Act III

Mildred.He comes not! I have heard of those who seemed

Tresham[without]. Mildred!

Mildred.Come in! Heaven hears me![Enter TRESHAM.]

Tresham.Mildred, I must sit.

Mildred.Say it, Thorold—do not look

Tresham.My thought?

Mildred.All of it!

Tresham.How we waded years-ago—

Mildred.You call me kindlier by my name

Tresham.It weighs so much upon my mind that I

Mildred.Thorold? do you mock?

Tresham.Forgive me, Mildred!.—are you silent, Sweet?

Mildred[starting up]. Why does not Henry Mertoun come to-night?

Dashing his mantle aside, and pointing to his scabbard, which is empty.

Tresham.He bade me tell you…

Mildred.What I do forbid

Tresham.You cannot, Mildred! for the harsh words, yes:

Mildred.Oh, true! There’s nought for me to pardon! True!

Tresham.Death? You are dying too? Well said

Mildred.Tell Guendolen

Tresham.Him you loved:

Mildred.Ah, Thorold! Was’t not rashly done

Tresham.No! No!

Mildred.As I dare approach that Heaven

Falls on his neck.

Dies.

Tresham.I wish thee joy, Beloved! I am glad

Guendolen[without]. Mildred! Tresham![Entering with AUSTIN.] Thorold,

Tresham.Oh, better far than that!

Guendolen.She’s dead!

Tresham.She threw them thus

Austin.Leave her

Guendolen.White

Austin.A froth is oozing through his clenched teeth;

Tresham.Something does weigh down

Guendolen.Thorold—Thorold—why was this?

Tresham.I said, just as I drank the poison off,

Guendolen.Don’t leave him, Austin! Death is close.

Tresham.Already Mildred’s face is peacefuller!

Austin.No blot shall come!

Tresham.I said that: yet it did come. Should it come,

Dies.

Guendolen[letting fall the pulseless arm]. Ah, Thorold, we can but—remember you!