Lot IV. HENRY II OR FALL OF ROSAMOND.

Scene II.

MHARTLEY ROSAMOND.
Ch. did I ever think I could refuse.

what Herry asked

London. Printed for J.Ball.Eritish Library. Stran 3.May 24.1796.

Cliff. My daughter!

Rosa. All gracious heaven! 'tis he

Cliff. Oh, let me clasp her

To a fond father's aged breast, and call

Her sinking spirit from the shades of death.

[Faints:

Ethel. Oh, reverend stranger, if thou be'st her father, With gentle voice allure her; do not cast The frown of anger on her meek distress; Her softness cannot bear it.

Cliff. Fear not, virgin!

Assist to raise her-the returning blood

Faintly renews its course! her timid eye
Speaks painful apprehension.

Rosa. Where is filed,

That rev'rend form? even now it hover'd o'er me,

Sent by kind Heaven, the sacred delegate,

Of comfort and protection.

Cliff. Rosamond!

Nay! turn not from me-do not shun my sight,

In pity shrink not from a father's eye,

Who comes to chace thy sorrows; comes to shed

Some pious drops o'er thy afflicted heart,

Ere he is mingled with the dust.

Rosa. Thus lowly

Bent to the earth, with abject eye, that dares not

Look up to that much-injur'd rev'rend face,

Let me implore thy pardon.

Cliff. Rise, my child,

Oh rise, and let me gaze on that lov'd form,
Which once was all my comfort.

F

Rosa. But which now

You look upon with anger and disgust.
My crimes deserve it all.

Cliff. Nay, meet my eye

Survey me well: Dost thou behold therein
A rigid judge? Oh no, the father melts
In these fast-streaming tears.

Rosa. Has pitying heaven

Heard the sad prayer of such a guilty wretch,
And granted, in the moment of affliction,
A parent's presence, and returning blessing,
To his repentant child!

Cliff. Dost thou repent?

And didst thou wish once more to see thy father?
Dry up thy tears and answer me with firmness;
Dost thou repent? Hast thou the fortitude
To break the fatal tye, that link'd thy soul,
To lawless love, and all its false allurements?
Canst thou look up, with steady resolution,
To that great power who loves repentant hearts,
And say thou wilt no more transgress?

Rosa. I can,

I can, my father; that All-seeing Power,

To whom thou hast appeal'd, can witness for me:
I have renounc'd the paths of sin and shame,
And mean to spend my sad remains of life

In deep contrition for my past offences.

Cliff. To find thee thus, is rapture to my soul! Enter my breast, and take again possession Of all the fondness that I ever bore thee.-

By my best hopes, when in thy smiling youth
Mine eye hath hung enamour'd on thy charms,
Thou shew'dst not then so amiable as now,
Dressed in these graceful, penitential tears.
Rosa. Oh, my father!

And may I still look up to thee with hope
That the dear love and tenderness, thy breast
Once cherish'd for thy darling Rosamond,
Is not extinguish'd quite ?

Cliff. Alas, my child!

I am not lost to nature and her ties.

We are all frail; preach Stoics how they will.
'Tis not a parent's duty to cast off,

But to reclaim, the wand'rer of his blood.-
One question more, on that depends my peace-
Shall I behold my child redeem'd from shame,
Or must I sink with sorrow to the grave,

Ere this great bus'ness of my soul's accomplish'd ? Rosa. Command my heart; can I, thus lost to goodness,

Assuage thy cares, and soften the decline

Of weary nature? say, my dearest father,
And by the zeal of my obedience, prove
The truth of my contrition.

Cliff. Hear me then,

Thou darling of my bosom !-Westward hence,

On the slow rising of a fertile hill,

A virtuous dame of honourable race,

Hath founded and endow'd a hallow'd mansion

To pure devotion's purposes assign'd.