_Valentine_.
Can you?--You know full well, in the truth of your heart, That there"s no man in all the world of men Whose will woman"s beauty cannot divide Easily as a sword cuts jetting water.
_Sylvan_.
Have you not heard, that even jetting water May have such spouting force, that it becomes A rod of glittering white iron, and swords Will beat rebounding on its speed in vain?-- Of such a force I mean to have my will.
[_He sits and stares moodily out to sea. His companions whisper each other_.
_Valentine_.
Here, Francis! Look you yonder. O but this, This is the joke of the world!
_Francis_.
Hallo! a girl!
And, by the Lord, Katrina!--But why here?
_Valentine_.
She"s followed him, of course; she"s heard of this Mad escapade and followed after him.
_Francis_.
She has not seen us yet. Now what to do?
_Valentine_.
Quick! Where"s your handkerchief? Truss his wrists and ankles, And pull his coat up over his head and leave him!
He won"t get free of her again; she"ll lead His wildness home and keep him tame for ever.
Now!
[_They fall on him, bind him, and blindfold him_.
_Sylvan_.
What are you doing? Whatever are you doing?
h.e.l.l burn you, let me go!
_Valentine_.
There"s worse to come.
[_They make off, and leave_ SYLVAN _shouting_.
KATRINA _runs in_.
_Katrina_.
Dear Heaven! Were they robbers? Have they hurt you?
[_She releases him. He stands up_.
_Sylvan_.
Katrina!
_Katrina_.
Sylvan!
_Sylvan_.
How did you plot this?
I thought I"d put leagues between you and me.
_Katrina_.
Why have you come here?
_Sylvan_.
To find you, it seems.
But what you"re doing here, that I"ld like to know.
_Katrina_.
I came to see my grandmother: she lives All by herself, poor grannam, and it"s time She had some help about the house, and care.
_Sylvan_.
Let"s have a better tale. You followed me.
_Katrina_.
Sylvan, how dare you make me out so vile?
_Sylvan_.
How dare you mean to make this body of mine A thing with no thought in it but your beauty?
_Katrina_.
You shall not speak so wickedly. You"ve had The half of my truth only: here"s the whole.
It was from you I fled! I hoped to make My grannam"s lonely cottage something safe From you and what I hated in you.
_Sylvan_.
Love?-- Ah, so it"s all useless.
_Katrina_.
I feared to know You wanted me,--horribly I feared it.
And now you"ve found me out.
_Sylvan_.
Is this the truth?-- No help for it, then.
_Katrina_.
O, I"m a liar to you!
_Sylvan_.
Strange how we grudge to be ruled! rather than be Divinely driven to happiness, we push back And fiercely try for wilful misery.-- Dearest, forgive me being cruel to you, You who are in life like a heavenly dream In the evil sleep of a sinner.
_Katrina_.
No, you hate me.
_Sylvan (kissing her)_.
Is this like hatred?
_Katrina (in his arms)_.