Jane Shore Part 2

_Alic._ My all is thine; One common hazard shall attend us both, And both be fortunate, or both be wretched.

But let thy fearful, doubting, heart be still; The saints and angels have thee in their charge, And all things shall be well. Think not, the good, The gentle, deeds of mercy thou hast done, Shall die forgotten all; the poor, the pris'ner, The fatherless, the friendless, and the widow, Who daily own the bounty of thy hand, Shall cry to heav'n, and pull a blessing on thee.

Ev'n man, the merciless insulter, man, Man, who rejoices in our s.e.x's weakness, Shall pity thee, and with unwonted goodness Forget thy tailings, and record thy praise.

_Jane S._ Why should I think that man will do for me, What yet he never did for wretches like me?

Mark by what partial justice we are judg'd; Such is the fate unhappy women find, And such the curse entail'd upon our kind, That man, the lawless libertine, may rove, Free and unquestion'd through the wilds of love; While woman,--sense and nature's easy fool, If poor, weak, woman swerve from virtue's rule; If, strongly charm'd, she leave the th.o.r.n.y way, And in the softer paths of pleasure stray; Ruin ensues, reproach and endless shame, And one false step entirely d.a.m.ns her fame; In vain, with tears the loss she may deplore, } In vain, look back on what she was before; } She sets, like stars that fall, to rise no more. [_exeunt._ }

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE 1. AN APARTMENT IN JANE Sh.o.r.e'S HOUSE.

_Enter Alicia, speaking to Jane Sh.o.r.e as entering._

_Alic._ No further, gentle friend; good angels guard you, And spread their gracious wings about your slumbers.

The drowsy night grows on the world, and now The busy craftsmen and the o'er-labour'd hind Forget the travail of the day in sleep: Care only wakes, and moping pensiveness; With meagre discontented looks they sit, And watch the wasting of the midnight taper.

Such vigils must I keep, so wakes my soul, Restless and self-tormented! O, false Hastings!

Thou hast destroy'd my peace. [_knocking without._ What noise is that?

What visitor is this, who, with bold freedom, Breaks in upon the peaceful night and rest, With such a rude approach?

_Enter a Servant._

_Serv._ One from the court, Lord Hastings (as I think) demands my lady.

_Alic._ Hastings! Be still, my heart, and try to meet him With his own arts! with falsehood.--But he comes.

_Enter Lord Hastings, speaking to a Servant as entering._

_Lord H._ Dismiss my train, and wait alone without.

Alicia here! Unfortunate encounter!

But be it as it may.

_Alic._ When humbly, thus, The great descend to visit the afflicted, When thus, unmindful of their rest, they come To sooth the sorrows of the midnight mourner, Comfort comes with them; like the golden sun, Dispels the sullen shades with her sweet influence, And cheers the melancholy house of care.

_Lord H._ 'Tis true, I would not over-rate a courtesy, Nor let the coldness of delay hang on it, To nip and blast its favour, like a frost; But rather chose, at this late hour, to come, That your fair friend may know I have prevail'd; The lord protector has receiv'd her suit, And means to show her grace.

_Alic._ My friend! my lord.

_Lord H._ Yes, lady, yours; none has a right more ample To task my pow'r than you.

_Alic._ I want the words, To pay you back a compliment so courtly; But my heart guesses at the friendly meaning, And wo' not die your debtor.

_Lord H._ 'Tis well, madam.

But I would see your friend.

_Alic._ O, thou false lord!

I would be mistress of my heaving heart, Stifle this rising rage, and learn from thee To dress my face in easy, dull, indiff'rence; But 'two' not be; my wrongs will tear their way, And rush at once upon thee.

_Lord H._ Are you wise?

Have you the use of reason? Do you wake?

What means this raving, this transporting pa.s.sion?

_Alic._ O, thou cool traitor! thou insulting tyrant!

Dost thou behold my poor, distracted, heart, Thus rent with agonizing love and rage, And ask me, what it means? Art thou not false?

Am I not scorn'd, forsaken, and abandon'd; Left, like a common wretch, to shame and infamy; Giv'n up to be the sport of villains' tongues, Of laughing parasites, and lewd buffoons?

And all because my soul has doated on thee With love, with truth, and tenderness unutterable!

_Lord H._ Are these the proofs of tenderness and love?

These endless quarrels, discontents, and jealousies, These never-ceasing waitings and complainings, These furious starts, these whirlwinds of the soul, Which every other moment rise to madness?

_Alic._ What proof, alas! have I not giv'n of love?

What have I not abandon'd to thy arms?

Have I not set at nought my n.o.ble birth, A spotless fame, and an unblemish'd race, The peace of innocence, and pride of virtue?

My prodigality has giv'n thee all; And now, I've nothing left me to bestow, You hate the wretched bankrupt you have made.

_Lord H._ Why am I thus pursu'd from place to place, Kept in the view, and cross'd at ev'ry turn?

In vain I fly, and, like a hunted deer, Scud o'er the lawns, and hasten to the covert; E'er I can reach my safety, you o'ertake me With the swift malice of some keen reproach, And drive the winged shaft deep in my heart.

_Alic._ Hither you fly, and here you seek repose; Spite of the poor deceit, your arts are known, Your pious, charitable, midnight visits.

_Lord H._ If you are wise, and prize your peace of mind, Yet take the friendly counsel of my love; Believe me true, nor listen to your jealousy.

Let not that devil, which undoes your s.e.x, That cursed curiosity, seduce you To hunt for needless secrets, which, neglected, Shall never hurt your quiet; but, once known, Shall sit upon your heart, pinch it with pain, And banish the sweet sleep for ever from you.

Go to--be yet advis'd.--

_Alic._ Dost thou in scorn Preach patience to my rage, and bid me tamely Sit like a poor, contented, idiot down, Nor dare to think thou'st wrong'd me? Ruin seize thee, And swift perdition overtake thy treachery.

Have I the least remaining cause to doubt?

Hast thou endeavour'd once to hide thy falsehood?

To hide it might have spoke some little tenderness, And shown thee half unwilling to undo me: But thou disdain'st the weakness of humanity.

Thy words, and all thy actions, have confess'd it; Ev'n now thy eyes avow it, now they speak, And insolently own the glorious villany.

_Lord H._ Well then, I own my heart has broke your chains.

Patient, I bore the painful bondage long, At length my gen'rous love disdains your tyranny; The bitterness and stings of taunting jealousy, Vexations days, and jarring, joyless, nights, Have driv'n him forth to seek some safer shelter, Where he may rest his weary wings in peace.

_Alic._ You triumph!--do! and with gigantic pride Defy impending vengeance. Heav'n shall wink; No more his arm shall roll the dreadful thunder, Nor send his lightnings forth: no more his justice Shall visit the presuming sons of men, But perjury, like thine, shall dwell in safety.

_Lord H._ Whate'er my fate decrees for me hereafter, Be present to me now, my better angel!

Preserve me from the storm that threatens now, And, if I have beyond atonement sinn'd, Let any other kind of plague o'ertake me, So I escape the fury of that tongue.

_Alic._ Thy prayer is heard--I go--but know, proud lord, Howe'er thou scorn'st the weakness of my s.e.x, This feeble hand may find the means to reach thee, Howe'er sublime in pow'r and greatness plac'd, With royal favour guarded round and graced; On eagle's wings my rage shall urge her flight, And hurl thee headlong from thy topmast height; Then, like thy fate, superior will I sit, And view thee fall'n, and grov'ling at my feet; See thy last breath with indignation go, And tread thee sinking to the shades below. [_exit._

_Lord H._ How fierce a fiend is pa.s.sion! With what wildness, What tyranny, untam'd it reigns in woman!

Unhappy s.e.x! whose easy, yielding, temper Gives way to ev'ry appet.i.te alike: And love in their weak bosoms is a rage As terrible as hate, and as destructive.

But soft ye now--for here comes one, disclaims Strife and her wrangling train; of equal elements, Without one jarring atom, was she form'd, And gentleness and joy make up her being.

_Enter Jane Sh.o.r.e._