Enter a SERVANT, L. Serv. (L.) One from the court. Lord Hastings (as I think), demands my lady. [Crosses, and exit, R. Alic. (c.) Hastings! Be still, my heart, and try to meet him, With his own arts! with falsehood-But he comes. Lord Hastings, L. speaking without to a Servant. Has. [Enters L.] Dismiss my train, and wait alone without. Alicia here! Unfortunate encounter. But be it as it may. Alic. (c.) When humbly, thus, The great descend to visit the afflicted, When thus, unmindful of their rest, they come Has. (L. c.) "Tis true I would not over-rate a cour- Nor let the coldness of delay hang on it, To nip and blast its favour like a frost; But rather chose, at this late hour, to come, That your fair friend may know I have prevail'd; - The lord protector has receiv'd her suit, And means to show her grace. Alic. My friend! my lord.. Has. Yes, lady, yours; none has a right more ample To task my pow'r than you. Alic. I want the words, To pay you back a compliment so courtly; Has. "Tis well, madam. But I would see your friend. Alic. O, thou false lord! I would be mistress of my heaving heart, Stifle this rising rage, and learn from thee But 'twou'dn't be; my wrongs will tear their way, Has. Are you wise? Have you the use of reason? Do you wake? And ask me what it means? Art thou not false? With love, with truth, and tenderness unutterable! Has. (c.) Are these the proofs of tenderness and love? These endless quarrels, discontents, and jealousies, Alic. (L. c.) What proof, alas! have I not giv'n of love? What have I not abandon'd to thy arms? [Crosses to his R. Has. If you are wise, and prize your peace of mind, Yet take the friendly counsel of my love; Believe me true, nor listen to your jealousy. Let not that devil, which undoes your sex, That cursed curiosity seduce you, To hunt for needless secrets, which, neglected, 4 Shall sit upon your heart, pinch it with pain, Alic. Dost thou in scorn Preach patience to my rage, and bid me tamely thee, Ruin seize And swift perdition overtake thy treachery. Has. (L. C.) Well then, I own my heart has broke your chains. Patient I bore the painful bondage long, At length my gen'rous love disdains your tyranny ; Alic. You triumph! do! and with gigantic pride But perjury, like thine, shall dwell in safety. Has. Whate'er my fate decrees for me hereafter, Be present to me now, my better angel! Preserve me from the storm that threatens now, Let any other kind of plague o'ertake me, So I escape the fury of that tongue. Alic. Thy prayer is heard-I go-[Crosses to L.]— Howe'er thou scorn'st the weakness of my sex, Then, like thy fate, superior will I sit, wildness, What tyranny untam'd it reigns in woman! And love in their weak bosoms is a rage As terrible as hate, and as destructive. [Exit, L. With what But soft ye now-for here comes one, disclaims Enter JANE SHORE, R. Forgive me, fair one, if officious friendship There plead your cause, with never-failing beauty, Jane S. (R. c.) Thus humbly let your lowly servant bend. Thus let me bow my grateful knee to earth, [Kneels. Has. (B. c.) Rise, gentle dame, you wrong my mean ing much, Think me not guilty of a thought so vain, To sell my courtesy for thanks like these. [Raises her. Jane S. 'Tis true, your bounty is beyond my speak ing; But though my mouth be dumb, my heart shall thank you; And when it melts before the throne of mercy, Be kind, my gentle mistress, to my wishes, Has. Why bend thy eyes to earth? Wherefore these looks of heaviness and sorrow? Why breathes that sigh, my love? And wherefore falls Has. Can I behold thee, and not speak of love? Thy softness steals upon my yielding senses, Jane S. Cast round your eyes Upon the high-born beauties of the court; Has. What means this peevish, this fantastic change? Where is thy wonted pleasantness of face, Thy wonted graces, and thy dimpled smiles? Where hast thou lost thy wit and sportive mirth? All tongues, like yours, are licens'd to upbraid me, And treat me like that abject thing I have been. Has. No more of this dull stuff. "Tis time enough To whine and mortify thyself with penance, The present moment claims more gen'rous use; Thy beauty, night and solitude reproach me, For having talk'd thus long :—come, let me press thee, [Lays hold on her. Jane S. Forbear, my lord!-here let me rather die, [Kneels. And end my sorrows and my shame for ever. |