Adrian, a Tragedy

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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ACT III. Scene I. A large hut. A flight of rude stairs leading to an upper room or loft; two chairs and a table in character with the hovel, indicating great poverty. Adrian discovered. 'Tis change indeed from palace to the hovel, From Luxury's full board to the scant meal Of craving Poverty !?from downy bed, To plain, uncovered straw!?yet bears she it With patient fortitude; nay, cheerfulness. So far, my scheme says she is chaste as Dian! And, softened by her passive sufferance, 'Neath such a blast of seeming destiny, I pause in onward path to further trial. Yet to stop short of soul-convincing proof, When I have dared thus far, would point me out Coward as well as madman: tis too late? Would she'd reproach me, or, at least, be cold, To grant me but a hair for sinking Conscience ! She comes?with sweetest smile upon her cheek? Great Heaven, if I have wronged her?patience, patience ! How foul and curst looks this ! Enter Francesca. See, Adrian, Our child?how happy looks he?but a moment? What rosy recklessness of misery! How like a little stoic bears he all The worldly buffets ! ADRIAN. 'Tis a cheering sight Indeed, and almost shames a father. FRANCESCA. What! ADRIAN. I feel it. FRANCESCA. You are jesting. ADRIAN. Does the hour Admit of jesting then ? FRANCESCA. Why should it not ? May not the poor laugh ? Must the rich have all That's good and fair monopolis'd ? Is't not Enough to boast of splendor, luxury? All attributes of fashion?and to say I summon them at will, ?without a grudge For the poor, vulgar, happy, homely laugh ? I've turned the leaf, and with so good a will, That you shall see me act the housewife here; And with such merry industry, that dames Who've bee...