University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Ina's House.
Enter Egbert and Alwyn hastily.
EGBERT.
I am here, my love! they shall not tear thee from me!
Thy husband will defend thee from the world!
My love! my wife! where art thou?

ALWYN
(alarmed).
My good lord,
Strange silence reigns around. They sleep, perhaps—
The menial train. The night is far advanced.
I pray you rest you here: I will awake them.
Haply thy Ina too enjoys repose—
For sleep will visit suffering innocence.

EGBERT.
Haste thee, my friend, and rouse the drowsy sluggards. [Exit Alwyn.
(Going to a door)

This is her chamber. Those loved eyes have wept,
Till, as the infant's, they have closed in sleep.
I'll enter softly, and will whisper peace;
Till, by degrees, she wake to the full sense
Of all our joy.
[He enters, and returns.
She is not there!—Nor wife!
Nor child is there! Nor Alice—all is still!
Where am I?—(faltering).
(Starting.)

Ina!—Is it possible?
(With violence.)
My love! my wife! my Ina!

Enter Blanch.
EGBERT.
Where is thy mistress?

BLANCH.
Some hours have pass'd since she departed hence,
With Alice and her infant, good my lord.

EGBERT
(distracted).
Say how? say whither?—Speak—be brief!

BLANCH.
My lord,
The guard and Osric waited on her steps;
With locks dishevell'd, wrapt in sable weeds,
Weeping she went, alas! we know not whither.

EGBERT.
Hush! speak no more—thy every word is death! [Exit Blanch.
[After a pause, in which he appears violently agitated.

Am I still living? Had we not one being?
Beats still my heart? and not responsive beats,
In each pulsation, throb for throb to hers?
[With revived hope.
It cannot be: I yet shall find her—
[Sees the table, with the dagger, picture, &c.
What see I here? Her holy book of prayer?
A dagger placed beside it! and my portrait,
That never had forsook her living bosom!
The tokens of my love too!—Tyrant father!
And ye, ye men of blood!
[He weeps.
She is with angels!
Yet still unblest without her Egbert! Thus
She summons me, and gives the means—and thus,
Thus, my soul's love, thy husband follows thee.
[Stabs himself.
Enter Alwyn.

ALWYN.
She is gone forth; but yet I nothing doubt:
I with redoubled diligence will search—
We yet shall find her.

EGBERT.
I—shall—find her soon!

ALWYN.
Why, why, my friend, that ghastly aspect? why
Those tottering steps? What hast thou done?—A poniard!

EGBERT.
I could not live—she beckon'd—from the skies—
I let my spirit—forth—that else—had burst—
With ruder shock—its prison.

ALWYN.
Mercy! Heaven!

INA
(behind the scenes).
And is he come? Oh joy! Where—where is he?
My husband! Egbert!
(Entering).
See—I live! I live!
[He sinks into Alwyn's arms.
He sinks! Too mighty the o'erwhelming joy!
Softly, good Alwyn—softly—place him here—
[She helps to support him, and he rests his head on her bosom.
A moment yet—his senses will return—
Let all be hush'd around.
[After a pause, in low tender accents.
My love! my husband!
'Tis thy own Ina—We are happy, Egbert!

EGBERT
(reviving).
Is death but this? Have I already past
The dreaded bourne? And does thy sainted spirit
Bend to receive me in the blest abodes?
How easy death!

INA.
Talk not of death—we live,
And we are blest beyond our fondest wish—
We are forgiven—The good Cenulph loves me,
Has clasp'd thy wife, thy infant to his bosom!
[A pause.
A little moment, friends—his mind not yet
Can compass our immensity of bliss.
Ha! while I speak of joy thy cheek grows pale:
Methinks no gladness beams in those dear eyes.
Thou art very ill!—thy looks are wild and sad.
Come, father, come.
Enter Cenulph.

CENULPH.
My son! my victor son!

EGBERT.
My father too! Oh that I yet might live!

CENULPH.
What has befallen? Is not all well with thee?
My age's prop! My noble, valiant son!

INA
(screams).
Here's blood!

EGBERT.
Oh! Ina—this rash—desperate—hand
Has dash'd—dash'd to the earth—our cup of joy.
'Tis here—'tis here—cold—cold—and I must die.
Have mercy, Heaven!—one—little hour—of life
Were worth—but 'twill not be—I'm sick—to death.

CENULPH.
Haste—seek—bring aid—my throne, my treasure, all,
All shall be his who first brings timely aid.

EGBERT.
'Tis vain, my father—Oh! the stroke—was—home—
Pardon—Oh! pardon—that I could—misjudge
A father's heart! My love—my wife—be patient—
Oh! father—bid her live—to warn—our child—
From—passion's—headlong—course.—
[Stretches his hand to Alwyn.
My friend!—Oh! Ina!
Where art thou?—I nor see—nor feel—I sink—
Hold fast—my hand!—My wife—my Ina—Oh!

[Dies.
She falls on the body, and the Curtain drops.