University of Virginia Library

Scene 2.

Entrance to a Cave in the Forest. Midnight. A fire blazing in front. (Inora—alone.)
Inora.
Before we are ourselves—can think or act,
Our pride of beauty and of youth is over;
The days are gone we hoped to turn to vantage,
To win strong worship in and make ourselves
Helpmates to what was worthy of apprising
--- More generous is man
Toward the sex's frailties than woman.
To be considerate and merciful
Comes of a nobler nature—larger heart
And ampler brain. Oh! wretched, raving fool!
To reason so against my better knowledge.
Why is this serpent coiled about my heart?
Why was I coaxed into its slimy folds?
What was there tempting in the tempter's voice?
Life is a lie—a lie from dawn to dark'ning.
A lie once spoken fathers endless lies.
The devil knows it and that spark from hell
Which man's tongue is the apt conductor of
Widens and populates his fell dominion.
Who is this
Invades my solitude—comes to consult
Me, witch reputed, at this far-gone hour?
(Enter Soartes.)
Thou!—in one sense least welcome—least expected,
But to my humour, ready, ready, ready.
Ay! in the nick of time, thou shew'st thyself.
Soartes! 'twas but yesterday I saw thee
Riding in state, companion of the King
To this shift hast thou come—dissembler! speak!
Fugitive, coward, fellow-traitor, speak!
What brings the serpent to the tiger's den?

Soartes.
Inora! my Inora! only mine!
Hide—save me from the axe!

Inora.
By this I save you!
[Stabbing him with a poignard. Soartes dies.
We are quits at last. No executioner
Could do his work with such a willing heart.
I'll neither pray nor ask absolvitur
For the great deed of justice I have done.
The need for expiation which must follow
The self-same instrument shall satisfy,
The King must be a witness.

[Exit.