Or till the storm abate. 
          (To MARMADUKE aside.) He has restored you. 
              No doubt you have been nobly entertained? 
              But soft!—­how came he forth?  The Night-mare Conscience
              Has driven him out of harbour?

MARMADUKE I believe
              You have guessed right.

HERBERT The trees renew their murmur: 
              Come, let us house together.

[OSWALD conducts him to the dungeon.]

OSWALD (returns)
                                            Had I not
              Esteemed you worthy to conduct the affair
              To its most fit conclusion, do you think
              I would so long have struggled with my Nature,
              And smothered all that’s man in me?—­away!—­
     [Looking towards the dungeon.]
              This man’s the property of him who best
              Can feel his crimes.  I have resigned a privilege;
              It now becomes my duty to resume it.

MARMADUKE Touch not a finger—­

OSWALD What then must be done?

MARMADUKE Which way soe’er I turn, I am perplexed.

OSWALD Now, on my life, I grieve for you.  The misery
              Of doubt is insupportable.  Pity, the facts
              Did not admit of stronger evidence;
              Twelve honest men, plain men, would set us right;
              Their verdict would abolish these weak scruples.

MARMADUKE Weak!  I am weak—­there does my torment lie,
              Feeding itself.

OSWALD Verily, when he said
              How his old heart would leap to hear her steps,
              You thought his voice the echo of Idonea’s.

MARMADUKE And never heard a sound so terrible.

OSWALD Perchance you think so now?

MARMADUKE I cannot do it: 
              Twice did I spring to grasp his withered throat,
              When such a sudden weakness fell upon me,
              I could have dropped asleep upon his breast.

OSWALD Justice—­is there not thunder in the word? 
              Shall it be law to stab the petty robber
              Who aims but at our purse; and shall this Parricide—­
              Worse is he far, far worse (if foul dishonour
              Be worse than death) to that confiding Creature
              Whom he to more than filial love and duty
              Hath falsely trained—­shall he fulfil his purpose? 
              But you are fallen.

MARMADUKE Fallen should I be indeed—­
              Murder—­perhaps asleep, blind, old, alone,
              Betrayed, in darkness!  Here to strike the blow—­
              Away! away!—­