University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

—Honoria's Chamber.
A lamp burning near a window. A door open to the battlements, from which Honoria enters. The moon seen half concealed by clouds, opposite the door.
Honoria,
who wears the scarf of Alferenzi.
Agnes not yet return'd! That groan of death
Still vibrates on my brain, and bids me fear
For Alferenzi's safety—Heav'n protect him!

Valmont enters, with his sword drawn and his hand smear'd with blood. He shrinks at the sight of Honoria, who shrieks and runs towards him.
Honoria.
Prophetic pow'rs! Hah! what am I to think?
Why is that hand so gash'd, and stain'd with blood?
Speak, ere the current of my heart congeals,
And all my faculties freeze up with horror!
Thou'rt deadly pale! and the cold dew of fear
Doth glisten on thy brow! Alas! my father!

[Falls on his neck.
Valmont
(wildly.)
Peace! be silent. Heard you not the tempest
That shook our lofty tow'rs from their foundation?
Saw you the black wing of the howling blast
Sweeping our turrets, red with human gore?

Honoria.
I pray thee, help me bind this bleeding hand.
Ah! let me call assistance; thou art faint!

[Honoria binds the scarf round Valmont's bleeding hand.
Valmont.
Call, call the world's vast multitude to curse me!
Let hungry vultures batten on my heart;
Pluck out mine eyes to feed the eagle's brood,
Lest they, by gazing on thee, fear thy beauty!

Honoria.
Whence comes this strange disorder of thy brain?

Valmont.
From that infernal gulph where guilty souls
Howl in despair! Oh! 'twas a stormy hour!
The earth was palsied, and the vaulted spheres
Flash'd forth indignant flames, while all around
Pale spectres yell'd in triumph o'er the deed!

Honoria.
Thy fancy doth beguile thy better reason;
A night more still and calm I ne'er have seen!
'Tis the sweet pause when nature sinks to rest,
To wake again with renovated charms!
No object seems to move, save the thin clouds,
That, slowly floating o'er the grey expanse,
Veil the bright forehead of the silv'ry moon.

Valmont.
Thou art deceiv'd!
There is a fiend abroad with mildew wing,
Blighting creation! Hell yawns forth monsters,
And the blue air is chok'd with poison'd mists,
Thick'ning to hide the gen'ral wreck of nature!
Say, wilt thou aid the ministers of wrath
To curse an aged father?

Honoria.
Heav'n shield me from the thought!
Why dost thou ask such incoherent questions?
Whose were the crimson drops that stain thy sword?

Valmont.
He met me on my way; he cross'd my path;
Revenge, unsated, panted for his blood!
Would I had perish'd ere my sword had reach'd him.

Honoria.
Whom dost thou mean?

Valmont.
Thy lover!—Alferenzi!

Honoria.
Oh! monstrous and inhuman! quit my sight,
Lest I should, darting o'er the bounds of reason,
Tear all the bonds of filial love asunder,
And brand thee with the name of an assassin!
Go, hide thyself for ever, rash old man,
For thy deep-furrow'd cheek is stampt with murder!

Valmont.
Restrain thy frenzy; know, a father's life
Depends upon thy silence: I must hence
Before the broad and blabbing eye of day
Glares on the scene of slaughter! Fare thee well!
I would embrace thee ere we part for ever,
But that these red contaminated hands
Would stain thy white and unpolluted soul!

[Going.
Honoria.
Thou shalt not leave me:
Thou, whom the voice of nature taught me first
To love and honour, art more dear than ever,
Because thou art more wretched. [She goes to embrace her father, sees the bloody sword, and recoils with horror.

Put up that sword! It blasts my shatter'd senses!
Oh! I am lost! my wild ethereal spirit
Springs o'er the confines of this world's despair,
And flies to Alferenzi!

Valmont
(sheathing his sword.)
Already the grey dawn steals o'er the forest,
And tips our battlements with dusky light;
Danger comes trembling on the wings of time,
And time, not daring to record the deed,
Flies swiftly on! Come, let me lead thee, love.

Honoria
(wildly.)
Oh! lead me where all memory shall fade;
Where blank oblivion desolates the scene!
Yet, stay; I have a secret to unfold.
Seest thou yon star, that in the rosy East
Stands, like a lacquey, at the gates of day,
Scatt'ring afar the shadow-vested clouds
That on the glitt'ring threshold ling'ring hung?
All will be well! The sun will warm his breast,
And Heav'n's own tears, unseen by mortal eyes,
Will consecrate his grave! so pure is pity!

Enter Francisco. Honoria endeavours to conceal her father, particularly his hand.
Honoria
to Francisco (wildly.)
Well? Is he dead? What else has brought thee hither?
All guiltless souls devote this hour to sleep;
Then why are we still waking? Who art thou?

Francisco.
Forgive me, lady, for this bold intrusion;
But the deep groans I heard beneath our walls
Urg'd me to seek the Marquis—

Honoria.
Why? what is it to him? He knows not of it;
And if he did, 'tis now, alas! past cure.

Valmont.
This is the wand'ring of her scatter'd thonghts;
Do not disturb her farther; now, good night;
Get thee to bed [sternly], and when the sun peeps forth,
We'll to the forest—but your lady's safety,
Her mind disorder'd by some unknown cause,
Requires that I should watch her for a time:
Nay, no reply. Francisco, fare thee well. [Exit Francisco.

Come, let me lead thee.

Honoria.
Would it were to my grave!

[Exeunt.