[They surround him, fighting; VILLEROY enters with two servants; they rescue him; CARLOS and his party fly. Vil. How are you, sir? Mortally hurt, I fear. Take care, and lead him in. Bir. I thank you for this goodness, sir; though 'tis Bestowed upon a very wretch; and death, They rack, they tear; let them carve out my limbs, Divide my body to their equal claims! [Going to stab herself, VILLEROY runs in and prevents her, by taking the dagger from her. Vil. Angels defend and save thee! Attempt thy precious life! the treasury Of nature's sweets! life of my little world! Lay violent hands upon thy innocent self! Isa. Swear I am innocent, and I'll believe you. What would you have with me? Pray let me go. Are you there, sir! You are the very man Have done all this-You would have made Me believe you married me; but the fool Was wiser, I thank you: 'tis not all gospel You men preach upon that subject. Vil. Dost thou not know me, love? Isa. O yes: very well. [Staring on him. You are the widow's comforter, that marries Any woman when her husband's out of the way: But I'll never, never take your word again. Vil. I am thy loving husband. Isa. I have none; no husband [Weeping. Never had but one, and he died at Candy! Did he not? I am sure you told me so; you, Or somebody, with just such a lying look, As you have now. Speak, did he not die there? Vil. He did, my life. Isa. But swear it, quickly swear, BIRON enters bloody, and leaning upon his sword. Before that screaming evidence appears, [She, seeing BIRON, swoons in a chair; VILLEROY helps her. Vil. Help there! Nurse, where are you? Ha! I am distracted too! [Going to call for help, sees BIRON. Biron alive! live. Vil. Biron or Villeroy must not, that's decreed. Bir. You saved me from the hands of murderers: Would you had not, for life's my greatest plague! And then, of all the world, you are the man I came to fall before thee: I had died [Kisses her. Vil. A kiss! Confusion! It must be your last. [Draws. Bir. I know it must-Here I give up that death You but delayed: since what is past has been The work of fate, thus we must finish it. Thrust home, be sure. [Faints. Vil. Alas! he faints: some help there! Bir. 'Tis all in vain, my sorrows soon will end. Oh, Villeroy! let a dying wretch entreat you To take this letter to my father. My Isabella! Could'st thou but hear me, my last words should bless thee. [Servants going to raise her. Isa. Never, neverYou have divorced us once, but shall no moreHelp, help me, Biron! Ha! bloody and dead! Oh, murder! murder! you have done this deed; Vengeance and murder! bury us togetherDo any thing but part us. Vil. Gently, gently raise her. She must be forced away. [She drags the body after her: they get her into their arms, and carry her off. Isa. Oh, they tear me! Cut off my handsLet me leave something with him— They'll clasp him fast Oh, cruel, cruel men! This you must answer one day. Vil. Good nurse, take care of her. But I must say that you have murdered him; Bel. Poor Biron! Is this thy welcome home! They're his accomplices, his instruments, Lie nimbly, and swear hard to bring him off.- You were new married-married to his wife; Car. It can be only so. Car. As black as hell. C. Bald. The law will do me justice: send for the magistrate. Car. I'll go myself for him [Erit. Vil. These strong presumptions, I must own, indeed, Are violent against me; but I have [Door opens, and PEDRO is brought forward by VILLEROY'S servants. Here's one can tell you all. Ped. All, all; save me but from the rack, I'll [They see him, and gather about the body. confess all. Vil. I hope in heaven. Car. Canst thou pity! Wish him in Heaven, when thou hast done a deed, That must forever cut thee from the hopes Vil. I do not blame you You have a brother's right to be concerned Car. Untimely death, indeed! Vil. But yet you must not say I was the cause. Car. Not you the cause! Why, who should murder him? We do not ask you to accuse yourself.] Vil. You and your accomplices designed To murder Biron?- -Speak. Bel. Who set you on to act this horrid deed? C. Bald. I'll know the villain; give me quick his name, Or I will tear it from thy bleeding heart! C. Bald. Do then. Ped. It was my master, Carlos, your own son. C. Bald. Oh, monstrous! monstrous! most unnatural! Bel. Did he employ you to murder his own brother? Ped. He did; and he was with us when 'twas done. C. Bald. If this be true, this horrid, horrid tale, It is but just upon me: Biron's wrongs I know too much. [PEDRO goes in. Vil. I had forgot-Your wretched, dying son Gave me this letter for you. [Gives it to BALDWIN. I dare deliver it. It speaks of me, C. Bald. You know the hand. 'SIR, [BELFORD reads the letter. Vil. How!-Did you know it, then? Enter CARLOS, with Officers. Oh, Cros! are you come? Your brother here, Here, in a wretched letter, lays his death To you and me-Have you done any thing To hasten his sad end? Car. Bless me, sir, I do any thing! Who, I? C. Bald. He talks of letters that were sent to us; I never heard of any. Did you know He was alive? Car. Alive! Heaven knows, not I. C. Bald. Had you no news of him, from a report, Or letter, never? Cur. Never, never I. Bel. That's strange, indeed: I know he often writ To lay before you the conditions [To C. BALD, Car. Never from me. Bel. That will appear. The letters, I believe, are still about him; For some of them I saw but yesterday. C. Bald. What did those answers say? Bel. I cannot speak to the particulars; But I remember well, the sum of them Was much the same, and all agreed, That there was nothing to be hoped from you: That 'twas your barbarous resolution To let him perish there. C. Bald. Oh, Carlos! Carlos! hadst thou been a brother Car. This is a plot upon me. I never knew He was in slavery, or was alive, Or heard of him, before this fatal hour. And you sent him word you would come to him. C. Buld. 'Tis all too plain. Bring out that wretch before him. [PEDRO produced. Car. Ha! Pedro there!-Then I am caught indeed! Bel. You start at sight of him; He has confessed the bloody deed. Car. Well, then, he has confessed, And I must answer it. Bel. Is there no more? Car. Why, what would you have more? I know the worst, And I expect it. C. Bald. Why hast thou done all this? Car. Why, that which damns most men has ruined me; The making of my fortune. Biron stood I could not bear a younger brother's lot, C. Buld. 'Tis too true! I never loved thee, as I should have done: Vil. You knew your brother lived; why did you take Such pains to marry me to Isabella? Vil. More than I thought you had. I knew my brother loved his wife so well, Bel. If you relied on that, why did you kill him? Car. To make all sure. Now, you are an swered all. 3 A father cannot find a name for thee. That drives thee out, thou poison of my blood, [CARLOS led off. Grant me, sweet Heaven! the patience to go through The torment of my cure-Here, here begins Enter ISABELLA distracted, held by her Women ; hair dishevelled; her little Son running in before, being afraid of her. Vil. My Isabella! poor unhappy wretch! What can I say to her? Isa. Nothing, nothing; 'tis a babbling worldI'll hear no more on't. When does the court But here's a little flaming cherubimChild. Oh, save me, save me! [Running to Baldwin. Isa. The Mercury of Heaven, with silver wings, Impt for the flight, to overtake his ghost, Child. I fear she'll kill me. C. Bald. She will not hurt thee. [She flings away. Isa. Will nothing do? I did not hope to find Justice on earth; 'tis not in heaven neither. Biron has watched his opportunitySoftly; he steals it from the sleeping gods, And sends it thus[Stabs herself. Vil. She's gone, and all my joys of life with Where are your officers of justice now? C. Bald. Poor wretched orphan of most 'Scaping the storm, thou'rt thrown upon a rock, To perish there. The very rocks would melt, VOL. I. 2 H EPILOGUE. SPOKEN BY MRS VERBRUGGEN. Now tell me, when you saw the lady die, } But time has laugh'd those follies out And sure they'll never gain the approbation Should the opinion of the world be try'd, They'll scarce give judgment on the plaintiff's side; For all must own, 'tis most egregious nonsense, |