University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

The supposed haunted Room, where appear the Count of Colmar, the Marquis, Matilda, and Maria, in great consternation.
MATILDA.
She is not here! I shall grow mad with terror!

MARQUIS.
Be calm my love!—Yet, yet she will be found!
Think not this fabled phantom can endanger
Your noble friend.

COLMAR.
There's something more in this
Than a mere shadow. Heard you not some noise?

MATILDA.
Towards th'alcove?

MARQUIS.
It was.—Again I hear it!

MATILDA.
O! I shall faint!—Now! now! I hear the murmur
Of some sad voice!

COUNT.
The sound of feet approaches,
Yet nothing's seen!—Nearer! yet nearer still!

MATILDA.
Protect me Marquis! See!—the tapestry!

[The tapestry is lifted up, and discovers the Countess supporting the Old Count, whose face is stained with blood.]
MARQUIS.
Eternal Pow'r! what apparition's this!

TERESA.
O! Heav'n defend us!

MATILDA.
I shall die with terror!
[As the Old Count advances towards an east window, he averts his face, exclaiming.]
The light! the light!—

[And faints.]
COUNTESS.
O God! the victim dies!

[All gather round.]
MARQUIS.
Fly, fly for succour!

[Exit Maria.
COUNT OF COLMAR.
Can the grave restore!!
My eyes deceive me!—No!—it is my friend!—
But, ah! how chang'd!

COUNTESS.
(with great emotion)
What can you mean?—What friend?

COLMAR.
The Count of Montval! Noblest, best of men!

[Young Count enters, who, seeing his father, stands horror-struck.]
COUNTESS.
Of Montval?—What!—the father!—

YOUNG COUNT.
Swallow me, earth!—

COLMAR.
O! yes, the father of thy noble husband!

COUNTESS.
Accurs'd the sound! and blotted be the hour,
That shews a monster—in the man I lov'd!

MARQUIS.
What dreadful misery! what horrid crime
Has buried thus alive!—

COLMAR.
The Count revives!

[Old Count raises himself a little, supported by the Countess and Colmar.]
OLD COUNT.
O! I am sick!—sick unto death!—So!—so!—
Here let me lean!

[Reclining his head on the Countess' bosom.]
COUNTESS.
O! live!—But try to live,
Or the most abject wretch that crawls on earth,
Is blest, compar'd with me!

OLD COUNT.
What hast thou said,
Noblest and kindest!—Ha!—my cruel son!

[Young Count throws himself at his father's feet, the Countess averting her face from him with stern horror.]
YOUNG COUNT.
Yes! from my bosom rend this barbarous heart!
Trample my body!—Curse my impious soul!—
All is too good for such a son as me!

OLD COUNT.
Do'st thou repent?

YOUNG COUNT.
Repentance is too calm!
Remorse and horror tear my bursting heart!

OLD COUNT.
Then may thy God forgive, as I forgive thee!

YOUNG COUNT.
Enchanting sound! But live! O! live to bless me!

[Enter Teresa.]
OLD COUNT.
It will not be!—I fear—it will not be!

COUNTESS
(suddenly turning, and taking the cordial from TERESA.)
O swallow this!—It may revive your spirits!
Think of my agonies!—My dread despair!

OLD COUNT.
(trying to drink)
I cannot swallow!—my emotions choak me!—
This sudden change! this conflict—is too much
For age and weakness—worn with length of sorrow!

COUNTESS.
(sternly to her husband)
Canst thou hear this, and not be turn'd to stone!

OLD COUNT.
(to her)
Be comforted!—Forgive, as I forgive him!
[To his son.]
Cherish the best and noblest of her sex,
And thus redeem thy injuries to me!
Quick, let me seal thy pardon ere I die!—
[Embraces him feebly.]
My good and dear old friend, your hand once more!
[Giving his hand to Colmar.]
Daughter, may ev'ry blessing—

[Sinks and dies.]
COUNTESS.
(starting up wildly)
Blessing!—I!—
Can I be blest! link'd to a parricide!—
See!—see! his hands reek with a father's gore!
O! murder!—murder!—Has thy iron heart
No touch of nature!

[Stands as if gasping for breath.]
MATILDA.
Dearest, dearest friend!
Now let your wonted firmness stand the test,
And calm your anguish!

MARQUIS.
'Tis a dreadful trial
For love and virtue, such as her's, to bear!

YOUNG COUNT.
Well may she loath a guilty wretch like me!
I dare not ev'n approach!—Yet, if my love!—
If deep remorse—

COUNTESS.
(starting from her stupor)
Thy love!—detested love!—
What can remorse, where crimes have dy'd the soul
So deep a black!—Go!—herd with cannibals,
Who feed on human flesh, and drink man's blood!—
Yet, even they, respect and love their fathers!—

YOUNG COUNT.
Soul-harrowing thought!—Yet, gracious Heav'n can pardon
The guiltiest wretch that lives beneath the skies!

COUNTESS.
O misery! madness!—All my brain's on fire!—

MATILDA.
Let reason speak to check these dangerous transports!

COUNTESS.
Talk down the tempest!—laugh away despair!

YOUNG COUNT.
Thus grov'ling at your feet, I crave for mercy!
Will nothing move!

COUNTESS.
(pointing to his father's body)
Monster!—look there!—look there!

YOUNG COUNT.
Distracting sight! Forgive me! O! forgive!

COUNT OF COLMAR.
How cou'd thy heart be harden'd to inflict
Such dreadful cruelties, on such a father!
Who cou'd excite thee to such impious conduct!

YOUNG COUNT.
The vile Lapont, by long and various arts!
Base as I was to listen to his counsel!—
Wicked as base!—work'd up my soul to all!—

COUNTESS.
“Cruel!—unnatural!—what cou'd work thy heart,
“What arts, what counsel! to such deeds of horror!—
“But he has his meed!—The blood whose tainted spots
“Defile that reverend face, sprang from his heart!
“Old as he was, and dying, yet thy father,
“To save my life, exerted strength to kill him!

YOUNG COUNT.
“Tenfold accurs'd! dar'd he attempt thy life!

COUNTESS.
“Is that a wonder?—Was he not thy tutor?

YOUNG COUNT.
“Alas! he early tempted me to vice!
“Corrupted first, and then controled my mind.
“Intemp'rate riot, and profuse expence,
“Impell'd, at last, my father to reprove.
“Again I err'd; again his sterner voice
“Check'd my career, and threaten'd punishment.
“Impetuous, headstrong, blinded by my passions,
“Lapont, assiduous, fann'd my causeless rage;
“Pictur'd my father as a gloomy tyrant,
“And hinted there were means, wou'd I employ them,
“To give me full possession of his fortune,”
Ere lingering nature clos'd his eyes in peace.

COUNTESS.
And you cou'd listen to the dangerous villain!
Cou'd calmly listen, and not drive him from you
With execrations!—

YOUNG COUNT.
Curs'd infatuation,
That made me yield my soul to such a wretch!
For press'd by urgent debts, and urgent vice,
In an ill hour, I follow'd his base counsel.

COUNTESS.
“O fatal hour!—Finish thy horrid tale!

YOUNG COUNT.
“Feigning remorse to the afflicted Count,
“Restless with sorrow, sorrow for my faults!
“A soporific I administer'd,
“Which simulating death, made all believe,
“All but Lapont and me, my father dead.
“Laid in his coffin, at the dead of night
“We took him thence, and plac'd him in the dungeon,
“Which long disus'd, was only known to us;
“Then fill'd the leaden case with mimic weight,
“And soon interr'd it, with funereal pomp,
“In the same vault where lay his ancestors.—
“By night, when all we thought were fast asleep,
“We us'd to carry him his scanty food,
“Wretch that I was! And thence the tale of ghosts.
“You know the rest.

MATILDA.
“Alas! we know too much!
“Wou'd I had never heard the dreadful tale!

COLMAR.
O! my dear Montval! what a fate was thine!

YOUNG COUNT.
Yet he forgave! you heard how he forgave!

COUNTESS.
(groaning deeply)
Forgave!—But can'st thou ere forgive thyself?

YOUNG COUNT.
Never, while you repulse me! Let me thus—

[Offering to take her hand.]
COUNTESS.
Stand off!—avaunt!—Pollute me; touch me not!
Look at thy parricid'al hands!—
Think of thy parricid'al heart!—
They drop with blood!—with blood!—a father's blood!

YOUNG COUNT.
Oh! one embrace, and I shall die content!—

COUNTESS.
Anguish! distraction! Sooner I'd embrace
Deformity and age, and pestilence!
Rather wou'd clasp, within these wretched arms,
The loathsome leper, livid from the tomb,
Than taint my breast with thy abhorr'd endearments!

YOUNG COUNT.
(Wildly)
Then what is left me?—

COUNTESS.
Shame! remorse! despair!
Fruitless repentance, and a lingering death!

YOUNG COUNT.
(Suddenly stabbing himself)
No! this shall free me from the latter curse

[Falls.
COUNTESS.
Montval! Montval!—O! I have murder'd him!
Murder'd my husband.

[Throwing herself down by him.]
MATILDA.
(Weeping)
“Miserable man!
“O! that my noble friend had never known thee!

MARQUIS.
“He is not dead! Bend him a little forward!”

COUNTESS.
My dearest lord! O yet, if life remains,
O! yet look up and hear me speak forgiveness!
Feel my embrace, and witness my despair!

YOUNG COUNT.
(faintly)
Can you speak thus!—Then I shall die in peace!
Forgive me, thou Great God! all my offences!
Place me, O place me by my father's side!
That I may weep over his clay-cold hand,
And sigh upon it my last breath of life!
[They move him to his father's body, taking whose hand, and fervently kissing it, he says.]
Most injur'd, most rever'd! O! may thy spirit
Plead at th'eternal bar.

[Dies.
COUNTESS.
[Clasping him closely in her arms as they try to raise her.]
Hold off! Hold off! for I will die with him.

[Swoons in Matilda's arms.]
MATILDA.
Heart-rending spectacle! unhappy friend,
Exert your fortitude!

MARQUIS.
She hears you not!
So deadly is the swoon that locks her senses.
Run for some help to move these bodies hence.
[To Teresa.]
Convey the hapless Countess to her chamber,
Where let our tender care and friendship watch her,
Till time shall bring his balm to heal her wounded mind!

The Curtains drops, and the Play ends.