The Fatal Falsehood Part 6

_Or._ Impossible! another day were ruin.

_Riv._ Then let me fly to Julia, and conjure her To bless me with her hand this hour--this moment.

_Or._ Oh, no, no, no.

_Riv._ I will: in such a cause Surely she will forego the rigid forms Of cold decorum; then, my best Orlando!

I shall receive my Julia from thy hand; The blessing will be doubled! I shall owe The precious gift of love to sacred friends.h.i.+p!

_Or._ Canst thou bear this, my heart?

_Riv._ Then, my Orlando, Since thy unkind reserve denies my heart Its partners.h.i.+p in this thy h.o.a.rd of sorrows, I will not press to know it: thou shalt go Soon as the holy priest has made us one; For, oh! 'twill soothe thee in the hour of parting, To know I'm in possession of my love, To think I'm blest with Julia, to reflect Thou gav'st her to my arms, my bride! my wife!

_Or._ Ah! my brain turns!

_Riv._ 'Tis as I thought; I'll try him. [_Aside._ Now answer me, Orlando, and with truth; Hide nothing from thy friend--dost thou not love?

_Or._ Ha! how? I am betray'd! he reads my heart.

_Riv._ Hast thou, with all that tenderness of soul, From love's infection kept thy yielding heart?

Say, could'st thou bask in all the blaze of beauty, And never feel its warmth?----Impossible!

Oh! I shall probe thy soul till thou confess The conquering fair one's name--but why confess?

Come, come, I know full well--

_Or._ Ha! dost thou know?

And knowing, dost thou suffer me to live?

And dost thou know my guilt, and call me friend?

He mocks but to destroy me!

_Riv._ Come, no more; Love is a proud, an arbitrary G.o.d, And will not choose as rigid fathers bid; I know that thine has destin'd for thy bride A Tuscan maid; but hearts disdain all force.

_Or._ How's this? what! dost thou justify my pa.s.sion?

_Riv._ Applaud it--glory in it--will a.s.sist it.

She is so fair, so worthy to be lov'd, That I should be thy rival, were not she My sister.

_Or._ How!

_Riv._ She is another Julia.

_Or._ I stood upon a fearful precipice-- I'm giddy still--oh, yes! I understand thee-- Thy beauteous sister! what a wretch I've been!

Oh, Rivers! too much softness has undone me.

Yet I will never wrong the maid I love, Nor injure thee; first, let Orlando peris.h.!.+

_Riv._ Be more explicit.

_Or._ For the present spare me.

Think not too hardly of me, n.o.ble Rivers!

I am a man, and full of human frailties; But hate like h.e.l.l the crime which tempts me on.

When I am ready to depart, I'll see thee, Clear all my long accounts of love and honour, Remove thy doubts, embrace thee, and expire.

[_Exit_ ORLANDO.

_Riv._ It must be so--to what excess he loves her!

Yet wherefore not demand her? for his birth May claim alliance with the proudest fortune.

Sure there's some hidden cause--perhaps--ah, no!

Turn from that thought, my soul! 'twas vile suspicion; And I could hate the heart which but conceiv'd it.

'Tis true their faith is different--then his father, Austere and rigid, dooms him to another.

That must not be--these bars shall be remov'd; I'll serve him with my life, nor taste of bliss, 'Till I have sought to bless the friend I love. [_Exit._

_Re-enter_ ORLANDO.

_Or._ Wed her to-day? wed her perhaps this hour?

Hasten the rites for _me_? _I_ give her to him?

_I_ stand a tame spectator of their bliss?

_I_ live a patient witness of their joy?

First let this dagger drink my heart's warm blood.

[_Takes a dagger from his bosom, then sees_ JULIA.

The sorceress comes! oh, there's a charm about her Which holds my hand, and makes me wish to live.

I shudder at her sight! open, thou earth, And save me from the peril of her charms!

[_Puts up the dagger._

_Enter_ JULIA.

_Jul._ Methought I heard the cry of one in pain; From hence it came; ah, me! my lord Orlando!

What means that sigh? that agonising voice?

Those groans which rend your heart? those frantic looks?

Indeed I'm terrified. What would you do?

_Or._ (_furiously._) Die!

_Jul._ Talk you of death? renounce the fatal thought; Live for my sake, Orlando.

_Or._ For thy sake?

That were indeed a cause to live for ages, Would nature but extend the narrow limits Of human life so far.

_Jul._ And for the sake Of Rivers; live for both; he sends me here To beg you would delay your purpos'd parting; His happiness, he swears, if you are absent Will be but half complete.

_Or._ Is it to-night?

This marriage, Julia, did you say to-night?

_Jul._ It is, and yet you leave us.

_Or._ No----I'll stay, Since you command, stay and expire before you.

_Jul._ What mean you?

_Or._ That I'll perish at the feet Of----Rivers.