University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Godrick and Eliza.
Eliza.
Nor, oh! to me:
Not Time nor Thought can e'er abate my Sorrows;
A willing Votary to Anguish now:
A Mother's Care, a Brother's Love to lose
In one unhappy Day!—O heavy Lot.

Godr.
In me you have them all: The Husband hence
Shall stretch Affection to its utmost Bound,
And make those Losses light:—Thus in my Arms,
And ever in my Heart shalt thou remain
My only Blessing, only earthly Joy;
And vast the Treasure is!—Come, let me kiss
These trickling Tears away, that so consume
Thy Mind's dear Peace, as falling Drops do Marble.

Eliza.
My Life, my Lord, my only Comfort now;
Source of my Joys, and Easer of my Woes;
On whom my All of Expectation rests:
Beyond my Merit thou wert always kind,
And ever will be found my bright Example
In just Promotion of connubial Bliss!
If 'tis Invasion on a Husband's Right,
O Pardon me this Debt of Duty, paid
A Mother, and a Brother now no more:
Snatch'd from my fond Enjoyment thus by Fate!
The Circumstances of their Deaths so horrid!—

[Weeps.
Godr.
My dear Eliza, I applaud thy Grief:
And, Heav'n can tell, I take a tender Part
In all the Piety or Nature claims.
But guard for me against a sad Excess:
Thou art my Hoard of Comforts; all my Hopes
Are lodg'd in thee, for Peace or Pleasure here:
Then do not kill thy Quiet.—

Eliza.
For thy sake
I'll struggle with the Softness of my Soul,
And conquer in thy Cause: My Godrick, yes,
Thou shalt engross the Care of thy Eliza,
For thou art all to me!—the World is nothing.
But I'll retire:—For lo, where Albert comes,
To give the kind Condolence of a Friend:
Do thou sustain the melancholy Office,
While I avoid Grief's dismal Renovation.

Godr.
My Love, I'll not be long detain'd away;
Oh, think on me; endeavour to be kind.