_Julia_. Dost thou ask me, Clifford? _Clif_. These nuptials may be shunned!-- _Julia_. With honour? _Clif_. Yes! _Julia_. Then take me!--Stop--hear me, and take me then! Let not thy passion be my counsellor! Deal with me, Clifford, as my brother. Be The jealous guardian of my spotless name! Scan thou my cause as 'twere thy sister's. Let Thy scrutiny o'erlook no point of it,-- Nor turn it over once, but many a time:-- That flaw, speck--yea,--the shade of one,--a soil So slight, not one out of a thousand eyes Could find it out, may not escape thee; then Say if these nuptials can be shunned with honour! _Clif_. They can. _Julia_. Then take me, Clifford! [They embrace.] _Wal_. [Entering.] Ha! What's this? Ha! treason! What! my baronet that was, My secretary now? Your servant, sir! Is't thus you do the pleasure of your lord,-- That for your service feeds you, clothes you, pays you! Or takest thou but the name of his dependent? What's here?--a letter. Fifty crowns to one A forgery! I'm wrong. It is his hand. This proves thee double traitor! _Clif_. Traitor! _Julia_. Nay, Control thy wrath, good Master Walter! Do-- And I'll persuade him to go hence-- [MASTER WALTER retires up the stage.] I see For me thou bearest this, and thank thee, Clifford! As thou hast truly shown thy heart to me, So truly I to thee have opened mine! Time flies! To-morrow! If thy love can find A way, such as thou saidst, for my enlargement By any means thou canst, apprise me of it; And, soon as shown, I'll take it. _Wal_. Is he gone? _Julia_. He is this moment. If thou covetest me, Win me, and wear me! May I trust thee? Oh! If that's thy soul, that's looking through thine eyes, Thou lovest me, and I may!--I sicken, lest I never see thee more! _Clif_. As life is mine, The ring that on thy wedding-finger goes No hand but mine shall place there! _Wal_. Lingers he? _Julia_. For my sake, now away! And yet a word. By all thy hopes most dear, be true to me! Go now!--yet stay! Clifford, while you are here, I'm like a bark distressed and compassless, That by a beacon steers; when you're away, That bark alone and tossing miles at sea! Now go! Farewell! My compass--beacon--land! When shall my eyes be blessed with thee again! _Clif_. Farewell! [Goes out.] _Julia_. Art gone? All's chance--all's care--all's darkness. [Is led off by MASTER WALTER.] ACT V. SCENE I.--An Apartment in the Earl of Rochdale's. [Enter HELEN and FATHOM.] _Fath_. The long and short of it is this--if she marries this lord, she'll break her heart! I wish you could see her, madam. Poor lady! _Helen_. How looks she, prithee? _Fath_. Marry, for all the world like a dripping-wet cambric handkerchief! She has no colour nor strength in her; and does nothing but weep--poor lady! _Helen_. Tell me again what said she to thee?