The Perjur'd Husband Part 12

_Ba.s.s._ Oh! _Placentia_! Oh! my Wife!

_Aur._ One thing more, and I'm happy---- Were but _Alonzo_ here, that I might ask Forgiveness for my Falshood! But, alas!

My Spirits faint within my frozen Veins, And every Thing seems double to my Sight: Oh! How I dread the uncertain future State!

_Ba.s.s._ Unhappy Maid! Oh! my once dear _Aurelia_!

Curst, Curst _Ba.s.sino_! Oh! my Wife! How dare I stand the View of both these injured Women!

Oh! Heaven! Why name I Heaven! Heaven will not hear A Wretch like me----No, even h.e.l.l wants Torment Proportion'd to my Guilt--Oh! my _Placentia_! Oh!

_Pla._ Oh! my dear Lord, I cannot see you thus: Live, live, my Lord; be happy when I'm dead.

Nay, for your Sake, I with _Aurelia_ too May live to make you happy----

_Ba.s.s._ Oh! Hold!

Heap not more Curses on me by your Kindness; I wish that she might live, but not for me.

Only to clear me from her guilty Blood---- Oh! _Placentia_!

_Pla._ Rise, my Lord, rise: Do not indulge your Woe, Your Sighs atone for all, and make e'en Death a pleasure---- I see him coming, he will soon be here----

_Ba.s.s._ No, I will never rise: ne'er see the Day.

The Sun would blush to shine on such an impious Wretch.

Here let me lie, and tear with these curst Hands [_Tears the Ground in a distracted Manner._ A Pa.s.sage thro' the Earth, and hide my Face for ever.

_Alon._ (_Within._) Where where's this Villain? Where's _Ba.s.sino_?

_Aur._ 'Tis _Alonzo_'s Voice.

Oh! fly, my Lord, fly from his just Revenge.

_Enter_ Alonzo _hastily_.

_Ba.s.s._ Fly---- Where shall I fly from Justice? No, Heaven is kind In sending him to help my Journey forward.

_Alon._ Where's _Ba.s.sino_?

_Ba.s.s._ (_Rising._) Here Sir, I stand.

_Alon._ Then there stands a Villain----Ha--what Do I see!----_Aurelia_ murder'd!

Oh! treacherous Maid, thy Love has cost thee dear, Think on thy broken Vows, and call to Heaven for Mercy.

Thy Death I will revenge, because I lov'd thee once.

_Aur._ Oh! _Alonzo_, pardon me.

_Alon._ to _Ba.s.s._ Now Villain, now what Story, what Pretence Canst thou invent to avoid my just Revenge?

Oh! that I ne'er had list'ned to thy Tongue!

Thy base perfidious Tongue! Then all these Murders Had been prevented, and thou curst in h.e.l.l---- Thou monstrous Fiend----

_Ba.s.s._ You talk too much--Let's see what you can do: Thus I return your Villain----

_Alon._ Take thy Reward. [_They fight_, Ba.s.sino _falls_.

_Enter_ Armando.

_Arm._ Hold! hold: Oh G.o.ds! I'm come too late, What has my fatal Friendship done!

Ha----_Placentia_ too--curst Letter!

_Ba.s.s._ My Friend _Armando_! Oh! I blush to see thee: But let me have your Pardon----now I need it.

_Arm._ Oh! first pardon me---- For I have been the Cause of all this Mischief.

Whilst my officious Friendship strives to save you, I bring you all to this unhappy End.

Say, can you pardon me?

_Ba.s.s._ I do---- And Oh! my Friend! had Virtue been my Guide, As it was thine, I still were truly happy.

_Aur._ Where am I?

Why do I hover thus 'twixt Rest and Misery?

Oh! good _Alonzo_, say you pardon me, And let me die in Peace, else full of Horror My guilty Soul must wander in the Shades Of gloomy Night, and never, never rest.

_Alon._ Thou hast my Pardon, and with it this Promise Never to love again----

_Aur._ Oh! you're----too----kind--and I want-- Breath to thank----you----Farewel, [_Dies._

_Ba.s.s._ Oh! _Placentia_! [_Embraces her._ Thus in thy Arms my Thread of Life shall break.

_Pla._ My Lord, my Husband, Oh! come nearer yet, That I may take a parting Kiss, to smooth My Pa.s.sage to the Realms of endless Night. [_Kissing him._ So--Now--I die----much happier than I lived.

Farewel---- [_Dies._

_Ba.s.s._ Farewel, fair Excellence! Thou best of Wives!

But I shall quickly follow--Yet before I go, I beg, _Alonzo_, let my Death atone For all the Injuries my Life has done you.

Oh! spare my Memory, when I'm no more.

_Alon._ By Heaven!

I see such Virtue struggling in thy Breast, As makes me wish I could prevent the Flight Of thy departing Soul----

_Ba.s.s._ No, No----I would not live: Hadst thou not come, my Hand had set me free, But now I fell more n.o.bly, and less guilty.

My Friend, my dear _Armando_, Haste to inform my Prince, _Ba.s.sino_ rests; But hide, if possible, my Shame: And let One Grave hold both this wretched Corps and mine, Oh! my _Placentia_---- [_Dies._

_Alon._ Unhappy Pair! But far more wretched me!

For I must live, and live without _Aurelia_!

Tho' I'm convinc'd she lov'd me not, I can't Banish her Image from my Love-sick Mind.

Oh! that I ne'er had seen the charming Fair!

_Arm._ The G.o.ds are just in all their Punishments: And by this single Act, we plainly see That Vengeance always treads on Perjury; And tho' sometimes no Bolts be at us hurl'd, Whilst we enjoy the Pleasures of this World; Yet a Day awaits, a Day of general Doom, When guilty Souls must to an Audit come; Then that we may not tremble, blush, or fear, Let our Desires be just; our Lives unsullied here.

[_Exeunt omnes._

[Decoration]