ACT IV. SCENE, A desolate prospect-a ridge of rocks-a Her. That Chapel-bell in mercy seemed to guide me, These stifling blasts-God help me ! Eld. Enter ELDRED. Better this bare rock, Though it were tottering over a man's head, [A moaning voice is heard. Trees creaking in the wind (but none are here) This day's event has laid on me the duty I was the pleasure of all hearts, the darling Yet rage suppressed itself ;-to a deep stillness I brooded o'er my injuries, deserted Osw. By a bare rock, narrow, and white, and bare; Is ringing it 'twould stop a Saint in prayer, No answer-hush-lost wretch, he lifts his hand What has befallen you? Her. (feebly). Might stretch beyond the measure of one moon. A stranger has done this, He struck me; and that instant had I killed him, And in the arms of a stranger I must die. Eld. Nay, think not so: come, let me raise you up : [Raises him. This is a dismal place-well-that is well- SCENE, a room in the Hostel-MARMADUKE and Mar. But for Idonea !--I have cause to think Osw. (All hated him, and I was stung to madness) Osw. Osw. There is a power in sounds: The cries he uttered might have stopped the boat That bore us through the water Mar. You returned Upon that dismal hearing-did you not? Osw. Some scoffed at him with hellish mockery, And laughed so loud it seemed that the smooth sea Did from some distant region echo us. Three sleepless nights I passed in sounding on, Mar. We all are of one blood, our veins are filled Thirsting for some of those exploits that fill The earth for sure redemption of lost peace. [Marking MARMADUKE's countenance. Nay, you have had the worst. Ferocity Subsided in a moment, like a wind That drops down dead out of a sky it vexed. Mar. But his own crime had brought on him A salient spring of energy; I mounted this doom, His wickedness prepared it; these expedients Are terrible, yet ours is not the fault. From action up to action with a mind That never rested-without meat or drink Osw. The man was famished, and was innocent! To purposes of reason-not a dream Osw. The Crew I had been betrayed. All vanished. I gave way-do you attend? Nay, command yourself. Mar. The proofs-you ought to have seen The guilt have touched it-felt it at your heartAs I have done. But had a continuity and substance Mar. O wretched Human-kind! - Until the mystery Of all this world is solved, well may we envy And felt, if aught on earth deserves a curse, Of popular applause. I now perceived That we are praised, only as men in us Do recognise some image of themselves, An abject counterpart of what they are, Or the empty thing that they would wish to be. I felt that merit has no surer test Than obloquy; that, if we wish to serve The world in substance, not deceive by show, Mar. I pity, can forgive, you; but those 'Tis Nature's law. What I have done in darkness wretches That monstrous perfidy! Osw. Life stretched before me smooth as some broad way Mar. 'Tis a strange aching that, when we would curse And cannot. You have betrayed me--I have done I am content I know that he is guiltless- And I had heart for this, because thou lovedst Osw. Ay, we are coupled by a chain of adamant; Laws, but we ask not whence those laws have come; Which for a season I have stooped to wear, I would have made us equal once again, But that was a vain hope. You have struck home, With a few drops of blood cut short the business; Therein for ever you must yield to me. I will avow before the face of day. Herbert is innocent. Dragged from his bed, was cast into a dungeon, Elea. 'Tis my husband's foot. Good Eldred Has a kind heart; but his imprisonment Has made him fearful, and he 'll never be Enter ELDRED, (hides a bundle). Eld. Not yet in bed, Eleanor !-there are stains in that frock which must be washed out. Elea. What has befallen you? Eld. I am belated, and you must know the cause -(speaking low) that is the blood of an unhappy Man. Elea. Oh! we are undone for ever. Eld. Heaven forbid that I should lift my hand against any man. Eleanor, I have shed tears tonight, and it comforts me to think of it. Elea. Where, where is he? it will Eld. I have done him no harm, but be forgiven me ; it would not have been so once. Elea. You have not buried anything? You are no richer than when you left me? Eld. Be at peace; I am innocent. Elea. Then God be thanked [A short pause; she falls upon his neck. Eld. To-night I met with an old Man lying stretched upon the ground-a sad spectacle: I raised him up with a hope that we might shelter and restore him. Elea. (as if ready to run). Where is he? You were not able to bring him all the way with you; let us return, I can help you. [ELDRED shakes his head. Eld. He did not seem to wish for life: as I was struggling on, by the light of the moon I saw the stains of blood upon my clothes-he waved his hand, as if it were all useless; and I let him sink again to the ground. Elea. Oh that I had been by your side! Eld. I tell you his hands and his body were cold -how could I disturb his last moments? he strove to turn from me as if he wished to settle into sleep. Elea. But, for the stains of blood— Eld. He must have fallen, I fancy, for his head was cut; but I think his malady was cold and hunger. Elea. Oh, Eldred, I shall never be able to look up at this roof in storm or fair but I shall tremble. Eld. Is it not enough that my ill stars have kept me abroad to-night till this hour? I come home, and this is my comfort! Elea. But did he say nothing which might have set you at ease? Eld. I thought he grasped my hand while he was muttering something about his Child-his Daughter (starting as if he heard a noise). What is that? Elea. Eldred, you are a father. Eld. God knows what was in my heart, and will not curse my son for my sake. Elea. But you prayed by him? you waited the hour of his release? Eld. The night was wasting fast; I have no friend; I am spited by the world-his wound terrified me if I had brought him along with me, and he had died in my arms!I am sure I heard something breathing-and this chair! Elea. Oh, Eldred, you will die alone. You will have nobody to close your eyes-no hand to grasp your dying hand-I shall be in my grave. A curse will attend us all. Eld. Have you forgot your own troubles when I was in the dungeon? Elea. And you left him alive? Eld. Alive!—the damps of death were upon him -he could not have survived an hour. Elea. In the cold, cold night. Eld. (in a savage tone). Ay, and his head was bare; I suppose you would have had me lend my bonnet to cover it.-You will never rest till I am brought to a felon's end. Elea. Is there nothing to be done? cannot we go to the Convent? Eld. Ay, and say at once that I murdered him! Elea. Eldred, I know that ours is the only house upon the Waste; let us take heart; this Man may be rich; and could he be saved by our means, his gratitude may reward us. Eld. "Tis all in vain. Elea. But let us make the attempt. This old Man may have a wife, and he may have children let us return to the spot; we may restore him, and his eyes may yet open upon those that love him. Eld. He will never open them more; even when he spoke to me, he kept them firmly sealed as if he had been blind. Idon. (rushing out). It is, it is, my FatherEld. We are betrayed (looking at IDONEA). Elea. His Daughter!-God have mercy! (turning to IDONEA). Idon. (sinking down). Oh! lift me up and carry me to the place. You are safe; the whole world shall not harm you. Elea. This Lady is his Daughter. Eld. (moved). I'll lead you to the spot. Idon. (springing up). Alive!—you heard him breathe? quick, quick— [Exeunt. Osw. The game is up!— For. [MARMADUKE disappears. A human voice distinct, struck on my ear. So guided, distant a few steps, I found An aged Man, and such as you describe. Mar. You heard !—he called you to him? Of all men The best and kindest !--but where is he? guide me, That I may see him. Eld. On a ridge of rocks To pull the cord. I guess he must have heard it; His staff had dropped, and close upon the brink As if he had stooped to drink, and so remained He only spake to me of a dear Daughter, If it be needful, Sir, Who, so he feared, would never see him more; I will assist you to lay hands upon him. Osw. No, no, my Friend, you may pursue your business "Tis a poor wretch of an unsettled mind, [Exit Forester. SCENE, the edge of the Moor. MARMADUKE and ELDRED enter from opposite sides. Mar. (raising his eyes and perceiving ELDRED). In any corner of this savage Waste, Have you, good Peasant, seen a blind old Man? Eld. I heard Mar. heard him? He had been sore misused; but he forgave I am in poverty, And know how busy are the tongues of men ; You heard him, where? when And, though it smote me more than words can tell, Eld. As you know, The first hours of last night were rough with storm: I had been out in search of a stray heifer; Returning late, I heard a moaning sound; Then, thinking that my fancy had deceived me, I hurried on, when straight a second moan, I left him. Of our distress-and thou art one of them! Eld. My wife and children came into my mind. |