University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

Elvina
alone.
Now the dye is cast;
And I have sealed the sentence of my death.
O thou that helper of the helpless art!
O be not absent in the hour of woe!
Forsake me not when by the world forsaken!
No hope have I on earth: To thee I fly,
As to a father's arms: I have no father,
No friend, but thee alone. God of my youth!
Thou didst receive me with paternal arms
When cast an infant on a wretched world;
And when a stranger thou didst guide my feet
Thro' the wild maze of life: O leave me not,
My God, in my last hour!—

[Going off with the Guards, Albemarle enters, takes her by the hand, and leads her in silence to the front of the stage.
Albemarle.
Alas! my daughter,
The day of trouble now hath come upon us!
I am an old man: I am miserable!
And thou art fallen, friendless, and forlorn!
Alas, Elvina! Thou hast brought us low!

Elvina.
I'm every way unhappy and undone.

Albemarle.
After what pass'd this morning, what you've done
So wild, so monstrous seems—it is incredible!
Alas! it was the effort of despair.
I would not shock thee now—'Twould be an insult—
O Heaven! what agony the bosom rends
When the curse comes upon the hoary head!

Elvina.
Oh! I am doubly wretched to involve
My father in despair!—

Albemarle.
O fond old man!
O foolish father! I delighted, thought,
This tempest o'er, my evening would be bright,
And my departure like the setting sun.
I fondly thought, when better days return'd,
Safe under shadow of the vine to sing,
And bless my children's children! fondly thought
To see a race of thine around me rise,
The young Elvinas of the age to come;
Trace my own features in their opening looks,
Hear the first accents of their lisping tongues,
Woo their embraces, fold them in my arms,
And like an old man prattle in their praise.
Then looking heaven-ward, to depart in peace,
In his good hour: Within their arms and thine,
Th'embrace of nature! look my last adieus,
And smile, and fall asleep—O God of heaven,
Now I am childless!—

Elvina.
'Tis too much, my father!
I was prepar'd to meet thy stern rebuke;
I could have borne the looks and words of wrath.
But shield me, Heaven! for I can ne'er support
A father's tenderness, a father's tears,
That look forlorn that marks the bursting heart.

Albemarle.
To what is age reserved? I never thought
That thou would'st prove a parricide, my daughter,
That thou wouldst pluck these white hairs by the root,
And dig thy father's grave. I thought not so.
[Starting back.
What hast thou done?—Yet thou art still my child;
Thou art my only child!—
[Taking her in his arms.
By Arden awed,
None of our Barons will defend thy cause:
I will defend thee; I will be thy champion.
Old is my arm, but, in a cause like this,
A daughter's cause, it still can draw the sword.
I'm young again—

[Drawing his sword.
Elvina.

Albemarle
, [Embracing her.
O my lovely child,
Adieu!—Th'Eternal eye alone beholds
When we shall meet again—