. O Sir! how shall I speak! or in what words Unfold the horrors of this night ?-My sister- Beauf. sen. Support me, Heaven! Then every hope is fled!-Thy will be done! Of soul too delicate, too soft to bear Sif. Do I live? Is such a wretch permitted still to breathe? I hope not mercy-that were impious- Nor imprecate that vengeance, which unseen Thou know'st not yet the measure of thy wo. Sif. My child too gone!-Then misery is complete→→→ O my torn heart!-Is there in heaven no pity? |