University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

A large room in the convent, very dark. Enter the abbess, young pensioner bearing a light, and several nuns; she sets down the light on a table at the bottom of the stage, so that the room is still very gloomy.
Abb.
They have been longer absent than I thought:
I fear he has escap'd them.

1st nun.
Heaven forbid!

Pen.
No, no, found out foul murder ever is,
And the foul murderer too.

2d nun.
The good Saint Francis will direct their search;
The blood so near this holy convent shed
For threefold vengeance calls.

Abb.
I hear a noise within the inner court—
They are return'd (listening);
and Bernard's voice I hear:
They are return'd.

Pen.
Why do I tremble so?
It is not I who ought to tremble thus.

2d nun.
I hear them at the door.

Bern.
(without).
Open the door, I pray thee, brother Thomas;
I cannot now unhand the prisoner.
(All speak together, shrinking back from the door, and staring upon one another.)
He is with them! [A folding door at the bottom of the stage is opened, and enter Bernard, Thomas, and the other two monks, carrying lanterns in their hands, and bringing in De Monfort. They are likewise followed by other monks. As they lead forward De Monfort, the light is turned away, so that he is seen obscurely; but when they come to the front of the stage, they turn the light side of their lanterns on him at once, and his face is seen in all the strengthened horror of despair, with his hands and clothes bloody.
(Abbess and nuns speak at once, and start back).

Holy saints be with us!

Bern.
(to abb.)
Behold the man of blood!

Abb.
Of misery too; I cannot look upon him.

Bern.
(to nuns).
Nay, holy sisters, turn not thus away.
Speak to him, if, perchance, he will regard you:
For from his mouth we have no utt'rance heard,
Save one deep groan and smother'd exclamation,
When first we seiz'd him.

Abb.
(to De Mon.)
Most miserable man, how art thou thus?
[Pauses.
Thy tongue is silent, but those bloody hands
Do witness horrid things. What is thy name?

De Mon.
(roused, looks steadfastly at the abbess for some time; then speaking in a short hurried voice).
I have no name.

Abb.
(to Bern.)
Do it thyself; I'll speak to him no more.

Pen.
O holy saints! that this should be the man
Who did against his fellow lift the stroke,
Whilst he so loudly call'd.—
Still in my ears it rings: O murder! murder!

De Mon.
(starting).
He calls again!

Pen.
No, he did call, but now his voice is still'd.
'Tis past.

De Mon.
'Tis past.

Pen.
Yes, it is past! art thou not he who did it?

[De Monfort utters a deep groan, and is supported from falling by the monks. A noise is heard without.
Abb.
What noise is this of heavy lumb'ring steps,
Like men who with a weighty burthen come?

Bern.
It is the body: I have orders given
That here it should be laid.

[Enter men bearing the body of Rezenvelt, covered with a white cloth, and set it down in the middle of the room: they then uncover it. De Monfort stands fixed and motionless with horror, only that a sudden shivering seems to pass over him when they uncover the corpse. The abbess and nuns shrink back and retire to some distance, all the rest fixing their eyes steadfastly upon De Monfort. A long pause.
Bern.
(to De Mon.)
Seest thou the lifeless corpse, those bloody wounds?
See how he lies, who but so shortly since
A living creature was, with all the powers
Of sense, and motion, and humanity!
Oh! what a heart had he who did this deed!

1st monk
(looking at the body).
How hard those teeth against the lips are press'd,
As though he struggled still!

2nd monk.
The hands too, clench'd: nature's last fearful effort.

[De Monfort still stands motionless. Brother Thomas then goes to the body, and raising up the head a little, turns it towards De Monfort.
Thom.
Knowst thou this ghastly face?

De Mon.
(putting his hands before his face in violent perturbation).
Oh, do not! do not! Veil it from my sight!
Put me to any agony but this!

Thom.
Ha! dost thou then confess the dreadful deed?
Hast thou against the laws of awful heaven
Such horrid murder done? What fiend could tempt thee?

[Pauses, and looks steadfastly at De Monfort.
De Mon.
I hear thy words, but do not hear their sense—
Hast thou not cover'd it?

Bern.
(to Thom.)
Forbear, my brother, for thou seest right well
He is not in a state to answer thee.
Let us retire and leave him for awhile.
These windows are with iron grated o'er;
He is secur'd, and other duty calls.

Thom.
Then let it be.

Bern.
(to monks, &c.)
Come, let us all depart.

[Exeunt abbess and nuns, followed by the monks, one monk lingering a little behind.
De Mon.
All gone!
(Perceiving the monk.)
O stay thou here!

Monk.
It must not be.

De Mon.
I'll give thee gold; I'll make thee rich in gold,
If thou wilt stay e'en but a little while.

Monk.
I must not, must not, stay.

De Mon.
I do conjure thee!

Monk.
I dare not stay with thee.

[Going.
De Mon.
And wilt thou go?
[Catching hold of him eagerly.
O! throw thy cloak upon this grizly form!
The unclos'd eyes do stare upon me still.
O do not leave me thus!

[Monk covers the body, and exit.
De Mon.
(alone, looking at the covered body, but at a distance).
Alone with thee! but thou art nothing now.
'Tis done, 'tis number'd with the things o'erpast;
Would! would it were to come!—
What fated end, what darkly gathering cloud
Will close on all this horror?
O that dire madness would unloose my thoughts,
And fill my mind with wildest fantasies,
Dark, restless, terrible! aught, aught but this!
[Pauses and shudders.
How with convulsive life he heav'd beneath me,
E'en with the death's wound gor'd! O horrid, horrid!
Methinks I feel him still.—What sound is that?
I heard a smother'd groan.—It is impossible!
[Looking steadfastly at the body.
It moves! it moves! the cloth doth heave and swell.
It moves again! I cannot suffer this—
Whate'er it be, I will uncover it.
[Runs to the corpse, and tears off the cloth in despair.
All still beneath.
Nought is there here but fix'd and grizly death,
How sternly fixed! Oh! those glazed eyes!
They look upon me still.
[Shrinks back with horror.
Come, madness! come unto me, senseless death!
I cannot suffer this! Here, rocky wall,
Seatter these brains, or dull them!

[Runs furiously, and dashing his head against the wall, falls upon the floor.
Enter two monks hastily.
1st monk.
See: wretched man, he hath destroy'd himself.

2d monk.
He does but faint. Let us remove him hence.

1st monk.
We did not well to leave him here alone.

2d monk.
Come, let us bear him to the open air.

[Exeunt, bearing out De Monfort.