Page:A Series of Plays on the Passions Volume 1.pdf/341

Rh

With the gay intercourse of social man, Feel like th' oppressive airless pestilence. O Jane! thou wilt despise me.

Jane.Say not so: I never can despise thee, gentle brother. A lover's jealousy and hopeless pangs No kindly heart contemns.

De Mon.A lover, say'st thou? No, it is hate! black, lasting, deadly hate; Which thus hath driv'n me forth from kindred peace, From social pleasure, from my native home, To be a sullen wand'rer on the earth, Avoiding all men, cursing and accurs'd.

Jane. De Monfort, this is fiend-like, frightful, terrible! What being, by th' Almighty Father form'd, Of flesh and blood, created even as thou, Could in thy breast such horrid tempest wake, Who art thyself his fellow? Unknit thy brows, and spread those wrath-clench'd hands: Some sprite accurst within thy bosom mates To work thy ruin. Strive with it, my brother! Strive bravely with it; drive it from thy breast: 'Tis the degrader of a noble heart; Curse it, and bid it part.

De Mon. It will not part. (His hand on his breast.) I've lodged it here too long; With my first cares I felt its rankling touch,