I'll read the letter, Sir. 'Tis right you mind
His lordship's orders. They are paramount!
Nothing should supersede them !-stand beside them!
They merit all your care, and have it! Fit,

Most fit they should! Give me the letter, Sir.

You have it, Madam.

So! How poor a thing

CLIFFORD.

JULIA.

I look! so lost, while he is all himself!

Have I no pride? (She rings, the servant enters.)
Paper, and pen and ink!

If he can freeze, 'tis time that I grow cold!

I'll read the letter.

Mind his orders!

(Opens it, and holds it as about to read it.) So!

Quickly he fits his habits to his fortunes!

He serves my lord with all his will! His heart's
In his vocation. So! Is this the letter?

'Tis upside down-and here I'm poring on't!
Most fit I let him see me play the fool!

Shame! Let me by myself!

A table, Sir,

(A servant enters with materials for writing.)

And chair. (The servant brings a table and chair, and goes out. She sits awhile, vacantly gazing on the letterthen looks at CLIFFORD.)

How plainly shows his humble suit!

It fits not him that wears it! I have wronged him!
He can't be happy-does not look it is not.
That eye which reads the ground is argument
Enough! He loves me. There I let him stand,
And I am sitting!

(Rises, takes a chair, and approaches CLIFFORD.) Pray you, take a chair. (He bows as acknowledging, and declining the honour. She looks at him awhile.)

Clifford, why don't you speak to me? (She weeps.)

I trust,

CLIFFORD.

I call thee Clifford, and thou call'st me Madam!

Mean you yourself? Are you that burthen, Julia?
Say that the sun's a burthen to the earth!
Say that the blood's a burthen to the heart!
Say health's a burthen, peace, contentment, joy,
Fame, riches, honours! every thing that man
Desires, and gives the name of blessing to!-
E'en such a burthen, Julia were to me,
Had fortune let me wear her.

On the brink

JULIA (aside.)

Of what a precipice I'm standing! Back!
Back! while the faculty remains to do't!

A minute longer, not the whirlpool's self
More sure to suck thee down!

One effort! There!

(She returns to her seat, recovers her self-possession, takes up
the letter, and reads.)

To wed to-morrow night! Wed whom? A man
Whom I can never love! I should before

Have thought of that. To-morrow night! This hour
To-morrow! How I tremble! Happy bands

To which my heart such freezing welcome gives,

As sends an ague through me!

At what means

Will not the desperate snatch! What's honour's price?

Nor friends, nor lovers,-no, nor life itself!

Clifford! This moment, leave me! (CLIFFORD retires up the stage,

out of Julia's sight.)

Ere well 'twas utter'd!

No word! no look!

No good bye to her!

'Twas best that so he went!

Alas, the strait of her, who owns that best,

Which last she'd wish were done! What's left me now? To weep! To weep! (Leans her head upon her arm, which rests upon the desk,-her other arm hanging listless at her side. CLIFFORD comes down the stage, looks a moment at her, approaches her, and kneeling, takes

My Julia!

Here again!

her hand.

CLIFFORD.

JULIA.

Up! up! By all thy hopes of heaven go hence!
To stay's perdition to me! Look you, Clifford !
Were there a grave where thou art kneeling now,
I'd walk into 't, and be inearth'd alive,

Ere taint should touch my name! Should some one come
And see thee kneeling thus! Let go my hand!
Remember, Clifford, I'm a promis'd bride—
And take thy arm away! It has no right

To clasp my waist! Judge you so poorly of me,
As think I'll suffer this? My honour, Sir!

(She breaks from him, quitting her seat.)

I'm glad you've forc'd me to respect myself;
You'll find that I can do so!

I was bold;

CLIFFORD.

Forgetful of your station and my own.

There was a time I held your hand unchid!

There was a time I might have clasp'd your waist;
I had forgot that time was past and gone!

I pray you, pardon me !

I do so, Clifford.

I shall no more offend.

Make sure of that.

JULIA (softened).

CLIFFORD.

JULIA.

In the same house with me, and I another's?

Put miles, put leagues between us! The same land
Should not contain us. Oceans should divide us;
With barriers of constant tempests-such

As mariners durst not tempt! O Clifford !

Rash was the act so light that gave me up,
That stung a woman's pride, and drove her mad;
"Till in her phrensy, she destroy'd her peace!
O, it was rashly done! Had you reprov'd-
Expostulated, had you reason'd with me-
Tried to find out what was indeed my heart,--
I would have shewn it--you'd have seen it. All
Had been as nought can ever be again!

Let

Then take me! Stop-hear me, and take me then!
Let not thy passion be my counsellor !
Deal with me, Clifford, as my brother. Be
The jealous guardian of my spotless name!
Scan thou my cause as 'twere thy sister's!
Thy scrutiny o'erlook no point of it,
Nor turn it over once, but many a time:
That flaw, speck, yea-the shade of one,-
So slight, not one out of a thousand eyes
Could find it out,-may not escape thee; then
Say if these nuptials can be shunn'd with honour !

They can.

CLIFFORD.

JULIA.

-a soil

Then take me, Clifford! (They embrace).'-pp. 81-88.

The morning arrives, however, for her marriage with Lord Rochdale. Walter summons her to the performance of her contract, and then follows a scene which might bear comparison with any thing of the kind known to our stage. The whole passage is one of true poetry. There is no apparent labour, no fine phraseology: the language, everywhere glowing and natural, is inspired by the feelings of the parties-feelings that run through the whole gamut of the heart, from anger and despair, to the most yearning tender

ness,

" WALTER.

What! run the waves so high? Not ready yet!
Your Lord will soon be here! The guests collect.

JULIA.

Show me some way to 'scape these nuptials! Do it!
Some opening for avoidance or escape,

Or, to thy charge, I'll lay a broken heart!

To myself! I'm young, rash, inexperienc'd tempted
By most insufferable misery!

Bold, desperate, and reckless! Thou hast age,
Experience, wisdom, and collectedness,-

Power, freedom,-Every thing that I have not,

Yet want, as none e'er wanted! Thou can'st save me,

Thou ought'st thou must! I tell thee at his feet

I'll fall a corse-ere mount his bridal bed!

So choose betwixt my rescue and my grave :—
And quickly too! The hour of sacrifice
Is cear! Anon the immolating priest

Will summon me! Devise some speedy means
To cheat the altar of its victim. Do it!

Nor leave the task to me !