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Show 12 The FAIR PENITENT. And never grace the Public k with his Virtues. Perhaps ev'n now he gazes fondly on her, ~. And tanking Soul and Body bot.alike. Kiefs the perlea Workmanfh.p ot Heav n, Then fiRhing, to his ev'ry Care fpeaks Peace, Tndbidf his Heart be fatisfy'd with Rapp^nefs O wretched Husband ! while fhe hangs about thee WiTh-dle Blandifhments, and plays the fond one, Ev'n then her hot Imagination wanders, ^ Contriving Riot, and loofe Shapes of Love; And whilfflw clafp thee clofe, makes thee a Monfter. What if I give this Piper to her Father r It follows, that his Juft^ dooms her dead. And breaks his Heart with Sorrow; nard Return, For a H the Good his Hand has heap'd on us: Hold, let m e take a Moment's Thought. Enter Lavinia. i „ v ftlv Lord! • ', Tmft m e it ioys m y Heart that I have found you. E n q u S wherefore thou had left the Company, Before m y Brother's Nuptial Rues were ended The tol I me, you had felt fome ludden lllnefa; Where are you fick ? Is it your Head ? yourHeart? Tell me, m y Love, and eafe m y anxious Thoughts, That I may take you gently in m y Arms Sooth ecu to Reft, and fofteu all your Pain. Z U were unjuft; no, let m e fpare m y Friend, Lock up the fatal Secret in m y B«aft M o r tell him that which will undo his Quiet. Lav. What means m y Lord ? Bar. H a ! faidft thou, m y Lav.ma? Lav Alas! vou know not what you make nu iu W h v are you pale? W h y did you ftart and tremble, Whenceis that Sigh ? And wherefore are your Eye. Sve7eryratdtolieav'n7Thef,ckManthUs, Acknowledging the Summons of his t ate, And, with Confuilon, ihmks upon his Audit. ^ The FAIR PENITENT. IJ r nk no • thou haft miftook m y Sicknefs quite, Jf' P « « OT OC the Soul. Wou'd f had met Ri AUs! what is.it 1 Wherefore turn you from me ? Why did you falfely call m e your Lavima, And fwear I was Horatio's better hall, Since now you mourn unkindly by^ourfelf, And rob me of my Partnerfhip of Sadnels i Witnefs, you Holy Pow'rs, who know rny Truth, TVre cannot be a Chance in Life fo miferable, Nothing fo very hard, but 1 coold bear it, Much rather than my Love fhould treat m e coldly, And ufe me like a Stranger to his Heart. Hor. Seek not to know what I wou'd hide from all, But moft from thee. I never knew a Pleafure, Ought that was joyful, fortunate, or good, # But ftraight I ran to blefs thee with the Tidings, And laid up all my Happinefs with thee: But wherefore, wherefore fhould I give thee Pain? Then fpare me, I conjure thee5 ask no farther; Allow my melancholy Thoughts this Privilege, And let 'em biood in fecret o'er their Sorrows Lav. It is enough; chide not, all is well; Forgive me, if I faw you fad, Horatio, And ask'd to weep out part of your Misfortunes; I wo'not prefs to know what you forbid me. Yet, my lov'd Lord, yet you muft grant m e this, Forget your Cares for this one happy Day, Devote this Day to Mirth, and to your Altamont; For his dear fake, let Peace be in your Looks. ur f i d * & * VI of Joy. Hor Oh never! never! never!'Thou art innocent; Simplicity from 111, pnre native Truth, And Candour of the Mind adorn thee ever; Bur there arc fuch, fuch falfe ones in the World, 1 woud fill thy gentle Soul with wild Amazement, 10 hear their Story told. * Lav. |