Classic Poem

SCENE IV. — A Cell in Wold Prison .

Lord Wold in chains .

Enter the D UCHESS OF Wold

D UCH . As priest of mine own house, I offer you,
Being a dying man, our Church's rite
Of preparation.
Wold ( kneeling ) On my knees I take it:
Proceed, in Jesu's name.
D UCH . Under just judgment,
Can I do aught for you, my Lord?
Wold . No, Madam;
Unless you let me forth at your men's head,
To save my dear young wife from Dunley's hands:
He has her in his Tower. O do it, Madam!
Do it for her good sake!
D UCH . What! let you smite
Richard's last bulwark?
Wold . If you reason on't,
O then I'll urge it. Dunley's o'er to Henry,
Deserting Richard: Martin has been here
To wring my soul in death, and told me all.
D UCH False Dunley! I feared this: he would not help us.
Wold . He too caused hand De Valma, and the blame
On Richard laid. Ay, and he looks to Wold
As his own heirdom now; nay more, my bride
Holds as his own, having her in sore straits.
Shall this be so? Shall he, the base, bear off
Our ancient glories? Madam, shall it be?
It rests with you.
D UCH . How so?
Wold . Waiving all this,
Hear my true plea: — O now for the dear sake
Of one who has given her whole young heart and life,
Her very self, so generously to me,
A grave, dull man, and of a hostile house,
By thy just soul, Madam, O let me out;
Let me but set her life and honour safe,
As if she were the simplest peasant's daughter!
That's all I ask — I ask no more but that.
D UCH . It cannot be.
Wold . Hear, by your family pride: —
She raised me up, struck of the bolt of God:
No thought of the old feud! no cold delay!
She took me in, she tended me herself
With Godlike pity in her gracious house,
Me, your own son, her foe! O for one hour
Of freedom for her sake! One little hour
Would do it all. Madam, as you are proud,
And scorn to owe your foes, you'll pay her back
Her generous service — save her life and honour,
And, to fill up and magnify the quittance,
Make me the instrument?
D UCH . The doom's pronounced.
Wold . Touch not the doom: Let the doom stand. Stern quick
I'll do my work. Back here I'll be, and don
These chains again, before the sun be up
The doom shall not be touched.
D UCH . What guarantee
Have I for this?
Wold . I'm sure you'll ask no oath,
If I but pledge my word.
D UCH . I meant not that.
But you may hold your blood cheap, and defraud
The judgment here.
Wold . Let me but forth; I'll be
As chary of my blood, as hitherto
I've been unsparing o't: my life I'll guard
As a most precious thing, not mine, but yours;
I'll bring it back to you. Then, see how much
Our mutual trust shall dignify the doom, —
Making and showing it no quick rash act,
But a calm sacrifice, due and full paid
To lofty principle and magnanimous will.
D UCH . I'll do it, then. Our men shall go with you,
Mountnorris leading them. To make sure work,
I'll get a levy for you from Chayr's camp.
Deal with the villain Dunley, save that virgin
From his bad power: Bound though I am to hate
Mervyn, nor let our blood wed with their blood,
Now that I've stayed that wedding, 'twere unjust
Did I not amply own that in herself
Their daughter's worthy of all praise and love.
See, then, you set her safe from him
Wold . My mother!
Will you not kiss me now in token of —
O me, how much!
D UCH . ( kissing him ) Thomas, what wouldn't I give,
Had you but kept the whiteness of your faith!
My son! I've none but thee!
I love thee still, but thou must die the death.
Wold . I bow my head to it.
D UCH . Without there, ho!

Enter the Keeper of the Prison.

Unchain our prisoner here, Keeper; Lord Wold
Goes forth with me.