Car. Young Frank is going the wrong way.Alas, poor youth! now I begin to pity him.

Enter Old THORNEY and WINNIFREDE, weeping. Thor. Here let our sorrows wait him; to press

nearer

The place of his sad death, some apprehensions
May tempt our grief too much, at height already;—
Daughter, be comforted.

Win. Comfort and I

Are too far separated to be join'd
But in eternity; I share too much
Of him that 's going thither.
Thor. Daughter, grieve not
For what necessity forceth;

Rather resolve to conquer it with patience.
Alas, she faints!

Win. My griefs are strong upon me;

My weakness scarce can bear them.

[A great cry within.]-Away with her! Hang her, witch!

Enter to execution Mother SAWYER; Officers with halberts, followed by a crowd of country people.

Car. The witch, that instrument of mischief! Did not she witch the devil into my son-in-law, when he kill'd my poor daughter? Do you hear, mother Sawyer?

Saw. What would you have?

Cannot a poor old woman have your leave
To die without vexation?

Car. Did not you bewitch Frank, to kill his wife?
He could never have done 't without the devil.
Saw. Who doubts it? but is every devil mine?
Would I had one now whom I might command
To tear you all in pieces! Tom would have done 't,
Before he left me.

Car. Thou didst bewitch Ann Ratcliffe to kill herself.

Saw. Churl, thou liest; I never did her hurt: would you were all as near your ends as I am, that gave evidence against me for it!

Coun. I'll be sworn, master Carter, she bewitch'd Gammer Washbowl's sow to cast her pigs a day before she would have farrowed: yet they were sent up to London, and sold for as good Westminster dogpigs, at Bartholomew fair, as ever ale-wife longed for. Saw. These dogs will mad me; I was well resolv'd To die in my repentance. Though 't is true

I would live longer if I might, yet since

I cannot, pray torment me not; my conscience
Is settled as it shall be: all take heed

How they believe the Devil; at last he'll cheat you.
Car. Thou'dst best confess all truly.

Saw. Yet again?

Have I scarce breath enough to say my prayers, And would you force me to spend that in bawling? Bear witness, I repent all former evil;

There is no damned conjurer like the Devil.

All. Away with her, away!

[She is led off.

Enter FRANK to execution, Officers, &c.

Thor. Here's the sad object which I yet must meet With hope of comfort, if a repentant end

Make him more happy than misfortune would
Suffer him here to be.

Frank. Good sirs, turn from me;

You will revive affliction almost kill'd

With my continual sorrow.

Thor. Oh, Frank, Frank;

Would I had sunk in mine own wants, or died
But one bare minute ere thy fault was acted!
Frank. To look upon your sorrows executes me
Before my execution.

Win. Let me pray you, sir

Frank. Thou much-wrong'd woman, I must sigh for thee,

As he that's only loath to leave the world,

For that he leaves thee in it unprovided,
Unfriended; and for me to beg a pity
From any man to thee when I am gone,
Is more than I can hope; nor, to say truth,
Have I deserv'd it: but there is a payment
Belongs to goodness from the great Exchequer
Above; it will not fail thee, Winnifrede;
Be that thy comfort.

Thor. Let it be thine too,
Untimely lost young man!
Frank. He is not lost,

Who bears his peace within him: had I spun
My web of life out at full length, and dream'd
Away my many years in lusts, in surfeits,
Murthers of reputations, gallant sins
Commended or approved; then, though I had
Died easily, as great and rich men do,
Upon my own bed, not compell'd by justice,

You might have mourn'd for me indeed; my miseries
Had been as everlasting as remediless:

But now the law hath not arraign'd, condemn'd
With greater rigour my unhappy fact,

Than I myself have every little sin

My memory can reckon from my childhood:
A court hath been kept here, where I am found
Guilty; the difference is, my impartial judge

Is much more gracious than my faults are mon

strous.

Thor. Here's comfort in this penitence.
Win. It speaks

How truly you are reconciled, and quickens

My dying comfort, that was near expiring

With my last breath: now this repentance makes thee

As white as innocence; and my first sin with thee,
Since which I knew none like it, by my sorrow
Is clearly cancell'd. Might our souls together
Climb to the height of their eternity,

And there enjoy what earth denied us, happiness!

But since I must survive, and be the monument
Of thy loved memory, I will preserve it
With a religious care, and pay thy ashes

A widow's duty, calling that end best

Which, though it stain the name, makes the soul blest. Frank. Give me thy hand, poor woman; do not

weep:

Farewell! thou dost forgive me?

Win. 'Tis my part

To use that language.

Frank. Oh! that my example

Might teach the world hereafter what a curse
Hangs on their heads, who rather choose to marry
A goodly portion than a dower of virtues!-
Are you there, gentlemen? there is not one
Among you whom I have not wrong'd; you most ;-
[TO CARTER.
I robb'd you of a daughter;—but she is
In heaven; and I must suffer for it willingly.

Car. Ay, ay, she's in heaven, and I am glad to see thee so well prepared to follow her. I forgive thee with all my heart; if thou hadst not had ill counsel, thou wouldst not have done as thou didst; the more shame for them!

Som. Spare your excuse to me, I do conceive What you would speak! I would you could as easily

Make satisfaction to the law, as to

My wrongs: I am sorry for you.

War. And so am I,

And heartily forgive you.

Kath. I will pray for you,

For her sake, who, I'm sure, did love you dearly.
Sir Ar. Let us part friendly too; I am asham'd

Of my part in thy wrongs.

Frank. You are all merciful,

And send me to my grave in peace. Sir Arthur, Heaven send you a new heart!-lastly, to you, sir; And though I have deserv'd not to be call'd

[Kneels.

Your son, yet give me leave, upon my knees,

To beg a blessing.

Thor. Take it: let me wet

Thy cheeks with the last tears my griefs have left me. O Frank, Frank, Frank!

Frank. Let me beseech you, gentlemen, To comfort my old father, keep him with you; Love this distressed widow; and as often As you remember what a graceless man I was, remember likewise that these are Both free, both worthy of a better fate, Than such a son or husband as I have been. All help me with your prayers. On, on; 't is just That law should purge the guilt of blood and lust. [He is led off by the Officers.

Car. Go thy ways; I did not think to have shed one tear for thee, but thou hast made me water my plants spite of my heart. Master Thorney, cheer up, man; while I can stand by you, you shall not want help to keep you from falling: we have lost our children both on's the wrong way, but we cannot help it; better or worse, 't is now as 't is.

Thor. I thank you, sir; you are more kind than I Have cause to hope or look for.

Car. Master Somerton, is Kate yours or no?
Som. We are agreed.

Kath. And but my faith is pass'd, I should fear to be married, husbands are so cruelly unkind. Excuse me that I am troubled.

Som. Thou shalt have no cause.

Just. Take comfort, mistress Winnifrede. Sir
Arthur,

For his abuse to you and to your husband,
Is by the bench enjoin'd to pay you down
A thousand marks.

Sir Ar. Which I will soon' discharge.

1 The character of Sir Arthur Clarington is sustained, as Mr. Gifford observes, with care and ability. Terrified, but not reclaimed from his profligacy, by the law, he is every where equally odious; and ends the same mean, heartless, avaricious wretch he showed himself at first.