_Jul._ Tell your sorrows to my lord; Upon his faithful breast repose the weight That presses you to earth.
_Or._ Tell _him_? Tell Rivers?
Is he not yours? Does not the priest now wait To make you one? Then do not mock me thus: What leisure can a happy bridegroom find To think upon so lost a wretch as I am?
You hate me, Julia.
_Jul._ Hate you? how you wrong me!
Live to partake our joy.
_Or._ Hope you for joy?
_Jul._ Have I not cause? Am I not lov"d by Rivers?
Rivers, the best, the bravest of his s.e.x!
Whose valour fabled heroes ne"er surpa.s.s"d, Whose virtues teach the young and charm the old; Whose graces are the wonder of our s.e.x, And envy of his own!
_Or._ Enough! enough!
O spare this prodigality of praise.
But, Julia, if you would not here behold me Stretch"d at your feet a lifeless b.l.o.o.d.y corpse, Promise what I shall now request.
_Jul._ What is it?
_Or._ That till to-morrow"s sun, I ask no longer, You will defer this marriage.
_Jul._ Ah! defer it?
Impossible; what would my Rivers think?
_Or._ No matter what; "tis for his sake I ask it: His peace, his happiness, perhaps his life Depends on what I ask.
_Jul._ His life? the life of Rivers?
Some dreadful thought seems lab"ring in your breast; Explain this horrid mystery.
_Or._ I dare not.
If you comply, before to-morrow"s dawn All will be well, the danger past; then finish These--happy nuptials; but if you refuse, Tremble for him you love; the altar"s self Will be no safeguard from a madman"s rage.
_Jul._ What rage? what madman? what remorseless villain?
Orlando--will not you protect your friend?
Think how he loves you--he would die for you-- Then save him, on my knees, I beg you save him-- [_Kneels._ Oh! guard my Rivers from this b.l.o.o.d.y foe.
_Or._ Dearer than life I love him--ask no more, But promise, in the awful face of Heaven, To do what I request--and promise, further, Not to disclose the cause.
_Jul._ Oh, save him! save him!
_Or._ "Tis to preserve him that I ask it: promise, Or see me fall before you.
[_He draws the dagger, she still kneeling._
_Jul._ I do promise.
Hide, hide that deadly weapon--I do promise. [_Rises._ How wild you look! you tremble more than I.
I"ll call my Rivers. .h.i.ther.
_Or._ Not for worlds.
If you have mercy in your nature, Julia, Retire. Oh, leave me quickly to myself; Do not expose me to the strong temptation Which now a.s.saults me.--Yet you are not gone.
_Jul._ Be more compos"d; I leave you with regret.
(_As she goes out._) His n.o.ble mind is shaken from its seat!
What may these transports mean? Heav"n guard my Rivers!
(_As_ JULIA _goes out, enter_ BERTRAND; _he speaks behind_.)
_Ber._ Why, this is well; this has a face; she weeps, He seems disordered.--Now to learn the cause, And then make use of what I hear by chance, As of a thing I knew. [_He listens._
_Or._ (_after a pause._) And is she gone?
Her parting words shot fire into my soul; Did she not say she left me with regret?
Her look was tender, and the starting tear Fill"d her bright eye; she left me with regret-- She own"d it too.
_Ber._ "Twill do.
(_Comes forward._) What have you done?
The charming Julia is dissolv"d in woe, Her radiant eyes are quench"d in floods of tears; For you they fall; her blushes have confess"d it.
_Or._ For me? what say"st thou? Julia weep for me!
Yet she is gentle, and she would have wept For thee; for any who but seem"d unhappy.
_Ber._ Ungrateful!
_Or._ How?
_Ber._ Not by her tears, I judge, But by her words not meant for me to hear.
_Or._ What did she say? What didst thou hear, good Bertrand?
Speak--I"m on fire.
_Ber._ It is not safe to tell you.
Farewell! I would not injure Rivers.
_Or._ Stay, Or tell me all, or I renounce thy friendship.
_Ber._ That threat unlocks my tongue; I must not lose thee.
Sweet Julia wept, clasp"d her fair hands, and cried, Why was I left a legacy to Rivers, Robb"d of the power of choice? Seeing me she started, Would have recall"d her words, blush"d, and retir"d.
_Or._ No more; thou shalt not tempt me to my ruin; Deny what thou hast said, deny it quickly, Ere I am quite undone; for, oh! I feel Retreating virtue touches its last post, And my lost soul now verges on destruction.
--Bertrand, she promis"d to defer the marriage.
_Ber._ Then my point"s gain"d; that will make Rivers jealous. [_Aside._ She loves you.
_Or._ No; and even if she did, I have no hope.
_Ber._ You are too scrupulous.
Be bold and be successful; sure of this, There is no crime a woman sooner pardons Than that of which her beauty is the cause.
_Or._ Shall I defraud my friend? he bled to gain her!
What! rob the dear preserver of my life Of all that makes the happiness of his?