 | Count Julian |  |
SCENE III.
The Same.Enter Ada.
Mad—mad:—O! dear old man. O! such a sight
I shall be swallow'd in this great wreck's whirl.
The earth had just begun to smile,—and now
A gulf yawns near me. What shuddering accents
Break from his soul:—I dare not listen to them.
(Enter Rupert.)
Ah! Rupert!
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My dear Ada! what hast thou?
Ada.
My uncle!
Rupert.
Well, how fares he?
Ada.
Worse and worse.
O! his soul bleeds to death: naught can now stanch it.
His mind is rushing out, and with it come
Such terrible revelations. Even to you
I cannot speak of what his frenzy utter'd.
Rupert.
Thou need'st not: I know all. Be comforted.
The root of his long ill I'll pluck away:
I'll quell his raging fever with a word.
His nephew, whose plann'd murder racks his soul,
Was from th' assassin's clutches snatcht, and lives.
Ada.
O! blessed word. O! Joy has chose thy tongue
For his bright harbinger.
Rupert.
Still swell thy joy,
For know,—what I've just learnt,—I am that nephew.
Ada.
Thou!
Rupert.
For our joy at this discovery
We will hereafter find rich utterance.
Time presses now, and I have much to act.
Ada.
The Countess, knows she of all this?
Rupert.
Not yet.
Nor must not for a time, till are devis'd
Sure means to baffle her worst will. Now part we,
I'll seek you soon again.
Ada.
O! day of wonders.
(Exit.)
Rupert.
(Alone.)
And now to Rudolf; 'tis our time of meeting.
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How apt the parting; else had my chaf'd blood
Wreakt a remorseful vengeance for that insult.
He's weak of fence, and when I have disarm'd him—
Which easily I shall, he cannot choose
But hear me.
(Exit.)
| Count Julian | |