SCENE—­The edge of the Moor.

MARMADUKE and ELDRED enter from opposite sides.

MARMADUKE (raising his eyes and perceiving ELDRED)
              In any corner of this savage Waste,
              Have you, good Peasant, seen a blind old Man?

ELDRED I heard—­

MARMADUKE You heard him, where? when heard him?

ELDRED As you know
              The first hours of last night were rough with storm: 
              I had been out in search of a stray heifer;
              Returning late, I heard a moaning sound;
              Then, thinking that my fancy had deceived me,
              I hurried on, when straight a second moan,
              A human voice distinct, struck on my ear. 
              So guided, distant a few steps, I found
              An aged Man, and such as you describe.

MARMADUKE You heard!—­he called you to him?  Of all men
              The best and kindest!—­but where is he? guide me,
              That I may see him.

ELDRED On a ridge of rocks
              A lonesome Chapel stands, deserted now: 
              The bell is left, which no one dares remove;
              And, when the stormy wind blows o’er the peak,
              It rings, as if a human hand were there
              To pull the cord.  I guess he must have heard it;
              And it had led him towards the precipice,
              To climb up to the spot whence the sound came;
              But he had failed through weakness.  From his hand
              His staff had dropped, and close upon the brink
              Of a small pool of water he was laid,
              As if he had stooped to drink, and so remained
              Without the strength to rise.

MARMADUKE Well, well, he lives,
              And all is safe:  what said he?

ELDRED But few words: 
              He only spake to me of a dear Daughter,
              Who, so he feared, would never see him more;
              And of a Stranger to him, One by whom
              He had been sore misused; but he forgave
              The wrong and the wrong-doer.  You are troubled—­
              Perhaps you are his son?

MARMADUKE The All-seeing knows,
              I did not think he had a living Child.—­
              But whither did you carry him?

ELDRED He was torn,
              His head was bruised, and there was blood about him—­

MARMADUKE That was no work of mine.

ELDRED Nor was it mine.

MARMADUKE But had he strength to walk?  I could have borne him
              A thousand miles.