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SCENE i] THE MOURNING BRIDE 407
Such sanctity, such tenderness so mixed
With grief as would draw tears from inhumanity.
Heli. The care of Providence sure left it there,
To arm your mind with hope. Such piety
Was never heard in vain: Heaven has in store
For you those blessings it withheld from him.
In that assurance live; which time, I hope,
And our next meeting will confirm.
Osm. Farewell,
My friend; the good thou dost deserve attend thee.
[Exit HELI.
I have been to blame, and questioned with impiety
The care of Heaven. Not so my father bore
More anxious grief. This should have better taught me;
This lesson, in some hour of inspiration,
By him set down; when his pure thoughts were borne,
Like fumes of sacred incense, o'er the clouds,
And wafted thence on angels' wings through ways
Of light, to the bright source of all. For there
He in the book of prescience saw this day;
And waking, to the world, and mortal sense,
Left this example of his resignation,
This his last legacy to me, which, here,
I'll treasure as more worth than diadems,
Or all extended rule of regal power.
Enter ZARA veiled.
What brightness breaks upon me thus through shades,
And promises a day to this dark dwelling?
Is it my love?—
Zara. D that my heart had taught
Thy tongue that saying. [Lifting up her veil.
Osm. Zara! [Aside.] I am betrayed
By my surprise.
Zara. What, dost my face displease thee?
That having seen it, thou dost turn thy eyes
Away, as from deformity and horror.
If so, this sable curtain shall again
Be drawn, and I will stand before thee seeing,
And unseen. "Is it my love?" ask again
That question, speak again in that soft voice,
And look again with wishes in thy eyes.