There! yonder underneath the boughs I see Our horses! Conrad. Ay, and the man. Auranthe. Yes, he is there! Go, go,-no blood! no blood!-go, gentle Conrad! Conrad. Farewell! Auranthe. Farewell! For this Heaven pardon you! [Exit AURANTHE. Conrad. If he survive one hour, then may I die In unimagined tortures, or breathe through He dies! 'Tis well she do not advertise The caitiff of the cold steel at his back. [Exit CONRAD. Enter LUDOLPH and Page. Ludolph. Miss'd the way, boy? Say not that on your peril! Page. Indeed, indeed I cannot trace them further. A gnawing-silent-deadly, quiet death! She's gone! To smother up this sound of labouring breath, SCENE II.-Another part of the Forest. Enter ALBERT (wounded). Albert. Oh! for enough life to support me on To Otho's feet! Ludolph. Enter LUDOLPH. Thrice villanous, stay there! Tell me where that detested woman is, Or this is through thee! Albert. My good Prince, with me The sword has done its worst; not without worst Done to another,-Conrad has it home! I see you know it all! Ludolph. Where is his sister? Enter AURANTHE. Auranthe. Albert! Ludolph. Ha! There! there!—He is the paramour! There-hug him-dying! O, thou innocence, Stands with the door ajar to let him in? Albert. O that that door with hollow slam would close Upon me sudden! for I cannot meet, In all the unknown chambers of the dead, Such horrors ! Ludolph. Auranthe what can he mean? What horrors? Is it not a joyous time? "Of personal beauty and untainted soul?" Albert, you do insult my bride-your mistress To talk of horrors on our wedding-night! Albert. Alas! poor Prince, I would you knew my heart! 'Tis not so guilty— Ludolph. Hear, he pleads not guilty! You are not? or, if so, what matters it? eyes Albert. Sometimes the counsel of a dying man Doth operate quietly when his breath is gone: Disjoin those hands-part-part-do not destroy Each other-forget her!—Our miseries Are equal shared, and mercy is Ludolph. A boon When one can compass it. Auranthe, try Your oratory; your breath is not so hitch'd. [ALBERT dies. There goes a spotted soul Howling in vain along the hollow night! Hear him! He calls you-sweet Auranthe, come! Auranthe. Kill me! Ludolph. No! What? Upon our marriage-night? The earth would shudder at so foul a deed! A fair bride! A sweet bride! An innocent bride! No! we must revel it, as 'tis in use In times of delicate brilliant ceremony: Come, let me lead you to our halls again! Nay, linger not; make no resistance, sweet ;— [Exeunt. SCENE III.-An inner Court of the Castle. Enter SIGIFRED, GONFRED, and THEODORE, meeting. 1st Knight. Was ever such a night? Sigifred. What horrors more? Things unbelieved one hour, so strange they are, The next hour stamps with credit. 1st Knight. Your last news? |