University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

—Another part of the Forest.
Enter Albert (wounded).
Albert.
O for enough life to support me on
To Otho's feet—

Enter Ludolph.
Ludolph.
Thrice villainous, stay there!
Tell me where that detested woman is
Or this is through thee!

Albert.
My good Prince, with me
The sword has done its worst; not without worst
Done to another—Conrad has it home—
I see you know it all—

Ludolph.
Where is his sister?

Auranthe rushes in.
Auranthe.
Albert!

Ludolph.
Ha! There! there!—He is the paramour!—
There—hug him—dying! O, thou innocence,
Shrine him and comfort him at his last gasp,
Kiss down his eyelids! Was he not thy love?
Wilt thou forsake him at his latest hour?
Keep fearful and aloof from his last gaze,
His most uneasy moments, when cold death
Stands with the door ajar to let him in?

Albert.
O that that door with hollow slam would close
Upon me sudden, for I cannot meet,
In all the unknown chambers of the dead,
Such horrors—

Ludolph.
Auranthe! what can he mean?
What horrors? Is it not a joyous time?
Am I not married to a paragon
“Of personal beauty and untainted soul?”
A blushing fair-eyed Purity! A Sylph,
Whose snowy timid hand has never sin'd
Beyond a flower pluck'd, white as itself?
Albert, you do insult my Bride—your Mistress—
To talk of horrors on our wedding night.

Albert.
Alas! poor Prince, I would you knew my heart.
'Tis not so guilty—

Ludolph.
Hear you he pleads not guilty—
You are not? or if so what matters it?
You have escap'd me,—free as the dusk air—
Hid in the forest—safe from my revenge;
I cannot catch you—You should laugh at me,
Poor cheated Ludolph,—make the forest hiss
With jeers at me—You tremble; faint at once,
You will come to again. O Cockatrice,
I have you. Whither wander those fair eyes
To entice the Devil to your help, that he
May change you to a Spider, so to crawl
Into some cranny to escape my wrath?

Albert.
Sometimes the counsel of a dying man
Doth operate quietly when his breath is gone—
Disjoin those hands—part—part, do not destroy
Each other—forget her—our miseries
Are equal shar'd, and mercy is—

Ludolph.
A boon
When one can compass it. Auranthe, try
Your oratory—your breath is not so hitch'd—
Aye, stare for help— [Albert groans and dies.

There goes a spotted soul
Howling in vain along the hollow night—
Hear him—he calls you—Sweet Auranthe, come!

Auranthe.
Kill me.

Ludolph.
No! What? upon our Marriage-night!
The earth would shudder at so foul a deed—
A fair Bride, a sweet Bride, an innocent Bride!
No, we must revel it, as 'tis in use
In times of delicate brilliant ceremony:
Come, let me lead you to our halls again—
Nay, linger not—make no resistance sweet—
Will you—Ah wretch, thou canst not, for I have
The strength of twenty lions 'gainst a lamb—
Now one adieu for Albert—come away.—

[Exeunt.