Page:A Series of Plays on the Passions Volume 3.pdf/79

Rh

A Gothic Room in the Castle, with the Stage darkened; enter, bearing a Light, followed by. Or. (Catching her by the robe and pulling her back.) Advance no further: turn, I pray! This room More dismal and more ghastly seems than that Which we have left behind. Thy taper's light, As thus aloft thou wav'st it to and fro, The fretted ceiling gilds with feeble brightness; Whilst over-head its carved ribs glidglide [sic] past Like edgy waves of a dark sea, returning To an eclipsed moon its sullen sheen.

Cath. To me it seems less dismal than the other. See, here are chairs around the table set, As if its last inhabitants had left it Scarcely an hour ago. (Setting the light upon the table.)

Or. Alas! how many hours and years have past Since human forms have round this table sat, Or lamp or taper on its surface gleam'd! Methinks I hear the sound of time long past Still murm'ring o'er us in the lofty void Of those dark arches, like the ling'ring voices Of those who long within their graves have slept. It was their gloomy home; now it is mine.