[on some ridge in Remorse] the cavern.
Osorio. He was a man different from other men,
And he despised them, yet revered himself.
Ferdinand. What? he was mad?
Osorio. All men seem’d mad to him, 85
Their actions noisome folly, and their talk —
A goose’s gabble was more musical.
Nature had made him for some other planet,
And press’d his soul into a human shape
By accident or malice. In this world 90
He found no fit companion!
Ferdinand. Ah, poor wretch!
Madmen are mostly proud.
Osorio. He walk’d alone,
And phantasies, unsought for, troubled him.
Something within would still be shadowing out
All possibilities, and with these shadows 95
His mind held dalliance. Once, as so it happen’d,
A fancy cross’d him wilder than the rest:
To this in moody murmur, and low voice,
He yielded utterance as some talk in sleep.
The man who heard him ——
Why didst thou look round? 100
Ferdinand. I have a prattler three years old, my lord!
In truth he is my darling. As I went
From forth my door, he made a moan in sleep —
But I am talking idly — pray go on!
And what did this man?
Osorio. With his human hand 105
He gave a being and reality
To that wild fancy of a possible thing.
Well it was done. [Then very wildly.
Why babblest thou of guilt?
The deed was done, and it pass’d fairly off.
And he, whose tale I tell thee — dost thou listen? 110
Ferdinand. I would, my lord, you were by my fireside!
I’d listen to you with an eager eye,
Tho’ you began this cloudy tale at midnight.
But I do listen — pray proceed, my lord!
Osorio. Where was I?
Ferdinand. He of whom you tell the tale — 115
Osorio. Surveying all things with a quiet scorn
Tamed himself down to living purposes,
The occupations and the semblances
Of ordinary men — and such he seem’d.
But that some over-ready agent — he —— 120
Ferdinand. Ah! what of him, my lord?
Osorio. He proved a villain;
Betray’d the mystery to a brother villain;
And they between them hatch’d a damnéd plot
To hunt him down to infamy and death
To share the wealth of a most noble family, 125
And stain the honour of an orphan lady
With barbarous mixture and unnatural union.
What did the Velez? I am proud of the name,
Since he dared do it.
[OSORIO grasps his sword and turns off from FERDINAND,
then, after a pause, returns.
Osorio. Our links burn dimly.
Ferdinand. A dark tale darkly finish’d! Nay, my lord! 130
Tell what he did.
Osorio (fiercely). That which his wisdom prompted.
He made the traitor meet him in this cavern,
And here he kill’d the traitor.
Ferdinand. No! — the fool.
He had not wit enough to be a traitor.
Poor thick-eyed beetle! not to have foreseen 135
That he, who gull’d thee with a whimper’d lie
To murder his own brother, would not scruple
To murder thee, if e’er his guilt grew jealous
And he could steal upon thee in the dark!
Osorio. Thou would’st not then have come, if ——
Ferdinand. O yes, my lord! 140
I would have met him arm’d, and scared the coward!
[FERDINAND throws off his robe, shows himself armed,
and draws his sword.
Osorio. Now this is excellent, and warms the blood!
My heart was drawing back, drawing me back
With womanish pulls of pity. Dusky slave,
Now I will kill thee pleasantly, and count it 145
Among my comfortable thoughts hereafter.
Ferdinand. And all my little ones fatherless! Die thou first.
[They fight. OSORIO disarms FERDINAND, and in disarming
him, throws his sword up that recess, opposite to
which they were standing.
Ferdinand (springing wildly towards Osorio). Still I can strangle
thee!
Osorio. Nay, fool! stand off.
I’ll kill thee — but not so! Go fetch thy sword.
[FERDINAND hurries into the recess with his torch.
OSORIO follows him, and in
