mother, what did he say of my peace. Oh Heaven! and what did I answer, did I name the Prince? Oh with what cold dread do I feel myself congealed. Whither, whither does he tub, ah whitber, what is he preparing for, and what do I do? I should wish to follow him, but my feet fail me and my strength.

SCENE V.

Gomes and Isabella.

Gom...Pardon my too great boldness, I imagined the king to be with thee.

İsa.He left me but a little while ago.

Gom.---I must seek him elsewhere then, doubtless he will be im. patient to hear the event at an end.

Isa.---The event, stop for a moment, tell me.

Gom.---If thou hast been speaking with him he will have fully explained his doubtful expectation of the final sentence.

Isa.---No he spoke to me in dark and ambiguous words of a treason, but

Gom.---Did he not mention the name of the traitor.
Isa.---Of the Prince.

Gom-Thou knowest all then, I carry of the council.

Isa. Of what council? alas, what dost thou carry?

Gom.---For a long time the deep matter was under discussion and at length was concluded unanimously.

Isa. What then? speak!

Gom. The sentence stands written in these leaves---and nothing is wanting to it, but the King's consent.

Isa.And its tenor 7

Gem.---It pronounces death?

Isa.---Death? unjust ones! Death? and what crime is then in

him?

Gom.---Has the King been silent to thee concerning it?

Isa. He bas been silent---yes.
Gom.---He attempted parricide!
Isa. Heaven! Charles?

Gom.---The father himself accuses him and the proofs.

Isa.The father-and what proofs does he give? suborned proofs ! ah certainly thou hast another cause which is hidden from me, disclose to me his true crime.

Gom. His true crime? and can I tell it to thee, if thou knowest nothing of it? can I tell it to thee at the cost to me of my life?

Isa.---Oh what dost I can betray thee. Gom.--- betray the #bat so strong cause

thou say. But what! dost thou fear that

King if I say any thing of the King. But hast thou to know the truth.

Isa. An inquisitive wish alone impels me.

Gom.---In conclusion then, what does this concern thee? The Prince stands in great danger and it will possibly have to impli cate thee. But after all what else art thou to him but a step-mother at present his death cannot injure thee, it might on the contrary be the road to the throne, to thy sons. Believe thou the true origin of Charles' misdeed is partly love.

Isa. What are you saying?

Gom.---The love which the King bears for thee. He wonld be much more delighted in having a son of thine to succeed him, than that Charles should ever do so.

Isa.---I breathe! Dost thou dare to suppose such a base design in me. Gom.---I dare to tell thee the thoughts of my King, such are pot mine, no, but

Isa.---It is true then that which I never up to this day believed, that a father---a father himself, could abhor his own sen!

Gom.-Oh how much madam do I pity thee if thou hast hi therto known the king so little!

Isa. But whom do I believe! thou surely

Gom.-I surely yes; I now discover in thee no uncertain indi cations of pity. I break the dark silence which oppresses my heart. It is too trae however the prince unhappily is not guilty of any other crime than being the son of a-horrible father.

Isa. Thou makest me to fear exceedingly.

Gom. And I also fear no less than thy self; dost thou know whence arises the hatred of the father.-It is base envy which excites it at the beholding so much genume virtue in the son-the talse virtue of the wicked parent is provoked--He sees that he is altogether too like himself, and impions, he had rather that his son were extinguished than that he should surpass, himself.

--

Isa. But more unjust is the council than the king, why coudemu one to death who is innocent.

Gom.-And what council would oppose itself to such a kinghe himself is the accuser, the charge is talse every one knows it to be so, but every one trembling for himself assents to it silently: the shame of the unjust sentence falls, uppa, us.We are the base ministers, of his rage--we are so indignantly, but to no purpose, whoever should refuse would speedily fall a victim to his fury.

Isa. And can that which I hear be true; I remain dumb with amazement: and does there remain no hope, shall he perish unjustly?

Gom.-Philip is gifted with dissimulation above every thingHe will wish to appear doubtful at first, He will make a great display of grief and pity-perhaps even he will put off the coming to a decision-foolish is he who would put faith in his grief and pity, oh that in that heart profound any might be diminished even the smallest particle by the protracting of the time.

Isa.-Alas if thou hast not a soul hardened equally with his own by crimes, alas, Gomes feel some pity.

Gom. And what can I do?

Isa. Perhaps thou.

Gom.-With ineffectual and well concealed tears I can honour the memory of this just man, but nothing further can I do.

Isa.-Oh who ever heard-who ever saw so atrocious a case? Gom.-I should be ready to sacrifice myself so that I might save the Prince-and Heaven knows it;-1 already feel my heart gnawed and tormented with the remorse which the fatal intimacy of such a tyrant draws with it but

Isa.-If remorse is sincere in thee thou canst be of no little use to him, yes thou canst;--not is it necessary thou shouldest destroy thysell-thou art not suspected by the king-Thou canst secretly afford the means of escape to him, and who would desire to betray thee; who will know? Perhaps even some day, l'hilip returning tọ bimselt may reward the generous boldness of the man who saved his honour together with his son.

Gom.-And should I even venture upon this, would Charles agree to it? knowest thou how haughty he is, I foresee his Lage already in merely hearing the name of flight and of condemnations ah! vain to terrify his untameable spirit is every aynouncement of death; nay even I see him already obstinately purposed to perish. Add to this that my very advice and assistance would be suspici ous and odious to him, he believes me to be like the king.

Isa.-Hast thou no other obstacle? cause me to behold him, conduct me to his prison, surely thou hast admittance there; I flatter myself to be able to persuade him to flight-alas now; deny me not so great a favour; the hours of the night are far advanced, meantime prepare thou the means of his escape, and defer the presenting the fatal sentence which perhaps is not expected so soon by the king: I beseech thee let us go-Thou shalt bave Heaven ever propitious, I pray thee let us depart.

Gom. And who could refuse thee so compassionate a help, I am willing to attempt it at any price, let us go-Heaven will not suffer to perish those whom it does not desire to perish.

ACT V-SCENE 1.

Char-What but death, now remains for me to fear, what to hope; might I but at least have is free from infamy-ab I must expect it from the cruel Philip full of ignomy; one single doubt worse than every death, pierces my heart, perhaps he is aware of my love. In his flashing sinister looks, I saw sparkling in spite of him I know not what new fury, and bis speaking with the Queen, but a little while ago, this calling me and closely observing; what may it be? oh Heaven what may it be it his consort has become suse pected by him at the same time: alas, already perhaps he has cruelly punished in her the uncertain crime since the vengeance of a tyrant is always used to anticipate guilt; But if our passion is unknown to every person aud as it were to ourselves even, by what means could he be informed of it? perhaps my sighs have betrayed me? but what do I say are the sighs of love known to a wicked tyrant; is it necessary for such a father to penetrate into my love in order that he may be made atrocious and unatural; Hatred had reached its height in him, and could no longer be put off-surely the day is come in which I shall make satisfaction to him with my head; ab, treacherous crowd of friends of my happier fortune, where ale ye now? I desire nought from you except a sword; but a sword by means of which I might avert intamy none of you will present to me, what voice do I perceive?, the iron door is being unbarred what is being brought to me, let us heal-who may it be?

SCENE IL

Isabella and Charles

Char-Who do I see? art thou the Queen ?. who has been thy guide? Oh what cause brings thee Love, duty, pity? How hadst thou admittance?

Isa.---Oh, thou knowest not yet all the horror of thy cruel destiny; thou art charged with parricide, thy father himself accuses thee, A wicked council condemns thee to death, and nothing is wanting to its execution but the consent of the king

Char. If nothing else is wanting it may be soon executed.
Isa-And what! dost thou not tremble?.

Chart is now a long time that I wish only to die, and it is well known to thee of whom I ask nothing, but to suffer me to die where thou art-it is hard upen me-yes the horrible accusation is hard but not unexpected; die I must, but can I tremble when thou announcest death to me!

Isa. Alas, do not speak of death to me if thou lovest megive way for a little to necessity.

Char-Me to give way? too well I perceive now that you have undertaken the cruel ource of abasing me; the iniquitous father has committed it to thee!

Isa. And canst thou believe it Prinee! me a minister af Phis lip's anger!

Char. So far he would have power to compel theebesides he has perhaps deceived thee, but how then has he suffered thee to come to me in this dungeon ?

Isa-Does Philip know it? ob, Heaven woe if he should know it! Char.- what sayest thou? Philip knows all herewho then transgresses his rigorous commands P

Isa.-Gomes!

Char.-What do 1 hear, ab what, what abominable terrible fatal name hast thou uttered!

Isa. He is not such an enemy to thee as thon think'st.

Char.-Oh Heaven, if I ever believed him a friend to me, I should blush more from shame than anger.

Isa.---He alone however now feels compassion for theeIt is he who disclosed to me thy father's atrocions purpose.

of

Char.---Rush! ah too credulous thou! what hast thon done why lead faith to such pity? If the most abandoned servanı an impious King told thee the truth he deceives thee by means of the auth.

Isa.--Mere words, what do they signify; thou canst experience presently no donbiful effects of his pity if thou surrenderest thyselt to my treaties. It was he who conducted me hither clandestinely and even now he is preparing the means for thy escape, I have persuaded him to it, ali do not delay, convey thyself away. flee from, thy father, from dead and from me?

Char.---Whilst thou hast time, ab, do thou thyself escape far from me. Gomes does not pretend pity without a motive---an into what an insidious, snare hast thou fallen, Yes, now indeed I da tremble really, what doubt now remains, fully has Philip penetrated into the secret of our love.

Isa.---Ah! uo, a little ago I saw him whilst thou wast being dragged by main force from his presence---he was fuming with dreadful anger--- fistened to him trembling, and thy very selfsame suspicious agitated me, but I remember his speech alterwards directed towards me, and certain I am that he thought every other thing of thee except this. I remember in line that be taxed you with having a design even perhaps upon my days as well as bis.

Char---It would be necessary that I should be equally vile― more vile than him to penetrate all the hidden ways of the intricate, infamous labyrinth, but it is quite certain that it is a mask for horrible treachery this sending you to me, that which he (up to this time) only suspected, he now undertakes to substantiate; but let it be as it will, do thou turn thy steps quietly from this ill fated place. In vain thou believest or hopest that Gomes will