Part 274 (1/2)

HEIWIG.

Heavens, who is it?

TELL.

Do not ask.

Away! away! the children must not hear it.

Out of the house--away! Thou must not rest 'Neath the same roof with this unhappy man!

HEDWIG.

Alas! What is it? Come!

[Exit with the children.

TELL (to the MONK).

Thou art the Duke Of Austria--I know it. Thou hast slain The emperor, thy uncle, and liege lord.

DUKE JOHN.

He robbed me of my patrimony.

TELL.

How!

Slain him--thy king, thy uncle! And the earth Still bears thee! And the sun still s.h.i.+nes on thee!

DUKE JOHN.

Tell, hear me, ere you----

TELL.

Reeking with the blood Of him that was thy emperor and kinsman, Durst thou set foot within my spotless house?

Show thy fell visage to a virtuous man, And claim the rites of hospitality?

DUKE JOHN.

I hoped to find compa.s.sion at your hands.

You also took revenge upon your foe!

TELL.

Unhappy man! And dar'st thou thus confound Ambition's b.l.o.o.d.y crime with the dread act To which a father's direful need impelled him?

Hadst thou to s.h.i.+eld thy children's darling heads?

To guard thy fireside's sanctuary--ward off The last, worst doom from all that thou didst love?

To heaven I raise my unpolluted hands, To curse thine act and thee! I have avenged That holy nature which thou hast profaned.

I have no part with thee. Thou art a murderer; I've s.h.i.+elded all that was most dear to me.

DUKE JOHN.

You cast me off to comfortless despair!

TELL.

My blood runs cold even while I talk with thee.

Away! Pursue thine awful course! Nor longer Pollute the cot where innocence abides!

[DUKE JOHN turns to depart.