The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes - Volume 1 - George MacDonald (digital book reader TXT) 📗

I have seen the day-

Stephen .
Excuse me; you were saying that the man
Sat at the window-

Hostess .
Yes; even after dark
He would sit on, and never call for lights.
The first night, I brought candles, as of course;
He let me set them on the table, true;
But soon's my back was turned, he put them out.

Stephen .
Where is the lady?

Hostess .
That's the strangest thing
Of all the story: she has disappeared,
As well as he. There lay the count, stone-dead,
White as my apron. The whole house was empty,
Just as I told you.

Stephen .
Has no search been made?
Host .
The closest search; a thousand pieces offered
For any information that should lead
To the murderer's capture. I believe his brother,
Who is his heir, they say, is still in town,
Seeking in vain for some intelligence.

Stephen .
'Tis very odd; the oddest thing I've heard
For a long time. Send me a pen and ink;
I have to write some letters.

Hostess (rising ).
Thank you, sir,
For your kind entertainment.

[ Exeunt Host and Hostess .]

Stephen .
We've found the badger's hole; we'll draw
him next. He couldn't have gone far with her and not
be seen. My life on it, there are plenty of holes and
corners in the old house over the way. Run off with a
wench! Holy brother Julian! Contemptuous brother
Julian! Stand-by-thyself brother Julian! Run away
with a wench at last! Well, there's a downfall! He'll
be for marrying her on the sly, and away!-I know the
old fox!-for her conscience-sake, probably not for his!
Well, one comfort is, it's damnation and no reprieve.
The ungrateful, atheistical heretic! As if the good old
mother wasn't indulgent enough to the foibles of her
children! The worthy lady has winked so hard at her
dutiful sons, that she's nearly blind with winking. There's
nothing in a little affair with a girl now and then; but to
marry, and knock one's vows on the head! Therein is
displayed a little ancestral fact as to a certain respectable
progenitor, commonly portrayed as the knight of the
cloven foot. Keep back thy servant , &c.-Purgatory
couldn't cleanse that; and more, 'twill never have the
chance. Heaven be about us from harm! Amen. I'll
go find the new count. The Church shall have the
castle and estate; Revenge, in the person of the new
count, the body of Julian; and Stephen may as well
have the thousand pieces as not.


SCENE XVIII.- Night. The Nurse's room . LILIA; to her JULIAN.

Lilia .
How changed he is! Yet he looks very noble.

Enter JULIAN.

Julian .
My Lilia, will you go to England with me?

Lilia .
Julian, my father!

Julian .
Not without his leave.
He says, God bless us both.

Lilia .
Leave him in prison?

Julian .
No, Lilia; he's at liberty and safe,
And far from this ere now.

Lilia .
You have done this,
My noble Julian! I will go with you
To sunset, if you will. My father gone!
Julian, there's none to love me now but you.
You will love me, Julian?-always?

Julian .
I but fear
That your heart, Lilia, is not big enough
To hold the love wherewith my heart would fill it.

Lilia .
I know why you think that; and I deserve it.
But try me, Julian. I was very silly.
I could not help it. I was ill, you know;
Or weak at least. May I ask you, Julian,
How your arm is to-day?

Julian .
Almost well, child.
Twill leave an ugly scar, though, I'm afraid.

Lilia .
Never mind that, if it be well again.

Julian .
I do not mind it; but when I remember
That I am all yours, then I grudge that scratch
Or stain should be upon me-soul, body, yours.
And there are more scars on me now than I
Should like to make you own, without confession.

Lilia .
My poor, poor Julian! never think of it;

[ Putting her arms round him .]

I will but love you more. I thought you had
Already told me suffering enough;
But not the half, it seems, of your adventures.
You have been a soldier!

Julian .
I have fought, my Lilia.
I have been down among the horses' feet;
But strange to tell, and harder to believe,
Arose all sound, unmarked with bruise, or blood
Save what I lifted from the gory ground.

[ Sighing .]

My wounds are not of such.

[LILIA, loosening her arms, and drawing back a little with a
kind of shrinking, looks a frightened interrogation .]

No. Penance, Lilia;
Such penance as the saints of old inflicted
Upon their quivering flesh. Folly, I know;
As a lord would exalt himself, by making
His willing servants into trembling slaves!
Yet I have borne it.

Lilia
( laying her hand on his arm ).
Ah, alas, my Julian,
You have been guilty!

Julian .
Not what men call guilty,
Save it be now; now you will think I sin.
Alas, I have sinned! but not in this I sin.-
Lilia, I have been a monk.

Lilia .
A monk?

[ Turningpale .]

I thought-

[ Faltering .]

Julian,-I thought you said.... did you not say ... ?

[ Very pale, brokenly .]

I thought you said ...

[ With an effort .]

I was to be your wife!

[ Covering her face with her hands, and bursting into tears .]

Julian
( speaking low and in pain ).
And so I did.

Lilia
( hopefully, and looking up ).
Then you've had dispensation?

Julian .
God has absolved me, though the Church will not.
He knows it was in ignorance I did it.
Rather would he have men to do his will,
Than keep a weight of words upon their souls,
Which they laid there, not graven by his finger.
The vow was made to him-to him I break it.

Lilia
( weeping bitterly ).
I would ... your words were true ... but I do know ...
It never can ... be right to break a vow;
If so, men might be liars every day;
You'd do the same by me, if we were married.

Julian
( in anguish ).
'Tis ever so. Words are the living things!
There is no spirit-save what's born of words!
Words are the bonds that of two souls make one!
Words the security of heart to heart!
God, make me patient! God, I pray thee, God!

Lilia
( not heeding him ).
Besides, we dare not; you would find the dungeon
Gave late repentance; I should weep away
My life within a convent.

Julian .
Come to England,
To England, Lilia.

Lilia .
Men would point, and say:
There go the monk and his wife ; if they, in truth,
Called me not by a harder name than that.

Julian .
There are no monks in England.

Lilia .
But will that
Make right what's wrong?