University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

A chamber, with a small bed or couch in it. Enter Rudigere and Cathrina, wrangling together.
Rud.
I say begone, and occupy the chamber
I have appointed for thee: here I'm fix'd,
And here I pass the night.

Cath.
Thou saidst my chamber
Should be adjoining that which Orra holds?
I know thy wicked thoughts: they meditate
Some dev'lish scheme; but think not I'll abet it.

Rud.
Thou wilt not!—angry, restive, simple fool!
Dost thou stop short and say, “I'll go no further?”
Thou, whom concealed shame hath bound so fast,—
My tool,—my instrument?—Fulfil thy charge
To the full bent of thy commission, else
Thee, and thy bantling too, I'll from me cast
To want and infamy.

Cath.
O, shameless man!
Thou art the son of a degraded mother
As low as I am, yet thou hast no pity.

Rud.
Ay, and dost thou reproach my bastardy
To make more base the man who conquer'd thee,
With all thy virtue, rigid and demure?
Who would have thought less than a sovereign prince
Could e'er have compass'd such achievement? Mean
As he may be, thou'st given thyself a master,
And must obey him.—Dost thou yet resist?
Thou know'st my meaning.

[Tearing open his vest in vehemence of action.
Cath.
Under thy vest a dagger!—Ah! too well,
I know thy meaning, cruel, ruthless man!

Rud.
Have I discovered it?—I thought not of it:
The vehemence of gesture hath betray'd me.
I keep it not for thee, but for myself;
A refuge from disgrace. Here is another:
He who with high, but dangerous fortune grapples,
Should he be foil'd, looks but to friends like these.
[Pulling out two daggers from his vest.
This steel is strong to give a vig'rous thrust;
The other on its venom'd point hath that
Which, in the feeblest hand, gives death as certain,
As though a giant smote the destin'd prey.

Cath.
Thou desp'rate man! so arm'd against thyself!

Rud.
Ay; and against myself with such resolves,
Consider well how I shall deal with those
Who may withstand my will or mar my purpose.
Thinkst thou I'll feebly—

Cath.
O be pacified.
I will begone: I am a humbled wretch
On whom thou tramplest with a tyrant's cruelty.

[Exit.
Rud.
(looks after her with a malignant laugh, and then goes to the door of an adjoining chamber, to the lock of which he applies his ear).
All still within—I'm tired and heavy grown:
I'll lay me down to rest. She is secure:
No one can pass me here to gain her chamber.
If she hold parley now with any thing,
It must in truth be ghost or sprite.—Heigh ho!
I'm tir'd, and will to bed.

[Lays himself on the couch and falls asleep. The cry of hounds is then heard without at a distance, with the sound of a horn; and presently Orra enters, bursting from the door of the adjoining chamber, in great alarm.
Orra.
Cathrina! sleepest thou? Awake! awake!
[Running up to the couch and starting back on seeing Rudigere.
That hateful viper here!
Is this my nightly guard? Detested wretch!
I will steal back again.
[Walks softly on tiptoe to the door of her chamber, when the cry of hounds, &c. is again heard without, nearer than before.
O no! I dare not.
Though sleeping, and most hateful when awake,
Still he is natural life and may be rous'd.
[Listening again.
'Tis nearer now: that dismal thrilling blast!
I must awake him.
[Approaching the couch and shrinking back again.
O no! no, no!
Upon his face he wears a horrid smile
That speaks bad thoughts.
[Rud. speaks in his sleep.
He mutters too my name.—
I dare not do it.
[Listening again.
The dreadful sound is now upon the wind,
Sullen and low, as if it wound its way
Into the cavern'd earth that swallow'd it.
I will abide in patient silence here;
Though hateful and asleep, I feel me still
Near something of my kind.
[Crosses her arms, and leans in a cowering posture over the back of a chair at a distance from the couch; when presently the horn is heard without, louder than before, and she starts up.
O it returns! as though the yawning earth
Had given it up again, near to the walls.
The horribly mingled din! 'tis nearer still:
'Tis close at hand: 'tis at the very gate!
[Running up to the couch.
Were he a murd'rer, clenching in his hands
The bloody knife, I must awake him.—No!
That face of dark and subtle wickedness!
I dare not do it. (Listening again.)
Ay; 'tis at the gate—
Within the gate.—
What rushing blast is that
Shaking the doors? Some awful visitation
Dread entrance makes! O mighty God of Heav'n!
A sound ascends the stairs.
Ho, Rudigere!
Awake, awake! Ho! wake thee, Rudigere!

Rud.
(waking).
What cry is that so terribly strong? — Ha! Orra!
What is the matter?

Orra.
It is within the walls. Didst thou not hear it?

Rud.
What? The loud voice that called me?

Orra.
No, it was mine.

Rud.
It sounded in my ears
With more than human strength.

Orra.
Did it so sound?
There is around us, in this midnight air,
A power surpassing nature. List, I pray:
Although more distant now, dost thou not hear
The yell of hounds; the spectre-huntsman's horn?

Rud.
I hear, indeed, a strangely mingled sound:
The wind is howling round the battlements.
But rest secure where safety is, sweet Orra!
Within these arms, nor man nor fiend shall harm thee.

[Approaching her with a softened winning voice, while she pushes him off with abhorrence.
Orra.
Vile reptile! touch me not.

Rud.
Ah! Orra! thou art warp'd by prejudice,
And taught to think me base; but in my veins
Lives noble blood, which I will justify.

Orra.
But in thy heart, false traitor! what lives there?

Rud.
Alas! thy angel-faultlessness conceives not
The strong temptations of a soul impassion'd
Beyond control of reason.—At thy feet—
[Kneeling.
O spurn me not!

Enter several Servants, alarmed.
Rud.
What, all these fools upon us! Staring knaves,
What brings ye here at this untimely hour?

1st serv.
We have all heard it—'twas the yell of hounds
And clatt'ring steeds, and the shrill horn between.

Rud.
Out on such folly!

2d serv.
In very truth it pass'd close to the walls;
Did not your honour hear it?

Rud.
Ha! sayst thou so? thou art not wont to join
In idle tales.—I'll to the battlements
And watch it there: it may return again.

[Exeunt severally, Rudigere followed by servants, and Orra into her own chamber.