The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
_Ferdinand._ I was in the act Of falling down that chasm, when Alhadra Waked me. She heard my heart beat!
_Osorio._ Strange enough! 60 Had you been here before?
_Ferdinand._ Never, my lord!
But my eyes do not see it now more clearly Than in my dream I saw that very chasm.
[_OSORIO stands in a deep study--then, after a pause._
_Osorio._ There is no reason why it should be so.
And yet it is.
_Ferdinand._ What is, my lord?
_Osorio._ Unpleasant 65 To kill a man!
_Ferdinand._ Except in self-defence.
_Osorio._ Why that's my case: and yet 'tis still unpleasant.
At least I find it so! But you, perhaps, Have stronger nerves?
_Ferdinand._ Something doth trouble you.
How can I serve you? By the life you gave me, 70 By all that makes that life of value to me, My wife, my babes, my honour, 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, 75 No, nor propose a wicked thing. The darkness (When ten yards off, we know, 'tis chearful moonlight) Collects the guilt and crowds it round the heart.
It must be innocent.
_Osorio._ Thyself be judge.
[_OSORIO walks round the cavern--then looking round it._
One of our family knew this place well. 80
_Ferdinand._ Who? when? my lord.
_Osorio._ What boots it who or when?
Hang up the torch. I'll tell his tale to thee.
[_They hang [up] their torches in some shelf of_ [_on some ridge in_ Remorse] _the cavern._
_Osorio._ He was a man different from other men, And he despised them, yet revered himself.[567:1]
_Ferdinand._ What? he was mad?
_Osorio._ All men seem'd mad to him, 85 Their actions noisome folly, and their talk-- A goose's gabble was more musical.
Nature had made him for some other planet, And press'd his soul into a human shape By accident or malice. In this world 90 He found no fit companion!
_Ferdinand._ Ah, poor wretch!
Madmen are mostly proud.
_Osorio._ He walk'd alone, And phantasies, unsought for, troubled him.
Something within would still be shadowing out All possibilities, and with these shadows 95 His mind held dalliance. Once, as so it happen'd, A fancy cross'd him wilder than the rest: To this in moody murmur, and low voice, He yielded utterance as some talk in sleep.
The man who heard him---- Why didst thou look round? 100
_Ferdinand._ I have a prattler three years old, my lord!
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 go on!
And what did this man?
_Osorio._ With his human hand 105 He gave a being and reality To that wild fancy of a possible thing.
Well it was done. [_Then very wildly._ Why babblest thou of guilt?
The deed was done, and it pa.s.s'd fairly off.
And he, whose tale I tell thee--dost thou listen? 110
_Ferdinand._ I would, my lord, you were by _my_ fireside!
I'd listen to you with an eager eye, Tho' you began this cloudy tale at midnight.
But I do listen--pray proceed, my lord!
_Osorio._ Where was I?
_Ferdinand._ He of whom you tell the tale-- 115
_Osorio._ Surveying all things with a quiet scorn Tamed himself down to living purposes, The occupations and the semblances Of ordinary men--and such he seem'd.
But that some over-ready agent--he---- 120
_Ferdinand._ Ah! what of him, my lord?
_Osorio._ He proved a villain; Betray'd the mystery to a brother villain; And they between them hatch'd a d.a.m.ned plot To hunt him down to infamy and death To share the wealth of a most n.o.ble family, 125 And stain the honour of an orphan lady With barbarous mixture and unnatural union.
What did the Velez? I am proud of the name, Since he dared do it.
[_OSORIO grasps his sword and turns off from FERDINAND, then, after a pause, returns._
_Osorio._ Our links burn dimly.
_Ferdinand._ A dark tale darkly finish'd! Nay, my lord! 130 Tell what he did.
_Osorio (fiercely)._ That which his wisdom prompted.
He made the traitor meet him in this cavern, And here he kill'd the traitor.
_Ferdinand._ No!--the fool.
He had not wit enough to be a traitor.
Poor thick-eyed beetle! not to have foreseen 135 That he, who gull'd thee with a whimper'd lie To murder _his own brother_, would not scruple To murder _thee_, if e'er his guilt grew jealous And he could steal upon thee in the dark!
_Osorio._ Thou would'st not then have come, if----
_Ferdinand._ O yes, my lord! 140 I would have met him arm'd, and scared the coward!
[_FERDINAND throws off his robe, shows himself armed, and draws his sword._
_Osorio._ Now this is excellent, and warms the blood!
My heart was drawing back, drawing me back With womanish pulls of pity. Dusky slave, Now I will kill thee pleasantly, and count it 145 Among my comfortable thoughts hereafter.
