Scene same.

ACT III.

LOVE IN A MIST.

Time-nine days later. Sunset.

DUKE discovered seated, with ARNFELD standing beside him. HEINRICH at a distance, leaning against a

stone urn.

DUKE.

Another day passed, and no tidings yet!

ARNFELD.

The messengers have not returned, my lord;

There is some hope in that.

DUKE.

Less of despair

To have heard nothing, than to hear the worst?

Poor crumbs enow to stay heart-hunger on !

ARNFELD.

Yet crumbs lie only where the board was spread,
And may be spread again. Were no clue found
To follow, what should lengthen their delay?
We may have news to-night. But you need rest;
Let me conduct you hence.

DUKE.

Well, lead me in:

Though 'tis mere use, a blind mechanic law,

When life is hateful, bids the body still

Crave food and shelter. (Seeing HEINRICH) What

does he do here,

Companion-fiend of him who stole my daughter,

And robber of my gold, for aught I know?

Back with him into darkness!

ARNFELD.

[Ascending the steps.

Patience, sire!

Karl never robbed you, nay, would deem earth's gold Too small a price to win your daughter back.

DUKE.

O Heaven! 'tis here that I last looked upon her;

Here she embraced me, as she went, and said
“Heaven keep thee, father! I shall soon be back.”
Soon! and how long since then ?-nine endless years!
Mock, if you will; I care not how you call them—
Years, months, or days-what matters it, when sorrow
Hath done a rape on time, and every hour
Swells to the birth with some new load of anguish ?

ARNFELD.

Nay, if the Princess said "I will return,"
Live on her promise, who betrayed it never.
Take comfort, sire, and all shall yet be well.

[Exeunt DUKE and ARNFELD.

HEINRICH moves slowly to the front, and sinks upon

I never loved that old man, ere to-day.

HEINRICH.

I never hated the whole world till now.

ARNFELD.

Like Solomon, his wives have been his bane.

HEINRICH.

What! is he wedded to more wives than one?

ARNFELD.

Yes, a stone woman, and a goddess, gold.

HEINRICH.

So were his daughter a half human thing.

ARNFELD.

Ay, and the other half?

HEINRICH.

Nine days ago

I had said divine.

ARNFELD.

Nine days! do you remember?

HEINRICH.

Ah! might I but forget it !—I who thought
This day to save her from brute-enemies,
And failed to save her from my bosom friend.

ARNFELD.

My love, being free from jealousy, is stronger

Than your most just suspicion. To men's acts
Who impute basest motives, err the most,
As they the least, who noblest. May I still
Count on your succour, should the rebels strike?

HEINRICH.

If there be help in a despairing man,
Whose sole hope is that they will strike at him.

ARNFELD.

To fight from such a motive were no better
Than suicide by proxy. You lack patience
To bide the storm, like some rash mariner,
Who, terror-crazed, anticipating wreck
From the sea's peril, leaps into the sea.

HEINRICH (rising).

I am not of so staid a temper, sir,
As in the crash of fate to bear myself
Meek, passionless, persistent, self-contained;
Nor, truth to tell you, can I comprehend
What heart still animates your enterprise.
This dukedom, ere the light went out of it,
Seemed worth the saving, for her sake who shed