The Mysterious Mother/Act 4 Scene 3
SCENE III.
COUNTESS, ADELIZA, BENEDICT, MARTIN.
COUNTESS.
What voices heard I? Does my rebel son
Attempt against my peace?—Hah! Adeliza!
I charg'd thee guard thy convent—wherefore then
This disobedience?
What voices heard I? Does my rebel son
Attempt against my peace?—Hah! Adeliza!
I charg'd thee guard thy convent—wherefore then
This disobedience?
BENEDICT.
Madam, I was urging
The fitness of your orders; but vain youth
Scoff'd my importunate rebuke—
Madam, I was urging
The fitness of your orders; but vain youth
Scoff'd my importunate rebuke—
ADELIZA.
Oh! 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.
Oh! 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.
Bid 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.
Bid 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.
Mercy crown her soul!
She needs no duty we can pay her now!
Mercy 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?
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.
My 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.
My 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 Benedict,
Did he audacious dare forbid my child,
My little orphan to embrace her—curses
Swell in my throat—hence—or they fall on thee.
Did Benedict,
Did he audacious dare forbid my child,
My little orphan to embrace her—curses
Swell in my throat—hence—or they fall on thee.
ADELIZA.
Alas! for pity! how have I offended?
Alas! for pity! how have I offended?
BENEDICT.
Madam, it is the pupil of your care,
Your favour'd child—
Madam, it is the pupil of your care,
Your favour'd child—
COUNTESS.
Who told thee so? Be dumb
For ever—What art thou combin'd with Edmund,
To dash me down the precipice? Churchman, I tell thee,
I view it with impatience. I could leap
And meet the furies—but must she fall with me!
Who told thee so? Be dumb
For ever—What art thou combin'd with Edmund,
To dash me down the precipice? Churchman, I tell thee,
I view it with impatience. I could leap
And meet the furies—but must she fall with me!
BENEDICT.
Aside.] (Yes, and thy Edmund too)—Be patient, lady:
This fair domain, thou know'st, acknowledges
The sovereignty of the church. Thy rebel son
Dares not attempt—
Aside.] (Yes, and thy Edmund too)—Be patient, lady:
This fair domain, thou know'st, acknowledges
The sovereignty of the church. Thy rebel son
Dares not attempt—
COUNTESS.
Again I bid thee peace.
There is no question of lord Edmund. Leave us:
I have to talk with her alone.
Again I bid thee peace.
There is no question of lord Edmund. Leave us:
I have to talk with her alone.
BENEDICT. [Aside to Martin.
(Now tremble
At voices supernatural; and forfeit
The spoils the tempest throws into our lap.)
[Ex. Benedict and Martin.
(Now tremble
At voices supernatural; and forfeit
The spoils the tempest throws into our lap.)
[Ex. Benedict and Martin.