Sus. Why, shall I go along with thee? sweet music! Frank. No, to a better place. I'm there at home, where thou pleasest to have me. Frank. At home? I'll leave you in your last lodging; you. I must kill Sus. Oh fine! you'd fright me from you. Frank. You see I had no purpose; I'm un arm'd; 'Tis this minute's decree, and it must be ; Look, this will serve your turn. Sus. I'll not turn from it, [Draws a knife. If you be earnest, sir; yet you may tell me, Frank. Because you are a strumpet. Sus. There's one deep wound already: a strumpet! 'Twas ever farther from me than the thought Of this black hour; a strumpet? Frank. Yes, I will prove it, And you shall confess it. You are No wife of mine; the word admits no second. 'Tis all mine own: your marriage was my theft; Sus. And I deserve it; I'm glad my fate was so intelligent : 'Twas some good spirit's motion. Die? oh, 'twas time! How many years might I have slept in sin, For I meant never to return to you Sus. Why then I thank you more; That you would thus bestow me on another.' A crystal virgin to thee: my soul's purity Frank. Not yet mortal? I would not linger you, Or leave you a tongue to blab. [Stabs her again. Sus. Now heaven reward you ne'er the worse for me! I did not think that death had been so sweet, Nor I so apt to love him. better, I could ne'er die Had I stay'd forty years for preparation; Let me for once be thine example, heaven; And may he better die, and better live! [Dies. Frank. 'Tis done; and I am in! once past our height, We scorn the deep'st abyss. This follows now, To heal her wounds by dressing of the weapon.* Arms, thighs, hands, any place; we must not fail [Wounds himself. Light scratches, giving such deep ones the best I can To bind myself to this tree. Now's the storm, Which, if blown o'er, many fair days may follow. So, so! I'm fast; I did not think I could and How prosperous Effectual mischief sometimes is!-[Aloud.]-Help! Enter CARTER and Old THORNEY. Car. Ha! whom tolls the bell for? Thor. Ah me! The cause appears too soon; my child, my son. Car. Susan, girl, child! not speak to thy father? ha! Frank. Oh lend me some assistance to o'ertake This hapless woman. Thor. Let's o'ertake the murderers. Speak whilst thou canst, anon may be too late; *This follows now, To heal her wounds by dressing of the weapon.] The allusion to this silly superstition is vilely out of place, and shows Frank to be (what indeed the whole of his previous conduct confirms) a brutal unfeeling villain.-GIFFORD. Frank. I know them both; yet such an oath is pass'd, As pulls damnation up if it be broke; I dare not name 'em: think what forced men do. Thor. Keep oath with murderers! that were a conscience To hold the devil in. Frank. Nay, sir, I can describe 'em, Warbeck!-do you list to this, sir? Car. Yes, yes, I listen you; here's nothing to be heard. Frank. The other's cloak* branch'd velvet, black, velvet lined his suit. Thor. I have them already; Somerton, Somer ton! Binal revenge, all this. Come, sir, the first work Is to pursue the murderers, when we have Remov'd these mangled bodies hence. Car. Sir, take that carcase there, and give me this. I will not own her now; she's none of mine. *The other's cloak branch'd velvet,] i. e. with tufts, or tassels, dependent from the shoulders; somewhat like the gowns worn at present by vergers, beadles, &c.-GIFFORD. Thor. Alas! what grief may do now! Look, sir, I'll take this load of sorrow with me. [Exit, with SUSAN in his arms. How do you, Car. Ay, do, and I'll have this. sir? I think so; but 'tis well you can speak yet; SCENE III.-Before Sir ARTHUR'S House. Enter Sir ARTHUR CLARINGTON, WARBECK, and SOMERTON. Sir Ar. Come, gentlemen, we must all help to grace The nimble-footed youth of Edmonton, That are so kind to call us up to-day With an high Morrice. Som. I could rather sleep than see them. Sir Ar. Not well, sir? Som. Faith not ever thus leaden; yet I know no cause for't. War. Now am I, beyond mine own condition, highly disposed to mirth. Sir Ar. Well, you may have a morrice to help both; To strike you in a dump, and make him merry. |