BY M. G. LEWIS. For us and for our Tragedy, Thus stooping to your clemency, We beg your _candid_ hearing patiently. Hamlet. PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY BRADFORD AND INSKEEP: INSKEEP AND BRADFORD, NEW-YORK; AND WILLIAM M'ILHENNY, BOSTON. _Smith & M'Kenzie, printers._ 1810. ALFONSO, KING OF CASTILE: DRAMATIS PERSONAE. Alfonso XI. Orsino. Caesario. Father Bazil. Henriquez. Melchior. Ricardo. Gomez. Marcos. Lucio. First Citizen. Second Citizen. Friars, Soldiers, Citizens, Conspirators, &c. Amelrosa. Ottilia. Estella. Inis. Nuns, and Female attendants on Amelrosa. _The scene lies in Burgos (the capital of Old Castile) and in the adjoining Forest._ The Action is supposed to pass in the year 1345. ACT I. SCENE I.--_The palace-garden.--Daybreak._ Ottilia _enters in a night dress: her hair flows dishevelled._ _Otti._ Dews of the morn, descend! Breathe, summer gales, My flushed cheeks woo ye! Play, sweet wantons, play 'Mid my loose tresses, fan my panting breast, Quench my blood's burning fever!--Vain, vain prayer! Not Winter, throned 'midst Alpine snows, whose will Can with one breath, one touch, congeal whole realms, And blanch whole seas; not that fiend's self could ease This heart, this gulph of flames, this purple kingdom, Where passion rules and rages!--Oh! my soul! Caesario, my Caesario!--[_A pause, during which she seems buried in thought--the clock strikes four._] Hark!--Ah me! Is't still so early? Will't be still so long, Ere my love comes? Oh! speed, ye pitying hours, Your flight, till mid-day brings Caesario back; Then, if ye list, rest your kind wings for ever! _Enter_ Lucio. _Luc._ 'Tis past the hour! I fear I shall be chid, For lo! the sun already darts his rays Athwart the garden-paths. _Otti._ How still! how tranquil! All rests, except Ottilia! I'll regain The hateful couch, where still my husband sleeps: Ere long he sleeps forever! Ha! why steals Yon boy.----Amazement! Do my eyes deceive me? _Luc._ Hist! hist! Estella? Estella. [_Appearing on the terrace of the palace._] _Est._ Lucio? _Luc._ Ay, the same. _Est._ Good! good! _Luc._ But pray you bid him speed. So loud His black Arabian snorts, and paws the earth, I fear he'll wake the guards. _Est._ Farewell, I'll warn him. [_Ext. severally._ _Otti._ [_Alone._] 'Twas Lucio, sure!--What business.--Ah, how ready Is fear to whisper what love hates to hear. [Estella _and_ Caesario _appear on the terrace._] See! see! again Estella comes--and with her-- Shame and despair! burst from your sockets eyes, Since ye dare show me this!--'Tis he! 'Tis he! Caesario! on my soul, Caesario's self---- He bids farewell!--He waves a glittering scarf, A gift of love, no doubt!--Now to his lips He glues it!--Blistered be those lips, Caesario, Which have so oft sworn faith to me:--She goes---- Egyptian plagues go with her! [_Exit Estella._