Britain ... - Blue-Lite

412 THE VARANGIAN. [Act V.
And wilt thou, canst thou, who hast been so kind,
Leave me all wild to wander in despair,
A friendless maniac in this land of blood,
Exposed to scoffs and insult, shame and want ?
HEKEWARD.
Support me, Heaven !
ZALM1RA.
Is there no hope on earth ?
No mercy to be found ? Madness I feel
Already like a whirlwind on me rushing !
Dark in a cloud of thunder am I wrapt,
And the red lightnings burn upon my brow !
Still art thou near me, and to thee alone,
In all the frantic horror of despair,
I, dying, cling for hope ! Then save, yet save
Thy wretched, lost Zalmira ! For my sake
Show mercy to thyself ! Yield up, reveal
The secrets of thine Order. Ah ! look not
Thus sternly on thy poor, distracted wife.
More kind would be to me thy dagger's point.
Here strike it home ! home to my heart, that I
May in thine arms expire, and be at peace !
HEREWARD.
O, my Zalmira, neither gory rack
Nor glowing coals heaped round my blackening form
Could make me feel what now I feel for thee !
But ah ! to break my vows, those sacred vows !
O, couldst thou love me stripped of fame and honour,
Cast out a thing of scorn for all good men
To heap derision on ?
ZALMIRA.
O, love thee ? Yes,
More than I ever loved. Let all the world