DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61480#0209
MARRIAGE A-LA-MODE.
FIFTH PICTURE.-DEATH OF THE EARL.
Our exasperated peer, suspecting his wife's infidelity, follows her in disguise to the
masquerade, and from thence traces these two votaries of vice to a bagnio; finding they
are retired to a bed-room, he bursts open the door, and attacks the spoiler of his honour
with a drawn sword. Too much irritated to be prudent, and too violent to be cautious,
he thinks only of revenge ; and, making a furious thrust at the counsellor, neglects his
own guard, and is mortally wounded. The miscreant who had basely destroyed his
peace, and deprived him of life, is not bold enough to meet the consequences. Destitute
of that courage which is the companion of virtue, possessing no spark of that honour
whicli ought to distinguish the gentleman, and dreading the avenging hand of offended
justice, he makes a mean and precipitate retreat. Leaving him to the fate which awaits
him, let us return to the deluded countess. Feeling some pangs from a recollection of
her former conduct, some touches of shame at her detection, and a degree of horror at
the fate of her husband, she kneels at his feet, and entreats forgiveness.
" Some contrite tears she shed."
There is reason to fear that they flow from regret at the detection, rather than re-
morse for the crime ; a woman vitiated in the vortex of dissipation is not likely to feel
that ingenuous shame which accompanies a good mind torn by the consciousness of
having deviated from the path of virtue.
Alarmed at the noise occasioned by this fatal rencontre, the inmates of the brothel
call a watchman ; accompanied by a constable, this nocturnal guardian is ushered into
the room by the master of the house, whose meagre and trembling figure is well opposed
to the consequential magistrate of the night. The watchman's lantern we see over their
heads, but the bearer knows his duty is to follow his superiors, conscious that, though
the front may be a post of honour, yet, in a service of danger, the rear is a station of
safety.
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FIFTH PICTURE.-DEATH OF THE EARL.
Our exasperated peer, suspecting his wife's infidelity, follows her in disguise to the
masquerade, and from thence traces these two votaries of vice to a bagnio; finding they
are retired to a bed-room, he bursts open the door, and attacks the spoiler of his honour
with a drawn sword. Too much irritated to be prudent, and too violent to be cautious,
he thinks only of revenge ; and, making a furious thrust at the counsellor, neglects his
own guard, and is mortally wounded. The miscreant who had basely destroyed his
peace, and deprived him of life, is not bold enough to meet the consequences. Destitute
of that courage which is the companion of virtue, possessing no spark of that honour
whicli ought to distinguish the gentleman, and dreading the avenging hand of offended
justice, he makes a mean and precipitate retreat. Leaving him to the fate which awaits
him, let us return to the deluded countess. Feeling some pangs from a recollection of
her former conduct, some touches of shame at her detection, and a degree of horror at
the fate of her husband, she kneels at his feet, and entreats forgiveness.
" Some contrite tears she shed."
There is reason to fear that they flow from regret at the detection, rather than re-
morse for the crime ; a woman vitiated in the vortex of dissipation is not likely to feel
that ingenuous shame which accompanies a good mind torn by the consciousness of
having deviated from the path of virtue.
Alarmed at the noise occasioned by this fatal rencontre, the inmates of the brothel
call a watchman ; accompanied by a constable, this nocturnal guardian is ushered into
the room by the master of the house, whose meagre and trembling figure is well opposed
to the consequential magistrate of the night. The watchman's lantern we see over their
heads, but the bearer knows his duty is to follow his superiors, conscious that, though
the front may be a post of honour, yet, in a service of danger, the rear is a station of
safety.
49