No More Learning

[Exit OSWALD. ]


MARMADUKE (after a pause)
It seems an age
Since that Man left me. --No, I am not lost.


HERBERT (at the mouth of the dungeon)
Give me your hand; where are you, Friends? and tell me
How goes the night.


MARMADUKE 'Tis hard to measure time,
In such a weary night, and such a place.


HERBERT I do not hear the voice of my friend Oswald.

MARMADUKE A minute past, he went to fetch a draught
Of water from the torrent. 'Tis, you'll say,
A cheerless beverage.


HERBERT How good it was in you
To stay behind! --Hearing at first no answer,
I was alarmed.


MARMADUKE No wonder; this is a place
That well may put some fears into _your_ heart.


HERBERT Why so? a roofless rock had been a comfort,
Storm-beaten and bewildered as we were;
And in a night like this, to lend your cloaks
To make a bed for me! --My Girl will weep
When she is told of it.
MARMADUKE This Daughter of yours
Is very dear to you.


HERBERT Oh! but you are young;
Over your head twice twenty years must roll,
With all their natural weight of sorrow and pain,
Ere can be known to you how much a Father
May love his Child.

MARMADUKE
Thank you, old Man, for this! [Aside. ]


HERBERT Fallen am I, and worn out, a useless Man;
Kindly have you protected me to-night,
And no return have I to make but prayers;
May you in age be blest with such a daughter! --
When from the Holy Land I had returned
Sightless, and from my heritage was driven,
A wretched Outcast--but this strain of thought
Would lead me to talk fondly.


MARMADUKE Do not fear;
Your words are precious to my ears; go on.


HERBERT You will forgive me, but my heart runs over.
When my old Leader slipped into the flood
And perished, what a piercing outcry you
Sent after him. I have loved you ever since.
You start--where are we?


MARMADUKE Oh, there is no danger;
The cold blast struck me.


HERBERT
'Twas a foolish question.


MARMADUKE But when you were an Outcast? --Heaven is just;
Your piety would not miss its due reward;
The little Orphan then would be your succour,
And do good service, though she knew it not.