William Congreve

Name: The Mourning Bride — Act V
Author: William Congreve

Summary

“The Mourning Bride — Act V”, is a work by William Congreve. It explores elements such as Mute, Crimson Heads and dar'st.

Quotes from The Mourning Bride — Act V (William Congreve)

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ I'll shun th' Encounter; do
Thou follow, and give heed to my Direction. [Exeunt. -]
Enter ZARA and SELIM. -
ZARA. The Mute not yet return'd! 'tis strange. Ha! 'twas
The King that parted hence; frowning he went;
His Eyes like Meteor's roll'd, then darted down
Their red and angry Beams; as if his Sight
Would, like the raging Dog-star, scorch the Earth,
And kindle Ruine in its Course. Think'st thou
He saw me not?
SELIM. He did: But then as if
His Eyes had err'd, he hastily recall'd
Th' imperfect Look, and sternly turn'd away.
ZARA. Shun me when seen? I fear thou hast undone me. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ GONS. What says my Son? what Ruine? ha? what Horrour?
GAR. Blasted my Eyes, and speechless be my Tongue,
Rather than or to see, or to relate
This Deed- O dire Mistake! O fatal Blow!
The King- -
GONS, ALON [Together.] The King!
GAR. Dead, welt'ring, drown'd in Blood.
See, see, attir'd like Osmyn, where he lies.
[They go in.]
O whence, or how, or wherefore was this done?
But what imports the Manner, or the Cause?
Nothing remains to do, or to require,
But that we all should turn our Swords against
Our selves, and expiate with our own his Blood. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ Could Eyes endure to guide such cruel Hands?
Are not my Eyes guilty alike with theirs,
That thus can gaze, and yet not turn to Stone?
-I do not weep! The Springs of Tears are dry'd;
And of a sudden I am calm, as if
All things were well; and yet my Husband's murder'd!
Yes, yes, I know to mourn; I'll sluce this Heart,
The Source of Woe, and let the Torrent loose.
-Those Men have left to weep, and look on me;
I hope they murder all on whom they look.
Behold me well; your bloody Hands have err'd,
And wrongfully have put to Death those Innocents:
I am the Sacrifice design'd to bleed ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ PEREZ. None, my Lord.
KING. Is Osmyn so dispos'd as I commanded?
PEREZ. Fast bound in double Chains, and at full length
He lies supine on Earth; as easily
She might remove the fix'd foundation, as
Unlock the rivets of his bonds.
KING. 'Tis well.
[A Mute appears, and seeing the KING retires.]
Ha! seize the Mute; Alonzo, follow him. [Ex. ALONZO.]
Entring he met my Eyes, and started back,
Frighted, and fumbling one hand in his bosom,
As to conceal th' Importance of his Errand. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ O- start Eyes,
Split Heart, burst ev'ry Vein, at this dire Object:
At once dissolve and flow; meet Blood with Blood;
Dash your encountering Streams with mutual Violence,
'Till Surges roll and foaming Billows rise,
And curl their Crimson Heads, to kiss the Clouds! ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ Give a new Birth To thy long-shaded Eyes,
Then double on the Day reflected Light.
ALM. Where am I? Heav'n! what does this Dream intend?
ALPH. O may'st thou never dream of less Delight,
Nor ever wake to less substantial Joys.
ALM. Giv'n me again from Death! O all ye Pow'rs
Confirm this Miracle! can I believe
My Sight, against my Sight? and shall I trust
That Sense, which in one Instant shews him dead
And living? Yes, I will ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ Prescience is Heav'ns alone, not giv'n to Man.
If I have fail'd in what, as being a Man,
I needs must fail; impute not as a Crime
My Nature's want, but punish Nature in me:
I plead not for a Pardon, and to live,
But to be punish'd and forgiven. Here, strike ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ For Blessings ever wait on vertuous Deeds;
And tho' a late, a sure Reward succeeds. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ No body? sure he'll wait without- I would
'Twere done- I'll crawl, and sting him to the Heart;
Then cast my Skin, and leave it there to answer it. [Goes in. -]
Enter GARCIA and ALONZO. -
GAR. Where? where, Alonzo? where's my Father? where
The King? Confusion! all is on the Rout!
All's lost, all ruin'd by Surprize and Treachery. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ Before 'em, to the Pallace Walls. Unless
The King in Person animate our Men
Granada's lost; and to confirm this Fear,
The Traitor Perez, and the Captive Moor,
Are through a Postern fled, and join the Foe.
GONS. Would all were false as that; for whom you call
The Moor, is dead. That Osmyn was Alphonso;
In whose Heart's Blood this Ponyard yet is warm.
GAR. Impossible; for Osmyn flying, was
Pronounc'd aloud by Perez for Alphonso.
GONS. Enter that Chamber, and convince your Eyes,
How much Report has wrong'd your easie Faith. [GARCIA goes in.] ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Congreve, The Mourning Bride — Act V

“ Most easie and inevitable Death.
Yes, Osmyn, yes; be Osmyn or Alphonso,
I'll give thee Freedom, if thou dar'st be free:
Such Liberty as I embrace my self,
Thou shalt partake. Since Fates no more afford;
I can but die with thee to keep my Word. [Exeunt.]
Act V, Scene 2
Scene changes to the Prison. -
Enter Gonsalez, disguis'd like a Mute, with a Dagger. ”

William Congreve

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Quotes from The Mourning Bride — Act V (William Congreve)

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