Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor. On The Effects Of Tragedy.
Ins seeing justice done her . In the mean while he carried himself towards Antonio with his usual openness and courtesy , and without shewing the least disgust . _ But not long after , on some solemn festival , he invited several of his friends , and among them Antonio , to a magnificent entertainment an the Castle ; and after dinner was over , by artful pretences , kept withdrawn
the latter with him till all the rest of the company were , and then , ordering his servants to put manacles on his hands , and fetters on his legs , he bid them lead him into a private apartment , where , placing himself as Judge in a chair of state prepared for that purpose , Antonio was arraigned in form , and an indictment read , charging him with having deluded Maria by . the solemn promise of violation of his lihted faith
marriage , and that afterwards , in open pg ; , he hacfmarried another woman , & c . To this Antonio , amazed and terrified , pleaded not guilty . Then several of the confidants of Maria were produced , who , - deposed , that in their company he " had often promised to marry her ; and , lastly , the Lady herself , who was prosecutor , appeared , and , setting forth the whole fact , confirmed the truth of it with her oath .
Antonio , at the sig ht of Maria , seemed to be abashed ancl confounded , and owned there had been an intrigue between them , but denied there . had been any previous contract or promise , of marriage . The Lady , he said , had made such advances , that by the laws of gallantry he could not refuse to meet her wishes with equal ardour . But this plea was over-ruled by the Court as false and groundless ; and then the Judge summed up the evidence , and at last pronounced
sentence of death against him . Baleine , not content with having appeared at the trial in the different characters of Accuser , Judge , and Jury , acted also the part of Executioner , and with his own hand stabbed Antonio , while he called out , in vain , on God and man for help , and complained of the breach of the laws of hospitality and friendship , forgetting that he himself had first violated those sacred laws . However , he sent the body to
his relations . He had ordered his Secretary to set down in writing the interrogatories and the depositions of the witnesses , which he obliged every one concerned to subscribe , and , in short , the whole process . After this , not doubting but the affair would soon reach the King ' s ear , he sent him an authentic copy of the trial , keeping the original for himselfand begged himin a letter to pardon his presumption "
, , , that , in circumstances so extraordinary , and where his honour was so deeply wounded , he had , neglecting the common course of law , done himself justice with his own hands . The King , astonished at so daring an action , and fearing that , if he should refuse his request , a man of such an impetuous temper mig ht commit some farther outsent him a pardonbut at the same time dispatched an Officer ,
rage , ; in whom he confided , to succeed him as Governor . Baleine readily resigned his authority , and , with his family and some select friends , retired into a strong castle of his own , at no great distance from , Lectoure , S . W ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor. On The Effects Of Tragedy.
Ins seeing justice done her . In the mean while he carried himself towards Antonio with his usual openness and courtesy , and without shewing the least disgust . _ But not long after , on some solemn festival , he invited several of his friends , and among them Antonio , to a magnificent entertainment an the Castle ; and after dinner was over , by artful pretences , kept withdrawn
the latter with him till all the rest of the company were , and then , ordering his servants to put manacles on his hands , and fetters on his legs , he bid them lead him into a private apartment , where , placing himself as Judge in a chair of state prepared for that purpose , Antonio was arraigned in form , and an indictment read , charging him with having deluded Maria by . the solemn promise of violation of his lihted faith
marriage , and that afterwards , in open pg ; , he hacfmarried another woman , & c . To this Antonio , amazed and terrified , pleaded not guilty . Then several of the confidants of Maria were produced , who , - deposed , that in their company he " had often promised to marry her ; and , lastly , the Lady herself , who was prosecutor , appeared , and , setting forth the whole fact , confirmed the truth of it with her oath .
Antonio , at the sig ht of Maria , seemed to be abashed ancl confounded , and owned there had been an intrigue between them , but denied there . had been any previous contract or promise , of marriage . The Lady , he said , had made such advances , that by the laws of gallantry he could not refuse to meet her wishes with equal ardour . But this plea was over-ruled by the Court as false and groundless ; and then the Judge summed up the evidence , and at last pronounced
sentence of death against him . Baleine , not content with having appeared at the trial in the different characters of Accuser , Judge , and Jury , acted also the part of Executioner , and with his own hand stabbed Antonio , while he called out , in vain , on God and man for help , and complained of the breach of the laws of hospitality and friendship , forgetting that he himself had first violated those sacred laws . However , he sent the body to
his relations . He had ordered his Secretary to set down in writing the interrogatories and the depositions of the witnesses , which he obliged every one concerned to subscribe , and , in short , the whole process . After this , not doubting but the affair would soon reach the King ' s ear , he sent him an authentic copy of the trial , keeping the original for himselfand begged himin a letter to pardon his presumption "
, , , that , in circumstances so extraordinary , and where his honour was so deeply wounded , he had , neglecting the common course of law , done himself justice with his own hands . The King , astonished at so daring an action , and fearing that , if he should refuse his request , a man of such an impetuous temper mig ht commit some farther outsent him a pardonbut at the same time dispatched an Officer ,
rage , ; in whom he confided , to succeed him as Governor . Baleine readily resigned his authority , and , with his family and some select friends , retired into a strong castle of his own , at no great distance from , Lectoure , S . W ,