SCENE I.--The end of the Yew-tree Avenue under MILDRED'S Window.
A light seen through a central red pane Enter TRESHAM through the trees Again here!But I cannot lose myself.
The heath--the orchard--I have traversed glades And dells and bosky paths which used to lead Into green wild-wood depths,bewildering My boy's adventurous step.And now they tend Hither or soon or late;the blackest shade Breaks up,the thronged trunks of the trees ope wide,And the dim turret I have fled from,fronts Again my step;the very river put Its arm about me and conducted me To this detested spot.Why then,I'll shun Their will no longer:do your will with me!
Oh,bitter!To have reared a towering scheme Of happiness,and to behold it razed,Were nothing:all men hope,and see their hopes Frustrate,and grieve awhile,and hope anew.
But I...to hope that from a line like ours No horrid prodigy like this would spring,Were just as though I hoped that from these old Confederates against the sovereign day,Children of older and yet older sires,Whose living coral berries dropped,as now On me,on many a baron's surcoat once,On many a beauty's whimple--would proceed No poison-tree,to thrust,from hell its root,Hither and thither its strange snaky arms.
Why came I here?What must I do?
[A bell strikes.]
A bell?
Midnight!and 'tis at midnight...Ah,I catch --Woods,river,plains,I catch your meaning now,And I obey you!Hist!This tree will serve.
[He retires behind one of the trees.After a pause,enter MERTOUN cloaked as before.]
MERTOUN.Not time!Beat out thy last voluptuous beat Of hope and fear,my heart!I thought the clock I'the chapel struck as I was pushing through The ferns.And so I shall no more see rise My love-star!Oh,no matter for the past!
So much the more delicious task to watch Mildred revive:to pluck out,thorn by thorn,All traces of the rough forbidden path My rash love lured her to!Each day must see Some fear of hers effaced,some hope renewed:
Then there will be surprises,unforeseen Delights in store.I'll not regret the past.
[The light is placed above in the purple pane.]
And see,my signal rises,Mildred's star!
I never saw it lovelier than now It rises for the last time.If it sets,'Tis that the re-assuring sun may dawn.
[As he prepares to ascend the last tree of the avenue,TRESHAM arrests his arm.]
Unhand me--peasant,by your grasp!Here's gold.
'Twas a mad freak of mine.I said I'd pluck A branch from the white-blossomed shrub beneath The casement there.Take this,and hold your peace.
TRESHAM.Into the moonlight yonder,come with me!
Out of the shadow!
MERTOUN.I am armed,fool!
TRESHAM.Yes,Or no?You'll come into the light,or no?
My hand is on your throat--refuse!--
MERTOUN.That voice!
Where have I heard...no--that was mild and slow.
I'll come with you.
[They advance.]
TRESHAM.You're armed:that's well.Declare Your name:who are you?
MERTOUN.(Tresham!--she is lost!)
TRESHAM.Oh,silent?Do you know,you bear yourself Exactly as,in curious dreams I've had How felons,this wild earth is full of,look When they're detected,still your kind has looked!
The bravo holds an assured countenance,The thief is voluble and plausible,But silently the slave of lust has crouched When I have fancied it before a man.
Your name!
MERTOUN.I do conjure Lord Tresham--ay,Kissing his foot,if so I might prevail--
That he for his own sake forbear to ask My name!As heaven's above,his future weal Or woe depends upon my silence!Vain!
I read your white inexorable face.
Know me,Lord Tresham!
[He throws off his disguises.]
TRESHAM.Mertoun!
[After a pause.]
Draw now!
MERTOUN.Hear me But speak first!
TRESHAM.Not one least word on your life!
Be sure that I will strangle in your throat The least word that informs me how you live And yet seem what you seem!No doubt 'twas you Taught Mildred still to keep that face and sin.
We should join hands in frantic sympathy If you once taught me the unteachable,Explained how you can live so and so lie.
With God's help I retain,despite my sense,The old belief--a life like yours is still Impossible.Now draw!
MERTOUN.Not for my sake,Do I entreat a hearing--for your sake,And most,for her sake!
TRESHAM.Ha,ha,what should I
Know of your ways?A miscreant like yourself,How must one rouse his ire?A blow?--that's pride No doubt,to him!One spurns him,does one not?
Or sets the foot upon his mouth,or spits Into his face!Come!Which,or all of these?
MERTOUN.'Twixt him and me and Mildred,Heaven be judge!
Can I avoid this?Have your will,my lord!
[He draws and,after a few passes,falls.]
TRESHAM.You are not hurt?
MERTOUN.You'll hear me now!
TRESHAM.But rise!
MERTOUN.Ah,Tresham,say I not "you'll hear me now!"
And what procures a man the right to speak In his defence before his fellow man,But--I suppose--the thought that presently He may have leave to speak before his God His whole defence?
TRESHAM.Not hurt?It cannot be!
You made no effort to resist me.Where Did my sword reach you?Why not have returned My thrusts?Hurt where?
MERTOUN.My lord--
TRESHAM.How young he is!
MERTOUN.Lord Tresham,I am very young,and yet I have entangled other lives with mine.
Do let me speak,and do believe my speech!
That when I die before you presently,--
TRESHAM.Can you stay here till I return with help?
MERTOUN.Oh,stay by me!When I was less than boy I did you grievous wrong and knew it not--
Upon my honour,knew it not!Once known,I could not find what seemed a better way To right you than I took:my life--you feel How less than nothing were the giving you The life you've taken!But I thought my way The better--only for your sake and hers:
And as you have decided otherwise,Would I had an infinity of lives To offer you!Now say--instruct me--think!
Can you,from the brief minutes I have left,Eke out my reparation?Oh think--think!
For I must wring a partial--dare I say,Forgiveness from you,ere I die?
TRESHAM.I do Forgive you.
MERTOUN.Wait and ponder that great word!
Because,if you forgive me,I shall hope To speak to you of--Mildred!