THE DYNASTS ACT in
MOORE
Yes . . . yes.—But it has never been my lot To owe much to good luck; nor was it then. Good fortune has been mine, but, (bitterly) mostly so By the exhaustion of all shapes of bad! . . . Well, this does not become a dying man; And others have been chastened more than I By Him who holds us in His hollowed hand! . . .
I grieve for Zaragoza if, as said, The siege goes sorely with her, which it must. I heard when at Dahagun that late day That she was holding out heroically. But I must leave such now.—Youll see my friends As early as you can ? Tell them the whole ; Say to my mother . . . (His voice fails.) Hope, Hope, I .have so much to charge you with, But weakness clams my tongue! ... If I must die Without a word with Stanhope, ask him, Hope, To—name me to his sister. You may know Of what there was between us ? . . . Is Colonel Graham well, and all my aides ? My will I have made—it is in Colborne's charge With other papers.
HOPE
He's now coming up. Enter MAJOR COLBORNE, principal aide-de-camp.
MOORE
Are the French beaten, Colborne, or repulsed ? Alas! you see what they have done to me!
COLBORNE
I do, Sir John : I am more than sad thereat! In brief time now the surgeon will be here. The French retreat—pushed from Elvina far.
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