Be that one act forgiven,
And prove----

_Amel._ Oh! that were light: As yet thou'rt guilty
In thought alone. My father lives!

_Caesa._ Indeed!

_Amel._ He starts!--He feigned!--Oh! for heaven's love; my husband,
Trifle not now! this hour is precious, precious!
My soul is winged for heaven, and stays its flight,
In hopes of teaching thine the way to follow:
Let not its stay be vain! let my tears win thee,
And turn from vice: Repent; be wise; be warned;
For 'tis no idle voice that gives the warning;
I speak it from the grave!

_Caesa._ The grave!

_Amel._ What fear'st thou?
Why shudder at a name?--Oh! if thou needs
Wilt tremble, tremble for thyself, not me.
I die to live; thy death may be for ever!
Short are my pangs; thy soul's may be eternal!

_Caesa._ Die? Die!--Each word--Each look--Dreadful suspicions.
But no! it cannot, shall not be!

_Amel._ It shall not?
As I've a soul, in one short hour, Caesario,
That soul must kneel before the throne of God.

_Caesa._ Mean'st thou----

_Amel._ E'en so; I'm poisoned!

_Caesa._ Torture! madness!
Within there!

_Re-enter father_ Bazil, Estella, &c.

_Caesa._ Help! Oh! help! The princess dies!
I'll speed myself.----

_Amel._ [_Detaining him._] No, no, thou must not leave me:
My hour of death is near, and thou must see it--

_Caesa._ Distraction!

_Amel._ Must observe, how calm the transit,
How light the pain, how free death's cup from bitter,
When virtue soothes, and hope exalts the soul,
I've seen a sinner die; Last night I closed
Ottilia's lids, and 'twas a night of horror!
Each limb, each nerve was writhed by strange convulsions,
Clenched were her teeth, her eye-balls fixed and glaring;
She foamed, she raved, and her last words were curses!----
But look, Caesario!--I can die, and smile!

[_Sinks into_ Estella's _arms._

_Caesa._ [_In despair._] My life!--My soul!----

_Amel._ [_In a faint voice._] But while one moment's mine,
By all thy vows of love, by those I breathed,
And never broke through life, never, no, never,
I charge thee, I conjure thee----

[_Starting suddenly forward._]

Powers of mercy,
Whence this so glorious blaze?

_Caesa._ How her eyes sparkle!

_Amel._ Look, friends! Look, look!--My mother, my dead mother!
Rich in new youth, and bright in lasting beauty!
She floats in air; her limbs are clothed with light!
Her angel-head is wreathed with Eden's roses!
Heaven's splendours rove amid her golden locks,
While her blest l