Isid. (Forcing a laugh faintly.) A jest to laugh at! It was not that which scared me, good my lord. Ord. What scared you, then? Isid. You see that little rift? But first permit me! (Lights his torch at Ordonio's.) 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 1 stept. The shadowy moonshine Fear too hath its instincts! And yet such dens as these are wildly told of, 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 you 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 needled points of frost I blush for thy cowardice. It might have startled, Isid. When a boy, my lord, I could have sat whole hours beside that chasm, Some blind worm battens on the ropy mold Close at its edge. Ord. Art thou more coward now? Isid. Call him, that fears his fellow-man, a coward! Had a strange power of breathing terror round me! And, I entreat your lordship to believe me, In my last dream Ord. Well? Isid. I was in the act Of falling down that chasm, when Alhadre Had you been here before? Isid. Never, my lord! But mine eyes do not see it now more clearly, Ord. (Stands lost in thought.) I know not why it should be! yet it is Isid. What is, my lord? Ord. Abhorrent from our nature, To kill a man.— Isid. Except in self-defense. Ord. Why that's my case! and yet the soul recoils at 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, By all that makes that life a value to me; My wife, my babes, my honor, I swear to you, Name it, and I will toil to do the thing, If it be innocent! But this, my lord, Is not a place where you could perpetrate, No, nor propose, a wicked thing! The darkness, When ten strides off we know 'tis cheerful moonlight, Collects the guilt, and crowds it round the heart Ord. Thyself be judge. One of our family knew this place well. Ord. What boots it who or when? (They hang up their torches.) He was a man different from other men, And he despised them, yet revered himself. Isid. He! he despised?—thou'rt speaking of thyself! Ord. All men seemed mad to him! He found no fit companion. Isid. Of himself he speaks. (Aside.) Alas! poor wretch! Madmen are mostly proud. Ord. He walked alone, And phantom thoughts unsought for, troubled him. Why didst thou look round? Isid. I have a prattler three years old, my lord! From forth my door, he made a moan in sleep- Ord. With his human hand He gave a substance and reality To that wild fancy of a possible thing. Well, it was done! (Very wildly.) Why babblest thou of guilt? The deed was done, and it passed fairly off. And he whose tale I tell thee-dost thou listen? Isid. I would, my lord, you were by my fireside; I'd listen to you with an eager eye. Though you began this cloudy tale at midnight. Isid. He of whom you tell the tale Ord. Surveying all things with a quiet scorn, Betrayed the mystery to a brother traitor, (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 promptedHe made the traitor meet him in this cavern And here he killed the traitor. Isid. No! the fool! He had not wit enough to be a traitor. Ord. Thou wouldst not then have come, if— I would have met him armed, and scared 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 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, aud 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. SELECTION XXXI. VIRGINIUS-DENTATUS-ICILIUS-APPIUS-TITUS-SERVIUS Virginius. Good day, Icilius. Icilius. Worthy Virginius! 'tis an evil day For Rome! Our new decemvirs Are any thing but friends to justice and Vir. You, Icilius, had a hand In their election. You applied to me Icil. I would have pledged my life— Vir. 'Twas a high gage, and men have staked it higher, On grounds as poor as yours-their honor, boy! Icilius, I have heard it all-your plans The understanding 'twixt the heads of the people— Of whom, Icilius, you are reckoned one, and Worthily-and Appius Claudius-all— 'Twas every jot disclosed to me. Icil. By whom? Vir. Siccius Dentatus. Icil. He disclosed it to you? Siccius Dentatus is a crabbed man! Vir. Siccius Dentatus is an honest man!' There's not a worthier in Rome! How now? Has he deceived me? Do you call him liar? |