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Home  »  A Blot in the Scutcheon  »  Act III

Robert Browning (1812–1889). A Blot in the ’Scutcheon.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Act III

Scene I

The end of the Yew-tree Avenue under MILDRED’S Window. A light seen through a central red pane.

Enter TRESHAM through the trees

Tresham.Again here! But I cannot lose myself.

A bell strikes.] A bell?

He retires behind one of the trees. After a pause, enter MERTOUN cloaked as before.

Mertoun.Not time! Beat out thy last voluptuous beat

The light is placed above in the purple pane.

As he prepares to ascend the last tree of the avenue, TRESHAM arrests his arm.Unhand me—peasant, by your grasp! Here’s gold.

Tresham.Into the moonlight yonder, come with me!

Mertoun.I am armed, fool!

Tresham.Yes,

Mertoun.That voice!

They advance.

Tresham.You’re armed: that’s well. Declare

Mertoun.(Tresham!—she is lost!)

Tresham.Oh, silent? Do you know, you bear yourself

Mertoun.I do conjure Lord Tresham—ay,

He throws off his disguises.

Tresham.Mertoun![After a pause.] Draw now!

Mertoun.Hear me

Tresham.Not one least word on your life!

Mertoun.Not for my sake,

Tresham.Ha, ha, what should I

Mertoun.’Twixt him and me and Mildred, Heaven be judge!

He draws and, after a few passes, falls.

Tresham.You are not hurt?

Mertoun.You’ll hear me now!

Tresham.But rise!

Mertoun.Ah, Tresham, say I not “you’ll hear me now!”

Tresham.Not hurt? It cannot be!

Mertoun.My lord—

Tresham.How young he is!

Mertoun.Lord Tresham, I am very young, and yet

Tresham.Can you stay here till I return with help?

Mertoun.Oh, stay by me! When I was less than boy

Tresham.I do

Mertoun.Wait and ponder that great word!

Tresham.Mertoun, haste

Mertoun.Ah, Tresham, that a sword-stroke and a drop

As he endeavours to raise himself, his eye catches the lamp.Ah, Mildred! What will Mildred do?

Tresham.Yes, be satisfied!

Mertoun.And she sits there

A whistle is heard.

Tresham.Ho, Gerard!

Enter GERARD, AUSTIN and GUENDOLEN, with lights

Mertoun.There’s light—

Tresham.I will bear those words to her.

Mertoun.Now?

Tresham.Now. Lift you the body, and leave me

As they have half raised MERTOUN, he turns suddenly.

Mertoun.I knew they turned me: turn me not from her!

Dies.

Guendolen[after a pause]. Austin, remain you here

Tresham.Guendolen, I hear each word

Guendolen.She will die.

Tresham.Oh no, she will not die! I dare not hope

Austin.Had we but arrived

Tresham.There was no fight at all.

Austin.Whither bear him?

Tresham.Oh, to my chamber! When we meet there next,

They bear out the body of MERTOUN.

Guendolen.Where are you taking me?

Tresham.He fell just here.

Guendolen.What is done

Tresham.Dear and ancient trees