Eudora A Tragedy |
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SCENE IX.
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 | Eudora |  |
SCENE IX.
VERINO, enter LELIO.VERINO.
Ah! what art thou,
Who dar'st, in scorn of my express command,
To break upon my privacy? Begone!
LELIO.
My gracious Lord, the tidings that I bear
Will plead in my excuse.
VERINO.
Ah! thou art come
But to repeat a melancholy tale,
I know too well: yet say! didst thou behold
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From this accursed earth?
LELIO.
Your words my Lord
Amaze and terrify.—
VERINO.
Dost thou not bring
A last farewell from my expiring son
To his fond father? Speak!
LELIO.
My gracious Lord,
I have not seen Lord Raymond; but I come
With joy to tell you, that your dear Eudora
Has taught our royal master to respect
His injured virtue, and almost restore him
To full possession of suspended honor;
Then fear not for his life!
VERINO.
Slave! wouldst thou mock me?
But I perceive thee villain! thou art sent
By some insidious foe to rack my brain,
And torture me to madness!
LELIO.
Can my Lord
Suspect that faith, he has so oft acknowledged?
By many years of duty well approved,
By the loved virtues of your son I swear,
I heard, and heard with joy unspeakable,
Our generous sovereign pledge his royal word
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Lord Raymond's life as sacred as his own.
VERINO.
Then am I curst beyond the reach of Heaven.
My son! my innocent, my murdered son!
Oh! I have plunged into a gulf of horror,
Whence not the mercy of a pitying God
Could snatch my sinking soul! O Raymond! Raymond!
(Falls into the arms of Lelio.
LELIO.
What means this dreadful agony, which thus
Shakes his enfeebled age? I fear the shock
Of his son's late dishonor has o'erwhelmed
His troubled reason. But reviving strength
Dawns in his face. How fares my worthy lord?
VERINO,
(recovering)
My faithful Lelio! ah!
LELIO.
Let me support
Your faltering steps, and guide them to your son,
Who free from danger, and restored to fame,
Wants but your presence to complete his triumph.
VERINO.
I have no son: why, Heaven? why had I ever!
Haste, haste to fly me, nor disgrace thyself
By shameful kindness to a wretch, whose pride
Has burst the bonds of nature, and destroyed
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I, I have murdered Raymond!
LELIO.
Heaven forbid!
VERINO.
Yet he may live—some blessed chance may yet
Keep my infernal present from his lips:
Ah no, false flattering hope!—He never knew
His father form a wish, how wild soever,
But with the fervor of a fond obedience
He hasted to fulfil it: and that father,
That honored, much-loved father in return
Has murdered him!
LELIO.
If there is room to doubt,
Still think the watchful and o'er-ruling power,
Which guards the virtuous, has preserved your son;
Still hope my lord!
VERINO.
Oh blessed heavenly sound!
Yes I will hope:—But let us fly to clear
The dreadful doubt!—now mercy! mercy Heaven!
| Eudora | |