ELDRED I am in poverty,
              And know how busy are the tongues of men;
              My heart was willing, Sir, but I am one
              Whose good deeds will not stand by their own light;
              And, though it smote me more than words can tell,
              I left him.

MARMADUKE I believe that there are phantoms,
              That in the shape of man do cross our path
              On evil instigation, to make sport
              Of our distress—­and thou art one of them! 
              But things substantial have so pressed on me—­

ELDRED My wife and children came into my mind.

MARMADUKE Oh Monster!  Monster! there are three of us,
              And we shall howl together.
       [After a pause and in a feeble voice.]
                      I am deserted
              At my worst need, my crimes have in a net
    (Pointing to ELDRED) Entangled this poor man.—­
                  Where was it? where?
                      [Dragging him along.]

ELDRED ’Tis needless; spare your violence.  His Daughter—­

MARMADUKE Ay, in the word a thousand scorpions lodge: 
              This old man had a Daughter.

ELDRED To the spot
              I hurried back with her.—­Oh save me, Sir,
              From such a journey!—­there was a black tree,
              A single tree; she thought it was her Father.—­
              Oh Sir, I would not see that hour again
              For twenty lives.  The daylight dawned, and now—­
              Nay; hear my tale, ’tis fit that you should hear it—­
              As we approached, a solitary crow
              Rose from the spot;—­the Daughter clapped her hands,
              And then I heard a shriek so terrible
   [MARMADUKE shrinks back.]
              The startled bird quivered upon the wing.

MARMADUKE Dead, dead!—­

ELDRED (after a pause)
                              A dismal matter, Sir, for me,
              And seems the like for you; if ’tis your wish,
              I’ll lead you to his Daughter; but ’twere best
              That she should be prepared; I’ll go before.

MARMADUKE There will be need of preparation.

[ELDRED goes off.]

ELEANOR (enters)
          
                                        Master! 
              Your limbs sink under you, shall I support you?

MARMADUKE (taking her arm)
              Woman, I’ve lent my body to the service
              Which now thou tak’st upon thee.  God forbid
              That thou shouldst ever meet a like occasion
              With such a purpose in thine heart as mine was.

ELEANOR Oh, why have I to do with things like these?