A Blot in the 'Scutcheon, page 38 by Robert Browning
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you?--heartless men shall have my heart,
And I tied down with grave-clothes and the worm,
Aware, perhaps, of every blow--oh God!--
Upon those lips--yet of no power to tear
The felon stripe by stripe! Die, Mildred! Leave
Their honourable world to them! For God
We're good enough, though the world casts us out.
[A whistle is heard.]
TRESHAM. Ho, Gerard!
Enter GERARD, AUSTIN and GUENDOLEN, with lights
No one speak! You see what's done.
I cannot bear another voice.
MERTOUN. There's light--
Light all about me, and I move to it.
Tresham, did I not tell you--did you not
Just promise to deliver words of mine
To Mildred?
TRESHAM. I will bear those words to her.
MERTOUN. Now?
TRESHAM. Now. Lift you the body, and leave me
The head.
[As they have half raised MERTOUN, he turns suddenly.]
MERTOUN. I knew they turned me: turn me not from her!
There! stay you! there!
[Dies.]
GUENDOLEN [after a pause]. Austin, remain you here
With Thorold until Gerard comes with help:
Then lead him to his chamber. I must go
To Mildred.
TRESHAM. Guendolen, I hear each word
You utter. Did you hear him bid me give
His message? Did you hear my promise? I,
And only I, see Mildred.
GUENDOLEN. She will die.
TRESHAM. Oh no, she will not die! I dare not hope
She'll die. What ground have you to think she'll die?
Why, Austin's with you!
AUSTIN. Had we but arrived
Before you fought!
TRESHAM. There was no fight at all.
He let me slaughter him--the boy! I'll trust
The body there to you and Gerard--thus!
Now bear him on before me.
AUSTIN. Whither bear him?
TRESHAM. Oh, to my chamber! When we meet there next,
We shall be friends.
[They bear out the body of MERTOUN.]
Will she die, Guendolen?
GUENDOLEN. Where are you taking me?
TRESHAM. He fell just here.
Now answer me. Shall you in your whole life