Nevertheless, from curiosity.
A distant lamp-light is an incident
In such a den as this. Pray Heaven it lead me
To nothing that may tempt me! Else--Heaven aid me
To obtain or to escape it! Shining still!
Were it the star of Lucifer himself,
Or he himself girt with its beams, I could
Contain no longer. Softly: mighty well! 30
That corner's turned--so--ah! no;--right! it draws
Nearer. Here is a darksome angle--so,
That's weathered.--Let me pause.--Suppose it leads
Into some greater danger than that which
I have escaped--no matter, 'tis a new one;
And novel perils, like fresh mistresses,
Wear more magnetic aspects:--I will on,
And be it where it may--I have my dagger
Which may protect me at a pinch.--Burn still,
Thou little light! Thou art my _ignis fatuus!_ 40
My stationary Will-o'-the-wisp![192]--So! so!
He hears my invocation, and fails not. [_The scene closes_.

SCENE IV.--_A Garden_.

_Enter_ WERNER.

_Wer._ I could not sleep--and now the hour's at hand!
All's ready. Idenstein has kept his word;
And stationed in the outskirts of the town,
Upon the forest's edge, the vehicle
Awaits us. Now the dwindling stars begin
To pale in heaven; and for the last time I
Look on these horrible walls. Oh! never, never
Shall I forget them. Here I came most poor,
But not dishonoured: and I leave them with
A stain,--if not upon my name, yet in 10
My heart!--a never-dying canker-worm,
Which all the coming splendour of the lands,
And rights, and sovereignty of Siegendorf
Can scarcely lull a moment. I must find
Some means of restitution, which would ease
My soul in part: but how, without discovery?--
It must be done, however; and I'll pause
Upon the method the first hour of safety.
The madness of my misery led to this
Base infamy; repentance must retrieve it: 20
I will have nought of Stralenheim's upon
My spirit, though he would grasp all of mine;
Lands, freedom, life,--and yet he sleeps as soundly
Perhaps, as infancy[193], with gorgeous curtains
Spread for his canopy, o'er silken pillows,
Such as when----Hark! what noise is that? Again!
The branches shake; and some loose