 | Faith's Fraud |  |
134
SCENE IV.
Chamber of the Baroness.Baron Weilenberg, and Baroness, on a Couch.
BARONESS.
Her cheeks have lost their freshness: I could wish
This watching, night by night, were well at end;
But now to thrust her back would fret impatience—
I must not do it now.
WEILENBERG.
Keep her beside thee.
She will be easier so, happier hereafter.
Let us not both abhor ourselves.
BARONESS.
Let neither
Think otherwise than peacefully of one
Who is at peace.
WEILENBERG.
At last—but it was late!
BARONESS.
Let me die thankfully: I will believe
That both have ever loved me.
WEILENBERG.
There have been
These twenty years for me to tell thee so—
It were but mockery now!
BARONESS.
Peace, Weilenberg!
WEILENBERG.
I do not ask it. Peace returns no more—
While here, at least, may God forbid it should!
BARONESS.
I wished a parting easier to us both.
WEILENBERG.
Forgive me, then—I know thou wilt—thou hast
Daily these twenty years! Had love been less,
I should have made thee so much less unhappy.
Once more forgive me!
BARONESS.
Never for an hour
Did I retain the privilege to forgive.
135
Yet say so.
BARONESS.
Ay, with all my heart I say it.
What else was prayed for has been granted me;
And much I dared not ask. But trust this child!
Thou hast no power to make her love thee less;
Trust her, for my sake, and believe her love.
Our other children call their mother hence.
This innocent girl is wiser than she seems,
And will re-place us all. Now promise me!
WEILENBERG.
To promise that were one more injury.
How should I trust her love who doubted thine?
BARONESS.
It is the last thing asked of thee!
WEILENBERG.
I promise!
BARONESS.
God grant his peace to both! Now send me Ursula,
And leave me till to-morrow. I would sleep.
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