University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Osmond
alone. [After a long Pause.
I like him not—
Yes—I have mighty Matter of Suspicion.
'Tis plain—I see it—Lurking in his Breast,
He has a foolish Fondness for this King—
My Honour is not safe, while here my Wife
Remains—Who knows but he this very Night
May bear Her to some Convent as he mention'd—
The King too—tho' I smother'd up my Rage,
I mark'd it well—will set me free To-morrow.
Why not To-night? He has some dark Design—
By Heavens! he has—I am abus'd most grosly;
Made the vile Tool of this old Statesman's Schemes;
Marry'd to One—Ay, and he knew it—One
Who loves young Tancred! Hence her swooning, Tears,
And all her soft Distress, when she disgrac'd me
By basely giving her perfidious Hand
Without her Heart—Hell and Perdition! This,
This is the Perfidy! This is the fell,
The keen, envenom'd, exquisite Disgrace!
Which to a Man of Honour even exceeds
The Falshood of the Person—But I now
Will rouze me from the poor tame Lethargy,
By my believing Fondness cast upon Me.
I will not wait his crawling timid Motions,
Perhaps to blind me meant, which he To-morrow
Has promis'd to pursue. No! ere his Eyes
Shall open on To-morrow's orient Beam,
I will convince him that Earl Osmond never
Was form'd to be his Dupe—I know full well
Th' important Weight and Danger of the Deed:
But to a Man, whom greater Dangers press,
Driven to the Brink of Infamy and Horror,
Rashness itself, and utter Desperation,
Are the best Prudence—I will bear Her off
This Night, and lodge Her in a Place of Safety.
I have a trusty Band that waits not far.
Hence! Let me lose no Time—One rapid Moment
Should ardent form, at once, and execute
A bold Design—'Tis fix'd—'Tis done!—Yes, then,
When I have seiz'd the Prize of Love and Honour,
And with a Friend secur'd Her; to the Castle
I will repair, and claim Goffredo's Promise
To rise with all his Garrison—My Friends
With brave Impatience wait. The Mine is laid,
And only wants my kindling Touch to spring.