f Towers;
This castle has another Area--come,
Let us examine it.

OSWALD 'Tis a bitter night;
I hope Idonea is well housed. That horseman,
Who at full speed swept by us where the wood
Roared in the tempest, was within an ace
Of sending to his grave our precious Charge:
That would have been a vile mischance.

MARMADUKE It would.

OSWALD Justice had been most cruelly defrauded.

MARMADUKE Most cruelly.

OSWALD As up the steep we clomb,
I saw a distant fire in the north-east;
I took it for the blaze of Cheviot Beacon:
With proper speed our quarters may be gained
To-morrow evening.

[He looks restlessly towards the mouth of the dungeon.]

MARMADUKE When, upon the plank,
I had led him 'cross [4] the torrent, his voice blessed me:
You could not hear, for the foam beat the rocks
With deafening noise,--the benediction fell
Back on himself; but changed into a curse.

OSWALD As well indeed it might.

MARMADUKE And this you deem
The fittest place?

OSWALD (aside)
He is growing pitiful.

MARMADUKE (listening)
What an odd moaning that is!--

OSWALD. Mighty odd
The wind should pipe a little, while we stand
Cooling our heels in this way!--I'll begin
And count the stars.

MARMADUKE (still listening)
That dog of his, you are sure,
Could not come after us--he _must_ have perished;
The torrent would have dashed an oak to splinters.
You said you did not like his looks--that he
Would trouble us; if he were here again,
I swear the sight of him would quail me more
Than twenty armies.

OSWALD How?

MARMADUKE The old blind Man,
When you had told him the mischance, was troubled
Even to the shedding of some natural tears
Into the torrent over which he hung,
Listening in vain.

OSWALD He h