MARMADUKE ’Tis a strange aching that, when we would curse
              And cannot.—­You have betrayed me—­I have done—­
              I am content—­I know that he is guiltless—­
              That both are guiltless, without spot or stain,
              Mutually consecrated.  Poor old Man! 
              And I had heart for this, because thou lovedst
              Her who from very infancy had been
              Light to thy path, warmth to thy blood!—­Together
     [Turning to OSWALD.]
              We propped his steps, he leaned upon us both.

OSWALD Ay, we are coupled by a chain of adamant;
              Let us be fellow-labourers, then, to enlarge
              Man’s intellectual empire.  We subsist
              In slavery; all is slavery; we receive
              Laws, but we ask not whence those laws have come;
              We need an inward sting to goad us on.

MARMADUKE Have you betrayed me?  Speak to that.

OSWALD The mask,
              Which for a season I have stooped to wear,
              Must be cast off.—­Know then that I was urged,
              (For other impulse let it pass) was driven,
              To seek for sympathy, because I saw
              In you a mirror of my youthful self;
              I would have made us equal once again,
              But that was a vain hope.  You have struck home,
              With a few drops of blood cut short the business;
              Therein for ever you must yield to me. 
              But what is done will save you from the blank
              Of living without knowledge that you live: 
              Now you are suffering—­for the future day,
              ’Tis his who will command it.—­Think of my story—­
              Herbert is innocent.

MARMADUKE (in a faint voice, and doubtingly)
                                      You do but echo
              My own wild words?

OSWALD Young Man, the seed must lie
              Hid in the earth, or there can be no harvest;
              ’Tis Nature’s law.  What I have done in darkness
              I will avow before the face of day. 
              Herbert is innocent.

MARMADUKE What fiend could prompt
              This action?  Innocent!—­oh, breaking heart!—­
              Alive or dead, I’ll find him.

[Exit.]

OSWALD
              Alive—­perdition!

[Exit.]

SCENE—­The inside of a poor Cottage

ELEANOR and IDONEA seated

IDONEA The storm beats hard—­Mercy for poor or rich,
             Whose heads are shelterless in such a night!

A VOICE WITHOUT
             Holla! to bed, good Folks, within!