_Wal_. Is he gone?
_Julia_. He is this moment. If thou covetest me, Win me, and wear me! May I trust thee? Oh!
If that"s thy soul, that"s looking through thine eyes, Thou lovest me, and I may!--I sicken, lest I never see thee more!
_Clif_. As life is mine, The ring that on thy wedding-finger goes No hand but mine shall place there!
_Wal_. Lingers he?
_Julia_. For my sake, now away! And yet a word.
By all thy hopes most dear, be true to me!
Go now!--yet stay! Clifford, while you are here, I"m like a bark distressed and compa.s.sless, That by a beacon steers; when you"re away, That bark alone and tossing miles at sea!
Now go! Farewell! My compa.s.s--beacon--land!
When shall my eyes be blessed with thee again!
_Clif_. Farewell! [Goes out.]
_Julia_. Art gone? All"s chance--all"s care--all"s darkness.
[Is led off by MASTER WALTER.]
ACT V.
SCENE I.--An Apartment in the Earl of Rochdale"s.
[Enter HELEN and FATHOM.]
_Fath_. The long and short of it is this--if she marries this lord, she"ll break her heart! I wish you could see her, madam. Poor lady!
_Helen_. How looks she, prithee?
_Fath_. Marry, for all the world like a dripping-wet cambric handkerchief! She has no colour nor strength in her; and does nothing but weep--poor lady!
_Helen_. Tell me again what said she to thee?
_Fath_. She offered me all she was mistress of to take the letter to Master Clifford. She drew her purse from her pocket--the ring from her finger--she took her very earrings out of her ears--but I was forbidden, and refused. And now I"m sorry for it! Poor lady!
_Helen_. Thou shouldst be sorry. Thou hast a hard heart, Fathom.
_Fath_. I, madam! My heart is as soft as a woman"s. You should have seen me when I came out of her chamber--poor lady!
_Helen_. Did you cry?
_Fath_. No; but I was as near it as possible. I a hard heart! I would do anything to serve her, poor sweet lady!
_Helen_. Will you take her letter, asks she you again?
_Fath_. No--I am forbid.
_Helen_. Will you help Master Clifford to an interview with her?
_Fath_. No--Master Walter would find it out.
_Helen_. Will you contrive to get me into her chamber?
_Fath_. No--you would be sure to bring me into mischief.
_Helen_. Go to! You would do nothing to serve her. You a soft heart!
You have no heart at all! You feel not for her!
_Fath_. But I tell you I do--and good right I have to feel for her. I have been in love myself.
_Helen_. With your dinner!
_Fath_. I would it had been! My pain would soon have been over, and at little cost. A fortune I squandered upon her!--trinkets--tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs--treatings--what swallowed up the revenue of a whole year! Wasn"t I in love? Six months I courted her, and a dozen crowns all but one did I disburse for her in that time! Wasn"t I in love? An hostler--a tapster--and a constable, courted her at the same time, and I offered to cudgel the whole three of them for her! Wasn"t I in love?
_Helen_. You are a valiant man, Fathom.
_Fath_. Am not I? Walks not the earth the man I am afraid of.
_Helen_. Fear you not Master Walter?
_Fath_. No.
_Helen_. You do!
_Fath_. I don"t!
_Helen_. I"ll prove it to you. You see him breaking your young mistress"s heart, and have not the manhood to stand by her.
_Fath_. What could I do for her?
_Helen_. Let her out of prison. It were the act of a man.
_Fath_. That man am I!
_Helen_. Well said, brave Fathom!
_Fath_. But my place!
_Helen_. I"ll provide thee with a better one.
_Fath_. "Tis a capital place! So little to do, and so much to get for"t. Six pounds in the year; two suits of livery; shoes and stockings, and a famous larder. He"d be a bold man that would put such a place in jeopardy. My place, madam, my place!
_Helen_. I tell thee I"ll provide thee with a better place. Thou shalt have less to do, and more to get. Now, Fathom, hast thou courage to stand by thy mistress?