ELDRED ’Tis all in vain.
ELEANOR 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.
ELDRED He will never open them more; even when
he spoke to me, he
kept
them firmly sealed as if he had been blind.
IDONEA (rushing out)
It
is, it is, my Father—
ELDRED We are betrayed
(looking
at IDONEA).
ELEANOR His Daughter!—God have mercy!
(turning
to IDONEA)
IDONEA (sinking down)
Oh!
lift me up and carry me to the place.
You
are safe; the whole world shall not harm you.
ELEANOR This Lady is his Daughter.
ELDRED (moved)
I’ll
lead you to the spot.
IDONEA (springing up)
Alive!—you
heard him breathe? quick, quick—
[Exeunt.]
ACT V
SCENE—A wood on the edge of the Waste
Enter OSWALD and a Forester.
FORESTER He leaned upon the bridge that spans
the glen,
And
down into the bottom cast his eye,
That
fastened there, as it would check the current.
OSWALD He listened too; did you not say he listened?
FORESTER As if there came such moaning from the
flood
As
is heard often after stormy nights.
OSWALD But did he utter nothing?
FORESTER See him there!
[MARMADUKE appearing.]
MARMADUKE Buzz, buzz, ye black and winged freebooters;
That
is no substance which ye settle on!
FORESTER His senses play him false; and see,
his arms
Outspread,
as if to save himself from falling!—
Some
terrible phantom I believe is now
Passing
before him, such as God will not
Permit
to visit any but a man
Who
has been guilty of some horrid crime.
[MARMADUKE disappears.]
OSWALD The game is up!—
FORESTER If it be needful, Sir,
I
will assist you to lay hands upon him.
OSWALD No, no, my Friend, you may pursue your
business—
’Tis
a poor wretch of an unsettled mind,
Who
has a trick of straying from his keepers;
We
must be gentle. Leave him to my care.
[Exit
Forester.]
If
his own eyes play false with him, these freaks
Of
fancy shall be quickly tamed by mine;
The
goal is reached. My Master shall become
A
shadow of myself—made by myself.