Go; bear my message to Henriquez' ghost, Dor. His ghost! then is my hated rival dead? Seb. If it would please thee, thou shouldst never know; But thou, like jealousy, inquir'st a truth, Which found, will torture thee. He died in fight: Dor. I never can forgive him such a death! Seb. I prophesied thy proud soul could not bear it. Who should stand firm, who fall Dor. Had he been tempted so, so had he fallen; And so, had I been favoured, had I stood. Seb. What had been, is unknown; what is, Confess he justly was preferred to thee. appears: Dor. O whither wouldst thou drive me? I must grant, Yes, I must grant, but with a swelling soul, Henriquez had your love with more desert: For you he fought and died: I fought against you: Through all the mazes of the bloody field Hunted your sacred life; which that I missed Was the propitious error of my fate, Not of my soul; my soul's a regicide. Seb. Thou might'st have given it a more gentle name : Thou meant'st to kill a tyrant, not a king. Speak, didst thou not, Alonzo? Dor. Can I speak? Alas! I cannot answer to Alonzo: No: Dorax cannot answer to Alonzo. Alonzo was too kind a name for me. Then, when I fought, and conquered with your arms, And lost like Lucifer, my name above. Seb. Yet twice this day I ow'd my life to Dorax. Dor. I saved you but to kill you: there's my grief. Seb. Nay, if thou canst be grieved, thou canst repent: Thou couldst not be a villain, though thou wouldst: Thou ownst too much in owning thou hast erred: And I too little, who provoked thy crime. Dor. O stop this headlong torrent of your goodness; It comes too fast upon a feeble soul, Half drowned in tears before; spare my confusion, [Kneels. For yet I have not dared, through guilt and shame, Of heaven to bless me thus. 'Tis gold so pure, DRYDEN. SIR EDWARD MORTIMER AND WILFORD. Sir E. Wilford, is no one in the picture-gallery? Ever so loud. Sir E. Wilford, approach me.-What am I to say For aiming at your life? Despise me for it? Sir E. You must; Do you not scorn me, For I am singled from the herd of men, A vile heart-broken wretch ! Wi. Indeed, indeed, sir, You deeply wrong yourself.—Your equal's love, I am most bound to bless you! Sir E. Mark me, Wilford. I know the value of the orphan's tear, I have resolved it: fearful struggles tear me; Wil. Your confidence shall not be Sir E. You must swear. Wil. Swear, sir! Will nothing but an oath, thenSir E. No retreating. Wil. [After a pause.] I swear, by all the ties that bind a man, Divine or human, never to divulge ! Sir E. Remember, you have sought this secret,—yes, Extorted it. I have not thrust it on you. Tis big with danger to you; and to me, Know, Wilford, that Wil. Dearest sir, Collect yourself; this shakes you horribly. - You had this trembling, it is scarce a week, At Madam Helen's. Sir E. There it is. Her uncle Wil. Her uncle ! Sir E. Him-She knows it not,-none know it: You are the first ordained to hear me say, I am his murderer! Sir E. His assassin ! Wil. What! You that-mur-the murder-I am choked! Sir E. Honour-thou blood-stained god! at whose red altar Sit war and homicide, oh! to what madness Will insult drive thy votaries! By Heaven! In the world's range there does not breathe a man, Wil. Oh, mercy on me! How could this deed be covered? Sir E. Would you think it? E'en at the moment when I gave the blow, They summoned me, as friend would summon friend, We met; and 'twas resolved, to stifle rumour, To put me on my trial. No accuser, No evidence appeared, to urge it on; Twas meant to clear my fame. How clear it, then? Guilt's offspring and its guard! I taught this breast, Smooth as a Seraph's song from Satan's mouth; So well compacted, that the o'er-thronged court By shouting "Innocence!" ere I had finished.— Wil. Heaven forgive you! It may be wrong: indeed, I pity you. I ask no consolation! Idle boy! Thinkst thou that this compulsive confidence Dead in the churchyard! Boy, I would not kill thee: Sir E. Empty!-Grovelling fool! Wil. I am your servant, sir; child of your bounty, Too curious haply.-'Tis the fault of youth; Sir E. How! Wil. You dare not. Sir E. Dare not! Wil. Some hours ago you durst not. Passion moved you; |