Is to discharge thee, Randal, from my hard Rand. Heaven forbid! Shall I forsake you in your worst necessity? O. Wilm. What! canst thou feed on air? Rand. Rather than leave you thus, I'll beg my bread, and live on others' bounty 0. Wilm. Down, down, my swelling heart, Rand. 'Tis true, I'm young, And never try'd my fortune, or my genius, Ó. Wilm. Thou tortur'st me: I hate all obligations Rand. Be not offended, sir, and I will go. I ne'er repin'd at your commands before; But Heaven's my witness, I obey you now, With strong reluctance, and a heavy heart! Farewell, my worthy master! O. Wilm. Farewell!—Stay; [Going. As thou art yet a stranger to the world, Quit books, and the unprofitable search O. Wilm. I never was more serious. Rand. Why should you counsel, what you scorn'd to practise ? O. Wilm. Because that foolish scorn has been my ruin. I've been an idiot, but would have thee wiser, And treat mankind, as they would treat thee, Randal, As they deserve, and I've been treated by them: [After a long Pause. Rand. Amazement ties my tongue. Where are your former principles? O. Wilm. No matter; Suppose I have renounc'd them: I have passions, And love thee still; therefore would have thee think, The world is all a scene of deep deceit. And he, who deals with mankind on the square, Rand. Amazement ! Is this the man I thought so wise and just? [Exit: But pitiful, and generous, to a fault. Becomes the loathsome shelter and abode Where wisdom taught, and music charm'd before. SCENE 11. [Exit. CHARLOTTE'S House. Enter CHARLOTTE and MARIA. Char. What terror and amazement must they feel Who die by shipwreck! Mar. 'Tis a dreadful thought! Char. Ay; is it not, Maria?—To descend, Living, and conscious, to the wat'ry tomb! SONG MARIA. Cease, cease, heart-easing tears. Tears are for lighter woes; Endless despair! Dear cause of all my pain, Though still ador'd. Sav'd from the direst scene [CHARLOTTE finds a Letter. Char. What's this?-A letter superscrib'd to me! None could convey it here, but you, Maria. Ungen'rous, cruel maid! to use me thus ! To join with flatt'ring men, to break my peace, Mar. Why should it break your peace to hear the sighs Of honourable love? This letter is Char. No matter whence: return it back unopen'd: I have no love, no charms, but for my Wilmot, Nor would have any. Mar. Alas! Wilmot's dead; Or, living, dead to you. Char. I'll not despair: Patience shall cherish hope; Nor wrong his honour by unjust suspicion. I know his truth, and will preserve my own. C But, to prevent all future importunity, High Heaven, which heard them, and abhors the perjur'd, Can witness, they were made without reserve: By accident or absence, time or death. Mar. And did your vows oblige you to support His haughty parents, to your utter ruin ? Well may you weep to think on what you've done. Mar. What I can't praise, you force me to admire, Char. So pride would tell me, And vain self-love, but I believe them not : Mar. You have the heavenly art still to improve Your mind by all events-But here comes one, Whose pride seems to increase with her misfortunes. Her faded dress, unfashionably fine, As ill conceals her poverty, as that Strain'd complaisance, her haughty, swelling heart. [Exit MARIA. |