The shaft was sped that dashed him to the earth!
'Twas winged by Fate! "Tis here! I cannot shrink
From the appalling sense that it is real!

This throbbing brain, this sick and riven heart,
These shudders, that convulse my very soul,
Confirm the dreadful truth. But oh, to think
Of all the wretchedness 'twill bring on her,
Her, whose glad tones and joy-bestowing beauty
Seemed doubly glad and beautiful to-day;
Whose little plans of happiness-

Great Heavens !

It will affright her reason-drive her mad!
It must not be !

And yet, my father wronged,

Insulted by a blow-the proud old man,

Who fourscore years has kept his fame unblurred,
Now to be so disgraced, and no redress!

My honour calls. It drowns all other cries;

Love's shrieking woe, and Mercy's pleading voice!
Thus, thus I cast them off-poor suppliants;

And now, Gonzalez, for revenge and thee!

[Exit.

VELASCO challenges GONZALEZ, and slays him. IZIDORA refuses to marry the Murderer of her Father; but, constrained by the commands of the King, she at length consents to wed VELASCO. JULIO, her Brother, indignant at her compliance, determines to poison VELASCO at the Nuptial Feast.

The Royal Banquet-Room.—A banqueting table, superbly set out with vessels of wine, goblets, &c.—Enter JULIO through the folding doors.

Julio. How like a cautious, trembling, guilty thing,
I glide with stealthy paces towards my purpose!
Can that be good, of which the outward signs

Are the thief's posture and the coward's tread ?
Away, reflection! 'Tis too late to waver
When half the crime is in th' intent committed.

Decision gives a virtue even to vice,

And gilds its black deformity.

Oh, think

Of all the fierce incentives to the act!

Quick, or the occasion's gone!

[He advances rapidly towards the table-hesitates as he is about to poison the goblet, and finally, recoiling from the undertaking, rushes to the front of the Stage.

Was I struck blind?

Ere I could do the deed, a shadow fell
On all around me; and the flashing board
Changed to funereal blackness! Indistinct
Was every object to my blasted sight;

And the gemmed goblet faded, and the floor
Sank in and reeled like the sea's undulations!
I'll not renew the attempt.

[A burst of sprightly music is heard from a distance.
Ah, they approach!

With dulcimer and cymbal, they approach.

Ghost of my slaughtered father! now transfuse
Into this frame thy immaterial essence!
Nerve the obedient muscles of mine arm,

And be thine own avenger!

[He again approaches the goblet, and with a steady hand infuses the poison. Just as he is turning from the perpetration of the deed, CARLOS and IziDORA appear at the door in the background. The former, after a significant gesture, withdraws; and the latter comes forward unperceived by JULIO, and

lays her hand upon him, which causes him to start with terror.

It is done!

Izidora. What hast thou done?

Jul. Sister! what have I done?

Izi. Ay; there is no evasion; for I know
What thou hast done. Art thou my brother, Julio?
Undo thy foul attempt! undo it quickly,

Or, by my hopes of heaven, I will proclaim it!
Jul. Hold! 'tis my turn to be obdurate now.
Dare to reveal it, and the lightning's flash

Is not more nimble than this steel shall be

To make my vengeance certain. Hush! they come.
Izi. My brother! do not-I will-stop these—
Ful. Hush!

[He supports her. Enter, to music, King Ferdinand, with VELASCO, followed by DE LERMA, FAVILLO, CARLOS, Ladies, Knights, and Banner-bearers, who form in the background.

Fer. Julio! thy prompt compliance claims our thanks. In that pledge,

I bring to thee a brother.

Which is the sacred symbol of forgiveness,

Greet ye each other first.

Then, trumpets, sound!

And let us all hail the propitious union

In flowing cups.

Jul. My liege, my heart goes with it :And I will play the Ganymede myself.

[He leaves IZIDOra, who stands motionless and unconscious, but gradually revives as VELASCO speaks. JULIO fills two goblets, and hands the poisoned one to VELASCO, who replaces it on the board so abruptly as to excite JULIO's apprehensions lest he is aware of the treachery. But VELASCO advances and frankly offers him his hand.

Vel. Julio! thy hand! Thou makest me, by this act, Bankrupt in gratitude. I slew thy father— My honour forced me, while my heart revolted! I will requite thee with a brother's kindness, Cherish thy sister with a parent's care,

And with a lover's duty.—To our union!

[AS VELASCO lifts the goblet, IZIDORA utters a faint exclamation, which arrests his hand.

Jul. [Aside to IZIDORA.] Beware!

Vel. What says the bride?

Jul. 'Twas naught—the joy—

The transport.-Come! our union!

Izi. [Seizing the goblet from VELASCO.] Give it me. [Trembling she returns the goblet to the cup-bearer. Vel. What wouldst thou, Izidora ?

Izi. Taste it not.

Thou wouldst not quaff before the bride has sipped?
Jul. I'll not be thwarted by thee.

Fer. Ah! Prevent him.

Jul. My father aims the blow! It is Gonzalez ! [AS IZIDORA springs to meet VELASCO, he falls at her feet. Izi. [Bending over him.] O fatal treason! terrible revenge!

Vel. Thy love supports me—and thy arm enfolds me— My ebbing sight heaves its last glance on thee;Thus dying, death is grateful. Oh, farewell!

[Dies.

Izi. Are ye all speechless? I should be, were't not

I know that I full soon shall follow him.

Faint-very faint!

[Seizes the poisoned goblet. [Drains it.

Here's that which shall revive me!

Jul. It is the poisoned goblet!

Izi. Not a drop

Remains for thee.

[Gazing upon Velasco.

Alas, my only love!

The brave, the glorious, and the beautiful!

In death we are united-never more

To part! The expiation is complete.

[She sinks gradually from the arms of her Brother towards VELASCO, and dies.

Cornelius Mathews.

WITCHCRAFT:

A

TRAGEDY.

Ambla Bodish, a Resident of Salem, during the Persecution for Witchcraft in that Town, at the end of the Seventeenth Century, from her eccentric Habits, becomes one of the "Suspected."

SCENE - AMBLA'S Cottage, in Salem.

AMBLA BODISH, GIDEON (her Son).

Ambla. What! Gideon!—returned so soon, and sad? Gideon. O mother! the fields are, somehow, very dark To-day, and I came back, because I had not heart

To wander far away from you.

Amb. Come hither to my heart, my son.

Gid. Mother,

Why is't I cannot live, except with you ?—

When last I went forth with the hunters to the woods,

Whose wandering quest kept us abroad all night,

I slept not, nor thought of sleep: before me
You stood, and in your eyes I lived, as though
They looked upon me-morning took you from me;
I thought I would have died, finding you not.

Amb. Be calm, my son, nor love me too much.