University of Virginia Library

Scene 1.

Sinevero
in a Night-gown.
How cold a damp benums my senses still,
As if I had engendred with the Night;
And thus forsaken of the living, were
Already numbered amongst the Dead.
Th'errour of her sense, in my distemper,
Might thus perhaps affright her from her rest.
What ho! who waits without there?

Nefarius.
Ne.
My Lord!

Sin.
It is your Lady I enquire for.

Ne.
I of her being can yeeld no account,
But newly entered from finishing
Your Honours last commands.

Sin.
And how,
Are all my fears asleep? Nefarius.

Ne.
If they extended onely unto what
I had in charge: my Lord, I dare affirm
They are.

Sin.
Thou art my better Angel, onely trust:
Yet joys are doubtful till they meet the sense.
Art thou assured of thy enterprise?

Ne.
I am Sir.
Give him the ring and medal
And brought these Reliques to remove your doubts.

Sin.
What sudden noise is that,
noise
Startles my bloud without intelligence?
Go learn the cause thereof, Nefarius.
Exit Ne.
A table with pen, ink, and paper, and a watch is discovered. Looks o'th' watch, he sets down thereat.
'Tis twelve: The Politicians hour to consult
His Fate; and visit the obstructive springs
Retard her motion,—hah! What Object's this
Intermission.
Curdles my blood in ev'ry shaking limb?
Mischief in me; ne'r horrour met till now.
These fatal tokens were the pledges of
Their tender Mothers latest Love, who them
Injoyn'd by vow from them, they ne're should be
Divided.—
Some secret and all-seeing power there is,
With which my soul was ne're acquainted yet,
Speaks loud in this to wake the sense of ills.
How sensibly their justice strikes, when as
Th'offence thus ministers the punishment.
Let it suffice soft Nature, to resent
Seems to weep.
The motions of our common frailty:
Tender'd to thy Rites. Without insisting
By a wild revolt, to revive a light,
Custom hath travell'd so long to extinguish.
When as our misled purpose may perhaps
Question our safety yet; and call to act
A larger progress in our tragique Scene.
Clamour and noyse.
Looks back into his Chamber.
This clam'rous noise approacheth nigher yet.
Hah! An armed tumult questing for prey.
The Object of their Fury, questionless,
I am! 'Tis so. Hence you glorious shadows,
Whose proper lusters only obvious make
Your own distinctions. Retire from your Orbs
Flings off a rich night-gown and cap. Finding Mu. cloake and hat, mufling himself seems to steal away.
To lend your owner safety. Hah! This vail
Is happily encountered.

Orgula her face full of fury and in her hand a poyniard.
Org.
Hah! Vanishing! Take that to stop your Course,
And that, and that

Org. taking him for Mu. stabs him. he falls.
Sin.
Oh! Oh! 'Twas fatally directed.

Org.
Sinev'ro's voice—hah! And his person too.

Shee unmuffles him.
Sin.
Orgula! Why that steel? Ire in thine Eye
Had force enough to change my destiny.

Faintly spoken.
Sin. expires.
Org. astonisht, her eyes fixt, as distracted turns him.
Gratianus and his Troop ent.
Gra.
Who's this Sinevero?
And you Madam, the fatal Minister?
'Twas rudely handled for th'first encounter.
That just, though guilty Instrument, wrest from
They go about to force it from her, and she lets it go without any emotion.
Her hand—Immoveable—Her eyes are fixt—
Madam—Madam.

Looks on her. Puls her by the sleeve.
Or.
'Tis poor—cast in—of brass—
Or. speaks as if she had restrained her breath beyond the usual course.
A Bull bellowing forth flames of fire—

Ser.
Madam,
No, No—Bound living to a stake whereon
Is fixt a vulture preying on his heart.

Ser.
She is distracted sure with the horrour
Of her own remorse. How do you Madam.

Jogs her.
Or.
The starting Sinues fastned to a spring,
Which wound, wound, wound up to the height—Buz—Snap—
And shrivel into Knots. Ha ha ha ha.

She laughs.
Gra.
She's evidently madde.
Serverus, be she your charge. Come Souldiers
The work is half advanced to our hands.
If that the sequel but succesful prove,
Your own wishes crown with desert your love.

ex. om.