Enter BERTRAM from one of the doors of the prifon. I think thou haft the air of an old foldier:

(To Bertram as he is hurrying past him.) Such, without greeting, never pafs me by. Ha, Bertram! is it thee?

BERTRAM.

What, mine old General?

HARDIBRAND.

Yes, and mine old foldier.

How doft thou, man? how has it far'd with thee Since thou haft left the fervice?

BERTRAM.

I thank your honour; much as others find it; I have no cause to grumble at my lot.

.

HARDIBRAND.

'Tis well, but what's the matter with thee now? Thine eyes are red with weeping, and thy face

Looks ruefully.

BERTRAM.

I've been to vifit, here, a noble youth,

Who is condemn'd to die.

A noble youth!

HARDIBRAND.

F +

Shame on it! were he twenty times condemn'd,
He's innocent as are these filver'd locks.

(Laying his hand vehemently on his head.)

Ha! fon to my old comrade, Rayner !
Out on the fools! I would as foon believe
That this right hand of mine had pilfer'd gold

As Rayner's fon have done a deed of fhame.
Come, lead me back with thee, for I muft fee him.

BERTRAM.

Heav'n bless your honour! O, if by your means
He might have grace!

HARDIBRAND.

Come, let us go to him.

BERTRAM.

Not now, an' please you: he is now engaged With one moft dear to him. But an hour hence I will conduct you to his cell.

HARDIBRAND.

So be it.

Mean time, stay thou with me, and tell me more
Of this unhappy youth: I have a mind,
With the good keeper's leave, to view the prison.

(Exeunt.

Enter MIRA and ALICE by oppofite fides, both muffled up in cloaks and their faces conceal' d.)

MIRA (Stopping Alice).

Nay, glide not paft me thus with muffled face: 'Tis I, a vifitor to thefe grim walls,

On the fame errand with thyfelf. How goes it With our enthralled colleague? doth he promise Silence to keep in that which touches us

Of this tranfaction, for the which he's bound?

ALICE.

He is but half perfuaded; go thyfelf And ufe thy arts-hufh, here's a ftranger near us. Enter a Man who gives a letter myfteriously to

Mira, and upon her making a fign to him, retires to the bottom of the fiage whilft fhe reads it.

What read'st thou there, I pray thee, that thy brows Knit thus ungraciously at ev'ry line?

MIRA.

Know'st thou that I must doff my filken robes,
Defpoil my hair of its fair ornaments,

And clothe me in a govn of palmer's grey,
With clouted fhoon and pilgrim's ftaff in hand
To bear me o'er rude glens and dreary waftes
To share a tony couch and empty board,
All for the proving of my right true love
For one in great diftrefs. Ha! ha! ha! ha!
So doth this letter modeftly request:

ALICE (reading the letter).

"A deadly wound rankles in my fide, and I have no fkilful hand to drefs it, and no kind friend to comfort me. I am laid upon the cold earth, and feel many wants I never knew before. If thou haft any love for me, and as thou haft often wifh'd to prove that love, come to me quickly: but conceal thyfelf in the coarfe weeds of a Pilgrim; my life is a forfeit to the law if any one fhould discover where

I am. A friend in disguise will give into thy hands this letter, and conduct thee to thy miferable Zaterloo." (returning the letter.) And what fay'st thou to this?

MIRA.

I have in truth, upon my hands already Troubles enough; this is, thou know'ft, no time To take upon me ruin'd men's diftreffes.

ALICE.

But 'tis thyself haft brought this ruin on him; 'Twas thy extravagance.

MIRA.

Thou art a fool!

His life's a forfeit to the law: 'tis time,
Good time, in faith! I fhould have done with him.
Why doft thou bend the'e frowning looks on me?
How many in my place would for the recompence
Betray him to the officers of juftice?

But I, thou know'st right well, detest all baseness,
Therefore I will not.

ALICE.

Hufh, hush! thou fpeak'ft too loud:

Some one approaches.

Enter COUNTESS ZATERLOO.

COUNTESS ZATERLOO (to Mira).

I pray you, Madam, pardon this intrusion; Tracing your steps, I have made bold to follow you.