Scene, an Apartment. BRIANTHE discovered. Bri. How wearily the heavy hours drag on, Oh! heedless rover, Who sends abroad for thee her waking thoughts, [Goes into the chamber and returns. Can on the sky-roof'd mountain find repose, Soft as young cygnets down. I cannot sleep, Mont. Why dost thou start? Am I so hideous, lady, Bri. If here, you come Thou comest like the demon of the storm, Rejoicing in the mischief he has spread. Thy look is desolation, but thy touch A withering blast to nature. Mont. Why I come, Proud beauty, you shall know: but gather this I came not to intreat, but to enjoy. I did not come to woo thee like the dove, Can shake me from my purpose. Mark me, lady! Revenge can diet on a woman's scorn. Bri. I do conjure you, as you are a man, From woman's breasts have drawn humanity; Damn not thyself and me. Mont. Very woman to the last. When the loud fury of your words are vain, Bri. Oh, for mercy's sake! Mont. No struggling, 'tis in vain. Thy chamber, lady? This way. Bri. Is there no help? Help! murder! help Oh, Valletort! where art thou? Murder! help (As he is forcing her into the chamber, URANE enters.) Bri. Kind heav'n, I thank thee: this is thy o'erwatching. Almar and Valletort afterwards enter.-The remainder of this piece is very imperfect. Montano dies; and Valletort and Brianthe are re-united. It was not without reason that the author complained of the difficulty he experienced in constructing a dramatic fable. It is, however, worthy of remark, that within four years from the date of this piece, The Curfew was produced. THE END OF THE FRAGMENT. |