University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

Rocky and mountainous View opening to an expanse of Ocean—an entrance to a Cavern on one side of the stage, and a ruined Cottage on the other —the Moon clouded.
Enter Mandeville, Fitzhugh, and Robbers, the former appears, occasionally, to feel compunction; but, informed by Strongbow that Horatio and his Companion approach, summons up resolution.
RECITATIVE—FITZHUGH.
I'll watch around, and, safely screen'd from harm,
Will give you early notice of alarm!

Exit.
Mandeville, &c. conceal themselves; and Horatio and Surge joyfully enter, the latter as having just received a purse of dollars as a present from his Captain.
RECITATIVE—SURGE.
Thanks, ten fold thanks, your honour; this shall prove
A wedding gift to the dear girl I love!
We've bang'd the Mounseers, damme, as we ought,
And this Cape cleared, will soon regain our Port!
Your honour's Bride, and Al'ce, I dares maintain!
Think Minutes Hours 'till we salute again!

Horatio kisses the Miniature of his Bride, given him by Zaluch—Mandeville and Assassins steal from their places of concealment with swords drawn, and assail their unprepared victims—a desperate fight ensues, in which Horatio is wounded, and his Scarf torn from him half crimsoned with blood—Surge drives off the Banditti, and, during a hard struggle between Horatio and Mandeville, the Moon suddenly bursting forth, discovers to Horatio his False Friend as his assailant—the agitation of both is excessive—Mandeville shudders, but perceiving the Miniature of Julia pendant from the neck of his rival, seizes it, tells him 'tis for the love of her he has undertaken his murder, and, tearing it from his bosom, more desperately attacks him; almost fainting with loss of blood, Horatio is disarmed, and Strongbow and Fitzhugh returning, no means of his escape appears left—he is driven up the precipice pursued by his cruel and malignant rival, who, deaf to his last appeal, dashes him from the promontory into the Ocean; and the voice of Surge being heard without, the assassins hurry, alarmed, to their hiding places—Surge enters with his cutlas very bloody, and his face and hands sprinkled with gore.
RECITATIVE—SURGE.
Thank Heaven! of one of them I've made a wreck!
But where's my Captain—Friend—Commander—speak?
(Hallooing loud, and pacing across the Stage in agony.)
They've borne him off—your honour—we'll ne'er part!
Yeo! ho! a hoy! (whistles.)

Answer your honour?—or you'll break my heart!

Exit distractedly.
Re-enter Mandeville with the Assassins.
RECITATIVE—FITZHUGH.
Make haste—disguise yourselves—anear this spot he'll roam!
'Gainst him we'll strive to bring the murder home.
Or we may suffer—give to knavery souls!
(Alarm bell heard.)
For us, or him, yon solemn Death Bell tolls!

Exeunt much agitated.
Enter, after a Pause, ZALUCH.
RECITATIVE—ZALUCH.
Vat ails me! I ca'n't tink!—so sad I'm grown,
As if, for all de vorld, dat Stocks vere down!
Vell, be it so! for all dat I can say—
Lame Ducks vill vaddle out on settling day!
(Sees blood on the Stage.)
Bless my heart! blood! dat's vorse dan de whole tote!
I near vas robb'd, and now dey'll cut my troat!
My conscience! more and more! dear! dear a me!
Some One dey've kill'd, and trown into de Sea!

(Follows the track of blood 'till he is gradually obscured by the rocks, &c.)
Re-enter, wildly, SURGE.
RECITATIVE.
Surge.
In vain I chase him!—no where to be found!
They've borne him off!—conjecture e'en's aground!

Mandeville, Fitzhugh, and Strongbow enter, the former in long cloaks, the latter compleatly disguised, appear listening, attended by Officers and Soldiers with torches, but, who, approaching slowly, and on the listen, conceal them in their caps—during this Surge perceives and takes up his Captain's bloody scarf.
RECITATIVE.
Fitz.
Mark! mark! his words! his guilty looks explore.

Surge.
Oh! how shall I e'er face ma'am Julia more!
I! that to guard him, for her sake did swear!
She'll look upon me as his murderer!
This scarf she gave him!—the thought splits my brain!
I never can see home or her again!
Oh Alice! never more shall I taste ease!

Fitz.
Yonder's your Prisoner! the vile monster seize.

CHORUS.
His trembling limbs, his pallid cheek,
His glaring eye-balls guilty lower!
The ruffian Murderer bespeak!
With hands still reeking, red with gore!

They force him off.