448 CLAVIGO : A TRAGEDY. 



Sop. Help, she is dying ! 



Mar. Forsake us not, God of heaven ! Away! brother, away! 



Beau. {Falls down by Maria, who, notwithstanding every effort, cannot be re- 

 stored'). Forsake thee ! forsake thee ! 



Sop. Stay then, and ruin us all, as you have killed Maria. You are gone, 

 O my sister! through your brother's indiscretion. 



Beau. Hold, sister ! 



Sop. (Ironically) Deliverer! avenger! help thyself ! 



Beau. Do I deserve this? 



Sop. Restore her to me ! and then to a dungeon, to the scaffold ! Go, 

 shed your own blood, and restore her to me ! 



Beau. Sophia ! 



Sop. Ha ! and is she gone, is she dead ! then preserve yourself for us I 

 (falling upon his neck). My brother, preserve yourself for us ! to our 

 father ! haste, haste ! This was her fate ! she has fulfilled it ! There is a 

 God in heaven to him leave vengeance. 



Buen. Away ! away ! come with me, I will conceal you until we find 

 means to convey you out of the kingdom. 



Beau. (Falls upon Maria., and kisses her). Sister ! (They force him away. 

 He clasps Sophia, who disengages herself. Maria is borne away., and Buenco 

 with Beaumarchais exeunt)- 



Enter Guilbert, with a Doctor. 



Sop. (Coming out of the room into which Maria was carried). It is too 

 late ! she is no more ! she is dead ! 



Guilb. Come yourself, Sir, and see ! it is not possible! (Exeunt). 



ACT. V. SCENE Street before Guilbert's House. Night. The house is 

 open. Three men, wrapped in black cloaks, stand before the door with torches. 



Clavigo enters, enveloped in a cloak, with a sword under his arm. A servant 

 going before, bearing a torch. 



Clav. I told you to avoid this street. 



Serv. We should have been obliged to go a great way round, and you 

 are in such haste. It is not far from here that Don Carlos waits. 



Clav. Torches yonder ! 



Serv. A funeral. Come, Sir. 



Clav. Maria's house ! A funeral ! My blood curdles with horror. Go, 

 inquire whom they are going to bury. 



Serv. (Goes up to the men.) Whom are you going to bury? 



Men. Maria Beaumarchais. 



(Clavigo sits on a stone and covers his face). 



Serv. (Returning.) They are going to bury Maria Beaumarchais. 



Clav. (Springing up.) Must thou echo it, betrayer ! Echo the harrow- 

 ing word that dries up the very marrow in thy bones ! 



Serv. Be calm, Sir come. Think of the danger you are in. 



Clav. Go to hell ! I will not stir hence. 



Serv. O Carlos ! O that I could find you, Carlos ! He has lost his senses. 



(Exit.) 



Clav. (Mutes in the distance.} Dead ! Maria dead ! Torches yonder ! 

 Her mourning attendants ! 'Tis an illusion a vision that affrights me 

 that holds a glass before me wherein I may see by anticipation the end of 

 my treachery. Still there is time ! Still ! I tremble my heart melts with 

 horror ! No ! no ! thou shall not die. I come I I come ! Vanish, 

 spectres of night terrific objects who interrupt my passage. (Goes up 

 to them distractedly) Vanish ! They stand ! Ha ! They gaze upon me ! 



