Ireland, John: Hogarth illustrated (Band 2,3): Nature (London, 1793)

subject. The daughter of the Alderman, now a widow, is
returned to her father. Her lover has been taken and
hanged for the murder of her husband j this she has learned
from the dying speech, which is at her foot upon the floor.
A conscience disturbed and tormented with remorse, is very
soon drove to despair. This woman, who by the consequence
of her infidelity has destroyed her husband, her lover, her
reputation, and her quiet, has nothing to lose but her life ;
this she does by taking laudanum.—She dies. Anold servant
in tears makes her kiss her child, the melancholy production
of an unfortunate marriage. The Alderman, more sensible
ofthc least acquisition than of the most tragical events, takes,
without emotion, a ring from the finger of his expiring
daughter. The apothecary is severely reprimanding the
ridiculous footman of the house who had procured the
poison, the effects of which finish the catastrophe.