'Tis, you'll say,
A cheerless beverage.
A cheerless beverage.
Wordsworth - 1
]
MARMADUKE You say he was asleep,--look at this arm,
And tell me if 'tis fit for such a work.
Oswald, Oswald!
[Leans upon OSWALD. ]
OSWALD This is some sudden seizure!
MARMADUKE A most strange faintness,--will you hunt me out
A draught of water?
OSWALD Nay, to see you thus
Moves me beyond my bearing. --I will try
To gain the torrent's brink.
[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.
MARMADUKE You say he was asleep,--look at this arm,
And tell me if 'tis fit for such a work.
Oswald, Oswald!
[Leans upon OSWALD. ]
OSWALD This is some sudden seizure!
MARMADUKE A most strange faintness,--will you hunt me out
A draught of water?
OSWALD Nay, to see you thus
Moves me beyond my bearing. --I will try
To gain the torrent's brink.
[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.
