IDONEA Alas! the thought of such a cruel death
              Has overwhelmed him.—­I must follow.

ELDRED Lady! 
              You will do well; (she goes) unjust suspicion may
              Cleave to this Stranger:  if, upon his entering,
              The dead Man heave a groan, or from his side
              Uplift his hand—­that would be evidence.

ELEANOR Shame!  Eldred, shame!

MARMADUKE (both returning)
                                    The dead have but one face. 
          (To himself.)
              And such a Man—­so meek and unoffending—­
              Helpless and harmless as a babe:  a Man,
              By obvious signal to the world’s protection,
              Solemnly dedicated—­to decoy him!—­

IDONEA Oh, had you seen him living!—­

MARMADUKE I (so filled
              With horror is this world) am unto thee
              The thing most precious, that it now contains: 
              Therefore through me alone must be revealed
              By whom thy Parent was destroyed, Idonea! 
              I have the proofs!—­

IDONEA O miserable Father! 
              Thou didst command me to bless all mankind;
              Nor to this moment, have I ever wished
              Evil to any living thing; but hear me,
              Hear me, ye Heavens!—­
        (kneeling) —­may vengeance haunt the fiend
              For this most cruel murder:  let him live
              And move in terror of the elements;
              The thunder send him on his knees to prayer
              In the open streets, and let him think he sees,
              If e’er he entereth the house of God,
              The roof, self-moved, unsettling o’er his head;
              And let him, when he would lie down at night,
              Point to his wife the blood-drops on his pillow!

MARMADUKE My voice was silent, but my heart hath joined thee.

IDONEA (leaning on MARMADUKE)
              Left to the mercy of that savage Man! 
              How could he call upon his Child!—­O Friend!
       [Turns to MARMADUKE.]
              My faithful true and only Comforter.

MARMADUKE Ay, come to me and weep. (He kisses her.)
        (To ELDRED.) Yes, Varlet, look,
              The devils at such sights do clap their hands.
        [ELDRED retires alarmed.]

IDONEA Thy vest is torn, thy cheek is deadly pale;
              Hast thou pursued the monster?

MARMADUKE I have found him.—­
              Oh! would that thou hadst perished in the flames!

IDONEA Here art thou, then can I be desolate?—­