ioo ACCOUNT of the GERMAN THEATRE. 



and runs to embrace her lover and his father. The father feels 

 all the pleafure of his fon and his niece reftored, and fondly 

 anticipates the felicity they are to enjoy. But Moor bids them 

 check the expectation of happinefs, and look only for defpera- 

 tion and horror. " Your paternal curfe, fays he, configned 

 " me to perdition. Thefe men you fee are robbers — mur- 

 " derers — your fon is their chief." The exhaufled ftrength of 

 the old man cannot ftand the fhock ; he expires in the arms of 

 his fon. His miftrefs ftill furvives ', and though dumb with 

 terror and grief, folds him in her arms, and fhews the moft 

 ardent affection for her Charles. Warm in his love, as in every 

 other feeling, Moor had doated on her to diffraction ; he for- 

 gets himfelf in her embraces, and for a moment thinks he will 

 live and be happy with his Amelia. " Come from her arms, 

 " cries one of the boldeft of his troop, or I will fpeak what 

 " fhall freeze your blood." " Think, exclaims another, (while 

 " they level their pieces at his head) of your vow to be ours 

 " for ever. Ours you are, and heaven nor hell can win you 

 " from us." Their voices roufe the remembrance of his fitu- 

 ation. But his foul is too proud to yield to threats. " You 

 " are murderers, fays he, and I am your chief. Down with 

 " thefe arms, and know your mafter." Awed by the founds 

 they are accuftomed to obey, the banditti lower their arms. — 

 " To be great, Moor muft be free. I would not give this tri- 

 iC umph for all the elyfium of love. {He draws his /word.} 

 " Call not that madnefs of which your fouls want ftrength to 

 " fee the grandeur. The greatnefs of defpair is above the ken 

 " of wifdom. On actions fuch as this, reflection muft follow, 

 " not wifdom paufe." 



He plunges his fword into the bofom of Amelia. Struck 

 with the barbarous heroifm of the deed, his aftbciates fall at 

 his feet, acknowledge his unparalleled fidelity, and vow to be 

 his flaves for ever. " No, fays he, with a determined and pe- 

 " trifying calmnefs ', the deftiny of Moor is accomplifhed. 



" Thus 



