The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume II Part 24

[109] and if he lives] but if he live Remorse.

[After 110] _The whole music clashes into a Chorus_ Remorse.

[111] demon] demons Remorse.

[113 foll.] For the rest of Act III, as published in Remorse, vide _post_ pp. 851-8. According to the Editor of Osorio as first published in 1873, 'The rest of this Act is entirely different in the published Remorse.' This statement needs qualification. The remainder of Act III of Osorio was rewritten, much was omitted, much added, and the 'dramatic ordonnance' of this part of the play was remodelled on a different plan, but the following lines 174-82, 195-202, 210-31 and 246-7 were included, with certain alterations, in Remorse. See Remorse, Act III, Scene II, ll. 64-71, 79-87, 94-114 and 185-6.

[140-3] _And . . . come_ MS. III erased.

[After 146]

Doth swim with love and pity--Well Ordonio O my foreboding Spirit, he suborn'd thee, And thou didst spare his life

Corr. in MS. III.

[299] interpolated by S. T. C. MS. III.

ACT THE FOURTH

SCENE THE FIRST.--_A cavern, dark except where a gleam of moonlight is seen on one side of the further end of it, supposed to be cast on it from a cranny_ [_crevice_ Remorse] _in a part of the cavern out of sight._

[_FERDINAND alone, an extinguished torch in his hand._

_Ferdinand._ Drip! drip! drip! drip!--in such a place as this It has nothing else to do but drip! drip! drip!

I wish it had not dripp'd upon my torch.

Faith 'twas a moving letter--very moving!

His life in danger--no place safe but this. 5 'Twas his turn now to talk of grat.i.tude!

And yet--but no! there can't be such a villain.

It cannot be!

Thanks to that little cranny Which lets the moonlight in! I'll go and sit by it.

To peep at a tree, or see a he-goat's beard, 10 Or hear a cow or two breathe loud in their sleep, 'Twere better than this dreary noise of water-drops!

[_He goes out of sight, opposite to the patch of moonlight,_ [_and returns_. Remorse]

_returns after a minute's elapse in an ecstasy of fear._

A h.e.l.lish pit! O G.o.d--'tis like my night-mair!

I was just in!--and those d.a.m.n'd fingers of ice Which clutch'd my hair up! Ha! what's that? it moved! 15

[_FERDINAND stands_ [_motionless_ _MS. III erased_]

_staring at another recess in the cavern. In the mean time OSORIO enters with a torch and hollas to him_ [_halloes to ISIDORE_ Remorse].

_Ferdinand._ I swear, I saw a something moving there!

The moons.h.i.+ne came and went, like a flash of lightning.

I swear, I saw it move!

[_OSORIO goes into the recess, then returns, and with great scorn._

_Osorio._ A jutting clay-stone Drips on the long lank weed that grows beneath; And the weed nods and drips.

_Ferdinand (forcing a faint laugh)._ A joke to laugh at! 20 It was not that which frighten'd me, my lord!

_Osorio._ What frighten'd you?

_Ferdinand._ You see that little cranny?

But first permit me,

[_Lights his torch at OSORIO'S, and while lighting it._

(A lighted torch in the hand Is no unpleasant object here--one's breath Floats round the flame, and makes as many colours 25 As the thin clouds that travel near the moon.)[564:1]

You see that cranny there?

_Osorio._ Well, what of that?

_Ferdinand._ I walk'd up to it, meaning to sit there.

When I had reach'd it within twenty paces----

[_FERDINAND starts as if he felt the terror over again._

Merciful Heaven! Do go, my lord! and look. 30

[_OSORIO goes and returns._

_Osorio._ It must have shot some pleasant feelings thro' you?

_Ferdinand._ If every atom of a dead man's flesh Should move, each one with a particular life, Yet all as cold as ever--'twas just so!

Or if it drizzled needle-points of frost 35 Upon a feverish head made suddenly bald--

_Osorio (interrupting him)._ Why, Ferdinand! I blush for thy cowardice.

It would have startled any man, I grant thee.

But such a panic.

_Ferdinand._ When a boy, my lord!

I could have sat whole hours beside that chasm, 40 Push'd in huge stones and heard them thump and rattle Against its horrid sides; and hung my head Low down, and listen'd till the heavy fragments Sunk, with faint crash, in that still groaning well, Which never thirsty pilgrim blest, which never 45 A living thing came near; unless, perchance, Some blind-worm battens on the ropy mould, Close at its edge.

_Osorio._ Art thou more coward now?

_Ferdinand._ Call him that fears his fellow-men a coward.

I fear not man. But this inhuman cavern 50 It were too bad a prison-house for goblins.

Besides (you'll laugh, my lord!) but true it is, My last night's sleep was very sorely haunted[565:1]

By what had pa.s.s'd between us in the morning.

I saw you in a thousand hideous ways, 55 And doz'd and started, doz'd again and started.

I do entreat your lords.h.i.+p to believe me, In my last dream----

_Osorio._ Well?