SCENE I.
A Hall.
Enter Adelaide, Jaqueline following.
Jaq. Where do you fly? Heavens! have you lost all sense?
Adel. Oh, 'would I had! for then I should not feel;
But I have sense enough to know I am wretched,
To see the full extent of misery,
Yet not enough to teach me how to bear it.
Jaq. I did not think your gentleness of nature
Could rise to such extremes.
Adel. Am I not tame?
What are these tears, this wild, dishevel'd hair?
Are these fit signs for such despair as mine?
Women will weep for trifles, bawbles, nothing.
For very frowardness will weep as I do:
A spirit rightly touch'd would pierce the air,
Call down invisible legions to his aid,
Kindle the elements.—But all is calm;
No thunder rolls, no warning voice is heard,
To tell my frantic father, this black deed
Will sink him down to infinite perdition.
Jaq. Rest satisfied he cannot be so cruel
(Rash as he is) to shed the innocent blood
Of a defenceless, unoffending youth.
Adel. He cannot be so cruel? Earth and heaven!
Did I not see the dreadful preparations?
The slaves, who tremble at my father's nod,
Pale, and confounded, dress the fatal block?
But I will fly; fall prostrate at his feet;
If nature is not quite extinguish'd in him,
My prayers, my tears, my anguish, sure will move him.
Jaq. Move him indeed! but to redoubled fury:
He dooms him dead, for loving Isabel;
Think, will it quench the fever of his rage,
To find he durst aspire to charm his daughter.
Adel. Did I hear right? for loving Isabel?
I knew not that before. Does he then love her?
Jaq. Nothing I heard distinctly; wild confusion
Runs through the castle: every busy fool,
All ignorant alike, tells different tales.
Adel. Away, it cannot be. I know his truth.
Oh! I despise myself, that for a moment
(Pardon me, love!) could suffer mean suspicion
Usurp the seat of generous confidence.
Think all alike unjust, my Theodore,
When even thy Adelaide could join to wrong thee!
Jaq. Yet be advis'd——
Adel. Oh, leave me to my grief.—
To whom shall I complain? He but preserv'd
My life a little space, to make me feel
The extremes of joy and sorrow. Ere we met,
My heart was calm as the unconscious babe.
Enter Fabian.
Fab. Madam, my lord comes this way, and commands
To clear these chambers; what he meditates,
'Tis fit indeed were private. My old age
Has liv'd too long, to see my master's shame.
Adel. His shame, eternal shame! Oh, more than cruel!
How shall I smother it! Fabian, what means he?
My father—him I speak of—this young stranger—
Fab. My heart is rent in pieces: deaf to reason,
He hears no counsel but from cruelty.
Good Austin intercedes, and weeps in vain.
Jaq. There's comfort yet, if he is by his side.
Look up, dear lady! Ha! that dying paleness——
Adel. It is too much—Oh, Jaqueline!
Jaq. She faints;
Her gentle spirits could endure no more.
Ha! paler still! Fabian, thy arm; support her.
She stirs not yet.
Fab. Soft, bear her gently in.
[Adelaide is carried out.