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424 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT Iv
Yet somewhat she must mean of dire import,
Which I'll not hear, till I am more at peace.
Watch her returning sense, and bring me word;
And look that she attempt not on her life. [Exit.
Aim. D stay, yet stay! hear me, I am not mad.
I would to Heaven I were!—He's gone.
Gen. Have comfort.
Aim. Cursed be that tongue that bids me be of comfort!
Cursed my own tongue, that could not move his pity!
Cursed these weak hands, that could not hold him here!
For he has gone to doom Alphonso's death.
Gon. Your too excessive grief works on your fancy,
And deludes your sense. Alphonso, if living,
Is far from hence, beyond your father's power.
Aim. Hence, thou detested, ill-timed flatterer!
Source of my woes! thou and thy race be cursed!
But doubly thou, who could alone have policy
And fraud, to find the fatal secret out,
And know that Osmyn was Alphonso!
Gon. Ha!
Aim. Why dost thou start? what dost thou see or hear?
Was it the doleful bell, tolling for death?
Dr dying groans from my Alphonso's breast?
See, see, look yonder! where a grizzled, pale,
And ghastly head glares by, all smeared with blood,
Gasping as it would speak; and after, see!
Behold a damp, dead hand has dropped a dagger;
Til catch it—Hark! a voice cries murder! ah!
My father's voice! hollow it sounds, and calls
Me from the tomb—I'll follow it; for there
I shall again behold my dear Alphonso.
[Exeunt ALMERIA, LEONORA, and Attendants.
Gon. She's greatly grieved; nor am I less surprised.
Dsmyn, Alphonso! no; she over-rates
My policy: I ne'er suspected it:
Nor now had known it, but from 'her mistake.
Her husband too! ha! where is Garcia then?
And where the crown that should descend on him,
To grace the line of my posterity?
Hold, let me think—if I should tell the king—
Things come to this extremity; his daughter
Wedded already—what if he should yield?