University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

In the fore Scene, Almida, Sophia. In the back Scene, Arnolph and Knights.
ARNOLPH.
Woe to a wretched father! 'tis too true!
Just gods! I hop'd to die without dishonour.
Thou wretch be gone—

[to his daughter.
ALMIDA.
My father!

ARNOLPH.
Father!
Dar'st thou pronounce that name, thou traitress,
False to thy blood, thy country, and thy honour!

ALMIDA.
Oh my Sophia! I am lost.

[leaning on Sophia.
ARNOLPH.
Yet stop;
Weep'st thou thy crime?

ALMIDA.
I weep our mutual woes.

ARNOLPH.
Canst thou deny thy hand, perfidious?

ALMIDA.
No.

ARNOLPH.
Then see thy guilt, in thy own writing trac'd.
She answers not—

ORBASSAN.
Confusion ties her tongue.

ALMIDA.
Oppression thus misjudges oft her victims,
And ere she strikes, defames the destin'd wretch:
I blush not to avow—

ARNOLPH.
Ah 'tis too much!
Firmness in guilt excludes thee even from pity,
Hence and attend thy doom. Some other hand
Must close these wretched eyes.

[Almida goes out, supported by Sophia.