Conrad and Eudora ; or the Death of Alonzo A Tragedy. In five acts |
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 | Conrad and Eudora ; or the Death of Alonzo |  |
SCENE II.
—A cottage in the country, where Eudora lives. She is standing at the gate, waiting for Conrad to return.Eudora.
Long have I watched for him, but all in vain!
I saw the sun go down—then rise again;
And now, 'tis almost night,—he has not come!
Sure, if he does not come ere night returns,
My heart must quite misgive, 'tis now so weak!—
Conrad returns, rushes to Eudora, and she falls in his arms.
Con.
Eudora! thou art safe—be happy—smile!
Weep not, my love! my wife!—thou art my wife!
Then weep, with tears of joy, for he is gone!
Eud.
Oh! Conrad! Conrad!—have you let him go?
Where is the villain gone?—oh! tell me, quick!
Con.
He's gone to hell!—where all seducers go!
Eud.
The serpent's gone again!
Con.
He has, my love.
Eud.
Then, I am done for ever!
Con.
Weep not, my love! thou hast one friend on earth.
And he the strongest of all friends!
Eud.
Then go!
[Discontentedly.
The love of all thy friends? nay, all the world—
Is centered in this one—I am thine all!
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[Weeps.
Con.
What! wilt thou, in the face of heaven, betray me?
Eud.
Betray thee, Conrad! oh! I love that look!
[Looks at him.
Con.
By heavens! my practice should be made an art!
And thou, betrayer, deceived! to fall like
[Loud.
Thy betrayer!
[Looks sternly at her.
Eud.
Speak,—Did'st thou say he fell?
Con.
I did—I say he fell!
Eud.
And is he dead?
Con.
I told thee, sweet Eudora! he was gone!
Eud.
Thou did'st—where is he gone?
Con.
Gone down to hell!
[Points down.
Eud.
Where is the dagger? let me see the blood upon it!
Con.
Here, by his friend, asleep!—there, let him rest,
Like wearied child upon its mother's breast!
Eud.
Did'st thou inter it in his faithless heart?
Con.
I did—but disinterred it o'er again—
I could not let it rot in such a grave!
'Tis best to let it sleep, as sleeps the sleeper!
Lest, showing it, thou long'st for other's blood!
Eud.
There is no one on earth, whom I would harm—
I would not hurt a hair in virtue's head!
Con.
Thou would'st not harm a hair, but break a heart!
Eud.
How, break a heart, my love?
Con.
'Tis best take care!
Eud.
Oh! what a cruel heart, to forge such words!
Oh! I would die for thee, ten thousand deaths!
Con.
Thou wilt betray me, just as sure as fate!
Eud.
Betray thee? never! never, in this world!
Give me thy hand, my love—look in my face!
Con.
I see thy face—thy soul—thy heart and life!
Thy soul, and eye, and heart will all betray me!
Eud.
If thou can'st prophesy, keep sorrows dark!
Con.
He's gone! I could not help it!—oh! he's gone!
Eud.
Then, farewell pride! then, farewell hope and love!
Farewell, sweet Conrad! oh! that I were dead!
Con.
Wake up, young sleeper! bring thy deeds to light!
And set thy prisoner free!
[Grasps his dagger.
Eud.
Forgive me, oh!
[Kneels.
Con.
Look at this dagger!—see it for the last!
[Holds it up]
See how that angel bright, points up to heaven!
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I heard thee swear thou wouldst be true and kind.
[Takes her hand.
Honest woman, 'tis thy nature, 'tis thy life;
Why dost thou not behold thy friend, and smile?
Rise, seest thou not upon that dagger, blood!
Look at it—crimson from the tide of life!
'Tis done!—then, I am thine, and thou art mine.
Eud.
My friend, oh! let me kiss thy life away!
[Embraces.
How did you meet? did he not hurt thee, love!
Con.
How could he, when I killed him at one blow!
And when he ope'd the door I caught his throat,
Then said, where is my wife? now, villain, die!
And, with one stroke, I brought him to the ground.
Eud.
Then, thou art safe,—and no one saw thy face?
Con.
No soul on earth; 'twas done in dead of night;
And ere he died, I took me back to bed,
And, in the morning, woke, and thought of thee.
Eud.
Then, thou art safe, and I am full of joy.
Con.
But stay,—by truth! I have forgot one thing,—
My name is on the handkerchief, I left!
Eud.
Left where, my love!
Con.
Upon the bed I slept in.
Eud.
Be not disturb'd,—that will avail them nought.
Con.
I am disturbed about that handkerchief:
What if his brother find it!—he will swear
He saw me have it there!
Eud.
I reckon not.
Con.
He has a thousand friends would swear the same!
Eud.
Ah! would they perjure truth and honesty?
Con.
They would perjure neither, but themselves.
No, sweet Eudora! if I am molested,
My only recompense is thee, thou dove!
Then let us go, we must, through life, be one.
They enter the cottage—are married. Enter officer and guards, to take him. Officer goes to the gate and calls.
Sheriff.
Halloo there, Conrad! come thee out this way!
[Eudora and Conrad come to the door.
Eud.
Do not go, my love! they are your enemies.
Sher.
Sweet lady! we are all his friends, as thine.
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Thou, friend! I would have thee for my friend.
Sher.
We wish to speak with Conrad—we're his friends.
Con.
What would'st thou have with me?
Officer.
But one kind word.
Con.
They have no proof, my love!—'tis best I go!
[Aside to Eudora.
For, if I stay, you know they may suspect me!
'Twill lend them argument to new suspicion.
They know, my love! he did thy virtue wrong.
That heaven should have chastised him long ago!
That it behoov'd me to defend thy shame!
They kill mistrust by heaping guilt on me—
Thereby, acknowledge, blindly, all his guilt.
Tis best, perhaps, I go—be calm, my love!
And I will come back free, and love thee still.
[He goes.
Off.
Conrad! here is a writ I wish you'd read.
[Hands him a paper.
You know my duty, as a man in office.—
Con.
This is a writ accusing me of murder!
[Reads.
Tis strange! I do declare!—who swore to this?
Off.
His name is signed below—there, you can see!
Con.
The liar's name's not worth my guiltless search!—
What would'st thou have me do?
Off.
Go back again!
Con.
That, I will never do, while I have breath!
Off.
That argues guilt!
Con.
I value not your thoughts.
They are but wind—they come—and then, they go!
Off.
You know my duty, Conrad!—do you not?
Con.
I do!—and know my duty as a husband!
Off.
We all are subject to the law.
Con.
I'm not!—
I am not subject—never will I be!
Off.
Do not persist—we must obey the law!
Con.
Obey just what you please—I care not what!
[Disdainfully.
Off.
This argues, man! not only fear, but guilt!
'Twas said, thou would'st refuse!—then, why not go?
Con.
Because I have a stronger tie to stay!
Off.
But, if the law requires your presence, go?
Why not give absence, sir, your ties to hold,
Until your brief return?—we all have wives
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Con.
My wife is ill!
Off.
There stands your wife—we see that she is kind!—
We love her kindness, and admire your love!
And she is willing you should yield to law?
Eud.
No; I am not! and he shall never go!
Off.
Sweet ladye! we are all his friends, as thine!
We wish to act as wisely as we can.
Con.
Then act, and act—I'll die before I'll go!
Off.
We wish the truth unfolded to the world.
'Tis that for which we came—for which we live;
And, if you still persist—thou art the man!
[Points at him.
And we are bound, by law, to take you back.
Con.
Then, take me back! I will not go—stand back!
[Draws his dagger.
Off.
Sieze on him, guards—now take him—take him back.
[He throws them off, and Eudora rushes between.
Eud.
Oh! Conrad! Conrad!—these are thine enemies!
Con.
Stand off!—approach me not—else thou shalt die!—
[Points to the officer.
As many more, as I have power to kill.
Thy mother bare thy father no such sons!
Thou hast no brother with so proud a heart!
Thy brother no such brother as I am.
I am a lion 'mongst a thousand men.
Encounter no such man—'twould be a shame!
When storms are raging, and the winds blow high,
The tallest trees bend lowest to the ground;
And I would spill thy blood on earth, like rain!
Off.
We would not harm thee—all we want is justice!
We must abide by what the law invokes!—
The writ demands thy body back to court.
Con.
What if thou could'st not find me? go back empty?
[Tauntingly.
Oh! what a vacuum!—thou hadst better fill!
Choke up existence with some useful thought;
And learn your motley calves obedience!
[Points at the guard.
Off.
Thou art no common man—then, use thy sense.
Eud.
Oh! Conrad! do not hear that half starved wolf.
He's murdered many a lamb in nature's fold;
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Off.
Come, let me speak with thee alone—'tis best!
[Eudora holds Conrad.
Eud.
No; they will kill thee, by the way, my love!
[Weeps.
Off.
Nay, gentle ladye! we are not so savage.
[Officer whispers to Conrad.
Con.
Weep not, my love! 'tis best that I should go.
I am as safe as truth, as clear as heaven!
One sweet embrace!—now calm thy gentle heart!
[Embraces her.
Farewell, Eudora!
Eud.
When wilt thou return?
Con.
To morrow morn! to morrow morn, my love!
Off.
Tis best, a thousand times the best—'tis right.
[Exeunt Eudora.
Let me see that dagger which you hold?
I do not ask it, to educe more fears!
Con.
I have no fears! I do not know the term.
There is the dagger—look it black with gazing.
[Hands it.
See'st thou much blood upon that burnish'd blade?
Off.
We thank you for your kindness—give you thanks.
[Looks at it.
Guard.
That dagger made that wound, as sure as death!
Con.
Does that man's wound resemble daggers?
Off.
No.
Con.
They should, to bear your definition out!
You'd have the dagger and the wound born twins!
You have your logic all Corinthian brass,
And prick your ears at nothing, like an ass!
Off.
I say, this dagger looks much like that wound.
A charitable deed, I'll take it home.
[Puts it in his pocket, with the handkerchief wraped round it. Turns to the guard.
Now, if the prisoner is not guilty men;
Then, we have done our duty—and tis well;—
[Here Conrad steals the dagger and handkerchief out of his pocket.
But guilty, or not guilty, who can tell?
[Officer leads him out. Guards follow. Eudora returns.
Good heavens! I could have wept a thousand tears!—
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I thought my utmost hope was quench'd in blood;
But now, I fear 'twill end us both in death!
[Weeps.
Elvira enters.
Oh! mother! he is gone—the guard is gone!
He is accused of murder—he is gone!
[Weeps.
Elvira.
Eudora! why art all these tears, my child?
Eud.
The guard hath borne him off to prison!
Elvira.
Oh! calm thy fears—be reconciled—they're friends!
No doubt but he will come, when all is right.
Thou hast shed tears enough!—come, let us home!
[Exeunt Elvira and Eudora.
| Conrad and Eudora ; or the Death of Alonzo | |