Page:The Mysterious Mother - Walpole (1781).djvu/38

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THE MYSTERIOUS MOTHER.
[The Orphan-Children run in terrified.]

First ORPHAN.
O father, save us! save us! holy father.

MARTIN.
What means this panic?

First ORPHAN.
What means this panic?Oh! a storm so dreadful!
Some demon rides in th' air.

MARTIN.
Some demon rides in th' air.Undoubtedly.
Could ye distinguish ought?

First ORPHAN.
Could ye distinguish ought?I fell to earth,
And said the pray'r you taught me against spectres.

MARTIN.
'Twas well—but none of you, had none the courage
To face the fiend?

Second ORPHAN.
To face the fiend?I wink'd, and saw the light'ning
Burst on the monument. The shield of arms
Shiver'd to splinters. E'er I could repeat
An Ave-Mary, down with hideous crash
The cross came tumbling—then I fled—

MARTIN.
This is unholy ground. Acquaint theRetire;
This is unholy ground. Acquaint the Countess.
I will not tarry long. [Ex. children.] Thou mouth accurst,
[To Florian.

Repent, and tremble! Wherefore hast thou drawn
On Narbonne's plains, already visited
By long calamity, new storms of horror?
The seasons change their course; th' afflicted hind
Bewails his blasted harvest. Meteors ride

The

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