University of Virginia Library

SCENE—An Apartment in the Castle.
ERMINIA.
Thy tidings, O Eemoine! chill my breast
As death's cold touch. O rash impatient Raymond,
Why hast thou fled thy castle? One short hour
Had made us ever happy—Ah, how couldst thou
Unkindly leave me in the robber's power?
Alas, my heart—

EEMOINE.
The purpos'd robbery, Madam,
Shall now defeat itself. Indeed the Sovereign
Rages with blindest passion, and will seize
His hapless prey, perhaps, if art prevent not.
Our art shall do it; from the chace we'll fly
To Bourbon's host, and find the injur'd Raymond.
O happy shall I be to lend my aid
To blight the fraudful purpose, which till now
Conceal'd its horrid front.

ERMINIA.
And art thou true?

EEMOINE.
Amazement, Lady!
All, all my heart feels is the wish to serve you.
Oh, Madam, forfeit not your happiness
By doubting my attachment!

ERMINIA.
Though Raymond love me not, yet all my soul
Weeps o'er the thought that Raymond loves me not.
My heart still loves him with a painful anguish.
Oh Raymond, Raymond, didst thou feel as I do,
This, this would melt thee.

EEMOINE.
To the chace, Erminia,
And sieze the golden moments 'ere the hand
Of envious time debase them.

ERMINIA.
This perhaps
May save my honour, and appease my Raymond,
[Snatching up a dagger and concealing it in her dress.
Some ghostly being, by the mortal eye
Unseen, and by human nerves unfelt,
Lays its cold hand upon my inmost soul,
And chills me with an horror mixt with boldness.

EEMOINE.
And let the spirit of your sires inspire you.
Be bold, and trust in Heaven—

ERMINIA.
Thrice happy he
On whom kind Heaven bestows a faithful friend!
Tho' danger leagued with darkness hover over him.
And every step seem on a gulph's dread edge,
Yet on his friend's kind arm he safely leans,
And safely passes through the beating storm.
Thus, leaning on thy friendship, to the chace
I go Eemoine.

EEMOINE.
And gay happiness
Shall close the evening of this doubtful morn.

[Exeunt together.