B. Will. Why, what a crew of cowards!
In the same moment murdering and repenting.
Mos. Give me the ring that is on Arden's
finger.

Shake. There. Will you have his purse, too?
Mos. No, keep that.

B. Will. Thanks for our own; we should have kept the ring,

Were it not too remarkable.

But how must we dispose of the body?

Mos. Convey it thro' the garden, to the field Behind the abbey-wall: Michael will shew the

(Michael going out of the wrong door.) So, make what speed you can: I'll wait you there.

SCENE II.-A Hall in Arden's House. MOSBY discovered.

[Exeunt.

Mos. They must pass undescried: gardens and flelds

Are dreary deserts now. Night-fowls and beasts of prey

Avoid the pinching rigour of the season,
Nor leave their shelter at a time like this.
And yet this night, this ling'ring winter night,
Hung with a weight of clouds that stops her
course,

Contracts new horrors, and a deeper black,
From this d-d deed. Mosby, thou hast thy

wish.

Arden is dead; now count thy gains at leisure.
Dangers without, on every side suspicion;
Within, my starting conscience marks such wounds,
As hell can equal, oniy murderers feel.
(A pause.)
This, this the end of all my flatt'ring hopes!
Oh, happiest was I in my humble state;
Though I lay down in want, I slept in peace:
My daily toil begat my night's repose,
My night's repose made daylight pleasing to me.
But now I've climb'd the top-bough of the tree.
And sought to build my nest among the clouds:
The gentlest tales of summer shake my bed,
And dreams of murder harrow up my soul.
But hark! not: 'tis dreadful being alone.
This awful silence, that unbroken reigns
Through earth and air, awakes attention inore,
Than thunder bursting from ten thousand clouds:
'Sdeath! 'tis but Michael. Say-

Should you be question'd as to Arden's death, You'll not confess?

Mich. No, so Maria's mine.

Mos. She's thine, if all a brother can-
Mich. What's if?

I brought hear dear, at hazard of my soul,

And force shall make her mine.

Mos. Why, how now, coward!

GREEN, BRADSHAW, ADAM FOWL, ALICIA, MARIA, &c., discovered.

Brad. Madam, be comforted.

A. Fowl. Some accident, or business unforeseen, detains him thus.

Brad. I doubt not of his safety.

Ali. I thank you, gentlemen; I know you lov'd My Arden well, and kindly speak your wishes. Enter MOSBY.

Mos. I am asham'd I've made you wait: be seated.

Green. Madam, first take your place.
Ali. (Aside) Make me not mad:

To me, henceforth, all places are alike.

(Sits.)

Mos. Come, since we want the master of the

To apprehend two most notorious ruffians;
And information being made on oath,
That they were seen to enter here to-night,
I'm come to search.

Green. I'm glad it is no worse.

(Aside.)

Mos. And can you think that Arden entertains
Villains like those you speak of? Where he here,
You'd not be thank'd for this officiousness.
Mayor. I know my duty, sir, and that respect,
So justly due to our good neighbour's worth.
But where is Arden?

Ali. Heavens! where indeed!
Mar. Alicia, for my sake-
Ali. If I were silent,

(Aside.)

Each precious drop of murder'd Arden's blood Would find a tongue, and cry to heaven for ven

geance.

Mayor. What says the lady?

Mos. Oh! sir, heed her not:

Her husband has not been at home to-night,
And her misboding sorrow for his absence,
Has almost made her frantic.

Mayor. Scarce an hour

Since I beheld him enter here with you.

Mos. The darkness of the night deceiv'd you, sir:

It was a stranger, since departed hence. Mayor. That's most surprising. No man knoxs him better.

Frank. (Without.) Within there! ho! bar up your gates with care,

And set a watch. Let not a man go by!

Enter FRANKLIN and others, with lights. And ev'ry tongue, that gave not its consent To Arden's death, join mine and cry aloud To heaven and earth for justice. Honest Arden, My friend, is murder'd.

Horrid, with many a gaping wound, he lies
Behind the abbey, a sad spectacle!
O vengeance! vengeance!

Mayor. Justly art thou mov'd.
Passion is reason in a cause like this.

Frank. Eternal Providence, to whose bright eye Darkness itself is as the noon-day blaze, Who brings the midnight murd'rer and his deeds To light and shame, has, in their own security, Found these.

Mayor. Here seize them all this instant: (Alicia faints.) Look to the lady. This may be but feign'd. Your charge but goes along with my suspicions. Brad. And mine.

A. Fowl. And mine.

Frank. First hear me, and then judge,
Whether on slight presumptions I accuse them.
These honest men, (neighbours and townsmen all,)
Conducted me, drooping with grief and fear,
To where the body lay; with them I took theso
notes,

Not to be trusted to the faithless memory:
"Huge clots of blood and some of Arden's hair
May still be seen upon the garden-wall;
Many such rushes as these floors are strew'd with
Sticks to his shoes and garments: and the prints
Of several feet may in the snow be trac'd,
From the stark body to the very door."

These are presumptions he was murder'd here,
And that th' assassins having borne his corse
Into the fields, hither return'd again.
Mos. Are these your proofs?

Green. These are but circumstances,
And only prove thy malice.
Frank. And this scarf,

Known to be Arden's, in the court was found,
All blood.

Magor. Search 'em.

Mich. I thought I'd thrown it down the well.

(Aside.) Mayor. (Toan Officer.) Enter that room, and search the lady there;

We may, perhaps, discover more.

(Officer goes out and re-enters; in the mean-
time another Officer searches Mosby and
Green.)

1 Officer. On Arden's wife I found this letter.
2 Officer. And I this ring on Mosby.
Mayor. Righteous heaven!

Well may'st thou hang thy head, detested villain;
This very day did Arden wear this ring;

I saw it on his hand.

Mos. I freely yield me to my fate.

Enter another Officer.

Officer. We've seiz'd two men behind some stacks of wood.

Mayor. Well, bring 'em in.

BLACK WILL and SHAKEBAG brought in.
They answer the description;
But let them wait till I have done with these.
Heav'ns! what a scene of villany is here.

(Having read the letter.) B. Will. Since we're sure to die, though I could wish it were in better company, (for I hate that fawning rascal, Mosby,) I'll tell the truth for once. He has been long engaged in an affair with Arden's wife there; but fearing a discovery, and hoping to get into his estate, hired us to hide him. That's all.

Mayor. And you the horrid deed perform'd? Shake. We did, with his assistance, and Green's and Michael's

May suffer in bad fellowship. And Bradshaw, My honest neighbour, Bradshaw, too: I read it With grief and wonder.

Brad. Madam, I appeal

To you, as you are shortly to appear
Before a judge that sees our secret thoughts,
Say, had I knowledge, or-

Ali. You brought the letter,

But well I hope, you knew not the contents. Mayor. Hence with them all, till time and further light

Shall clear these mysteries.

A. Fowl. If I'm condemn'd,
My blood be on his head that gives the sentence.
I'm not accus'd, and only ask for justice.

Frank. You shall all have justice, rig'rous jus

tice.

So shall the growth of such enormous crimes, By their dread fate be check'd in future times: Of av'rice, Mosby a dread instance prove, | And poor Alicia of unlawful love.

[Exeunt.

CHORUS.-TURKISH SOLDIERS.

ISMAEL. MICHAEL. CATHERINE

Enter USEPH.

LILLA

GHITA.

FATIMA.

"Sir

Useph. Be silent, you soldiers: his highness the Seraskier is coming; he has just arrived with the Turkish army under his command to relieve Belgrade. I have been conversing with him; I told him your loyalty to the sublime Porte. your highness-my dear highness," says I; for we talked it very familiarly: "I am the chief magistrate of this village; I know the Ottoman Porte has not more loyal subjects in all the province of

Till the envious moon die away in the sky;

of your highness-your highness's name is never out of our mouths." By-the-by, remember his name

stream

To reflect our victorious crescent's bright beam.

dare say you never heard it before. So, says the Seraskier to me, "My dear Useph Ben Yacomb

Ben Mustapha ' -at the same time graciously laughing at me with great condescension. (Flourish.) Oh! here he comes: now you shall see how his highness is pleased to honour me; I shall certainly be created a pacha of three tails.

Enter SERASKIER, ISMAEL, and Attendants. Seras. Useph, come hither.

Useph. Yes, your highness. (Apart to the Peasants.) Now he is going to consult me on some great military operation.

Seras. Are there many pretty girls in this neighbourhood?

Useph. Ha, ha, ha! That's a good joke. Ah! your highness will conquer every way, I see. Ha, ha, ha! Your highness is pleased to make me laugh. Ha, ha, ha!

Seras. You are too familiar.
Useph. My lord?

Seras. Begone.

Lilla. I am but a poor country girl, sir; my name is Lilla; but I love Leopold, and Leopold loves me; yet my cross, ill-natured brother wants me to refuse Leopold, to marry that ugly old miser, Useph, a justice of peace in our village.

Seras. Useph! Oh! the old poacher! (Aside.) Does your brother object to Leopold?

Lilla. He says, and please your highness, that Leopold is too passionate to make a good husband; now, I owe he is rather violent, but I don't like him a bit the worse for that.

Seras. Where is Leopold?

Lilla. Ah! my lord, my mind misgives me that some mischief has happened to him; but they locked me up to prevent my going in search of him.

Seras. Then how came you here?

Lilla. Please your highness, I jumped out of the window.

Seras. What a pleasing sample of rustic simplicity; how handsome she is! (To Ismael.)

Ismael. What, my lord, do you forget your Austrian captive?

Seras. Forget her; no: but why should I confine myself to a single rose, when I can form a bouquet of them. Well, charming Lilla, within this halfhour I promise you redress. Conduct her to my tent, and attend her well.

Lilla. A thousand thanks, your highness.

Ismael. I beg your highness' pardon; but while I see the black eagle soar upon the walls of Belgrade, I cannot forget that I am a soldier.

Seras. Nor I, Ismael; but I have room in my heart for love and valour at the same time; I never fight better than when I am in love; Mars never smiles so propitiously upon me as when I am paying my adoration to Venus; so, if you wish me to conquer the Austrians, you must get me this girl. [Exit Ismael. She is a charming creature, and shall be mine.