For thou art death. Am I awake? amazement !
'Twas but an apparition, one of those

That rouse the sleeping faculties of man,
To mock his waking apprehension.

I have beheld in my distemper'd rest

Forms of all shape and colour, but a thing
So grossly palpable to sight as that:

Never brush'd off oblivion from my lids.

What lurking friend art thou?

Abd.

(Seeing ABDALLAH.) It is Abdallah,

The slave who waits on you. Pray now employ me, Do you want nothing? Let me fetch you drink. Raym. 'Tis strange you should intrude your offices, And, like a worm, crawl to be trod upon.

Abd. What can I do?

Raym.

If you will be a slave

I would have drink: my tongue cleaves to my palate,

A glass of water, and I'll thank thee, fellow.

Abd. Now then, or never.

Raym.

(Aside.)

How the rogue bestirs him.

(ABDALLAH returns, and brings poison in wine.) Raym. That is not water.

Abd.

No, 'tis wine, 'twill cheer Thy sinking heart, and make it dance with joy.

Raym. I will have none on't, 'tis the damned juice That makes fools ideots, and the quick-brain'd mad.

Your European poison, well no matter. (Takes the What is the reason that you tremble thus ? cup.) And your teeth chatter, and the sweat starts from thee, Your knees each other smite, your eyes draw inward, Your woolly locks uncurl and stand erect.

What ails thee fellow?

Abd. (Trembling.) Nothing.

Raym.

What's in the cup? It is a damned draught,

And I will pledge thee.

Then 'tis so. (Aside.)

(ABDALLAH falls prostrate.)

Poison, on my life.

(ABDALLAH kneels in a supplicating posture.)

Raym. Kneel not to me.

Abd.

Oh, yes! till you forgive me.

Raym. Who set you on? the governor? 'twas he,

He promis'd thee reward?

Abd. Yes, great reward, my liberty.

Raym. Poor fellow!

Abd. He told me I should see again my country,

That I should die at home, and lay my bones
Beneath the tree I planted.

Raym.

I forgive thee.

To have escap'd from thy condition,

And be a man again, I might have done
Deeds horrible to think on. I forgive thee.

Come, give me drink, I do not fear thee now.
See that it be pure water from the spring.

(ABDALLAH goes out.)

This governor to steal man's birthright from him,
And bribe him with't to shed his fellow's blood.

(ABDALLAH returns.)

Ay, this looks well-thy tread is firm and even,
Thou bear'st thyself erect, thine hand is steady.
There's honest gratulation in thine eye:

Here is no poison. Each proud look and gesture
Pourtrays the noble image of a man,

Who holds the cup of comfort to his fellow.

Pleasure may dance in her full cup of wine,

Health sparkles here. (Drinks.) But will the go

Raym. Or been murder'd?

Abd. Ay, their bodies this way have been carried

out,

And thrown at midnight in the sea. The dead

Have found a passage here, why not the living,

If you would trust me?

Raym. Lead, I'll follow thee.

(ABDALLAH gives him a dagger.)

Abd. Take this, it is a better pledge than words. If I prove false you know to sheath it right. Tarry a moment here, I'll bring a light.

[Exit.

Raym. If this should be an after plot of murder, The first act having fail'd yet why bring light To do a deed of darkness, or why arm

My arm with vengeance if his thoughts are evil?

(ABDALLAH enters with a torch.)

Abd. Now, are you ready?

Raym. Down, I'll follow thee.

(As they descend.)

Abd. The way is dark and narrow.

Raym. Quick, proceed. I will not shrink.

[Exeunt.

ACT V.

Scene 1st.-A Wood; on one side the habitation of

RAYMOND.

Enter RAYMOND and ABDALLAH.

Raym. No further, yonder is my hut: return
To tell Gonsalvo you have done the deed,
And with to-morrow's sun, salute me here.
Farewell!-at sunrise-

Abd.

I'll be here before:

I shall not sleep for thinking that to-morrow
Will make me free.

[Exit.

Raym. Why what a heart must that Gonsalvo have?

Who from thy body would erase God's image,

And fix the weight of murder on thy soul.
Now will I gently steal upon my love,

And wake to wand'ring rapture all her senses.
How, there are two? the other sleeps whilst Zoa
Hangs in such earnest contemplation o'er her

As she would read her dreams: and see, she weeps,
As if in pity: 'tis not so, for now

In scorn she brushes off the struggling tears,

And with a frown upbraids them.

What can this mean? there is some horrid mischief