Cleone A Tragedy |
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| 1. | SCENE I. |
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 | Cleone |  |
SCENE I.
The Area before Sifroy's House.Sifroy
alone.
O dreadful change! my house, my sacred home,
At sight of which my heart was wont to bound
With rapture, I now tremble to approach.
Fair mansion, where bright Honour long hath dwelt
With my renown'd progenitors, how, how
At last hath vile Pollution stain'd thy walls!
Yet look not down with scorn, ye shades rever'd,
On your dishonour'd son—He will not die
Till just revenge hath by the wanton's blood
Atton'd for this disgrace.—Yet can it be?
Can my Cleone, she whose tender smile
Fed my fond heart with hourly rapture, she
On whose fair faith alone I built all hope
Of happiness—can she have kill'd my peace,
My honour? Could that angel form, which seem'd
The shrine of Purity and Truth, become
The seat of Wantonness and Perfidy?
Ye Powers!—should she be wrong'd—in my own heart
How sharp a dagger hath my frenzy plung'd!
O passion-govern'd slave! what hast thou done?
Hath not thy madness from her house, unheard,
Driven out thy bosom friend?—Guiltless perhaps—
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Such thy rash fury, thy unbridled rage,
Her guilt or innocence alike to thee
Must bring distraction. But I'll know the worst.
[Exit.
| Cleone | |