x88 ACCOUNT of the GERMAN THEATRE. 



treacheries, by Herman, the penitent aflbciate of his villany, he 

 wakes his band, and, in the rage of filial revenge, difpatches 

 one of the boldeft of the troop to force the caftle of his bro- 

 ther, and bring him alive before them. The old 'man is ftill 

 ignorant of his deliverer's being his fon, and waits, terrified 

 and weak, the difclofing of this myftery of juftice and of ven- 

 geance. 



The laft act opens with a fcene in the caftle of the guilty 

 Francis •, who is now in pofTeffion of the county of Moor. He 

 is exhibited in all the difmay and diffraction of awakened re- 

 morfe. After fome incoherent dialogue (wrought up with the 

 livelieft circumflances of guilty terror) with a fervant, who 

 had watched his fleep, and followed him, when he had ftarted 

 from his bed, into the faloon of the caftle, they are told by a 

 frightened domeftic, that a troop of horfemen are approaching 

 at a gallop, with terrifying fhouts. The Count is petrified by 

 his guilty fears, and cannot give orders for defence. His fol- 

 lowers, however, for a while difpute the paflage of the band, 

 till the caftle is fet on fire. Its mafter is ftill more loft in the 

 horrors of his fituation; and, after an unavailing requeft to 

 his fervant, to fave him from the vengeance of his enemies, by 

 putting him to death, is left alone amidft the approaching 

 flames, wifhing to die, yet dreading death, till he hears the 

 thunder of the band at the gate, which fhakes, burfts, and the 

 entering foe feizes him alive, and carries him ofF, according to 

 the command of his captain. 



The fcene changes to the heath, where Moor and his old fa- 

 ther are difcovered amidft the war of contending feelings with 

 which the fon is torn. He often refolves to difclofe himfelf to 

 his father ; but the confcioufnefs of his fallen and abandoned 

 ftate withholds him. The poet has contrived, by placing the 

 father and fon in this particular fituation, to infufe into this 

 fcene a degree of tendernefs which melts the heart, mixed with 

 a horror which chills the imagination. When the old man 



complains 



