 | The Daughter |  |
SCENE IV.
The Shore close to the Sea.Enter Robert, dragging in a body.—Marian in the distance, slowly coming down a path cut out of the cliff—Norris behind a rock, from which he looks, occasionally.
Rob.
The surge won't reach thee there! I warrant me
No fear thou'lt go to it. Thy last—last draught,
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Unwelcome one! Safe bide thou there! The waves
Are in a giving mood! I'd be at hand
To profit by their bounty. I did think
Some one was near me! Fancy!—How it lightens!
[Goes out.
Enter Marian.
Mari.
The storm distracts me with its din! This roar,
This never-ending roar, which round and round,
The heavens keep up!—in which the surges join,
As though the thunder were not loud enough!
No sign, yet, of my father! What with fears
For him, and terror of the tempest, I'm
Bewilder'd! Let me try and look, above,
Beyond the clouds—beyond the stars! No storm
Is there! no wreck!—no raging sea!—no thunder!
But calm, and warmth, and brightness, as befits
The dwellings of the blest!—My mother's there!
O, my poor father! Here's the storm again!
Sea, thunder, lightning—all come back again!
Re-enter Robert.
Rob.
I have lost my knife! Methinks I dropp'd it here!
[Sees Marian.
What's that!—Is it a mortal thing? It makes
My spirit faint within me!—'Tis the form
Of my lost Marian!—Even so she stood
In the storm wherein her life was cast away!
Can she not lie in her grave for me?—Do my sins
Break on her last rest, there, and call her thence?
I sent her thither—on such nights as this
I have often look'd about me with a thought
That she was near me. There at last she is!
It is my Marian risen from her grave!
She comes to me!—O powers of grace, preserve me!
[Kneels.
Mari.
The strength of Heaven!—To see it, yet not feel it!
Within its reach to do what it forbids!
And it in anger!—see the weapons of
Its wrath in motion—feel the earth shake at them!
And never pay it awe!—stand up to it!
Defy it!—'stead of falling on one's knees,
And asking it for mercy.
Rob.
Mercy.
Mari.
Ha!
My father!
Rob.
Marian!
Mari.
On thy knees!—That's right—
Fear not! Thou dost Heaven's bidding!—Do not rise
Until thou risest with its blesséd pardon!
Rob.
[Rising.]
What brought thee here, my child? Thou ne'er before
Cam'st after me.
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I came to look for thee;
And to persuade thee to come home with me.
Thou tremblest—Thou art pale—as livid as
The lightning! Dost thou hear? 'Tis everywhere!
Not the clouds only, but the very air—
The very sea—the very earth—do thunder!
All—all is din and fire! It is right
For man to tremble!
Rob.
'Tis not that!
Mari.
What then?
Rob.
I took thee for thy mother, Marian!
Mari.
Think me her still, and what she'd have thee do,
Do, by the love thou bearest to her, still!
Forswear this lawless life!—Thou wouldst not rob
A living man!—'Tis manlier to strip
The living, than the dead!
Rob.
This night 's the last!
Mari.
This night!—O, no!—The last night be the last!
Who makes his mind up that a thing is wrong,
Yet says he'll do that thing for the last time,
Commences but anew a course of sin,
Of which that last sin is the leading one,
Which many another, and a worse, will follow!
At once begin! How many, at this hour,
Alive as thou art, will not live to see
To-morrow's light!—If thou shouldst be cut off!
Should thy last sin be done, on thy last night!
Should Heaven avenge itself on that last sin
Thou dost repentingly!—my father, come!—
O! a bad conscience, and a sudden death!
Come home!—Come home!—Come home!
Rob.
I'll follow thee.
I'll fetch my boat-hook, and my other gear,
And follow thee.
Mari.
I'll loiter till you come.
I'll rest upon yon rock, and wait for thee;
For what with cares for thee, and terror of
The storm, I'm almost sped!
Enter Norris, cautiously.
Nor.
Now is the time!—Now! while her back's to me.
Is he dead? There's warmth, methinks, about the heart,
More than there should be! 'Tis no matter!—Cowards
May stick at trifles!—Can I find a stone
To knock him on the head?—What's this?—A knife!
'Tis Robert's!
Mari.
[Re-appearing and ascending the cliff.]
What's that you are doing, father?
Nor.
She takes me for her father!—Good! She'll see
What I do, and think it is her father does it,
And when 'tis done, so will I slink away,
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[He plunges the knife into the body—Marian utters a faint shriek, and falls senseless.
She saw it! Marian 's in my power! She's mine!
What next?—Quick work, and sure!—When he returns,
His daughter out of sight, he'll search the corpse;
Discover'd in the act, the nail is clinch'd!
But other witnesses are needed.—I
Were better out of sight. Wolf is at hand,
Nor yet alone. I'll speed to him and give him
His cue, and he and they will soon be here.
[Goes out.
Rob.
[Re-entering.]
To leave it there!
And the last time! Where's Marian?—Out of sight!
The pockets may be full!—Why did I quit them
Unsearch'd, in greediness for other prey?—
Not now too late! I'm all alone!—A minute
Will serve to rifle them! I were a fool
To leave to others, what of right is mine!
[Goes to the body, and empties one pocket.
What have we here? Some of the bright broad pieces
Black Norris show'd me! What a madness 'twere
To leave them in the pockets of the dead,
And let the living go with empty ones!
I'll count them by-and-by!—And this is full!
[Empties the other pocket.
I'll ease it of its burthen!—Gold! All gold!
Whence comes that glare? Ha!—'Tis the beacon struck
By the lightning, and on fire!
Enter suddenly Wolf, Ambrose, and others; led by Norris.
Amb.
What do you there,
Old Robert?
Rob.
Nothing that I fear to do.
Amb.
What hold you in your hand?
Rob.
Gold!
Amb.
Gold?
Rob.
Ay, gold!
Wolf.
Let's look at the body!—Ha!—What's here—A knife?
Rob.
My knife!
Amb.
Your knife? Why, Robert, it is sticking
In the dead man's breast!
Wolf.
Pull out the knife!
Amb.
'Tis Robert's knife!—How came this, Robert?
See;—he cannot speak!
Phil.
[Descending the cliff.]
What's here?—A woman!—Is she dead?
[Lifts Marian.
'Tis Marian!
She breathes! She's stunn'd; that's all! 'Tis well the ledge
Preserved her from the bottom! She must needs
Have miss'd her footing.
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Swoon'd, as likely, at
The sight of what her father did.
[Marian, recovering consciousness, descends, supported by Philip, who brings her towards her father.
Rob.
[Restored to collectedness at sight of his daughter.]
My Marian!
Wolf.
You see she swoons again.
The sight of him recalls the deed of blood!
Rob.
My Marian!
Wolf.
Hold him fast!
Help Norris, while he takes him to his hut;
I'll help you too!
Rob.
My Marian!
Wolf.
She swoons
Away again.
Rob.
Let me go, friends!—I'm innocent! For the love
Of Heaven, don't drag me from my child! I'm innocent!
Marian! My Marian! My Marian!
I'm an old man, lads! Use me gently! No!
Don't drag me from my child!—I'm innocent!
My Marian! My Marian! My Marian!
[They force Robert away, leaving Marian supported by Philip.
| The Daughter | |