ALASCO.

Speak, Conrad !-speak-although you blast me.

AMANTHA.

Alas!

I've been too hasty-take me, loved Alasco!

In thy dear arms-I yet have strength to bear

One last embrace-my husband!-how I have loved thee, Let this sad moment prove!

ALASCO.

My hapless wife!

AMANTHA.

Now lay me gently down:-to see thee dragged
To slaughter, was too much for poor Amantha.-
Almighty Being! O! pardon, that I rush
Unbidden thus before thee!-Cruel fate!
A cruel fate has followed us, and marked
At last its victim.-Where is my poor father?

WALSINGHAM.

Sweet sufferer! here.

AMANTHA.

Thy hand-thy hand, my father!

[She joins his hand to Alasco's.

Thine too, my husband-for my sake, live friends!

Forget these horrid broils-that make sad hearts!

And, oh! Alasco! let thy love sustain

The good old man-thro' this hard trial-Oh!

I sink-I sink-how all things fade !—what light!

Ha! my mother!-thou art come for thy poor child— Quick, quick, Alasco!—she waits-we must away

Oh! oh! my husband!—

WALSINGHAM.

My child-my child!

Oh! wretched father! desolate old man!—

Yield-yield thee, Walsingham!-

Thy honour's all that's left thee!

[Dies.

[Falls into the arms of the attendants.

JEROME.

This sad scene

O'erwhelms him-haste and bear him to the air.

[Walsingham is borne off.

ALASCO, (who had remained gazing on the body of

AMANTHA.

And art thou dead, Amantha!-dead-quite dead!

Oh! gentle spirit!-sweet victim of thy love!--
Hast thou then bled for me !-for me!-I'm now
Absolved all duties-loosed from every tie-
As free, as misery and despair can make me!
This is the bloody point, that searched thy heart-
[Taking up the dagger.
The truest-tenderest heart!-no words-no words!-

There are no words!-no tears,-for woes like mine.

Let me then weep in blood!—

[Attempts to stab himself—JEROME and CONRAD prevent him-CONRAD seizing his arm.

CONRAD.

O! noble friend!

Forbear, or first strike here—

JEROME.

Heaven shield my son!

ALASCO (breaking from CONRAD, and holding up the dagger.

As you regard your lives, molest me not!—

For I'm a desperate man, that frenzy grapples with.
Think you, the dagger and the bowl removed,
With every mortal means the wretch resorts to,
That you can prison life in this frail mansion!
Oh! no-no, no!" the soul eludes all jailers !
"Tyrants may frown-the bullying world look big-
"And scowl down feebler spirits ;-who dares to die,
"Scoffs at the vain grimace, and sets him free!"—
There is a point, at which the heart will break,—
And I have reached it!-yes-this friendly steel

SC. IV.

A TRAGEDY.

169

But saves some useless pangs.-Had she-there cold— Had she remained to bless me-for her sake,

I might have lived-and writhed through some sad

years,

A pardoned slave !-in shackles, with my country.
But now!-

Life's load were insupportable to sense.

Thus then, I shake the loathsome burthen off,

And fly to my Amantha !—

[Stabs himself, and falls on the body of Amantha.

CURTAIN FALLS.

FINIS.

LONDON:

SHACKELL AND ARROWSMITH, JOHNSON'S-COURT, FLEET-STREET.

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