University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

The interior of the Duke's palace.
Enter the Duke, Hubert, and the Huntsman.
Duke.
Your tale hath stunned me with its dreadful import,
And turned my every faculty to wonder.

Hub.
You cannot doubt, my liege?

Duke.
Hubert, I'd give
The best part of my power for hope to whisper
A no to my conviction. Devilish villain!

Hub.
Sure all good angels looked another way,
When this foul deed was done.

Duke.
All ancient cruelties
Look pale to it, and merciful: henceforth
They, that would christen human fiends, must write
Hesperus, 'stead of Cain; and chiding nurses,
To still their peevish babes, shall offer them,
Not to the wolves, but him, the fiercer beast.

Hub.
Oh! my good lord, even now my sight is dimmed
With the salt gush, that came between my eyes
And that which seared them: on her turfy couch,
Like one just lulled into a heavy sleep,
Smiling and calm she lay; the breath
Had not left fluttering up and down her bosom,
That, all blood-dabbled and besprent with gore,
Still held the guilty steel; the name was on it
Of the cursed owner.

Duke.
Go, trusty Hubert,
Speed to Orlando's palace with my guard,
And drag the murderer here; e'en now I'll judge him:
Be diligent, put wings upon your feet;
Some vengeance will fall on us in the night,
If he remain unsentenced.

[Exeunt.