Thou hast beheld her tears.

Alt. I have seen her weep;

I have seen that lovely one, that dear Calista,
Complaining, in the bitterness of sorrow,

That thou, my friend, Horatio, thou hast wrong'd her.
Hor. That I have wrong'd her! had her eyes been

fed

From that rich stream which warms her heart, and number'd

For ev'ry falling tear a drop of blood,

It had not been too much; for she has ruin'd thee, Ev'n thee, my Altamont. She has undone thee.

Alt. Dost thou join ruin with Calista's name?
What is so fair, so exquisitely good?

Is she not more than painting can express,
Or youthful poets fancy when they love?

"Does she not come, like wisdom, or good fortune, Replete with blessings, giving wealth and honour? "The dowry which she brings is peace and pleasure, "And everlasting joys are in her arms." 260

Hor. It had been better thou had'st liv'd a beggar,
And fed on scraps at great men's surly doors,
Than to have match'd with one so false, so fatal.-

Alt. It is too much for friendship to allow thee.
Because I tamely bore the wrong thou didst her,
Thou dost avow the barb'rous, brutal part,
And urge the injury ev'n to my face.

Hor. I see she has got possession of thy heart;
She has charm'd thee, like a syren, to her bed,
With looks of love, and with enchanting sounds:

Too late the rocks and quicksands will appear,
When thou art wreck'd upon the faithless shore,
Then vainly wish thou had'st not left thy friend,
To follow her delusion.

Alt. If thy friendship

Do churlishly deny my love a room,

It is not worth my keeping; I disclaim it.

Hor. Canst thou so soon forget what I've been to

thee?

I shar'd the task of nature with thy father,

And form'd with care thy unexperienc'd youth 280 To virtue and to arms.

Thy noble father, Oh, thou light young man! Wou'd he have us'd me thus? One fortune fed us; For his was ever mine, mine his, and both

Together flourish'd, and together fell.

He call'd me friend, like thee: wou'd he have left

me

Thus, for a woman, and a vile one, too?

Alt. Thou canst not, dar'st not mean it! Speak again, Say, who is vile; but dare not name Calista.

Hor. I had not spoke at first, unless compell'd, And forc'd to clear myself; but since thus urg'd, I must avow, I do not know a viler.

Alt. Thou wert my father's friend; he lov'd thee well;

"A kind of venerable mark of him

"Hangs round thee, and protects thee from my vengeance."

I cannot, dare not lift my sword against thee,

But henceforth never let me see thee more. [Going out.
Hor. I love thee still, ungrateful as thou art,
And must and will preserve thee from dishonour,
Ev'n in despite of thee.

Alt. Let go my arm.

[Holds him. 301

Hor. If honour be thy care, if thou would'st live
Without the name of credulous, wittol husband,
Avoid thy bride, shun her detested bed,
The joys it yields are dash'd with poison-
Alt. Off!

To urge me but a minute more is fatal.
Hor. She is polluted, stain'd-

Alt. Madness and raging!

But hence

Hor. Dishonour'd by the man you hate

Alt. I pr'ythee loose me yet, for thy own sake, If life be worth the keeping

Hor. By Lothario.

Alt. Perdition take thee, villain, for the falsehood!

[Strikes him.

Now, nothing but thy life can make atonement.
Hor. A blow! thou hast us'd me well-

Alt. This to thy heart

[Draws.

Hor. Yet hold-By Heav'n his father's in his face! Spite of my wrongs, my heart runs o'er with tender

ness

321

And I could rather die myself than hurt him.
Alt. Defend thyself; for by my much wrong'd

love,

I swear, the

poor

evasion shall not save thee.

F

Hor. Yet hold-" thou know'st I dare-think how

we've liv'd

[They fight; Altamont presses on Horatio, who retires. "Nay then, 'tis brutal violence; and thus, "Thus Nature bids me guard the life she gave. "[They fight."

LAVINIA enters, and runs between their swords.

Lav. My brother, my Horatio! Is it possible ! Oh, turn your cruel swords upon Lavinia. If you must quench your impious rage in blood, Behold, my heart shall give you all her store, To save those dearer streams that flow from yours. Alt. 'Tis well thou hast found a safe-guard; none but this,

No pow'r on earth could save thee from my fury. “Lav. O fatal, deadly sound!”

Hor. Safety from thee!

Away, vain boy! Hast thou forgot the rev'rence
Due to my arm, thy first, thy great example,
Which pointed out thy way to noble daring,
And shew'd thee what it was to be a man?

Lav. What busy, meddling fiend, what foe to good.

ness,

Could kindle such a discord? "Oh, lay by

"Those most ungentle looks, and angry weapons, "Unless you mean my griefs and killing fears "Should stretch me out at your relentless feet, "A wretched corse, the victim of your fury."

340

Hor. Ask'st thou what made us foes? 'Twas base in

gratitude,

'Twas such a sin to friendship, as Heav'n's mercy,

That strives with man's untoward, monstrous wicked

ness,

Unwearied with forgiving, scarce could pardon.
He who was all to me, child, brother, friend,
With barb'rous, bloody malice, sought my life.

Alt. Thou art my sister, and I would not make thee The lonely mourner of a widow'd bed;

Therefore, thy husband's life is safe: but warn him,
No more to know this hospitable roof.
He has but ill repaid Sciolto's bounty.

We must not meet; 'tis dangerous. Farewel.

"if ever

[He is going out, Lavinia holds him. Lav. Stay, Altamont, my brother, stay; "Nature, or what is nearer much than nature, "The kind consent of our agreeing minds, "Have made us dear to one another, stay,

360

"And speak one gentle word to your Horatio. "Behold, his anger melts, he longs to love you, "To call you friend, then press you hard, with all "The tender, speechless joy of reconcilement." Alt. It cannot, shall not be-you must not hold me. Lav. Look kindly, then.

Alt. Each minute that I stay,

Is a new injury to fair Calista.

From thy false friendship, to her arms I'll fly; "There, if in any pause of love I rest,

"Breathless with bliss, upon her panting breast,