_In a chamber, near Boston, the morning after the battle of
Bunkers-Hill._

CLARISSA. How lovely is this new-born day!--The sun rises with uncommon
radiance after the most gloomy night my wearied eyes ever knew.--The voice
of slumber was not heard--the angel of sleep was fled--and the awful
whispers of solemnity and silence prevented my eye-lids from closing.--No
wonder--the terrors and ideas of yesterday--such a scene of war--of
tumult--hurry and hubbub--of horror and destruction--the direful noise of
conflict--the dismal hissing of iron shot in volleys flying--such bellowing
of mortars--such thund'ring of cannon--such roaring of musketry--and such
clashing of swords and bayonets--such cries of the wounded--and such
streams of blood--such a noise and crush of houses, steeples, and whole
streets of desolate Charlestown falling--pillars of fire, and the convulsed
vortex of fiery flakes, rolling in flaming wreaths in the air, in dreadful
combustion, seemed as tho' the elements and whole earth were envelop'd in
one general, eternal conflagration and total ruin, and intermingled with
black smoke, ascending, on the wings of mourning, up to Heaven, seemed
piteously to implore the Almighty interposition to put a stop to such
devastation, lest the whole earth should be unpeopled in the unnatural
conflict--Too, too much for female heroism to dwell upon--But what are all
those to the terrors that filled my affrighted imagination the last
night?--Dreams--fancies--evil bodings--shadows, phantoms and ghastly
visions continually hovering around my pillow, goading and harrowing my
soul with the most terrific appearances, not imaginary, but real--Am I
awake?--Where are the British murderers?--where's my husband?--my son?--my
brother?--Something more than human tells me all is not well: If they are
among the slain, 'tis impossible.--I--Oh! [_She cries._]

_Enter a NEIGHBOUR_ [_a spectator of the battle_].

NEIGHBOUR. Madam, grieve not so much.

CLARISSA. Am I wont to grieve without a cause? Wou'd to God I did;--mock
me not--What voice is that? methinks I know it--some angel sent to
comfort me?--welcome then. [_She turns about._] Oh, my Neighbour, is it
you? My friend, I have need of comfort. Hast thou any for me?--say--will
you not speak? Where's my husband?--my son?--my brother? Hast thou seen
them since the battle? Oh! bring me not unwelcome tidings! [_Cries._]

NEIGHBOUR. [_Aside. What shall I say?_] Madam, I beheld them yesterda