Your virtue, there, may find a safe retreat,
From the insulting pow'rs of wicked great-
7. Sh. Can there be so much happiness in
A cell, like that, is all my hopes aspire to.
Hast then, and thither let us wing our flight,
E'er the clouds gather, and the wintry sky
Descends in storms to intercept our passage.
Dum. Will you then go? You glad my very
soul;
Banish your fears, cast all your cares on me;
Plenty, and ease, and peace of mind shall wait.
And make your latter days of life most happy. 330
Oh, Lady! but I must not, cannot tell
you
How anxious I have been for all your dangers,
And how my heart rejoyces at your safety.
So when the spring renews the flow'ry field,
And warns the pregnant nightingale to build,
She seeks the safest shelter of the wood,
Where she may trust her little tuneful brood;
Where no rude swains her shady cell may
know,
No serpents climb, nor blasting winds may
blow;
324 wing. 1733, 1735, 1746, and F, take our flight.
Fond of the chosen place, she views it o'er,
Sits there and wanders thro' the grove no more.
Warbling she charms it each returning night,
And loves it with a mothers dear delight.
343 mothers. 1714 B, 1733, mother's.
Enter Alicia with a Paper.
Alicia. This paper, to the great protector's
hand,
With care and secrecy must be convey'd;
His bold ambition now avows it's aim,
To pluck the crown from Edward's infant brow,
And fix it on his own. I know he holds
My faithless Hastings adverse to his hopes
And much devoted to the orphan king;
On that I build: this paper meets his doubts,
And marks my hated rival as the cause
Of Hastings' zeal for his dead master's sons.
O jealousie! Thou bane of pleasing friendship,
Thou worst invader of our tender bosoms;
How does thy rancour poison all our softness,
And turn our gentle natures into bitterness.
See where she comes! Once my heart's dearest
blessing,
Now my chang'd eyes are blasted with her beauty,
Loath that known face, and sicken to behold her.
Act III. In 1714 A printed incorrectly. Act II.
12 Thou... bosoms. F omits.
Jane Shore. Now whither shall I fly to find relief?
What charitable hand will aid me now?
Will stay my failing steps, support my ruines,
And heal my wounded mind with balmy comfort?
Oh, my Alicia!
What new grief is this? What unforeseen misfortune has surpriz'd thee That racks thy tender heart thus ?
That friendly, honest man, 25
Whom Bellmour brought of late to my assist
On whose kind cares, whose diligence and faith,
My surest trust was built, this very morn
Was seiz'd on by the cruel hand of pow'r,
Forc'd from my house, and born away to prison. 30
Alic. To prison, said you! Can you guess the
7. Sh. Too well, I fear. His bold defence of
18-22 Now . . . Alicia. F omits. 31 said you. F, and you.
The tale of my hard hap. Upon the present
Hang all my poor, my last remaining hopes.
Within this
paper is my suit contain'd;
Here, as the princely Gloster passes forth,
I wait to give it on my humble knees,
And move him for redress.
She gives the paper to Alicia, who
Alic. (aside).
Now for a wile
To sting my thoughtless rival to the heart;
To blast her fatal beauties, and divide her
For ever from my perjur'd Hastings' eyes:
The wanderer may then look back to me,
And turn to his forsaken home again;
(Pulling out the other paper.) Their fashions are
the same, it cannot fail.
7. Sh. But see the great protector comes this
Attended by a train of waiting courtiers.
She gives her the other paper.
Enter the Duke of Gloster, Sir Richard Ratcliff,
Catesby, Courtiers, and other Attendants.
7. Sh. (kneeling). Oh noble Gloster, turn thy
44-45 The wanderer . . . again. F omits.
48 Attended.. courtiers. F omits.
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