蕊蕊 Alic. ACT II. SCENE I. Scene Continues. Enter Alicia. [Speaking to Jane Shore' as entring. O farther, gentle Friend; good Angels guard you, And fpread their gracious Wings about your The drowfy Night grows on the World and now What Noife is that? [Knocking without. What Vifitor is this, who with bold Freedom Enter a Servant. Serv. One from the Court, Lord Haftings (as I think) demands my Lady. 5 7201 Alic. Haftings! Be ftill my Heart, and try to meet him With his own Arts: With Falfhood--But he comes. Enter Enter Lord Haftings.. [Speaks to a Servant at entring. Haft. Difmifs my Train, and wait alone without. Alicia here! Unfortunate Encounter! But, be it as it may. Alic. When humbly, thus, The Great defcend to visit the Afflicted, J: L. Haft. "Tis true, I wou'd not over-rate a Courtely, Nor let the Coldness of Delay hang on it To nip and blast its Favour, like a Froft; But rather chofe, at this late Hour, to come. That your fair Friend may know I have prevail'd; And means to fhew her Grace. Alic. My Friend! my Lord! L. Haft. Yes, Lady, yours: None has a Right more ample To task my Power than you. J Alic. I want the Words To pay you back a Compliment fo courtly; But my Heart gueffes at the friendly Meaning, L. Haft. 'Tis well, Madam. But I wou'd fee your Friend.. Alic. Oh thou falfe Lord! I wou'd be Miftrefs of my heaving Heart, Stifle Stifle this rifing Rage, and learn from thee To drefs my Face in eafy, dull Indifference: But two'not be, my Wrongs will tear their Way, L. Haft. Are you wife! Have you the Ufe of Reafon? Do you wake? Thus rent with agonizing Love and Rage, And ask me what it means? Art thou not falfe? With Love, with Truth, and Tenderness unutterable? Thefe furious Starts, thefe Whirlwinds of the Soul, Alic. What Proof, alas! have I not given of Love? And now I've nothing left me to beftow, You hate the wretched Bankrupt you have made, Kept Kept in the View, and crofs'd at every Turn? Scud o'er the Lawns, and haften to the Covert Alic. Hither you fly, and here you seek Repofe. L. Haft. If you are wife, and prize your Peace of Mind, Yet take the friendly Counfel of my Love; Believe me true, nor liften to Jealoufy, your Let not that Devil, which undoes Sex, To hunt for needlefs Secrets, which neglected, Shall fit upon your Heart, pinch it with Pain, Alic. Doft thou in Scorn Preach Patience to my Rage? And bid me tamely Sit like a poor contented Ideot down, Nor dare to think thou'ft wrong'd me-----Ruin feize thee, Have I the leaft remaining Cause to doubt? Haft thou endeavour'd once to hide thy Falfhood? But thou difdain'ft the Weakness of Humanity, And And infolently own the glorious Villany. L Haft. Well then, I own my Heart has broke your Chains Patient I bore the painful Bondage long, At length my generous Love difdains your Tyranny; Have driv'n him forth to feek fome fafer Shelter, Alic. You triumph! do! and with gigantick Pride, But Perjury, like thine, fhall dwell in Safety. L. Haft. Whate'er my Fate decrees for me hereafter, Be prefent to me now, my better Angel! Preferve from the Storm that threatens now, me And if I have beyond Attonement finn'd, Let any other kind of Plague o'ertake me, Alic. Thy Pray'r is heard-but know, proud Lord, [Exit Alic L. Haft |