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Look up, thou poor afflicted one! thou mourner, Whom none has comforted! Where are thy friends, The dear companions of thy joyful days,

Whose hearts thy warm prosperity made glad, Whose arms were taught to grow like ivy round thee, And bind thee to their bosoms?—Thus with thee, Thus let us live, and let us die, they said.

Now where are they?

J. Shore. Ah, Belmour! where indeed? They stand aloof,

And view my desolation from afar;

And yet thy goodness turn'd aside to pity me.
Alas! there may be danger; get thee gone!
Let me not pull a ruin on thy head.

Leave me to die alone, for I am fall'n
Never to rise, and all relief is vain.

Bel. Yet raise thy drooping head; for I am come

To chase away despair.

Behold! where yonder

That honest man, that faithful, brave Dumont,

Is hasting to thy aid

J. Shore. Dumont! Ha! where?

[Raising herself, and looking about. Then heav'n has heard my pray'r; his very name Renews the spring of life, and cheers my soul. Has he then 'scaped the snare?

Bel. He has; but see

He comes unlike to that Dumont you knew,
For now he wears your better angel's form,
And comes to visit you with peace and pardon.

Enter SHORE.

J. Shore. Speak, tell me! Which is he? And, oh!

what would

That dreadful vision! See, it comes upon me—

It is

my husband- -Ah!

Shore. She faints! support her!

[She swoons.

Bel. Her weakness could not bear the strong sur

But see, she stirs! And the returning blood
Faintly begins to blush again, and kindle
Upon her ashy cheek-

Shore. So-gently raise her- [Raising her up.
J. Shore. Ha! what art thou? Belmour!
Bel. How fare you, lady?

J. Shore. My heart is thrill'd with horror.
Bel. Be of courage-

Your husband lives! 'tis he, my worthiest friendJ. Shore. Still art thou there!-Still dost thou hover round me!

Oh, save me, Belmour, from his angry shade!
Bel. 'Tis he himself-he lives! look up-
J. Shore. I dare not!

Oh! that my eyes could shut him out for ever—
Shore. Am I so hateful, then, so deadly to thee,
To blast thy eyes with horror? Since I'm grown
A burden to the world, myself, and thee,
Would I had ne'er survived to see thee more!

J. Shore. Oh! thou most injured-dost thou live indeed!

Fall then, ye mountains, on my guilty head!
Hide me, ye rocks, within your secret caverns!
Cast thy black veil upon my shame, O night!
And shield me with thy sable wing for ever.
Shore. Why dost thou turn away?-Why tremble
thus?

Why thus indulge thy fears, and in despair,
Abandon thy distracted soul to horror?
Cast every black and guilty thought behind thee,
And let 'em never vex thy quiet more.
My arms, my heart, are open to receive thee,
To bring thee back to thy forsaken home,
With tender joy, with fond forgiving love.
Let us haste,

Now while occasion seems to smile upon us,
Forsake this place of shame, and find a shelter.

J. Shore. What shall I say to you? But I obey

Shore. Lean on my arm

J. Shore. Alas! I'm wondrous faint:

But that's not strange, I have not eat these three days.

Shore. Oh, merciless !

J. Shore. O! I am sick at heart!
Shore. Thou murd'rous sorrow!

Wilt thou still drink her blood, pursue her still?
Must she then die! Oh, my poor penitent!
Speak peace to my sad heart!-She hears me not;
Grief masters every sense-

Enter CATESBY, with a GUARD.

Cat. Seize on them both, as traitors to the stateBel. What means this violence?

[GUARDS lay hold on SHORE and BELMOUR. Cat. Have we not found you

In scorn of the Protector's strict command,
Assisting this base woman, and abetting
Her infamy?

Shore. Infamy on thy head!

Thou tool of power, thou pander to authority!
I tell thee, knave, thou know'st of none so virtuous,
And she that bore thee was an Ethiop to her.

Cat. You'll answer this at full-Away with them.
Shore. Is charity grown treason to your court?
What honest man would live beneath such rulers?
I am content that we should die together

Cat. Convey the men to prison; but for her, Leave her to hunt her fortune as she may.

J. Shore. I will not part with him-for me!-for ine!

Oh! must he die for me!

[Following him as he is carried off-She falls. Shore. Inhuman villains!

[Breaks from the Guards.

Stand off! The agonies of death are on her

She pulls, she gripes me hard with her cold hand.

J. Shore. Oh! let him go, ye ministers of terror, He shall offend no more, for I will die,

And yield obedience to your cruel master.
Tarry a little, but a little longer,

And take my last breath with you.

Shore. Oh, my

love!

Why dost thou fix thy dying eyes upon me,
With such an earnest, such a piteous look,
As if thy heart were full of some sad meaning
Thou could'st not speak?

J. Shore. Forgive me!

-but forgive me!

Shore. Be witness for me, ye celestial host, Such mercy and such pardon as my soul

Accords to thee, and begs of Heaven to shew thee, May such befal me at my latest hour,

And make my portion bless'd or cursed for ever! J. Shore. Then all is well, and I shall sleep in peace

Was there not something I would have bequeath'd you?

But I have nothing left me to bestow,

Nothing but one sad sigh. Oh! mercy, Heav'n!

Bel. There fled the soul,

[Dies.

And left her load of misery behind. [Exeunt omnes.

THE END

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