- Don Pedro enters, and renews his protestations respecting the subsidies, and even imputes depredation to the English knights, but this Edward speedily puts an end to, and Chandos interferes with

“ Now, Sir King !
The Prince is much exhausted; it were time
This conference were ended; short adieux
Are always best.

Pedro. Fair Sir, with all my heart !” - But Edward rouses himself for a few parting words :

“ A cup of water! [Drinks.] Chandos, by your leave,

I've somewhat yet to say. Part we, Sir King !
As sovereigns should I do not grudge the cost
Of having aided you; I have done
What was my duty.–Now, farewell indeed!
For never more we meet upon this earth.
-And in this pardon me, -
Counsels from dying men, they say, have oft
An import from the world beyond the grave-
I would say thus :-
Treat all your nobles with an equal hand,
Blot from your memory all treasons past,
Hearken no calumny 'gainst well-tried friends,
For false accusers often mar the poise
Of nicely balanced confidence--and, in fine,
Be just e'en 'gainst yourself; remember that
The world, circling around you, sits at gaze
Upon your deeds--nor mortals only, all
Whom the Omnipotent hath formed to judge
Of right and wrong ; tier above tier they throng,
Eyeing your path, a cloud of witnesses ;
Earthlings and beings of yon fiery spheres
Whom we ne'er learnt to name, sit dimly round-
Then angel-hosts, unnumber'd,
Spread their vast circles silently and still;

- Beyond them, sight and thought drop pinionless,
For, crowning all, compassing all within
His everlasting arms, sits God himself,
His eye upon us both, thy Judge and mine!
-Pedro, farewell ! --a little space, and then
We meet before his throne.
Pedro. Lord Prince !—The devil give me utterance !

[Aside.
Why gape ye all at me ?-Hell and devils !
I came not here to be insulted thus.

Chandos. Sir King! your audience is concluded.

Pedro (recovering himself). Kind cousin, pardon me!
Your zeal for me hath much exhausted you.

[Erit." - And with this sneer on the lips of the victor villain, the heroic Edward, the sage Chandos, the faithful Captal, disappear from our view, and we see them no more,

Calverley, I should have mentioned, had been called away before the entrance of Don Pedro—it was to attend the Bishop of Burgos, who had to communicate the tidings of the death of Lady Ilda.

“ Bishop. She's now at journey's end, and the bright soul
Hath to its frail companion bid farewell.
Scarce had she passed the convent-gates when life
Began to sink apace.

Bish.

A sweeter parting never graced the world,
For, after she had ta’en the Eucharist,
She felt her earthly pilgrimage
Was drawing near its close; often she stroked
Her sister's hand, and with her eye gave thanks
For any little service the poor nuns
Were fain to do her; once or twice she spoke,
But with a thick and heavy utterance,
And so her end drew on.

Hugh. Was it a troubled parting ?

Bish. Even as the wane of moon, no more but som
A bird-like futter of the failing heart,
With some half-score of gently-heaved sighs-
Then broke a pale grey smile, which tremblingly
Kept rule upon her lips, and, fading there,
Merged into endless calm.

Hugh. Ah, well-a-day! this is a weary world,
When all the good are leaving us !-Father,
The Lady Inez, does she take to heart
Too deeply what has passed ?

As sister should,
Who grieves a sister's death, new gone to heaven.
It was a homily to see them part.
As two meek pilgrims, who the livelong day
Have been each other's solace, - lingering,
They on the parting of their mutual road,
Stand sad at gaze awhile- the path of one
Leads straight unto the goal, the other still
Hath many a weary mile to travel round-
So with a silent gesture of farewell
They parted peacefully, in hope assured
To meet again in gladness.

-The Lady Inez fain would see you, Sir;
'Twas for this cause I sent for you.

- You are betrothed to her; 'tis therefore fit I speak with you, for she is ward of mine, And all her lands at present are my care.

[Exeunt.” -And with the fair future prospect thus held out, we bid them too farewell.*

And now there remains only the concluding scene, completing the catastrophe. My citations have been copious, but I present it without curtailment.

“ Palace of Burgos—Past midnight and before daun-Don PEDRO and MARIA.

“ Maria. The game is finished, and the kingdom won!
By move on move, for many an anxious moon,
We've gain'd this wished-for victory; the board-
Shows us triumphant-all is cleared away
That cumbered us, and now we stand to-night
Resistless as alone. Is it not so?

Pedro. No doubt it warms your heart to stand alone
Upon this devil's pinnacle, whereto
We've clambered with such zest-it pleasures you.

* I may add that the memory of Sir Hugh de Calverley still flourishes in the traditions of Cheshire—that he is remembered as a knight of gigantic stature, who brought home as his bride the Queen of Arragon—that he died without children, that the estate of Calverley, from which he derived his name, passed by marriage, through his niece and heiress, to the Davenport family, and is at present in the possession of Edward Davenport, Esq., of Capesthorn, Cheshire and that Sir Hugh's monument still exists in Banbury church, close to Calverley.

VOL. II.

2 L

Maria. Long have we laboured on the marble block
Of circumstance, and many a tool have broke
Whilst hewing out our end, and now at last
Our own device stands out sharp from the rough
And crude material. This gives me joy,
And should to you.'
Pedro.

No doubt, no doubt! it does-
Exceeding joy! I'm brimming o'er with mirth,
Roaring with merriment. Now get you gone-
I'm in no humour to be chuckled to
About the past.

Maria. What! when the thing is done,
And the long chain of deeds have link by link
Been boldly clench’d, to let your triumph fail —
Art conscience-smitten, to repent at last ?

Pedro. Woman! I have no conscience- and what's done
I'd do again! I hope no more for heaven,
Nor fear for hell. Beware you plague me not, -
You do not please me now.
Set me the stoups of wine, and clear the hall.

[To an Attendant. Stay, bring me here a goblet. [Drinks.] Fill again.

[Drinks. Again--and get ye gone.

[Opens the casement—the distant march of the BLACK PRINCE is heard. Ha, ha! thou 'lt never beard me more ! no more Will thy advice be winded to my ear At every step I take. Ay, go thy ways, And let thy trumpets wail along the breeze, For they have reason. Prince! thou journeyest But to thy grave !-Ride on, proud knights, ride on ! But I have cozened you, and from you all Have filched the jewel that ye valued most; And nowWeary Heaven's ear with prayers, ransack the earth For remedies, abolish night and day With watch unceasing, still the Prince's life Is mine! I have it, grasp it, trample on it, And none can pluck it from me!

Enter the Doctor.
Doct. Good morrow, noble patron ! in each word
I would express the fealty of my

heart.
Pedro. Ah! in truth,
Fellows like you must have a brazen face;
Did you not hear yon distant trumpet-call ?
How doth its music like you?
Doct.

Nay, my liege!
I am your servant now.

Pedro. You've been an excellent sure tool, at least.

Maria. My lord, you're mad! you're melancholy mad!
And are most graceless to a well-tried friend.
Come, shew some entertainment; by my faith,
His services demand your gratitude.

Pedro. Gratitude, ha! Gratitude, ha, ha, ha!
You make me merry !

[Leaping up.
So, entertainment is 't ? Why, take it then !
Here is the wine, and you shall have a swill
Will pay you for all pains—drink down, I say! [Forces the wine on the Doctor.

Maria (to Doct.). Nay, baulk him not-drink! it will quiet him.
Doct. I pray, my liege !
Pedro.

Drink and be damn'd ! [The Doctor drinks.
How like you it ? 'tis a high-flavoured vintage
I keep for special friends

[Aside.

And you are worthy of t-and it of you !
- And now, my mistress! we will have a pledge.
Maria. Together—from one cup.
Pedro.

Ay, as you will —
I mean no evil, but a hearty pledge.
-Here's to the happy parting of a friend,
And may we meet him once again in hell !
—'Tis a mere pleasantry. [They drink.] You'll see its force
Anon.

Enter an Attendant with a despatch.
Who comes ? What news?
Att. My liege, these papers. [D. PEDRO reads.] I was at the gate,
When up there came a score of Englishmen;
The leading knight halloo'd me to his side,
Said somewhat of the livery I bore,
Toss'd me these papers, and -

Pedro. Death o me! must I never more be quit
Of obligations ?-Go, tell your Prince from me,
I want no treaty patch'd and cobbled up
By him—I spurn the thought of peace with Arragon,
With all its vantages, so bought-I'll none of it!
Down, villain parchment! (Throwing it down.] Dirty matter, out !

[Trampling on it.
-Now, tell your Prince how I have trampled on
Him and his kindnesses,
On this fair written treaty, say, I spat !

Att. I am no servant of the Prince, my liege !
Pedro. Out, slave! [Striking him.} Out of my sight! [Strikes him again.]

I say, begone!

[Exit Attendant-PEDRO sits down, and is silent a moment. -Good Doctor, do not counterfeit an ague ! Had you been glared at by a basilisk, You could not more have trembled. Brace yourself, And keep those coward knees from knocking thus Against each other. I am much your friend.

Doct. My gracious Sovereign, I am heartily Rejoiced to hear you say so.

Pedro. And feel disposed to heap you with rewards.

Doct. You'll find me, Sire! most grateful for the scraps
You fling me from your table.
Pedro.

Ah! indeed!
-You wish, no doubt, your full reward to-night ?

Doct. I do not feel quite well-somewhat of pain ;
Fain would I leave your presence, and what guerdon
You condescend t allow me, I'll take with me.

Pedro. You do not feel quite well-a little pain-
Suppose this pain should gnaw away your life,
Would you not take it as the quittance due
Of all your villanies ?

There be some men
So full of crimes that Justice shoves her hand
Athwart the common course that nature takes,
To seize upon her prey; might not this be
The case with you-suppose, this very hour ?
-I see you do not like the thoughts I rouse,
'Tis a sore subject, we will drop it then.

Doct. Oh, for Heaven's sake, my liege, let me go hence !
I am burned up with pain—I know not what
Is stilling me.

Pedro. Nay, but the full reward,
The diamond ring! I'm in a chatty vein,
And cannot let you go.

Doct.

My head ! my head !
Pedro. Tell me, good Doctor!-I am curious,
And you, they say, are learned in such lorem
Are there such things as devils on this earth ?
I doubt it much.-How feel you now?

Doct. Oh! worse and worse, my liege!

Maria. Pedro ! if you have poisoned him, 'twere well
To tell the wretch the truth.
Doct, Poisoned !

[Snatches up the cup, looks into it, and lets it fall. Pedro. Fool ! did you think that I would let you live ?

Doct. Poisoned ! Oh God! I die
What poison is 't ? upon my knees—what drug ? [Kneeling to MARIA.
Oh, lady! tell me,I have antidotes ;
Speak, speak! upon your words I live!

Maria. Nay, Sir! no more—I'm innocent of this.

Pedro, Innocent ! You talk of innocence! The word
Should blight those wicked lips.

Maria. Pedro, have done with this, I do implore of you !

Doct. The darkness comes ! Tell me while light is left-
It gathers round me, shrouding up my eyes-
Help, oh!

[Falls. Pedro. Nay, we are here—you need not shout so loud.

Maria. This is too much, to dally with your victim ;
I cannot bear it.

Pedro. Woman, 'twas you who taught me first to stride
In Satan's foot-marks—now I lead the way,
I'll drag you after me.

Doct. A priest, a priest! Out, fiends! what-touch me not !
I sign the cross-hold, that should scare ye all-
A priest, a priest ! Not you, Don Pedro, no !

Maria. Now, God ha' grace!
This is too horrible, I dare not stay.

Doct. (to Maria). Leave me not here alone.
Pedro.

Good friend, I'm by!
Doct. Not you, not you! for by your side I see
Them crouch and nestle. I will none of you;
Stand off, stand off!

[Exit MARIA. Pedro.

Ho, there! Maria, stay!
-She's gone!

Doct. Oh, keep them off! help, help! the evil ones
They gripe me now-I'm lost !

[Dies. Pedro (after a pause). My hell's begun!”

And thus the piece ends—the gloom thickening to the last-character after character dropping off and disappearing till the guilty triumvirate alone remain —the gigantic wickedness of Pedro looming darker and darker through the night of his crimes—while the distant trumpets of his departing victim “wail along the breeze,” and the tool of his treachery expires at his feet-even Maria shrinking appalled away, and Pedro remaining alone at last, a solitary Vathek, in his glory and his abasement—successful, but with the hell in his heart lighted for ever.

END OF VOLUME II.

London : Printed by WILLIAM Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street.