No More Learning

MARMADUKE and ELDRED enter from opposite sides.


MARMADUKE (raising his eyes and perceiving ELDRED)
In any corner of this savage Waste,
Have you, good Peasant, seen a blind old Man?


ELDRED I heard--


MARMADUKE You heard him, where? when heard him?


ELDRED As you know
The first hours of last night were rough with storm:
I had been out in search of a stray heifer;
Returning late, I heard a moaning sound;
Then, thinking that my fancy had deceived me,
I hurried on, when straight a second moan,
A human voice distinct, struck on my ear.
So guided, distant a few steps, I found
An aged Man, and such as you describe.


MARMADUKE You heard! --he called you to him? Of all men
The best and kindest! --but where is he? guide me,
That I may see him.


ELDRED On a ridge of rocks
A lonesome Chapel stands, deserted now:
The bell is left, which no one dares remove;
And, when the stormy wind blows o'er the peak,
It rings, as if a human hand were there
To pull the cord. I guess he must have heard it;
And it had led him towards the precipice,
To climb up to the spot whence the sound came;
But he had failed through weakness. From his hand
His staff had dropped, and close upon the brink
Of a small pool of water he was laid,
As if he had stooped to drink, and so remained
Without the strength to rise.


MARMADUKE Well, well, he lives,
And all is safe: what said he?
ELDRED But few words:
He only spake to me of a dear Daughter,
Who, so he feared, would never see him more;
And of a Stranger to him, One by whom
He had been sore misused; but he forgave
The wrong and the wrong-doer. You are troubled--
Perhaps you are his son?


MARMADUKE The All-seeing knows,
I did not think he had a living Child. --
But whither did you carry him?


ELDRED He was torn,
His head was bruised, and there was blood about him--


MARMADUKE That was no work of mine.


ELDRED Nor was it mine.


MARMADUKE But had he strength to walk? I could have borne him
A thousand miles.


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.