University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

In the background a Gothic chapel partially in ruins; —through a broken arch the sea seen at a little distance. In front, broken forest-ground, a small brook running to the sea. At the side, a small tower that admits to the demesnes of the Castle. Sunset.
ONSLOW
(in front of the chapel).
More than ten years have pass'd since I beheld him—
The noble boy;—now time annuls my oath,
And cancels all his wrongs! Ye dismal wrecks—
Well might the lightning scathe your bloodstain'd walls,
To death and marriage consecrate alike,
As is the tale that trembles on my lips!
Lo, the toad battening where the altar stood,
But ruin spares the tomb! So thro' the earth
How many altars vow'd to human love
A single tomb outlasts!

Enter Gaussen from the tower.
GAUSSEN.
What, in time?
Alone, too?
[Rushing upon Onslow.
Speak not, stir not, or thou diest!
The scrolls—the papers that thou bear'st about thee!

ONSLOW.
Avaunt, I know thee, murderer! On this spot
The dead rise up against thee.

GAUSSEN.
Dost thou know me?
Then know thy doom and doomsman!

ONSLOW.
Villain! off!

[Breaks from him and passes through the arches of the chapel.
GAUSSEN
(following).
Thy blood on thine own head!

Enter Norman.
NORMAN.
A human cry!
Ha! ruffian,—hold!

[Rushes through the arches.
Re-enter Gaussen disarmed.
GAUSSEN.
Disarm'd! my hand is palsied!

[Norman appears as in pursuit—Gaussen, creeping along the ruins, enters the tower unperceived.
NORMAN.
Is it a fiend, that earth should swallow?

ONSLOW
(within, groaning).
Oh!

[Norman re-enters the Chapel.
GAUSSEN
(from the tower).
We meet again!—

Enter Norman, bearing Onslow, wounded.
ONSLOW.
Ah! life is fading fast!—
Let me look on thee—once more I behold thee,
And can depart in peace!—

NORMAN.
Hush—do not speak!—

ONSLOW.
Nay, words grow few. I bade thee meet me here;
Yonder where Murder found me—on this day
Twenty and five years back—thy father—

NORMAN.
Father!
Say on! my father?

ONSLOW.
Died, most foully murder'd

NORMAN.
Blood—blood for blood—the murderer—name him!

ONSLOW.
Listen.—
There was a page, fair, gentle, brave, but lowborn;—
The daughter of the lordly House he served
Saw him and loved:—they wed in stealth;—these hands
Join'd them together in yon holy walls;
They met in secret. I—I—my voice fails me!

[Norman goes to the brook, brings water in the hollow of his hand, and sprinkles the face of the old man.
ONSLOW.
The father learn'd the love—not wedlock—deem'd
His child dishonour'd.—On this spot the lovers
Met, with design to fly. I loved the youth—
His foster-sire—I was to share their flight.—

NORMAN.
Speak on—speak on.

ONSLOW.
'Twas night—a fearful night—
Lightning and storm!—They met—and murderous hands
Seized on thy father—dragg'd him from her breast!—
Oh!—that wild shriek—I hear it still!—he died
By the same wretch that is my murderer now.

NORMAN.
Thy murderer now? O thanks, revealing Heaven!
One death, one deed—one arm avenges both!

ONSLOW.
Died in these arms—three flagstones from the altar—
Near the lone tomb where the first Baron sleeps;—
Still mark the gore-stains where his bones are buried.

NORMAN.
Oh!—horror—horror!

ONSLOW.
Three nights thence thy mother
Gave birth to thee;—a kinsman, whose cold heart
Promise of gold had soften'd to her grief,
Bore to my home the babe!

NORMAN.
And she, my mother?
Does she live still?—my mother?

ONSLOW.
She survived—
Forced to a lordlier husband's arms. The tale
Of the sad past unknown!

NORMAN.
It was her face
Mine infant eyes beheld?—

ONSLOW.
In stealth a wife;
In stealth a mother—yes!—But with new ties
Came new affections.—To the second nuptials
A second son was born.—She loved him well;
Better than thee—than her own soul.

NORMAN.
Poor mother!—

ONSLOW.
But few words more.—I—I—Oh—

NORMAN.
Breathe less loud,
My soul is in my ears.

ONSLOW.
Too moved by pity—
Too sway'd by fear—lest they should rend thee from me,
I took a solemn oath to veil the secret—
Conceal thy rights—while lived her sire, and he,
Her second lord; and thus allow'd thy youth
To quit my roof:—they died,—the sire and husband,—
Some two years since;—thou still afar. I sought
Thy mother, and her heart was marble;—Oh!
Here—here (gives papers)
. Go, seek thy shelter in the law;
But shun yon towers!—thy mother—

NORMAN.
But one word!
My mother's name!—

ONSLOW
(pointing to papers).
There!
[Raises himself to his feet with a sudden effort.
Hear my last words, Heaven!
Protect the wrong'd!—upon this head I lay
An old man's blessing—Now, farewell!

[Dies.
NORMAN.
Stay—stay
Thy flight, thou gentlest spirit! Dumb! He breathes not!
Dead—dead—my second sire! O hell-born deed!
Could not these white hairs plead for thee?
—Revenge!
Earth give no shelter to the man of blood!
Conduct his feet, Ordainer of all doom,
To retributive slaughter; and vouchsafe
This arm thine instrument! Mine eyes deceived me,
Or the red beam, streaking the vaulted gloom,
Show'd me the face of—Well! the Heavens are just,
And we shall meet again!—Farewell, farewell!
Heaven gains a saint in thee!—My mother lives!
What tho' she has another child to love?
Is not a mother's heart a mighty space,
Embracing all her children? Of that realm
How little will content me!—She will fold
Her arms around me, and from out her breast
The eyes that look to hers shall melt away
With passionate tears the past and all its sorrows!
What—what! her son—her son! Mysterious Nature,
At the first glance I loved her! Wealth, lands, titles,
A name that glitters, like a star, amidst
The galaxy of England's loftiest born!
O Violet—O my bride—and O my mother!
Out from my heart henceforth each low desire,
Each meaner hope my wilder youth conceived!
Be my soul instinct with such glorious thoughts
As, springing to great deeds, shall leave my land
A bright heroic lesson of the things
In which true nobleness endures for ever!
And while I told my woes she wept, she did!
'Tis her sweet writing! bless her! See, she calls me
Arthur, and child (kissing the papers)
, and child, her precious one,
Her hope, her darling! Mother—my own mother!

[Opens the papers—Scene closes.