aintness,--will you hunt me out
A draught of water?

OSWALD Nay, to see you thus
Moves me beyond my bearing.--I will try
To gain the torrent's brink.

[Exit OSWALD.]

MARMADUKE (after a pause)
It seems an age
Since that Man left me.--No, I am not lost.

HERBERT (at the mouth of the dungeon)
Give me your hand; where are you, Friends? and tell me
How goes the night.

MARMADUKE 'Tis hard to measure time,
In such a weary night, and such a place.

HERBERT I do not hear the voice of my friend Oswald.

MARMADUKE A minute past, he went to fetch a draught
Of water from the torrent. 'Tis, you'll say,
A cheerless beverage.

HERBERT How good it was in you
To stay behind!--Hearing at first no answer,
I was alarmed.

MARMADUKE No wonder; this is a place
That well may put some fears into _your_ heart.

HERBERT Why so? a roofless rock had been a comfort,
Storm-beaten and bewildered as we were;
And in a night like this, to lend your cloaks
To make a bed for me!--My Girl will weep
When she is told of it.

MARMADUKE This Daughter of yours
Is very dear to you.

HERBERT Oh! but you are young;
Over your head twice twenty years must roll,
With all their natural weight of sorrow and pain,
Ere can be known to you how much a Father
May love his Child.

MARMADUKE
Thank you, old Man, for this! [Aside.]

HERBERT Fallen am I, and worn out, a useless Man;
Kindly have you protected me to-night,
And no return have I to make but prayers;
May you in age be blest with such a daughter!--
When from the Holy Land I had returned
Sightless, and from my heritage was driven,
A wretched Outcast--but this strain of thought
Would lead me to talk fondly.

MARMADUKE Do not fear;
Your words are precious to my ears; go on.

HERBERT You will forgive me, but my hea