No More Learning

I suspect unworthy tales
Have reached his ear--you have had enemies.


MARMADUKE Enemies! --of his own coinage.


OSWALD That may be,
But wherefore slight protection such as you
Have power to yield? perhaps he looks elsewhere. --
I am perplexed.


MARMADUKE What hast thou heard or seen?


OSWALD No--no--the thing stands clear of mystery;
(As you have said) he coins himself the slander
With which he taints her ear;--for a plain reason;
He dreads the presence of a virtuous man
Like you; he knows your eye would search his heart,
Your justice stamp upon his evil deeds
The punishment they merit. All is plain:
It cannot be--


MARMADUKE
What cannot be?


OSWALD Yet that a Father
Should in his love admit no rivalship,
And torture thus the heart of his own Child--


MARMADUKE Nay, you abuse my friendship!


OSWALD Heaven forbid! --
There was a circumstance, trifling indeed--
It struck me at the time--yet I believe
I never should have thought of it again
But for the scene which we by chance have witnessed.


MARMADUKE What is your meaning?


OSWALD Two days gone I saw,
Though at a distance and he was disguised,
Hovering round Herbert's door, a man whose figure
Resembled much that cold voluptuary,
The villain, Clifford. He hates you, and he knows
Where he can stab you deepest.
MARMADUKE Clifford never
Would stoop to skulk about a Cottage door--
It could not be.


OSWALD And yet I now remember,
That, when your praise was warm upon my tongue,
And the blind Man was told how you had rescued
A maiden from the ruffian violence
Of this same Clifford, he became impatient
And would not hear me.


MARMADUKE No--it cannot be--
I dare not trust myself with such a thought--
Yet whence this strange aversion? You are a man
Not used to rash conjectures--


OSWALD If you deem it
A thing worth further notice, we must act
With caution, sift the matter artfully.


[Exeunt MARMADUKE and OSWALD. ]


SCENE--The door of the Hostel

HERBERT, IDONEA, and Host


HERBERT (seated)
As I am dear to you, remember, Child!
This last request.


IDONEA You know me, Sire; farewell!


HERBERT And are you going then? Come, come, Idonea,
We must not part,--I have measured many a league
When these old limbs had need of rest,--and now
I will not play the sluggard.


IDONEA Nay, sit down.
[Turning to Host.
Good Host, such tendance as you would expect
From your own Children, if yourself were sick,
Let this old Man find at your hands; poor Leader,
[_Looking at the dog_.
We soon shall meet again. If thou neglect
This charge of thine, then ill befall thee! --Look,
The little fool is loth to stay behind.