Of my receiving it; kill me that way,

I'll forgive my truth,

death! What thou keep'st back from

Thou shalt speak in pain: do not look to find
A limb in his right place, a bone unbroke,
Nor so much flesh unbroil'd of all that mountain,
As a worm might sup on-dispatch or be dispatch'd.
Bust. Alas, Sir, I know nothing but that Antonio
Is a man of God's making to this hour;

'Tis not two since I left him so.

Jul. Where didst thou leave him?

Bust. In the same cloaths he had on when he went from you.

Jul. Does he live?

Bust. I saw him drink.

Jul. Is he not wounded?

Bust. He may have a cut i' the leg by this time, For don Martino and he were at whole slashes. Jul. Met he not with Lisauro?

Bust. I do not know her.

Jul. Her! Lisauro is a man, as he is.

Bust. I saw ne'er a man like him.

Jul. Didst thou not discourse

A fight betwixt Antonio and Lisauro?
Bust. Ay, to myself:

I hope a man may give himself the lie

Jul. I live the happier by it. When will he return?

VOL. I.

A A

Bust. That he sent me to tell you-within these Ten days at farthest.

Jul. Ten days! he's not wont

To be absent two.

Bust. Nor I think he will not. He said he would be at home

To-morrow; but I love to speak within

My compass.

Jul. You shall speak within mine, Sir, now. Within there! take this fellow into custody. Keep him safe, I charge you.

[Enter Servants. Bust. Safe, do you hear; take notice

What plight you find me in. If there want but a

collop,

Or a steak of me, look to 't.

Jul. If my nephew

Return not in his health to-morrow, thou goest

To the rack.

Bust. Let me go to the

manger first,

I'd rather eat oats than hay.

EDITH PLEADING FOR THE LIFE OF HER FATHER.

FROM THE TRAGEDY OF ROLLO DUKE OF NORMANDY..
ACT IV.

Persons of the scene.-Rollo, Duke of Normandy; Hamond, Captain of the Guard; Baldwin, Tutor of the Prince; Edith, Baldwin's Daughter.

Rollo. Go, take this dotard here (pointing to Baldwin), and take his head

Off with a sword.

Ham. Your schoolmaster?

Rollo. Even he.

Bald. For teaching thee no better: 'tis the best Of all thy damned justices. Away!

Captain, I'll follow.

Edith. O stay there, Duke,

And, in the midst of all thy blood and fury,
Hear a poor maid's petition-hear a daughter,
The only daughter of a wretched father!

Oh! stay your haste, as I shall need your mercy.
Rollo. Away with this fond woman!
Edith. You must hear me,

If there be any spark of pity in you;
If sweet humanity and mercy rule you.
I do confess you are a prince-your anger
As great as you, your execution greater.
Rollo. Away with him!

Edith. Oh, Captain, by thy manhood,

By her soft soul that bare thee-I do confess, Sir, Your doom of justice on your foes most righteous. Good, noble Prince, look on me.

Rollo. Take her from me.

Edith. A curse upon his life that hinders me! May father's blessing never fall upon him! May heav'n ne'er hear his prayers! I beseech youO Sir, these tears beseech you—these chaste hands

woo you,

That never yet were heav'd but to things holy,
Things like yourself, You are a god above us,

Be as a god, then, full of saving mercy.

Mercy! Oh, mercy! Sir-for his sake mercy, That, when your stout heart weeps, shall give you pity.

Here I must grow.

Rollo. By heaven I'll strike thee, woman!

Edith. Most willingly-let all thy anger seize me, All the most studied tortures, so this good man, This old man, and this innocent escape thee. Rollo. Carry him away, I say.

Edith. Now blessing on thee! Oh, sweet pity,
I see it in thine eyes. I charge you, soldiers,
Ev'n by the Prince's power, release my father!
The Prince is merciful-why do you hold him?
The Prince forgets his fury-why do you tug him?
He is old-why do you hurt him? Speak, oh speak,
Sir!

Speak, as you are a man—a man's life hangs, Sir,
A friend's life, and a foster life, upon you.
'Tis but a word, but mercy-quickly spoke, Sir.
Oh speak, Prince, speak!

Rollo. Will no man here obey me?

Have I no rule yet? As I live, he dies

That does not execute my will, and suddenly.

Bald. All thou canst do takes but one short hour

from me.

Rollo. Hew off her hands!

Ham. Lady, hold off.

Edith. No, hew 'em;

Hew off my innocent hands, as he commands you,

They'll hang the faster on for death's convulsion. [Exit BALDWIN with the guard. Thou seed of rocks, will nothing move thee then? Are all my tears lost, all my righteous prayers Drown'd in thy drunken wrath? I stand up thus, then,

Thus boldly, bloody tyrant!

And to thy face, in heav'n's high name, defy thee; And may sweet mercy, when thy soul sighs for it, When under thy black mischiefs thy flesh trembles, When neither strength, nor youth, nor friends, nor gold,

Can stay one hour; when thy most wretched conscience,

Waked from her dream of death, like fire shall melt

thee;

When all thy mother's tears, thy brother's wounds, Thy people's fears and curses, and my loss,

My aged father's loss, shall stand before thee :

Be lock'd up from thee-fly thee! howlings find

thee!

Despair! (Oh my sweet father!) Storms of terror! Blood till thou burst again!

Rollo. Oh fair, sweet anger!