Then, I'll ease all at once.-[Aside.]—'T is done

now;

What I ne'er thought on.-You shall not go back. Sus. Why, shall I go along with thee? sweet music!

Frank. No, to a better place.

Sus. Any place I;

I'm there at home, where thou pleasest to have me. Frank. At home! I'll leave you in your last lodging;

I must kill you.

Sus. Oh fine! you'd fright me from you.

Frank. You see I had no purpose; I'm unarm'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,
Wherefore you'll kill me.

Frank. Because you are a strumpet.

Sus. There's one deep wound already: a strumpet! "T was ever further 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.
I was before wedded to another; have her still.

I do not lay the sin unto your charge,

"T is all mine own: your marriage was my theft; For I espoused your dowry, and I have it:

I did not purpose to have added murder,

The Devil did not prompt me till this minute:
You might have safe return'd; now you cannot.
You have dogg'd your own death.

Sus. And I deserve it;

I'm glad my fate was so intelligent:

[Stabs her.

'T was some good spirit's motion. Die? oh, 't was

time!

How many years might I have slept in sin,
The sin of my most hatred, too, adultery!

Frank. Nay, sure 't was likely that the most was

past;

For I meant never to return to you

After this parting.

Sus. Why then I thank you more;

You have done lovingly, leaving yourself
That you would thus bestow me on another.
Thou art my husband, Death, and I embrace thee
With all the love I have. Forget the stain
Of my unwitting sin; and then I come

A crystal virgin to thee; my soul's purity
Shall, with bold wings, ascend the door of Mercy;
For Innocence is ever her companion.

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. I could ne'er die better,
Had I staid forty years for preparation;

For I'm in charity with all the world.

Let me for once be thine example, Heaven;
Do to this man, as I him free forgive,
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. [Binds himself to a tree; the Doc ties him behind, and exit.

1 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.

How prosperous and

So, so! I'm fast; I did not think I could

Have done so well behind me.

Effectual mischief sometimes is!-[Aloud.]-Help!

help!

Murder, murder, murder!

Enter CARTER and Old THORNEY.

Car. Ha! whom tolls the bell for?
Frank. Oh, oh!

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 while thou canst, anon may be too late;
I fear thou hast death's mark upon thee too.
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,
Shall show them as familiar as their names;
The taller of the two at this time wears

His satin doublet white, but crimson lined;
Hose of black satin, cloak of scarlet-

Thor. Warbeck,

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.

1 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.

VOL. II.-17

Thor. I have them already; Somerton, Somerton! 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 carcass there, and give me this.

I will not own her now; she's none of mine.
Bob me off with a dumb show! no, I'll have life.
This is my son, too, and while there 's life in him.
"Tis half mine; take you half that silence for 't.-
When I speak I look to be spoken to:

Forgetful slut!

Thor. Alas! what grief may do now!
Look, sir, I'll take this load of sorrow with me.

[Exit with SUSAN in his arms. Car. Ay, do, and I'll have this. How do you, sir? Frank. O, very ill, sir.

Car. Yes,

I think so; but 't is well you can speak yet;
There's no music but in sound; sound it must be.
I have not wept these twenty years before,
And that I guess was ere that girl was born;
Yet now methinks, if I but knew the way,
My heart's so full, I could weep night and day.
[Exit with FRank.

SCENE IV.

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 a high morris.

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 morris to help both; To strike you in a dump, and make him merry. Enter SAWGUT, the fiddler, with the morris-dancers, &c.

Saw. Come, will you set yourselves in morrisray? the fore-bell, second-bell, tenor, and great-bell; Maid Marian for the same bell. But where's the weathercock now? the hobby-horse?

1 Cl. Is not Banks come yet? What a spite 't is ! Sir Ar. When set you forward, gentlemen?

1 Cl. We stay but for the hobby-horse, sir; all our footmen are ready.

Som. 'Tis marvel your horse should be behind your foot.

2 Cl. Yes, sir, he goes farther about; we can come in at the wicket, but the broad gate must be opened for him.

Enter CUDDY BANKS, with the hobby-horse, followed by DoG.

Sir Ar. Oh, we staid for you, sir.

Cud. Only my horse wanted a shoe, sir; but we shall make you amends ere we part.

Sir Ar. Ay? well said; make 'em drink ere they begin.

Enter Servants with beer.

Cud. A bowl, I prithee, and a liitle for my horse; he'll mount the better. Nay, give me, I must drink to him, he'll not pledge else.-[Drinks.]-Here, Hobby,-[holds the bowl to the hobby-horse.]-I pray you: no? not drink! You see, gentlemen, we can but bring our horse to the water; he may choose whether he 'll drink or no. [Drinks again.