The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 05Dryden, John
History
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 05
Dryden, John
English literature
_Har. Jun._ More than before--desired me to have killed her. Even when
I had not left her power to speak, she curst me with her eyes.
_Fisc._ Nay, then, you did not please her; if you had, she ne'er had
cursed you heartily. But we lose time: Since you have done this
action, 'tis necessary you proceed; we must have no tales told.
_Har. Jun._ What do you mean?
_Fisc._ To dispatch her immediately; could you be so senseless to
ravish her, and let her live? What if her husband should have found
her? What if any other English? Come, there's no dallying; it must be
done: My other plot is ripe, which shall destroy them all to-morrow.
_Har. Jun._ I love her still to madness, and never can consent to have
her killed. We'll thence remove her, if you please, and keep her safe
till your intended plot shall take effect; and when her husband's
gone, I'll win her love by every circumstance of kindness.
_Fisc._ You may do so; but t'other is the safer way: But I'll not
stand with you for one life. I could have wished that Towerson had
been killed before I had proceeded to my plot; but since it cannot be,
we must go on; conduct me where you left her.
_Har. Jun._ Oh, that I could forget both act and place! [_Exeunt._
SCENE III.
SCENE _drawn, discovers_ ISABINDA _bound.
Enter_ TOWERSON.
_Tow._ Sure I mistook the place; I'll wait no longer:
Something within me does forebode me ill;
I stumbled when I entered first this wood;
My nostrils bled three drops; then stopped the blood,
And not one more would follow.--
What's that, which seems to bear a mortal shape, [_Sees_ ISA.
Yet neither stirs nor speaks? or, is it some
Illusion of the night? some spectre, such
As in these Asian parts more frequently appear?
Whate'er it be, I'll venture to approach it. [_Goes near._
My Isabinda bound and gagged! Ye powers,
I tremble while I free her, and scarce dare
Restore her liberty of speech, for fear
Of knowing more. [_Unbinds her, and ungags her._
_Isab._ No longer bridegroom thou, nor I a bride;
Those names are vanished; love is now no more;
Look on me as thou would'st on some foul leper;
And do not touch me; I am all polluted,
All shame, all o'er dishonour; fly my sight,
And, for my sake, fly this detested isle,
Where horrid ills so black and fatal dwell,
As Indians could not guess, till Europe taught.
_Tow._ Speak plainer, I am recollected now:
I know I am a man, the sport of fate;
Yet, oh my better half, had heaven so pleased,
I had been more content, to suffer in myself than thee!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account