nd forsake me?
My guard, too, that observ'd me still so close,
Tire in the task of their inhuman office,
And loiter far behind. Alas! I faint,
My spirits fail at once--this is the door
Of my Alicia----Blessed opportunity!
I'll steal a little succour from her goodness,
Now while no eye observes me. [_she knocks at the door._

_Enter Servant._

Is your lady,
My gentle friend, at home? Oh! bring me to her.

_Serv._ Hold, mistress, whither would you?
[_pulling her back._

_Jane S._ Do you not know me?

_Serv._ I know you well, and know my orders too:
You must not enter here----

_Jane S._ Tell my Alicia,
'Tis I would see her.

_Serv._ She is ill at ease,
And will admit no visitor.

_Jane S._ But tell her
'Tis I, her friend, the partner of her heart,
Wait at the door and beg,----

_Serv._ 'Tis all in vain,--
Go hence, and howl to those that will regard you.
[_shuts the door, and exit._

_Jane S._ It was not always thus; the time has been,
When this unfriendly door, that bars my passage,
Flew wide, and almost leap'd from off its hinges,
To give me entrance here; when this good house
Has pour'd forth all its dwellers to receive me;
When my approaches made a little holiday,
And every face was dress'd in smiles to meet me:
But now 'tis otherwise; and those who bless'd me
Now curse me to my face. Why should I wander,
Stray further on, for I can die ev'n here?
[_she sits down at the door._

_Enter Alicia in disorder, two Servants following._

_Alic._ What wretch art thou, whose misery and baseness
Hangs on my door; whose hateful whine of woe
Breaks in upon my sorrows, and distracts
My jarring senses with thy beggar's cry?

_Jane S._ A very beggar, and a wretch, indeed;
One driv'n by strong calamity to seek
For succours here; one perishing for want,
Whose hunger has not tasted food these three days;
And humbly asks, for charity's dear sake,
A draught of water and a little bread.

_Alic._ And dost thou come to me, to me, for bread;
I know thee not--Go--hunt for it abroad,
Where wanton hands upon the earth have scatter'd it,
Or cast it on the waters--Mark the eagle,
And hungry vulture, where they wind the prey;
Watch where the ravens of the valley feed,
And seek thy food with them--I know thee not.

_Jane S._ And yet there was a time, when my Alicia
Has thought unhappy Shore her dearest blessing,
And mourn