Is your Lady,

Enter a Servant..

My gentle Friend, at home? Oh! bring me to her. [G ing in. Ser. Hold Miftrefs whither wou'd you? [Futting her back, J. Sb. Do you not know me?

Ser. I know you well, and know my Orders too.

You must not enter here --

7. Sb. Tell my Alicia,

'Tis I would fee her.

Ser. She is ill at Eafe,

And will admit no Vifitor.

J. Sb. But tell her

'I'is I, her Friend, the Partner of her Heart, Wait at the Door and beg

Ser. 'Tis all in vain--

Go hence, and Howl to thofe that will regard you.

[Shuts the Door, and Exit J. Sh. It was not always thus; the Time has been, When this unfriendly Door, that barrs my Paffage, Flew wide, and almost leap'd from off its Hinges To give me Entrance here; When this good House Has pour'd forth all its Dwellers to receive me; When my Approach has made a little Holy-day, And ev'ry Face was drefs'd in Smiles to meet me. But now 'tis otherwise; and those who blefs'd me, Now curfe me to my Face. Why fhould I wander, Stray further on, for I can die ev'n here!

[She fits down at the Door

Enter Alicia in Disorder; Two Servants following. Alic. What Wretch art thou? whofe Mifery and Bafenefs Hangs on my Door; whofe hateful Whine of Woe

Breaks

Breaks in upon Sorrows, and diftra&ts

My jarring Senfes with thy Beggar's Cry.

7. Sh. A very Beggar, and a Wretch indeed; One driv'n by ftrong Calamity to seek

For Succour here. One perifhing for Want,

Whofe Hunger has not tafted Food thefe three Days 3.
And humbly asks, for Charity's dear fake,

A Draught of Water, and a little Bread.

Alic And doft thou come to me, to me for Bread?
I know the not-Go--hunt for it abroad,

Where wanton Hands upon the Earth have fcatter'd it,
Or caft it on the Waters - Mark the Eagle,

And hungry Vulture, where they wind the Prey;
Watch where the Ravens of the Valley feed,

And feek thy Food with them

I know thee not.

7. Sh. And yet there was a Time, when my Alicia Has thought unhappy Shore her dearest Bleffing,

And mourn'd that live-long Day she pafs'd without me:
When pair'd like Turtles, we were still together;
When often as we prattled Arm in Arm,

Inclining fondly to me she has fworn,

She lov'd me more than all the World befide.

Alic. Ha! fay ft thou! Let me look upon thee well'Tis true--I know thee now---A Mischief on thee! Thou art that fatal Fair, that curfed She,

That fet my Brain a madding. Thou haft robb'd me';
Thou haft undone me Murder! Oh my Haftings!

See his pale bloody Head shoots glaring by me!

Give

me him back again, thou foft Deluder,

Thou Beauteous Witch---

J.Sb. Alas! I never wrong'd you

Ok

Oh! then be good to me; have Pity on me:
Thou never knew'ft the Bitterness of Want,
And may'ft thou never know it. Oh! beftow
Some poor Remain, the voiding of thy Table,
A Morfel to fupport my famish'd Soul.

Alic. Avant! and come not near me
J. Sh. To thy Hand

I trufted all, gave my whole Store to thee:::
Nor do I ask it back, allow me but

The fmalleft Pittance, give me but to eat,

Left I fall down and perifh here before thee.

Alic. Nay! tell not me! Where is thy King, thy Edward, And all the fmiling, cringing Train of Courtiers,.

That bent the Knee before thee?

F. Sh. Oh! for Mercy!

Alic. Mercy I know it not for I am miferable.
I'll give thee Mifery, for here fhe dwells
This is her Houfe, where the Sun never dawns,
The Bird of Night fits fcreaming o'er the Roof,
Grim Spectres fweep along the horrid Gloom,
And nought is heard but Wailings and Lamentings.
Hark! fomething Cracks above it shakes, it totters!
And fee, the nodding Ruin falls to crush me

"Tis fall'n! 'tis here! I feel it on my Brain!

I Serv. This Sight diforders her

2 Serv. Retire, dear Lady,

And leave this Woman'

--

Ale. Let her take my Counfel

Why shoud'st thou be a Wretch? Stab, tear thy Heart,

And rid thy felf of this detefted Being.

I wo'not linger long behind thee here.

1271

A

A waving Flood of blewifh Fire fwells o'er me;
And now 'tis out, and I am drown'd in Blood

Ha! what art thou! thou horrid headlefs Trunk?
It is my Haftings! See! He wafts me on!
Away! I go! I fly! I follow thee.

But come not thou with mifchief-making Beauty
To interpofe between us, look not on him,
Give thy fond Arts and thy Delusions o'er,
For thou fhalt never, never part us more.

[She runs off, her Servants following,

7. Sh. Alas! She raves; her Brain, I fear, is turn'd. In Mercy look upon her, gracious Heav'n,

Nor vifit her for any Wrong to me.

Sure I am near upon my Journey's End;

My Head runs round, my Eyes begin to fail,
And dancing Shadows-fwim before my Sight.

I canno more. [Lies down.] Receive me thou cold Earth,
Thou common Parent, take me to thy Bofom,
And let me reft with Thee.

Enter Bellmour.

Bell. Upon the Ground!

Thy Miferies can never lay thee lower.

Look

up, thou poor afflicted one! Thou Mourner
Whom none has comforted! Where are thy Friends,
The dear Companions of thy Joyful Days,
Whofe Hearts thy warm Profperity made glad,
Whofe Arms are taught to grow like Ivy round thee,
And bind thee to their Bofoms? Thus with thee,
Thus let us live, and let us die, they faid,

For fure thou art the Sifter of our Loves,''
And nothing fhall divide us Now where are they?

F.SE.

J.Sh. Ah! Bellmour, where indeed! They stand aloof,
And view my Desolation from a-far;

When they pafs by, they shake their Heads in Scorn,
And cry, behold the Harlot and her End!

And yet thy Goodnefs turns afide 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 rife, and all Relief is vain.

Bell. Yet raife thy drooping Head, for I am come
To chafe away Defpair. Behold! where yonder
That honeft Man, that faithful brave Dumont,
Is hafting to thy Aid------

7.Sh. Dumont! Ha! Where!

[Raifing bir felf, and loking about,

Then Heav'n has heard my Prayer, his very Name
Renews the Springs of Life, and chears my Soul,
Has he then fcap'd the Share?

Bell He has, but fee----

He comes unlike to that Dumont you knew,
For now he wears your better Angel's Form,

And comes to vifit you with Peace and Pardon.

7. Sh. Speak, tell me! Which is he? And oh what wou'd This dreadful Vision! See it comes upon me----

It is my Husband------Ah !

Sb. She faints! fupport her!

[She Swoons.

Suftain her Head, while I infufe this Cordial

Iuto her dying Lips-from fpicy Drugs,

Rich Herbs and Flow'rs the potent Juice is drawn;
With wond'rous Force it firikes the lazy Spirits,

Drives