[Enter Host
conducting
HERBERT.
William Wordsworth
--Oswald, I have loved
To be the friend and father of the oppressed,
A comforter of sorrow;--there is something
Which looks like a transition in my soul,
And yet it is not. --Let us lead him hither.
OSWALD Stoop for a moment; 'tis an act of justice;
And where's the triumph if the delegate
Must fall in the execution of his office?
The deed is done--if you will have it so--
Here where we stand--that tribe of vulgar wretches
(You saw them gathering for the festival)
Rush in--the villains seize us--
MARMADUKE Seize!
OSWALD Yes, they--
Men who are little given to sift and weigh--
Would wreak on us the passion of the moment.
MARMADUKE The cloud will soon disperse--farewell--but stay,
Thou wilt relate the story.
OSWALD Am I neither
To bear a part in this Man's punishment,
Nor be its witness?
MARMADUKE I had many hopes
That were most dear to me, and some will bear
To be transferred to thee.
OSWALD When I'm dishonoured!
MARMADUKE I would preserve thee. How may this be done?
OSWALD By showing that you look beyond the instant.
A few leagues hence we shall have open ground,
And nowhere upon earth is place so fit
To look upon the deed. Before we enter
The barren Moor, hangs from a beetling rock
The shattered Castle in which Clifford oft
Has held infernal orgies--with the gloom,
And very superstition of the place,
Seasoning his wickedness. The Debauchee
Would there perhaps have gathered the first fruits
Of this mock Father's guilt.
[Enter Host conducting HERBERT. ]
HOST The Baron Herbert
Attends your pleasure.
OSWALD (to Host)
We are ready--
(to HERBERT) Sir!
I hope you are refreshed. --I have just written
A notice for your Daughter, that she may know
What is become of you. --You'll sit down and sign it;
'Twill glad her heart to see her father's signature.
[Gives the letter he had written. ]
HERBERT Thanks for your care.
[Sits down and writes. Exit Host. ]
OSWALD (aside to MARMADUKE)
Perhaps it would be useful
That you too should subscribe your name.
[MARMADUKE overlooks HERBERT--then writes--examines the letter eagerly. ]
MARMADUKE I cannot leave this paper.
[He puts it up, agitated. ]
OSWALD (aside)
Dastard! Come.
To be the friend and father of the oppressed,
A comforter of sorrow;--there is something
Which looks like a transition in my soul,
And yet it is not. --Let us lead him hither.
OSWALD Stoop for a moment; 'tis an act of justice;
And where's the triumph if the delegate
Must fall in the execution of his office?
The deed is done--if you will have it so--
Here where we stand--that tribe of vulgar wretches
(You saw them gathering for the festival)
Rush in--the villains seize us--
MARMADUKE Seize!
OSWALD Yes, they--
Men who are little given to sift and weigh--
Would wreak on us the passion of the moment.
MARMADUKE The cloud will soon disperse--farewell--but stay,
Thou wilt relate the story.
OSWALD Am I neither
To bear a part in this Man's punishment,
Nor be its witness?
MARMADUKE I had many hopes
That were most dear to me, and some will bear
To be transferred to thee.
OSWALD When I'm dishonoured!
MARMADUKE I would preserve thee. How may this be done?
OSWALD By showing that you look beyond the instant.
A few leagues hence we shall have open ground,
And nowhere upon earth is place so fit
To look upon the deed. Before we enter
The barren Moor, hangs from a beetling rock
The shattered Castle in which Clifford oft
Has held infernal orgies--with the gloom,
And very superstition of the place,
Seasoning his wickedness. The Debauchee
Would there perhaps have gathered the first fruits
Of this mock Father's guilt.
[Enter Host conducting HERBERT. ]
HOST The Baron Herbert
Attends your pleasure.
OSWALD (to Host)
We are ready--
(to HERBERT) Sir!
I hope you are refreshed. --I have just written
A notice for your Daughter, that she may know
What is become of you. --You'll sit down and sign it;
'Twill glad her heart to see her father's signature.
[Gives the letter he had written. ]
HERBERT Thanks for your care.
[Sits down and writes. Exit Host. ]
OSWALD (aside to MARMADUKE)
Perhaps it would be useful
That you too should subscribe your name.
[MARMADUKE overlooks HERBERT--then writes--examines the letter eagerly. ]
MARMADUKE I cannot leave this paper.
[He puts it up, agitated. ]
OSWALD (aside)
Dastard! Come.
