DRAMATIC SCENES. 205 



Shrink back, and shudder at your monstrous crimes, 

 And, shrinking, curse you ! Panics strike your youth! 

 And the sharp terrors of a guilty mind 

 Poison your aged days ; while all your nights, 

 As on the earth you lay your houseless head, 

 OUT-HORROR HORROR ! May you quit the world 

 Abhorrd, self-hated, hopeless for the next, 

 Your life a burden, and your death a fear ! 



WILP. *For mercy's sake, forbear ! you terrify me ! 



SIR E. Hope THIS may fall upon thee : SWEAR 



thou hopest it, 



By every attribute which heaven, earth, hell, 

 Can lend, to bind, and strengthen conjuration, 

 If thou betray'st me. 



WILF. Well, I [Hesitating] 



SIR E. No retreating ! 



WILF. [After a pause.] I swear by all the ties that 



bind a man, 

 Divine or human, never to divulge ! 



SIR E. Remember, you have sought this secret : Yes, 

 Extorted it. I have not thrust it on you. 

 Tis big with danger to you ; and to me, 

 While I prepare to speak, torment unutterable. 

 Know, Wilford, that fConfusion ! 



WILF. Dearest sir ! 



Collect yourself. This shakes you horribly : 

 You had this trembling, it is scarce a week, 

 At Madame Helen's. 



SIR E. There it is Her uncle 



WILF. +Her uncle ! 



SIR E. HIM. She knows it not ; None know it, 

 You are the first ordained to hear me say. 



I am HIS MURDERER. 



WILF. O Heaven ! 



SIR E. His ASSASSIN. 



WILF. What, you that mur the murder 1 am 



choked ! 



With the greatest degree of alarm. 



Sir Edward is here apparently convulsed by his feelings. 



Surjirixe and alirm. The greatest degree of horror. 



