Drops on the long lank weed, that grows beneath : And the weed nods and drips. Isid. A jest to laugh at! It was not that which scar'd me, good my lord. Ord. What scar'd you, then? Isid. But first permit me! You see that little rift? [Lights his torch at Ordonio's, and while lighting it. (A lighted torch in the hand Is no unpleasant object here one's breath Floats round the flame, and makes as many colors You see that crevice there? My torch extinguished by these water drops, And marking that the moonlight came from thence, But scarcely had I measured twenty paces— Of a huge chasm I stept. The shadowy moonshine That my foot hung aslant adown the edge. Was it my own fear? Fear too hath its instincts! (And yet such dens as these are wildly told of,) And there are beings that live, yet not for the eye. An arm of frost above and from behind me Pluck'd up and snatched me backward. Merciful Heaven! You smile! alas, even smiles look ghastly here! My lord, I pray you, go yourself and view it. Ord. It must have shot some pleasant feelings through yo Isid. If every atom of a dead man's flesh Should creep, each one with a particular life, Yet all as cold as ever-'twas just so! Or had it drizzled needle points of frost Upon a feverish head made suddenly bald Ord. Why, Isidore, I blush for thy cowardice. It might have startled, Isid. When a boy, my lord! I could have sate whole hours beside that chasm, Push'd in huge stones and heard them strike and rattle Ord. Art thou more coward now? Isid. Call him that fears his fellow-man a coward! I fear not man-but this inhuman cavern, It were too bad a prison house for goblins. While every goodly or familiar form Had a strange power of breathing terror round me! And I entreat your lordship to believe me, Of falling down that chasm, when Alhadra Wak'd me she heard my heart beat. Ord. Had you been here before? Isid. Strange enough! Never, my lord! But mine eyes do not see it now more clearly, Than in my dream I saw-that very chasm. Ord. (after a pause.) I know not why it should be! yet it is Isid. What is, my lord? Ord. Abhorrent from our nature, Ord. Why that's my case; and yet the soul recoils from it'Tis so with me at least. But you, perhaps, Have sterner feelings? Isid. Something troubles you. How shall I serve you? By the life you gave me, Is not a place where you could perpetrate, One of our family knew this place well. Isid. Who? when? my lord? Ord. What boots it, who or when? Hang up thy torch-I'll tell his tale to thee. [They hang up their torches on some ridge in the cavern. He was a man different from other men, And he despised them, yet revered himself. Isid. (aside.) He? He despise? Thou'rt speaking of thyself! I am on my guard however: no surprise. What, he was mad? Ord. [Then to Ordonio. All men seemed mad to him! Nature had made him for some other planet, And pressed his soul into a human shape By accident or malice. In this world He found no fit companion. Isid. Of himself he speaks. [aside. He walked alone. Mad men are mostly proud. Ord. And phantom thoughts unsought-for troubled him. To this in moody murmur and low voice Why didst thou look round? Isid. I have a prattler three years 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 proceed! And what did this man? Ord. With this human hand He gave a substance and reality To that wild fancy of a possible thing.- Why babblest thou of guilt? The deed was done, and it passed fairly off. Though you began this cloudy tale at midnight. Ord. Isid. He of whom you tell the tale— What did the Valdez? I am proud of the name Since he dared do it. [Ordonio grasps his sword, and turns off from Isidore, then after a pause returns. Our links burn dimly. Isid. A dark tale darkly finished! Nay, my lord! Tell what he did. Ord. That which his wisdom prompted VOL. VII. Ꭱ He made the traitor meet him in this cavern, Isid. Ord. Thou wouldst not then have come, if- I would have met him arm'd, and scar'd the coward. [Isidore throws off his robe; shows himself armed, and draws his sword. Ord. Now this is excellent and warms the blood! My heart was drawing back, drawing me back With weak and womanish scruples. Now my vengeance And claims that life, my pity robbed her of— Isid. And all my little ones fatherless Die thou first. [They fight, Ordonio disarms Isidore, and in disarming him throws his sword up that recess opposite to which they were standing. Isidore hurries into the recess with his torch, Ordonio follows him; a loud cry of "Traitor! Monster!" is heard from the cavern, and in a moment Ordonio returns alone. Ord. I have hurled him down the chasm! treason for treason. He dreamt of it: henceforward let him sleep, A dreamless sleep, from which no wife can wake him. His dream too is made out-now for his friend. [Exit Ordonio. SCENE II.* The interior Court of a Saracenic or Gothic Castle, with the iron gate of a dungeon visible. Ter. Heart-chilling superstition! thou canst glaze Ev'n pity's eye with her own frozen tear. See Appendix. p. 403. |