1828.) © The White Devil; or, Vittoria Corombona. 131 
On this Vittoria seems to change, and declares that she is ready to make 
the great and final sacrifice. It is a fine trait of her character, that 
though this declaration is a mere pretence, the terms in which she makes 
it, rise to the highest pitch of poetical beauty and passion :— 
“JT am now resolved. Farewell affliction ! 
Behold, Brachiano! I, that while you lived, 
Did make a flaming altar of my heart 
To sacrifice unto you, now am ready 
To sacrifice heart and all.” 
So profound is the power of deceit in woman’s heart, that she deceives 
even herself. She, and she alone, can “lie like truth.” Vittoria in 
this instance knows—nay, she knows that the persons whom she is ad- 
dressing know also—that Brachiano was never any more to her than a 
stepping-stone to her love of power and station: and yet she speaks of 
her love for him, as if it were a thing as much beyond measure as 
beyond dispute. 
Vittoria professes her readiness to die, and only desires that (being 
“ the weaker vessel”) Flamineo shall set her the example, which she 
swears to follow on the instant. Flamineo, in his turn, seems to be 
deceived by her protestations, and gives the pistols to Zanche, desiring 
her to direct two of them at him, and reserve the others for her mistress 
and herself. The Moor eagerly executes her office, and Flamineo falls ; 
and the women instantly run and trample upon him—loading him, while 
he yet lives, and seems to writhe in death’s agonies, with all the 
triumphant contempt that the seeming success of their trick over his 
entitles them to use :— Me ramthein 
Vit. What! are you dropt? 
Flam. Ym mix’d wita earth already. As you're noble, 
Perform your vows, and bravely follow me. 
Vit. Whither ?—to hell? 
Zan. To most assured damnation? 
Vit. O thou most cursed devil ! 
Zan..Thou art caught ay tynt cai 
Vit. In thme own engine. I tread the fire out 
That would have been my ruin. 
* * * * * * 
Think whither thou art going ! 
Zan, And remember what villanies thou hast acted ! 
Vit. This thy death 
Shall make me, like a blazing, ominous star, 
Look up and tremble. 
Flam. O, I am caught with a springe ! 
This kind of colloquy goes on a little longer, and then suddenly 
Flamineo starts up, and it appears that he is the successful tricker after 
all :— 
Flam. O cunning devils! Now I’ve tried your love, 
And doubled all your reaches! I am not wounded. 
The pistols held no bullets: *twas a plot 
To prove your kindness to me; and [ live 
To punish your ingratitude. 1 knew, 
e time or other, you would find a way 
To give me a strong potion O men 
S 2 
