Part 10 (2/2)

NEIGHBOUR. The enemy return'd to the charge, and stumbling o'er the dead and wounded bodies of their friends, Warren received them with indissoluble firmness, and notwithstanding their battalious aspect, in the midst of the battle, tho' surrounded with foes on ev'ry side--

CLARISSA. Oh, my Neighbour!--

NEIGHBOUR. Madam--his nervous arm, like a giant refresh'd with wine, hurl'd destruction where'er he came, breathing heroic ardour to advent'rous deeds, and long time in even scale the battle hung, till at last death turn'd pale and affrighted at the carnage--they ran--

CLARISSA. Who ran?

NEIGHBOUR. The enemy, Madam, gave way--

CLARISSA. Warren never ran--yet--oh! I wou'd he had--I fear--[_Cries._]

NEIGHBOUR. I say not so, Madam.

CLARISSA. What say ye then? he was no coward, Neighbour--

NEIGHBOUR. Brave to the last. [_Aside. I forgot myself._]

CLARISSA. What said you? O Heavens! brave to the last! those words--why do you keep me thus?--cruel--

NEIGHBOUR. [_Aside. She will know it._] I say, Madam, by some mistaken orders on our side, the enemy rallied and return'd to the charge with fresh numbers, and your husband, son, and brother--Madam--

CLARISSA. Stop!--O ye powers!--What?--say no more--yet let me hear--keep me not thus--tell me, I charge thee--

NEIGHBOUR. [_Aside. I can hold no longer, she must know it._] Forgive me, Madam--I saw them fall--and Michael, the archangel, who vanquish'd Satan, is not more immortal than they. [_Aside. Who can relate such woes without a tear?_],

CLARISSA. Oh! I've heard enough--too--too much [_Cries._] yet--if thou hast worse to tell--say on--nought worse can be--O ye G.o.ds!--cruel--cruel-- thrice cruel--cou'd ye not leave me one--[_She faints, and is caught by her friend, and placed in a chair; he rings the bell, the family come in, and endeavour to bring her to._]

NEIGHBOUR. With surprising fort.i.tude she heard the melancholy relation, until I came to the last close--she then gave me a mournful look, lifted up her eyes, and immediately sunk motionless into my arms.

WOMAN. Poor soul!--no wonder--how I sympathize with her in her distress--my tender bosom can scarcely bear the sight! A dreadful loss!

a most shocking scene it was, that brothers should with brothers war, and in intestine fierce opposition meet, to seek the blood of each other, like dogs for a bare bone, who so oft in generous friends.h.i.+p and commerce join'd, in festivals of love and joy unanimous as the sons of one kind and indulgent father, and separately would freely in a good cause spend their blood and sacrifice their lives for him.

NEIGHBOUR. A terrible black day it was, and ever will be remembered by New-England, when that vile Briton (unworthy the name of a Briton), Lord Boston (curse the name!), whose horrid murders stain American soil with blood; perish his name! a fratricide! 'twas he who fir'd Charlestown, and spread desolation, fire, flames and smoke in ev'ry corner--he was the wretch, that waster of the world, that licens'd robber, that blood-stain'd insulter of a free people, who bears the name of Lord Boston, but from henceforth shall be called Cain, that pillag'd the ruins, and dragg'd and murder'd the infant, the aged and infirm--(But look, she recovers.)

CLARISSA. O ye angels! ye cherubims and seraphims! waft their souls to bliss, bathe their wounds with angelic balsam, and crown them with immortality. A faithful, loving and beloved husband, a promising and filial son, a tender and affectionate brother: Alas! what a loss!--Whom have I now to comfort me?--What have I left, but the voice of lamentation: [_She weeps._] Ill-fated bullets--these tears shall sustain me--yes, ye dear friends! how gladly wou'd I follow you--but alas! I must still endure tribulation and inquietudes, from which you are now exempt; I cannot cease to weep, ye brave men, I will mourn your fall--weep on--flow, mine eyes, and wash away their blood, till the fountain of sorrow is dried up--but, oh! it never--never will--my sympathetic soul shall dwell on your bosoms, and floods of tears shall water your graves; and since all other comfort is deny'd me, deprive me not of the only consolation left me of meditating on your virtues and dear memories, who fell in defense of liberty and your country--ye brave men--ye more than friends--ye martyrs to liberty!--This, this is all I ask, till sorrow overwhelms me.--I breathe my last; and ye yourselves, your own bright spirits, come and waft me to your peaceful abode, where the voice of lamentation is not heard, neither shall we know any more what it is to separate.

_Eager the patriot meets his desperate foe With full intent to give the fatal blow; The cause he fights for animates him high, His wife, his children and his liberty: For these he conquers, or more bravely dies, And yields himself a willing sacrifice._

[_Exeunt._

ACT IV.

SCENE I. _Near Norfolk, in Virginia, on board a man-of-war, LORD KIDNAPPER, in the state-room; a boat appears rowing towards the s.h.i.+p._

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