The Count of Narbonne - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
_Count._ She dies in prayer for me; Prays for me, while her life streams from my stroke.
What prayers can rise for such a wretch as I am?
Seize me, ye fiends! rouse all your stings and torments!
See, h.e.l.l grows darker as I stalk before them.
_Theod._ [_After looking some time at ADELAIDE's Body._]
'Tis my black destiny has murder'd thee.
Stand off--[_They hold him._] I will not live.
This load of being is intolerable; And, in a happier world, my soul shall join her.
[_Rushes out._
_Aust._ Observe, and keep him from all means of death.
_Enter COUNTESS, FABIAN, and other ATTENDANTS._
_Countess._ Whence were those cries? what meant that fearful bell?
Who shall withhold me? I will not return.
Is there a horror I am stranger to?
_Aust._ There is; and so beyond all mortal patience, I can but wish you stripp'd of sense and thought, That it may pa.s.s without destroying you.
_Countess._ What is it? speak--
_Aust._ [_Looking towards the Body._] Turn not your eyes that way, For there, alas----
_Countess._ O Lord of earth and heaven!
Is it not she? my daughter, pale and bleeding!
She's cold, stark cold:--can you not speak to me?
Which of you have done this?
_Count._ 'Twas ease till now; Fall, fall, thick darkness, hide me from that face!
_Aust._ Rise, madam, 'tis in vain.--Heaven comfort her!
_Countess._ Shall I not strive to warm her in my breast?
She is my all; I have nothing left but her.
You cannot force me from her. Adelaide!
My child, my lovely child! thy mother calls thee.
She hears me not;--she's dead.--Oh, G.o.d! I know thee-- Tell me, while I have sense, for my brain burns; Tell me--yet what avails it? I'll not curse-- There is a Power to punish.
_Count._ Look on me!
Thou hadst much cause to think my nature cruel; I wrong'd thee sore, and this was my last deed.
_Countess._ Was thine? thy deed? Oh, execrable monster!
Oh, greatly worthy of thy blood-stain'd sire!
A murderer he, and thou a parricide!
Why did thy barbarous hand refrain from me?
I was the hated bar to thy ambition; A stab like this, had set thee free for ever; Sav'd thee from shame, upbraiding, perjuries;-- But she--this innocent--what had she done?
_Count._ I thank thee. I was fool enough, or coward, To think of life one moment, to atone By deep repentance for the wrongs I did thee.
But hateful to myself, hated by thee; By Heaven abandon'd, and the plague of earth, This, this remains, and all are satisfied.
[_Stabs himself._
Forgive me, if 'tis possible--but--oh--
[_Dies._
_Countess._ [_After looking some time distractedly._]-- Where am I? Ruin, and pale death surround me.
I was a wife; there gasping lies my husband!
A mother too; there breathless lies my child!
Look down, oh Heaven! look down with pity on me!-- I know this place; I'll kneel once more. Hear me, great G.o.d of Nature!
For this one boon let me not beg in vain; Oh, do not mock me with the hopes of death; These pangs, these struggles, let them be my last; Release thy poor, afflicted, suffering creature; Take me from misery, too sharp to bear, And join me to my child!
[_Falls on the Body of ADELAIDE._
_Aust._ Heaven comfort thee!-- Hard was your lot, thou lovely innocent; But palms, eternal palms, above shall crown you.
For this rash man,--yet mercy's infinite,
[_The COUNT._
You stand amaz'd. Know, this disastrous scene, Ending the fatal race, concludes your sorrows.
To-morrow meet me round this sacred shrine; Then shall you hear at full a tale of wonder; The rightful Lord of Narbonne shall be own'd; And Heaven in all its ways be justified.
[_Curtain falls._
THE END.
