 | Cleone |  |
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ACT IV.
SCENE, a Room in Sifroy's House.Glanville, Isabella.
Glanville.
Betray'd! by whom betray'd? By thy vain fear.
How curst is he who treads on Danger's path,
Entangled with a woman! Fool! alone
I had been safe.
Isabella.
Yet hear me—On my life,
No word from me hath 'scap'd. We may perchance
Be yet secure.
Glanville.
Perchance! And do our lives
Depend on fickle chance? But speak—proceed—
Whence are thy fears?
Isabella.
In close concealment hid,
This moment I o'erheard a whisper'd scheme
Of seizing thee—
Glanville.
Confusion! Can it be?
Can Ragozin, the villain, have betray'd me?
Isabella.
I fear he hath. Where is he?
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Not return'd
From Baden wood, to ascertain the deed
That crowns our business. Were but that secure,
My tortur'd soul, torn on the rack of doubt,
Might yet feel peace. How wears the time?
Isabella.
Two hours
Are wanting yet to midnight.
Glanville.
Where's Sifroy?
Isabella.
With Beaufort. But perplexing doubts distract
His reason, that all power to act forsakes him.
Still farther to alarm—deep stain'd with gore,
The sword of Paulet's found, and other marks
That speak him murder'd
Glanville.
That's beyond my wish:
And tells but what I wanted to proclaim.
Isabella.
Proclaim! What mean'st thou? Doth it not conduce
To our detection? Doth it not confirm
Their dark suspicions?
Glanville.
The short line, alas,
Of thy weak thought, in vain would sound the depth
Of my designs. But rest thee well assur'd
I have foreseen, and am prepar'd to meet
All possible events.
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O grant, good Heaven,—
Great God! how dreadful 'tis to be engag'd
In what we dare not pray that Heaven may prosper!
Glanville.
Curse on thy boding tongue! Let me not hear
Its superstitious weakness—Hush! who comes?
No more—'tis Ragozin—Now sleep distrust—
First let me learn if he hath done the deed—
If not, I am betray'd—and will awake
In vengeance on his falseshood.
[Enter Ragozin.
SCENE II.
Glanville, Isabella, Ragozin.Glanville.
Speak, my friend—
Cleone and her child—say quickly—how dispos'd?
Ragozin.
To Heaven remov'd, no longer they obstruct
Our views on earth.
Glanville.
Speak plainly—are they dead?
Ragozin.
Both dead.
Glanville.
Swear, swear to this!—And by all hope
Of that reward which urg'd thee to the deed,
Swear thou hast not betray'd me!
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Whence arise
These base suspicions? I disdain that crime
Tho' branded with the name of an assassin,
I am not yet so mean as to betray.
Glanville.
Distraction!—May I trust thee?
Ragozin.
As thou wilt.
Glanville,
pausing.
It must be so—we still are safe: and this
Pretence of strong suspicion, is no more
Than subtil artifice, contriv'd to draw
Th' unwary to confession.
Ragozin.
'Tis no more.
Glanville.
Nor will I more than with a just contempt
Regard it. All our deeds of blood are done.
What now remains, the law shall execute.
Ragozin.
What's to be done?
Glanville.
The thrust thus aim'd at me,
Shall deeply pierce Sifroy's unguarded bosom.
Thy aid once more—as witness to his threats—
Ragozin.
Freely I would—But safety now requires
That I abscond. The stipulated sum,
Forgive me therefore, if I claim this night.
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'Tis thine. But hark!—retire—I hear his step—
One moment wait, and all shall be adjusted.
Ragozin
(aside.)
Curs'd chance! Were I possess'd of my reward,
Who would might wait thee now—nor will I more
Than some short moments rest unsatisfied.
[Exit.
[Enter Sifroy.
SCENE III.
Glanville, Sifroy.Sifroy,
not seeing Glanville.
O Happiness! thou frail, thou fading flower,
Whose culture mocks all human toil, farewel!
But I, blind madman! by the roots have pluck'd
Thy sweetness from my bosom. My dear love!
Where wanders now thy wrong'd, thy helpless virtue?
On what cold stone reclines thy drooping head,
While trickling tears call thy Sifroy inhuman.
Deluded wretch! why did my greedy ear
Catch the rank poison of Suspicion's breath,
And to my tortur'd brain convey distraction?
Glanville,
advancing to him.
Are thus my faithful services repaid?
Are the plain truths my undisguising heart
In friendship told, already deem'd no more
Than vile suggestions of designing falshood?
Sifroy.
Villain, they are!—Thou know'st them false as hell!
Where is my wife?—O traytor! thou hast plung'd
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Glanville.
Rather say,
That he who led astray the willing wife,
Thy folly doats on—he—
Sifroy.
Blasphemer! stop
Thy impious tongue! The breast of that dear saint
Enshrines a soul as spotless as her form.
Said'st thou not, Slanderer! that my love was fled
With Paulet?
Glanville.
True: I did.
Sifroy.
Art thou not sure
That this is false? Hast thou no dreadful cause
To know it cannot be.
Glanville.
None. Thou, perhaps,
Whose bloody errand I indeed have heard
Already is accomplish'd—Thou, 'tis true,
May'st know that they are parted: 'twas the deed
Thou cam'st thus swiftly to perform. But how
Doth that impeach the truth of her elopement?
That thou hast murder'd him, acquits not her.
Sifroy.
That I have murder'd!—I!—Pernicious wretch!
What dark designs, by blackest fiends inspir'd,
Lurks in thy treacherous soul? Tremendous Power!
Have I then sinn'd beyond all hope of mercy?
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On my devoted head, flow from his hand?
But all thy ways are just! To him I gave
That credit which I ow'd my injur'd love—
He now, by thy supreme decree, stands forth
Th' avenger of my crime.
[Enter Beaufort Senior, with officers, &c.
SCENE VI.
Sifroy, Glanville, Beaufort Sen. Officers, &c.Beaufort Senior.
Seize there your victim.
Glanville.
What means this outrage?—Upon what pretence—
Beaufort Senior.
The bloody hand of Murder points out thee
To strong Suspicion. Turn'st thou pale?—O wretch!
Thy guilt drinks up thy blood.
Glanville.
Not guilt, but rage!
Who dares accuse me?
Beaufort Senior.
I. Where's Paulet? where
My daughter? who, thou basely said'st, were fled
Together?
Glanville.
If his poniard found the way
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Beaufort Senior.
His poniard!
Glanville.
His. I should have scorn'd t'accuse
The man, whose honour I think deeply wrong'd:
But mine own life attempted thus, demands
That truth should rise to light. Cam'st thou not here,
Driven by the fury of a dire revenge?
What motive else urg'd thy impetuous haste?
Sifroy.
Insidious slave! hast thou insnar'd my soul
By treacherous arts?—Hast thou with falshoods vile
Inflam'd this hapless breast?—And would'st thou now
Infer my guilt, from my provok'd resentment?
Glanville.
Lean'd I on feeble inference—I would ask,
What cause have I to seek this Paulet's blood?
'Twas not my wife, my daughter, he seduc'd!
How has he injur'd me? But I reject
These trivial pleas—I build on certain proof.
Beaufort Senior.
What proof?
Glanville.
The strongest—his own hand and seal
Fixt to the firm resolve, that he alone [Shewing the letter.
Would do the righteous deed—for so his rage
Calls Paulet's murder.
Beaufort Senior.
Ha! What can I think!
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Of rash suspicion, added that of murder?
Sifroy.
My father, hear thy son. I plead not for
My life, but justice.—That I am a wretch,
Groaning beneath the weight of Heaven's just ire—
That snar'd, and caught in meditated wiles,
I banish'd from my house a guiltless wife—
That burning with revenge, I flew to quench
My wrath in Paulet's blood—all this I own.
But by the sacred eye of Providence!
That views each human step, and still detects
The murderer's deed—of this imputed crime
My heart is ignorant, my hands are clear.
Beaufort Senior.
I wish thee innocent—
Glanville.
Have then my words
No weight? And is his own attesting hand
No proof against him? Is her secret flight,
An accident? No more?—O partial man!
To hide thy daughter's shame, thou seek'st my life.
But I appeal from thee to public justice.
Beaufort Senior.
To that thou art consign'd: and may the hand
Of strict enquiry drag to open day
All secret guilt, tho' shame indelible
Should brand a daughter nearest to my heart.
Heaven aid my search! I seek not blood, but truth.
Guard safe our prisoners to the magistrate,
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Thou shalt not want.
Glanville.
'Tis well: I ask no more.
Let Ragozin, let Isabella too
Attend the magistrate—on them I call
To clear my slander'd name.
Beaufort Senior.
It shall be so.
Take them this instant to your strictest care.
Thou too, Sifroy, be ready to attend.
Sifroy.
O think not I will leave him, till full proof
Condemn him, or acquit.
Beaufort Senior.
The cause demands it.
[Exeunt officers with Glanville guarded.
SCENE V.
Sifroy, Beaufort Senior.Sifroy.
Whence has the miscreant this unusual firmness?
Can guilt be free from terror?
Beaufort Senior.
No, my son:
And thro' the mask of smooth Hypocrisy,
Methinks I see conceal'd a trembling heart.
If he be true, my daughter must be false:
If he be guiltless, who hath murder'd Paulet?
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So speed my hopes as I am innocent.
But oh, my love!—Conduct me where she strays
Forlorn and comfortless! Alas, who knows—
Her tender heart perhaps this moment breaks
With my unkindness! Wretch! what hast thou lost!
[Enter Beaufort Junior.
SCENE VI.
Sifroy, Beaufort Senior, Beaufort Junior.Beaufort Junior.
Thy soul's sweet peace!—Never, no never more
To be regain'd!—Shame, anguish, and despair
Shall haunt thy future hours! Severe Remorse
Shall strike his vulture talons thro' thy heart,
And rend thy vital threads.
Beaufort Senior.
What means my son?
Sifroy.
My brother!—if I may conjure thee yet
By that dear name—
Beaufort Junior.
Thou may'st not—I disclaim it!
Sifroy.
Why dost thou thus alarm my shuddering soul
With rising terrors?
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My dear son, relieve
Thy father from this dread suspence!
Beaufort Junior.
O sir! how shall I speak! or in what words
Unfold the horrors of this night?—My sister—
Lost to her wretched self—thro' dreary wilds
Wanders distracted—void of Reason's light
To guide her devious steps.
Beaufort Senior.
Support me, Heaven!
Then every hope is fled!—Thy will be done!—
Where is my child? Where was she found?
Beaufort Junior.
Alas!
Of soul too delicate, too soft to bear
Unjust reproach, and undeserved shame,
Distraction seiz'd her in the gloom of night,
As passing thro' the wood she sought the arms
Of a protecting father.
Sifroy.
Do I live?
Is such a wretch permitted still to breathe?
Why opens not this earth? why sleeps above
The lightening's vengeful blast? Is Heaven unjust?
Or am I still reserv'd for deeper woe?
I hope not mercy—that were impious—
Pour then on my bare head, ye ministers
Of wrath! your hottest vengeance—
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Stop—forbear—
Nor imprecate that vengeance which unseen,
Already hangs o'er thy devoted life.
O wretch! thou know'st not yet how curst thou art.
Thy child, thy lovely child, a bloody corse,
Lies breathless by its frantic mother's side—
Murder'd, as it should seem, by her own hand,
When Reason in her brain had lost dominion.
Sifroy.
O my torn heart!—Is there in Heaven no pity?
But Fate's last bolt is thrown, and I am curst
Beyond all power to aggravate my woe!
O I am scorn'd, abandon'd, and cast out
By Heaven and Earth!—I must not call thee father—
I have undone thee, robb'd thee of that name.
Beaufort Senior.
Forbear, my son, to aggravate thy woes,
Already too severe. Kind Providence
May yet restore, and harmonize her mind.
Sifroy.
May Heaven pour blessings on thy reverend head
For that sweet hope! But say, where shall I see her?—
How bear the dreadful sight!
Beaufort Junior.
Dreadful indeed!
On the cold earth they found her laid: her head,
Supported on her arm, hung o'er her child,
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Sometimes she speaks fond words, and seems to smile
On the dead babe as 'twere alive.—Now like
The melancholy bird of night, she pours
A soft and melting strain, as if to soothe
Its slumbers:—and now clasps it to her breast,
Cries Glanville is not here—fear not, my love,
He shall not come—then wildly throws her eyes
Around, and in the tenderest accent calls
Aloud on thee, to save her from dishonour!
Sifroy.
Haste, let us haste—distracted thus she grows
Still dearer, still more precious to my soul!
O let me soothe her sorrows into peace.
Beaufort Senior.
Stay—calls she frequently on Glanville's name?
Beaufort Junior.
So they report who found her.
Beaufort Senior.
Left they her
Alone?
Beaufort Junior.
No: but all arts to court her thence were vain.
Beaufort Senior.
Thither with speed this moment let us fly.
Let Glanville too attend. From the wild words
Of madness and delirium, he who struck
From darkness light—may call Discovery forth,
To guide our footsteps.
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Just is your resolve,
And I will follow you—but have receiv'd
Intelligence of somewhat that imports us,
Which I must first attend.
Beaufort Senior.
To gain us light,
Be no means left untry'd.
[Exit Beaufort Junior.
Sifroy.
But haste, we linger.
Yet whither can I fly? Where seek for peace?
O in its tenderest vein my heart is wounded!
Had I been smote in any other part,
I could have born with firmness; but in Thee,
My wrong'd, my ruin'd love, I bleed to death.
End of the Fourth ACT.
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