Page:The Mysterious Mother - Walpole (1781).djvu/49

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A TRAGEDY.
41
Have I not hoped thy presence, thought it long,
If two whole days detain'd thee from our mass?
When have I wept, but when thou hast refus'd
To let thy Adeliza call thee mother?
I know I was not worthy of such honour,
Too splendid for a child of charity.
I now am most unworthy! I, undone,
Have not desir'd thy presence; have not thought it
Long, if two days thou hast declin'd our mass.
Other discourse than thine has charm'd mine ear;
Nor dare I now presume to call thee mother!

COUNTESS.
My lovely innocence, restrain thy tears.
I know thy secret; know, why beats and throbs
Thy little heart with unaccustom'd tumult.

ADELIZA.
Impossible.———Oh! let me tell thee all—

COUNTESS.
No, I will tell it thee. Thou hast convers'd
With a young knight—

ADELIZA.
With a young knightAmazement! Who inform'd thee?
Pent in her chamber, sickness has detain'd
Our abbess from the parlour. There I saw him,
Oft as he came alone.

COUNTESS.
Oft as he came alone.He talk'd of love;
And woo'd thee for his bride.

ADELIZA.
And woo'd thee for his bride.He did.

COUNTESS.
This is the stranger I beheld this m('Tis well: [Aside.

This is the stranger I beheld this morning.)

His

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