Part 20 (1/2)

_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?