In low, but earnest converse. Thee they nam'd: And I could hear the latter, whilst he said,

A dagger is the best. With honest smiles, • And fair-instructed speech you must essay him. ( Thy peace and fortunes on this feat depend.' Lord Sal. I thank thee for this warning; and ere long Shall recompense thy love.

Mor. Had I the power

To serve thee, as the will, thou should'st not wear Those marks of shame

Countess !

But oh! the unhappy

Lord Sal. What, what of her?

Mor. Alas! to think the pangs

She feels this moment, torn as she hath been
By rude barbarians from her lord and son.

Lord Sal. But is she safe? Hath not dishonour

reach'd her?

Mor. Oh may she never know dishonour!-Yet

Lord Raymond

Lord Sal. Perish the detested name

For ever! for it makes my blood outcourse

The wholesome speed of nature.

Mor. It is true,

He holds her in his power

Lord Sal. He does, he does:

And I do live to know it!

Mor. But I trust

He will not use that power-Farewell, my lord;
I will away, and gather all I can

Of their condition.

Lord Sal. Thou shalt win my love.

See, see my wife, oh! see her if thou can'st:
Speak comfort to her. Say the only pangs I feel
Are for her safety. Bid her hope for timely aid;
But to remember still, the virtuous mind
Will welcome death itself before dishonour.
Mor. To see her, is a task I fear will foil

My utmost; but no art shall be untried. [Exit Mor. Lord Sal. Is there no way to freedom?-Oh my

friends!

My friends! Haste, Ardolf, haste to my revenge.
Ler. Thy fierce impatience, thy untoward will
It is, my lord, that hath betray'd our safeties.
To Ardolf deaf, thou would'st not wait his succours;
Deaf too to me, thou would'st approach the castle.

Lord Sal. Fear not: this stranger, like Heav'n's

brighter star,

Hath risen propitious-Heav'ns! but what of that?
My wife !-perhaps even now within the gripe
Of fell incontinence she struggles -Beware

That thought-down, down, or I shall rage to mad

ness.

Ler. My lord, he would not

Lord Sal. Hark !—

Ler. He would not, dare not, sure: or if he dare, Her inborn dignity, her virtue

Lord Sal. Peace!

Lady Sal. Hold off your brutal hands!

[From without.

Lord Sal. 'Tis she! 'tis she!

The slave assails her-Let me forth

Slaves! murderers! instant let me forth, or I-
Lady Sal. Hast thou no touch of pity?

Lord Sal. Horror! horror!

Out hair out by the roots! nor let a grain
Be left to tell there grew such honours there.
Lady Sal. O, my lord! my lord!

Lord Sal. By Heav'n I will not be restrained-
[Ler. strives to stay him.
Nor all your bolts, nor barriers, all the powers
Of hell united shall withhold me from her

Ler. Preserve him, Heaven! I fear Some act of horrid import-Oh! she comes ! Wild, wild as the rough ocean vex'd with storms. [Bursts forth.

Enter LADY SALISBURY, ELEANOR, and MORTON, Lady Sal. I will have vengeance. Such an outrage-No,

I will not weep. They think I have no means: 'Tis false: I will resume a spirit.

Ele. Alas alas!

Lady Sal. I had a son: sweet William !-thou hast heard

Him prattle: there was music on his tongue.

Ele. Can Heav'n behold such crimes, and not awake It's thunders?

Lady Sal. Weep'st thou ? I can weep myself;

I have some cause-- He is my husband-wh
-who
Will part us?-Cold, cold, cold. The rains beat sore,
And the winds make a noise; 'tis a rough night;
No little star to guide his darkling steps-

The Heavens do rain down pity for me.

Ele. Rave

Not thus, dear lady; oh! be comforted.

Lady Sal. Yes, yes; I know: these trifles have disturb'd me.

The bird is rifled.

Poor flutterer! oh! it was nought to spoil
Her of her little hope- Did'st thou not see
Her valiant mate, how fierce he shook his plumes,
And peck'd at them? Did he not ?- -He had sav'd
His mistress from the spoilers, but they snar'd him.
Lord Sal. [Entering.] Where is the slave? I will
not brook delay.

Lady Sal. He's come! he's come-)
-Now ruffians,
I have found

Him, we will die together ere you part us.

Lord Sal. Hell! what are your blackest horrors to this?

Lady Sal. We will have justice--Bury Grey alive. Lord Sal. She's lost!

Lady Sal. Say you!-Put Raymond to the torture, Lord Sal. I will tear him joint by joint.

Lady Sal. But they will part us—————

They come-You shall not-no; no power on earth Shall force me-Now they pull-Hold, hold, my lord--Yet closer-now, now, now.

Lord Sal. My wife, my Ela!

Lost as thou art, oh! do not leave me.

Mor. Distressful sight! Oh, most inhuman Grey! Ele. Nature, my lord, unequal to the conflict,

Has for a space retir'd within herself;

But shortly to return. This interval
Of death-like quiet will, I trust, recall
Her safer senses- -She revives.
Lady Sal. But this is strange-

Ele. My lord,

Speak to her; sooth her, and she will be calm.
Lord Sal. Speak to her, sooth her—what have I
with her? with thee?

Oh agonizing hour! Had I but perish'd
In the safe wave that buried my lov'd friends,
It had been well-'Twas cruelty to save me.
Lady Sal. Am I indeed awake?-Let me stand up-
What is the matter?

Lord Sal. My poor, injur'd wife!

Lady Sal. Nay, but inform me, I am overdoubtful; I would believe, I know-if what I now

Behold, be not a dream, you are my husband?
Lord Sal. The wretch that was so call'd.

Lady Sal Alack! alack!

Sure I have been afflicted sore-My lord!
My life-why dost thou start from me? Oh take
Me to thy arms, for I have need of comfort!

Lord Sal. Art thou not undone ?

Lady Sal. Indeed I have wept.

Lord Sal. Lost, stain'd, dishonour'd by a villain ?