Edward Moore

“ Your pity had been kinder to my fame. But you have traduced it; told a vile story to the public ear, that I have wronged my sister.
Lew. 'Tis false. Shew me the man that dares accuse me.
Bev. I thought you brave, and of a soul superior to low malice; but I have found you, and will have vengeance. This is no place for argument.
Lew. Nor shall it be for violence. Imprudent man! who in revenge for fancied injuries, would pierce the heart that loves him! But honest friendship acts from itself, unmoved by slander, or ingratitude. The life you thirst for, shall be employed to serve you. ”

“ Yet that the husband! father! brother! should be its instrument of vengeance!—'Tis grievous to know that.
Bev. If you're my sister, spare the remembrance—It wounds too deeply. To-morrow shall clear all; and when the worst is known, it may be better than your fears. Comfort my wife; and for the pains of absence, I'll make atonement. The world may yet go well with us.
Char. See where she comes!—Look chearfully upon her. Affections, such as hers, are prying; and lend those eyes that read the soul.
SCENE VII.
Enter Mrs. Beverley, and Lewson. ”

“ Alas! that prayer is fruitless: already death has seized me. Yet heaven is gracious. I asked for hope, as the 501 bright presage of forgiveness, and like a light, blazing through darkness, it came and cheared me. 'Twas all I lived for, and now I die.
Mrs. Bev. Not yet!—Not yet!—Stay but a little, and I'll die too.
Bev. No; live, I charge you. We have a little one: though I have left him, You will not leave him. To Lewson's kindness I bequeath him—Is not this Charlotte? We have lived in love, though I have wronged you—Can you forgive me, Charlotte? ”

“ Restrain’d with threats, or sooth’d with pray’r;
Of freedom proud, and scorning man,
Wide o’er the spacious plains he ran.
Where’er luxuriant NATURE spread
Her flow’ry carpet o’er the mead,
Or bubbling streams, soft gliding, pass
To cool and freshen up the grass ”

“ Shew me a boy with such a mind, and time that ripens manhood in him, shall ripen vice too. I'll prove him, and lay him open t'you. Till then be warned. I know him, and therefore shun him.
Bev. As I would those that wrong him. You are too busy, Sir.
Mrs. Bev. No, not too busy—Mistaken perhaps—That had been milder.
Lew. No matter, madam. I can bear this, and praise the heart that prompts it. Pity such friendship should be so placed!
Bev. Again, Sir!—But I'll bear too. You wrong him, Lewson, and will be sorry for't.
Char. Ay, when 'tis proved he wrongs him. The world is full of hypocrites. ”

“ When LOVE, who led a rural life,
Remote from bustle, state, and strife,
Forth from his thatch-roof’d cottage stray’d,
And stroll’d along the dewy glade.
A nymph, who lightly tripp’d it by,
To quick attention turn’d his eye ”

“ Seeing Beverley.
Char. Tears! tears! why fall you not? O wretched sister!—Speak to her, Lewson—her grief is speechless.
Lew. Remove her from this sight. Go to her, Jarvis; lead and support her. Sorrow like hers forbids complaint. Words are for lighter griefs. Some ministring angel bring her peace! (Jarvis and Charlotte lead her off.) And Thou, 502 poor breathless corps, may thy departed soul have found the rest it prayed for! Save but one error, and this last fatal deed, thy life was lovely. Let frailer minds take warning; and from example learn, that want of prudence is want of virtue. ”

“ Stukely is honest too; I know he is. This madness has undone them both.
Char. My brother irrecoverably. You are too spiritless a wife—A mournful tale, mixt with a few kind words, will steal away your soul. The world's too subtle for such goodness. Had I been by, he should have asked your life sooner than those jewels.
Mrs. Bev. He should have had it then. (Warmly) I live but to oblige him. She who can love, and is beloved like Me, will do as much. Men have done more for mistresses, and women for a base deluder. And shall a wife do less? Your chidings hurt me, Charlotte. ”

“ Enter Beverley.
Bev. How like an out-cast do I wander! Loaded with every curse, that drives the soul to desperation! The midnight robber, as he walks his rounds, sees by the glimmering lamp my frantic looks, and dreads to meet me. Whither am I going? My home lies there; all that is dear on earth it holds too; yet are the gates of death more welcome to me. I'll enter it no more—Who passes there? Tis Lewson. ”

“ The breath of frailty must expire,
The world dissolve in living fire;
The gems of heav’n and solar flame,
Be quench’d by her eternal beam,
[Pg 109] And nature, quick’ning in her eye,
To raise a new-born phœnix, die.
Vanity
Thus far extends my friendly pow’r,
Nor quits her in her latest hour; Page 108. London: Published by Scatcherd & Letterman, Ave Maria Lane. ”

“ SCENE a gaming house, with a table, box, dice, &c.
Beverley is discovered sitting.
BEVERLEY.
WHY, what a world is this! The slave that digs for gold, receives his daily pittance, and sleeps contented; while those, for whom he labours, convert their good to mischief; making abundance the means of want. O shame! shame! Had fortune given me but a little, that little had been still my own. But plenty leads to waste; and shallow streams maintain their currents, while swelling rivers beat down their banks, and leave their channels empty. What had I to do with play? ”

“ And for this insult, vengeance may yet be mine.
Lew. Infamous coward! Why, take it now then— (Draws, and Stukely retires.) Alas! I pity thee. Yet that a wretch like this should overcome a Beverley! it fills me with astonishment! A wretch, so mean of soul, that even desperation cannot animate him to look upon an enemy. You should not thus have soared, Sir, unless, like others of your black profession, you had a sword to keep the fools in awe, your villainy has ruined. ”

“ Enter Stukely, and Bates.
STUKELY.
SO runs the world, Bates. Fools are the natural prey of knaves; nature designed them so, when she made lambs for wolves. The laws that fear and policy have framed, nature disclaims: she knows but two; and those are force and cunning. The nobler law is force; but then there's danger in't; while cunning, like a skilful miner, works safely and unseen.
Bat. And therefore wisely. Force must have nerves and sinews; cunning wants neither. The dwarf that has it, shall trip the giant's heels up. ”

“ What villains?
Bev. Dawson and the rest—We have been dupes to sharpers.
Stu. How know you this? I have had doubts, as well as You; yet still as fortune changed, I blushed at my own thoughts. But You have proofs, perhaps?
Bev. Ay, damned ones. Repeated losses: night after night, and no reverse. Chance has no hand in this.
Stu. I think more charitably; yet I am peevish in my nature, and apt to doubt. The world speaks fairly of this Dawson; so does it of the rest. We have watched them closely too. But 'tis a right usurped by losers, to think the winners knaves. We'll have more manhood in us. ”

“ You call yourself his friend, Sir; why do you encourage him in this madness of gaming?
Stu. You have asked me that question before, madam; and I told you my concern was that I could not save him. Mr. Beverley is a man, madam; and if the most friendly entreaties have no effect upon him, I have no other means. My purse has been his, even to the injury of my fortune. ”

“ Habit is nature in me; ruin can't cure it. Even now I would be gaming. Taught by experience as I am, and knowing this poor sum is all that's left us, I am for venturing still. And say I am to blame; yet will this little supply our wants? No; we must put it out to usury. Whether 'tis madness in me, or some resistless impulse of good fortune, I yet am ignorant ”

“ The play of the Gamester was intended to be a natural picture of that kind of life, of which all men are judges; and as it struck at a vice so universally prevailing, it was thought proper to adapt its language to the capacities and feelings of every part of the audience: that as some of its characters were of no higher rank than Sharpers, it was imagined that (whatever good company they may find admittance to in the world) their speaking blank verse upon the stage would be unnatural, if not ridiculous. ”

“ The husband may relent too. 'Tis more than probable—I'll write a note to Beverley, and the contents shall spur him to demand them. But am I grown this rogue through avarice? No; I have warmer motives: love and revenge. Ruin the husband, and the wife's virtue may be bid for. 'Tis of uncertain value, and sinks, or rises in the purchase, as want, or wealth, or passion governs. The poor part cheaply with it; rich dames, though pleased with selling, will have high prices for't; your love-sick girls give it for oaths and lying; but wives, who boast of honour and affections, keep it against a famine. ”

“ Fear is the mind's worst evil; and 'tis a friendly office to drive it from the bosom. Thus far has fortune crowned me—Yet Beverley is rich; rich in his wife's best treasure; her honour and affections. I would supplant him there too. But 'tis the curse of thinking minds, to raise up difficulties. Fools only conquer women: fearless of dangers which they see not, they press on boldly, and by persisting, prosper. Yet may a tale of art do much. Charlotte is sometimes absent. ”

“ Perhaps the motion was too sudden; and human nature starts at murder, though strong necessity compels it. I have thought long of this; and my first feelings were like yours; a foolish conscience awed me, which soon I conquered. The man that would undo me, nature cries out, undo. Brutes know their foes by instinct; and where superior force is given, they use it for destruction. ”

“ Then know, imprudent man, he is within my gripe; 475Ppp2 and should my friendship for him be slandered once again, the hand that has supplied him, shall fall and crush him.
Lew. Why, now there's spirit in thee! This is indeed to be a villain! But I shall reach thee yet. Fly where thou wilt, my vengeance shall pursue thee—and Beverley shall yet be saved, be saved from thee, thou monster; nor owe his rescue to his wife's dishonour. ”

“ Conscience is weakness; fear made, and fear maintains it. The dread of shame, inward reproaches, and fictitious burnings, swell out the phantom. Nature knows none of this; Her laws are freedom.
Bat. Sound doctrine, and well delivered!
Stu. We are sincere too, and practice what we teach. Let the grave pedant say as much—But now to business. The jewels are disposed of; and Beverley again worth money. He waits to count his gold out, and then comes hither. If my design succeeds, this night we finish with 452 him. Go to your lodgings, and be busy. You understand conveyances, and can make ruin sure. ”

“ Bates. Dawson and I are witnesses of this.
Lew. And of a thousand frauds. His friend undone by sharpers and false dice; and Stukely sole contriver, and possessor of all.
Daw. Had he but stopt on this side murder, we had been villains still.
Mrs. Bev. Thus heaven turns evil into good; and by permitting sin, warns men to virtue.
Lew. Yet punishes the instrument. So shall our laws; though not with death. But death were mercy. Shame, beggary, and imprisonment, unpitied misery, the stings of conscience, and the curses of mankind shall make life hateful to him—till at last, his own hand end him. ”

“ Had I been wise, She had not trespassed on your bounty.
Lew. Nor has she trespassed. The little I have done, acceptance over-pays.
Char. So friendship thinks—
Mrs. Bev. And doubles obligations, by striving to conceal them—We'll talk another time on't. You are too thoughtful, love.
Bev. No; I have reason for these thoughts.
Char. And hatred for the cause. Would you had that too!
Bev. I have. The cause was avarice.
Char. And who the tempter?
Bev. A ruined friend. Ruined by too much kindness,
Lew. Ay, worse than ruined; stabbed in his fame; mortally stabbed. Riches can't cure him. ”