Elvira A Tragedy |
 | 1. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 2. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 3. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. | SCENE X. |
| 4. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 5. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
 | Elvira |  |
SCENE X.
ALONZO, DON PEDRO, ALMEYDA, ELVIRA.ALONZO.
Yes, thou of many crimes!
Thou complicated traitor! thou art lost,
Where mercy cannot find thee—But behold,
Lo where he stands! Say, is thine arm still rais'd,
Still eager for the sin of parricide?
This instant yield thy sword; or plunge it here
Full in a father's breast.
DON PEDRO.
That word, my Lord,
That dreadful sound has wrench'd it from my hand.
One moment's madness has not so effac'd
Great Nature's law, that I should ballance here.
And now, disarm'd, I know my ruin sure!
My doom already past! But O, my Lord,
O let impartial Justice draw her line,
And separate strictly innocence from guilt!
ALONZO.
Ha! innocence?
DON PEDRO.
Elvira's safety, Sir,
Unsheath'd my sword. I thought her life in danger:
And to secure my bliss in guarding that,
42
But her firm virtue, firm above all fear,
Deny'd to be th'accomplice of my crime.
She chose to stay, and answer with her life
For my returning reason. Save such goodness:
Protect it, Sir, from one revengeful arm.
I ask no more.
ALONZO.
Far other cares should now
Employ thy thoughts. To serve her better, know
Thou shouldst defend her less. 'Tis thine to tremble
For her and for thyself!
DON PEDRO.
If I must dye,
Let Punishment at once lift up her axe,
And strike this rebel: for, while life is mine,
That life, in her defence, will be employ'd.
You think this recent tumult quench'd and dead:
An instant blows it into sevenfold flame.
Your subjects then, let loose from all regards,
May force my prison-doors, may set me free:
And I, amidst the horrors of my rage,
May to its deep foundations shake this realm!
Do things that reason shudders but to think!
In that wild storm, discerning, sparing none,
Noble or base, but you and this fair princess!
ELVIRA.
His passion blinds him! All the guilt is mine,
Who thus have arm'd a son against his sovereign.
Then let my head attone it; let my death
Restore that peace—
ALONZO.
Who waits?—Confine the Prince
[Guards enter.
To his apartment.—
43
Dear unhappy youth!
ALONZO.
And guard him at the peril of your Heads.
[Two conduct Don Pedro to his Apartment.
Secure Elvira too.
[She is attended to hers by two others.
Stern Justice—no,
I have no son! I am no more a father!
Follow me not To Almeyda.
—I would avoid myself,
Fly from mankind, forsake this hated light,
And hide my woes in death's eternal night!
| Elvira | |