Her stains off in the fierce renewing fire- Oh, guilt enough! I cannot tell his name. Tresh. Then judge yourself! How should I act? Pronounce ! Mil. Oh, Thorold, you must never tempt me thus! To die here in this chamber by that sword "Twere easily arranged for me! but you- Tresh. And what will now Become of me? I'll hide your shame and mine They cannot rise and blast you! You may wed I have despatched last night at your command A missive bidding him present himself Is understood as if 'twere written down "His suit finds favor in your eyes,”—now dictate GUENDOLEN and AUSTIN enter. And, Austin, you are welcome too! Look there! The woman there! Aus. & Guen. Tresh. How? Mildred ? Mildred once! Now the receiver night by night, when sleep Blesses the inmates of her father's house, -I say, the soft sly wanton that receives A thousand Treshams-never one like her! Guen. Oh, Mildred look to me, at least! Tresh. You have heard... Guen. Too much! you must proceed no further! Proceed-All's truth! Go from me! Tresh. Yes All is truth, She tells you! Well, you know, or ought to know, Each precept the harsh world enjoins, I'd take I'd bind myself before them to exact The prescribed vengeance—and one word of hers, memory Of Mildred, my one sister, my heart's pride It were not so impossible to bear! But this that, fresh from last night's pledge renewed Of love with the successful gallant there, She'll calmly bid me help her to entice, Inveigle an unconscious trusting youth Who thinks her all that's chaste, and good, and pure, As honour's self to cover shame's arch-deed? -That she'll receive Lord Mertoun-(her own phrase)This, who could bear? Why, you have heard of thieves, Stabbers, the earth's disgrace-who yet have laughed, "Talk not of tortures to me-I'll betray "No comrade I've pledged faith too!"-you have heard Of wretched women-all but Mildreds-tied By wild illicit ties to losels vile You'd tempt them to forsake; and they'll reply 66 Gold, friends, repute, I left for him, I have "In him, why should I leave him then for gold, 66 Repute, or friends?"—and you have felt your heart Respond to such poor outcasts of the world. As to so many friends; bad as you please, That stands there, calmly gives her lover up Shame hunt her from the earth! Then Heaven do right [AS MILDRED faints and falls, TRESHAM rushes out. Aus. Stay, Tresham, we'll accompany you! We? Guen. But by her side, and where's yours but by mine? Aus. No, Guendolen! I echo Thorold's voice! Guen. Us two? If you spoke on reflection, and if I Approved your speech—if you (to put the thing —If with a death-white woman you can help, You left her—or if I, her cousin, friend Who've said, or thought at least a thousand times, "I'd serve you if I could," should now face round And say "Ah, that's to only signify "I'd serve you while you're fit to serve yourself— "So long as fifty eyes await the turn "Of yours to forestall its yet half-formed wish, "I'll proffer my assistance you'll not need— "When every tongue is praising you, I'll join "The praisers' chorus-when you're hemmed about "With lives between you and detraction-lives "To be laid down if a rude voice, rash eye, "Rough hand should violate the sacred ring "Their worship throws about you,-then indeed, "Who'll stand up for you stout as I?" If so We said and so we did,-not Mildred there Would be unworthy to behold us both, But we should be unworthy, both of us, To be beheld by-by-your meanest dog, Which, if that sword were broken in your face Before a crowd, that badge torn off your breast, And you cast out with hootings and contempt, |