Volume Xiv Part 14 (1/2)

AUR. Good father, let Aurelia, your daughter, Do this same act of justice; let me tread The pin:[33] the fact of his being so foul, so hateful, Has lent me, though a maid, such fort.i.tude.

PET. Thou hast thy wish, do't boldly; 'tis a deed That, in the ignorance of elder ages, Would be thought full of merit. Be not daunted.

AUR. I have a thought tells me it is religious To sacrifice a murtherer to death; Especially one that did act a deed So generally accounted odious.

PET. By holy Jaques,[34] I am a governor, And should my life (though by the hand of him My duty does call king) be stroke i' th' air; My injur'd corpse should not forsake the earth Till I did see't reveng'd: be resolute, thy foot Is guided by a power that, though unseen, Is still a furtherer of good attempts.

AUR. Pray, sir, lend me the key of the back-ward, For though my conscience tells me 'tis an act I may hereafter boast of, yet I'll pa.s.s Unto our Lady's chapel, when 'tis done, To be confess'd, ere I am seen of any.

PET. I am proud to see thee so well given.

Take 'em, [my] girl, and with 'em take my prayers.

AUR. He wakes; pray, leave me, sir.

[_Exit_ PETRUCHIO.

So I'll make fast The door: goodness, bear witness 'tis a potent Power outweighs my duty.

ANT. Amazement! on what tenters do you stretch [me].

O, how this alteration wracks my reason! I m[ust try]

To find the axletree on which it hangs!

Am I asleep?

AUR. Shake off thy wonder; leave that seat; 'twas set To sink thy body for ever from the eyes Of human sight; to tell thee how would be A fatal means to both our ruins----briefly, My love has broke the bands of nature With my father to give you being.

ANT. Happy, [O] happy vision! the bless'd preparative To this same hour; my joy would burst me else.

AUR. Receive me to thy arms.

ANT. I would not wish to live but for thee: [but for thee,]

Life were a trouble; welcome to my soul.

AUR. Stand; I have a ceremony To offer to our safety, ere we go.

[_She takes a dog, and ties it to the chair: she stamps: the chair and dog descend: a pistol-shot within: a noise of a mill._

Had not my love, like a kind branch Of some o'erlooking tree, catch'd thee, Thou'dst fallen, never to look upon the world again.

ANT. What shall I offer to my life's preserver?

AUR. Only thy heart, crown'd with a wreath of love.

Which I will ever keep; and in exchange Deliver mine.

ANT. Thus I deliver: in this kiss receive't.

AUR. In the same form Aurelia yields up hers.

[_A noise._