Enter MICHAEL. Mich. The guests are come-the servants all returned. Mos. Alicia, be thyself; and mask thy heart [Mosby lifts up Alicia. From every prying eye with courteous smiles. Alic. Thou canst not think me mean enough to live? Mos. You would not chuse an ignominious death? Alic. That's all I dread-Might but the silent grave, When it receives me to its dark abode, Hide, with my dust, my shame!-- might that be, And Arden's death revenged! 'Tis my sole prayer. If not, may awful justice have her course! [Erit Alicia. Mos. Sister! our lives are thineMar. Though Mosby has shook off humanity, I cannot be his accuser. [Erit Maria. Mos. Follow them, Green, and watch Alicia's conduct. Green. I will, but cannot answer for my own. O Arden! Arden! could we change conditions! [Erit Green. B. Will. Why, what a crew of cowards! In the same moment murdering and repenting. Mos. Give me the ring, that is on Arden's finger. Shake. There. Will you have his purse too? Mos. No, keep that. B. Will. Thanks for our own: we should have kept the ring, Were it not too remarkable. But how must we dispose of the body? Mos. Convey it through the garden, to the field Behind the abbey-wall: Michael will shew the Contracts new horrors, and a deeper black, Arden is dead; now count thy gains at leisure. Enter MAYOR, &c. Mich. They muttered threats and curses, And seemed not satisfied with their reward. [Exit Michael. Mos. Let them take all. Ambition, avarice, lust, That drove me on to murder, now forsake me. Oh Arden! if thy discontented ghost Still hovers here to see thy blood revenged, View, view the anguish of this guilty breast, And be appeased! [Exit. SCENE III-A room in ARDEN's house. A table spread for supper. GREEN, BRADSHAW, ADAM FOWL, ALICIA, MARIA, &c. Brad. Madam, be comforted. A. Fowl. Some accident, or business unforeseen, detains him thus. Brad. I doubt not of his safety. Alic. I thank you, gentlemen; I know you loved My Arden well, and kindly speak your wishes. Enter MOSBY. Mos. I am ashamed I've made you wait: be seated. Green. Madam, first take your place. To me henceforth all places are alike. [Sits. Mos. Come, since we want the master of the house, I'll take his seat for once. Alic. Dares he do this? [Aside. Mos. I'm much afflicted, that he stays so late; The times are perilous. Green. And he has enemies. Though no man, sure, did e'er deserve them less. Mos. This day he was assaulted in the street. Green. You saved him then. Mos. Would I were with him now! Mar. She starts, her looks are wild. [Aside.] How fare you, madam? Alic. I'm lost in admiration of your brother. Mar. I fear her more than ever. [Aside.]Madam, be merry. Mos. Michael, some wine. Health and long life to Arden, [Rising. Alic. The good you wish, and have procured for Arden, [Rising. Light on thyself! Mar. For Heaven's sake! geance! Mayor. What says the lady? Her husband has not been at home to-night, Mayor. Scarce an hour, Since I beheld him enter here with you! Mos. The darkness of the night deceived you, sir; It was a stranger, since departed hence. Mayor. That's most surprising! No man knows him better. Frank. [without] Within there-ho-bar up your gates with care, And set a watch. Let not a man go by― FRANKLIN, and others, enter with lights. And every tongue, that gave not its consent To Arden's death, join mine, and cry aloud To Heaven and earth for justice. Honest Arden, My friend, is murdered! Mayor. Murdered! Green. How? Mos. By whom? Frank. How shall I utter what my eyes have seen! Horrid, with many a gaping wound, he lies Mayor. Justly art thou moved. Frank. Eternal Providence, to whose bright eye Darkness itself is as the noon-day blaze, Who brings the midnight murderer, and his deeds, 3 Q Huge clots of blood, and some of Arden's hair, Mos. Are these your proofs? Green. These are but circumstances, And only prove thy malice. Frank. And this scarf, Known to be Arden's, in the court was found, Mayor. Search them. Mich. I thought I'd thrown it down the well. [Aside. Mayor. [To an Officer] Enter that room, and search the lady there; We may, perhaps, discover more. [Officer goes out, and re-enters; in the 1. Offi. On Arden's wife I found this letter. Mayor. Righteous Heaven! Well may'st thou hang thy head, detested villain! I saw it on his hand. Mos. I freely yield me to my fate. Enter another Officer. B. Will. Since we are sure to die, though I could wish it were in better company (for I hate that fawning rascal, Mosby), I will tell the truth for once. He has been long engaged in an affair with Arden's wife there; but fearing a discovery, and hoping to get into his estate, hired us to hide him. That's all. Mayor. And you the horrid deed performed? Shake. We did, with his assistance, and Green's and Michael's. Mayor. This letter proves Alicia, from the first, Was made acquainted with your black design. B. Will. I know nothing of that; but if she was, she repented of it afterwards. So, I think, you call a change of mind. Mayor. That may avail her at the bar of hea The unerring hand of justice; and with silence Mayor. But did she not consent to keep it se- Mos. To save a brother, and most wretched friend. Mayor. She has undone herself. Behold how May suffer in bad fellowship.-And Bradshaw, To Brad. Madam, I appeal you; as you are shortly to appear Before a judge, that sees our secret thoughts, Say, had Ï knowledge, or Alic. You brought the letter, But well I hope, you knew not the contents. Mayor. Hence with them all, till time and farther light Shall clear these mysteries. A. Fowl. If I'm condemned, My blood be on his head, that gives the sentence. Offi. We've seized two men behind some stalks I'm not accused, and only ask for justice. of wood. Mayor. Well, bring them in. BLACK WILL and SHAKEBAG brought in. Frank. You shall have justice all, and rigorous So shall the growth of such enormous crimes, [Exeunt omnes, SCENE I.-The inside of the copper-mines of Enter ANDERSON, ARNOLDUS, and Servants, And. You tell me wonders! [Points behind the Scenes. Ne'er hold their den, but where some glimmer- May bring the cheer of morn. What, then, is he? And whispers somewhat more than man about Arn. Draw but the veil of his apparent wretch- And you shall find, his form is but assumed, And. What horrors hang around! the savage Bind him, with sacred friendship, to my soul, race And make him half myself, Arn. So Cristiern holds. He claims our country as by right of conquest, Arn. This rising day, this instant hour, And. Now, Gustavus! Thou prop and glory of inglorious Sweden, Where art thou, mightiest man?-Were he but here! I'll tell thee, my Arnoldus, I beheld him, Then when he first drew sword, serene and dreadful, As the browed evening ere the thunder break; For soon he made it toilsome to our eyes To mark his speed, and trace the paths of conquest. In vain we followed, where he swept the field; And. Arrayed and beauteous in the blood The invaders of his country, thrice he chaced of Arn. Nor ever had the tyrant known return, To tread our necks, and blend us with the dust, Had he not dared to break through every law That sanctifies the nations, seized our hero, The pledge of specious treaty, tore him from us, And led him, chained, to Denmark. If still he lives, we yet may learn to rise, Unknown, unfriended, compassed round with wretchedness, Conceals some mighty purpose in his breast, And. When came he hither? Arn. Six moons have changed upon the face of night, Since here he first arrived, in servile weeds, Amid these mines, he earns the hireling's portion; His hands out-toil the hind; while, on his brow, And. Has no unwary moment e'er betrayed The labours of his soul, some favourite grief, Whereon to raise conjecture? Arn. I saw, as some bold peasants late de |