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SCENE I.
A Room in Sifroy's House.Glanville, Isabella.
Glanville.
What means this diffidence, this idle fear?
Have I not given thee proof my heart is thine?
Proof that I mean to sanctify our joys
By sacred wedlock? Why then doubt my truth?
Why hesitate, why tremble thus to join
In deeds, which justice and my love to thee
Alone inspire? If we are one, our hopes,
2
And canst thou tamely see this proud Sifroy
Triumphant lord it o'er my baffled rights?
Those late acquir'd demesnes, by partial deed
Convey'd to him, in equity are mine.
Isabella.
The story oft I've heard: yet sure Sifroy
Hath every legal title to that wealth
By will bequeath'd: and childless should he die,
The whole were thine. Wait then till time—
Glanville.
Art thou,
My Isabella, thou an advocate
For him who wrongs thy lover, and witholds
Those treasures which I covet but for thee?
Where is thy plighted love?—thy faith?—thy truth?
Isabella.
Forbear reproach! O Glanville, love to thee
Hath robb'd me of my truth—betray'd me on
From step to step, till virtue quite forsook me.
False if I am, 'tis to myself, not thee;
Thou hast my heart, and thou shalt guide my will,
Obedient to thy bidding.
Glanville.
Hear me then—
This curst Sifroy stands in my fortune's way;
I must remove him.—Well I know his weakness—
His fiery temper favours my design,
And aids the plot that works his own undoing.
His station in the army, there secures him,
3
But this will force him home—I have convey'd,
By Ragozin his servant, whom I sent
On other business, letters which disclose
His wife's amour with Paulet.
Isabella.
Ah! tho' me
Thou hast persuaded to believe her false,
Think'st thou Sifroy will credit the report?
Will not remembrance of her former love,
Her decent modesty, yet tender fondness,
Secure his high opinion of her truth?
Glanville.
I know it ought not. Weak must be the man
Who builds his hopes on such deceitful ground.
Paulet is young, not destitute of passion;
Her husband absent, they are oft together:
Then she hath charms to warm the coldest breast,
Melt the most rigid virtue into love,
And tempt the firmest friendship to be frail.
All this I've urg'd, join'd with such circumstance,
Such strong presumptive proof, as cannot fail
To shake the firm foundations of his trust.
This once accomplish'd, his own violence
And heated rage, will urge him to commit
Some desperate act, and plunge him into ruin.
Isabella.
But grant thou should'st succeed, what will ensue?
Suppose him dead, doth he not leave an heir,
An infant son? He will prevent thy claim—
4
That bar were easily remov'd.—But soft,
Who's here? 'Tis Ragozin return'd.
[Enter Ragozin.
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