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Show S4 The HJftory of George Barnwell. Enter Truemaa and Maria. Tr. Madam, reluctant Head you to this difmal Scene: - This is the Seat of Mifery and Guilt _ This is the Entrance to fhameful Death. Ma. T o this fid place, then no improper Gueft, the abandon'd loft Maria, brings Defpair, and fee the Sub-je& and the Caufe of all this World of W o e . • Silent and Motioniefs he Hands, as if his Soul had quitted ber Abode, and the lifelefs F o r m alone was left behind ! Barn. I groan, but murmur n o t . - - Juft Hea- Ven, I a m your own, do with m e what you pleafe. Ma. W h y are your ftreaming Eyes ftill fix'd below ? A s tho1 thoud'ft give the greedy Earth thy Sorrows, and rob m e of m y Due. Were happinefs within your Power, you mould beftow it where you pleas'd. Barn. O h ! fay not fo, but fly, abhor and leave me to m y Fate . •.. • Confider what you are; h o w vaft your Fortune, and h o w bright your Fame : H a v e Pity on your Youth, Beauty, and unequal Virtue, for which fa many noble Peers have figh'd in vain. 5iefs with your Charms fome honourable Lord. - Ma. Let her blufh, w h o proff'ring Love, invades the Freedom of your Sex's Choice, and meanly fues in hopes of a Return. Your inovidable Fate hath render'd Hope impoffible as vain Then why fhould ! fear to avow a Paffion fo juft, and fo difinteiefted ? Tr. If any fhould take Occalion from Millwood's Crimes, to libel the beft and fai^eft Part of the Creation, here let them fee their Error. Yet here 'tis lavim'd in vain; tho' by the' rich Prefent, the generous Donor is undone j he, on w h o m it is heftow'd receives no Benefit. Barn. So the Aromatick Spices of the Eaft, which all the living covet and efteem, are, with unavailing Kind-nefs, wafted on the Dead. Ma. Yes, fruitlefs is m y love, and unavailing all my Sighs and Tears. Can they fave thee from approaching Death ? From fuch a Death ' O terrible Idea-- what is her Mifery and Diftrefs, w h o fees the firft f^kL oLnonddoonn fM^*"*f*;*'-; w<h o*m alone fhe'd live frftWtObjf ,.r f d £ r X ; r » 5 , T h o u f a n d Deaths, ft * fo, whom (he'd die a u w , yetfte lshap- 5 repoffible, expiring > n J ^ e r ™ M i l l i o n s of WorKta pv whencompardtome^--- her CondltKm ^ " ^ ^ i w o K S t o mine. The laft T & ^ S S & S * Maids* is all I asfc - f« v Relief andthat'sdeny'dme. each other lor a, s>.gn. , I• Refolution arm d, y°Ur i t'^eath -But publkk Ignomy, ever- ^ Q S ™ - - U t h i s t o b e e u d u r ' d ? Caul, w h o g S £ r ^ S Lch Hour of my devoted Life? feel all thefe Woes renew'd, can I endure this ? Tr. Grief has fo impar'd her Spirits, ihe pants, as in the Agonies of Death. ' Barn. Preferve her, Heaven, and reftore her Peace, nor let her Death be added to m y Crimes. [ Bill 1 oLs. j I am fummoa'd to m y Fate. Emer Keeper, and Officers Keep. Sir, the Officers attend you ; Millwood is already* fummon'd. Barn. Tell 'em I'm r e a d y . - And now m y Friend, Farewell. [Embraci;??.] Support and comfort the belt you can this Mourning Fair No more .Forget: you can this Mourning hair No more * or gen not to pray for me. [ Turning to Maria. ] Would your bright Excellence, permit m e the Honour of a chafti Embrace, the laftHrppinefs this World could were rniae, [She inclines towards him, they embrace. ] Exalted Goodnefs' O turn your Eyes from Earth and me, to Heaven, where Virtue, likes yours, is ever heard Pray for the Peace of m y departing Soul - • Early m y Race of Wickednefs began, and foon I reach'd the Summit ! E're Nature has finifh'd her W o r k , and ftampt m e M m , juft at the Time that others begin to ftray, m y Courle is finith'd ; tho' fhort m y Span of Life, and few m y Days ; ye: count my Crimes for Years I've Uv'd fall Ages. T h us D 4 Juftice |