Page:The Mysterious Mother - Walpole (1781).djvu/66

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THE MYSTERIOUS MOTHER.
The fitness of your orders; but vain youth
Scoff'd my importunate rebuke—

ADELIZA.
I am the thing you made me. CrOh! no.
I am the thing you made me. Crush me, spurn me,
I will not murmur. Should you bid me die,
I know 'twere meant in kindness.

COUNTESS.
My own detested life but lingers rBid thee die!
My own detested life but lingers round thee!
Ha! what a glance was there! it spoke resemblance
To all I hate, adore—My child, retire:
I am much discompos'd—the good old abbess
Claims thy attendance.

ADELIZA.
She needs no duty we caMercy crown her soul!
She needs no duty we can pay her now!

COUNTESS.
How! art thou desolate! not a friend left
To guard thy innocence ?—Oh! wretched maid!
Must thou be left to spoilers? or worse, worse,
To the fierce onset of thy own dire passions?
Oh! is it come to this?

ADELIZA.
Can Adeliza want a minMy noble mistress,
Can Adeliza want a ministring angel,
When shelter'd by thy wing?—yet Benedict
Says, I must shun this hospitable roof.
Indeed I thought it hard.

COUNTESS.
Did he audacious dare foDid Benedict,
Did he audacious dare forbid my child,

My

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