University of Virginia Library

SCENE X.

STRENI, VICTORIA.
VICTORIA.
O my Lord! my Lord!—

STRENI.
What now, VICTORIA?

VICTORIA.
Poor OLYMPIA!—

STRENI.
What!

VICTORIA.
O mad! mad! mad! The poor dear creature's mad!


117

STRENI.
Just heaven forbid!

VICTORIA.
Alas! it is too sure.—
Just now from a most unquiet sleep, that seem'd
Nature conflicting with despair, she started;
Cried murder! murder! help! ALPHONSO's murder'd!
Then with such wildness in her looks and action,
Such frantic vehemence of terror, grief,
And pity, she address'd th' invisible air;
It chill'd us all with horror.—You'd have thought
ALPHONSO had been kill'd indeed, and that
His ghost stood there.

STRENI.
Amazement!

VICTORIA.
By and by
She flew to the window; whence, her delicate frame
Is with convulsive violence so possess'd,
'Twas all that three of us could do to hinder
A fatal leap.

STRENI.
Heaven guard my child!

[Going.]

118

OLYMPIA, bebind the Scenes.
Away!
Away! I say.—

STRENI.
Hush!

OLYMPIA.
Hold me not, good fiends!
In God's name vanish! Fly, fly, fly!

WOMAN.
Dear Madam!—