 | Edward and Eleonora |  |
SCENE II.
Edward, Gloster.Edward,
advancing from his Couch.
Hail to the fresher Earth and brighter Day!
I feel me lighten'd of the mortal Load
That lay upon my Spirits. This kind Sleep
Has shed a balmy Quiet thro' my Veins.
Whence this amazing Change?—
I feel me lighten'd of the mortal Load
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Has shed a balmy Quiet thro' my Veins.
Whence this amazing Change?—
But be my first chief Care, Author of Good!
To bend my Soul in Gratitude to thee!
Thou, when blind Mortals wander thro' the Deeps
Of comfortless Despair, with timely Hand,
Invisible, and by unthought-of Ways,
Thou lead'st them forth into thy Light again.
To bend my Soul in Gratitude to thee!
Thou, when blind Mortals wander thro' the Deeps
Of comfortless Despair, with timely Hand,
Invisible, and by unthought-of Ways,
Thou lead'st them forth into thy Light again.
Gloster.
How fares my Lord, the Prince?
Edward.
To Health restor'd.
Only a Kind of Lassitude remains,
A not unpleasing Weakness hangs upon me:
Like the soft Trembling of the settled Deep,
After a Storm.
Gloster.
Father of Health be prais'd!
Edward.
The Moment that I sunk upon my Couch,
A sick and troubled Slumber fell upon me.
Chaos of gloomy unconnected Thought!
That, in black Eddy whirl'd, made Sleep more dreadful
Than the worst waking Pang. While thus I toss'd,
Ready to bid Farewel to suffering Clay,
Methought an Angel came and touch'd my Wound.
At this the parting Gloom clear'd up apace;
My Slumbers soften'd; and, with Health, return'd
Serenity of Mind, and order'd Thought,
And fair Ideas gladening all the Soul.
Aerial Musick too, by Fancy heard,
Sooth'd my late Pangs and harmoniz'd my Breast.
Thro' Shades of Bliss I walk'd, where Heavenly Forms
Sung to their Lutes my Eleonora's Love—
But where is she? the Glory of her Sex!
O dearer, justly dearer, far than ever!
Quick, let me find her, pour into her Bosom
My full full Soul, with Tenderness o'ercharg'd,
With glad Surprize, with Gratitude and Wonder.—
A sick and troubled Slumber fell upon me.
Chaos of gloomy unconnected Thought!
That, in black Eddy whirl'd, made Sleep more dreadful
Than the worst waking Pang. While thus I toss'd,
Ready to bid Farewel to suffering Clay,
Methought an Angel came and touch'd my Wound.
At this the parting Gloom clear'd up apace;
My Slumbers soften'd; and, with Health, return'd
Serenity of Mind, and order'd Thought,
And fair Ideas gladening all the Soul.
Aerial Musick too, by Fancy heard,
Sooth'd my late Pangs and harmoniz'd my Breast.
Thro' Shades of Bliss I walk'd, where Heavenly Forms
Sung to their Lutes my Eleonora's Love—
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O dearer, justly dearer, far than ever!
Quick, let me find her, pour into her Bosom
My full full Soul, with Tenderness o'ercharg'd,
With glad Surprize, with Gratitude and Wonder.—
Ha! why this Silence? this dejected Look?
You cast a drooping Eye upon the Ground.
Where is the Princess?
You cast a drooping Eye upon the Ground.
Where is the Princess?
Gloster.
She, my Lord, reposes.
Edward.
Reposes!—No!—It is not likely, Gloster,
That she would yield her weeping Eyes to sleep,
While I lay there in Agonies—Away!
I am too feeble then to know the Truth.
Say, is she well?
Gloster.
Now show thy Courage, Edward—
Edward.
O all my Fears! I shall start out to Madness!
What!—while I slept?
Gloster.
Yes—
Edward.
Misery! Distraction!
My Peace, my Honour is betray'd for ever!
O Love! O Shame! O murder'd Eleonora!
| Edward and Eleonora | |