roceed
No poison-tree, to thrust, from hell its root,
Hither and thither its strange snaky arms.
Why came I here? What must I do?
[A bell strikes.]
A bell?
Midnight! and 'tis at midnight... Ah, I catch
--Woods, river, plains, I catch your meaning now,
And I obey you! Hist! This tree will serve.
[He retires behind one of the trees. After a pause,
enter MERTOUN cloaked as before.]

MERTOUN. Not time! Beat out thy last voluptuous beat
Of hope and fear, my heart! I thought the clock
I' the chapel struck as I was pushing through
The ferns. And so I shall no more see rise
My love-star! Oh, no matter for the past!
So much the more delicious task to watch
Mildred revive: to pluck out, thorn by thorn,
All traces of the rough forbidden path
My rash love lured her to! Each day must see
Some fear of hers effaced, some hope renewed:
Then there will be surprises, unforeseen
Delights in store. I'll not regret the past.
[The light is placed above in the purple pane.]
And see, my signal rises, Mildred's star!
I never saw it lovelier than now
It rises for the last time. If it sets,
'Tis that the re-assuring sun may dawn.
[As he prepares to ascend the last tree of the avenue,
TRESHAM arrests his arm.]
Unhand me--peasant, by your grasp! Here's gold.
'Twas a mad freak of mine. I said I'd pluck
A branch from the white-blossomed shrub beneath
The casement there. Take this, and hold your peace.

TRESHAM. Into the moonlight yonder, come with me!
Out of the shadow!

MERTOUN. I am armed, fool!

TRESHAM. Yes,
Or no? You'll come into the light, or no?
My hand is on your throat--refuse!--

MERTOUN. That voice!
Where have I heard... no--that was mild and slow.
I'll come with you.
[They advance.]

TRESHAM. You're armed: that's well. Declare
Your name: who are you?

MERTOUN. (Tresham!--she is lost!)

TRESHAM. Oh, silent? Do you know, you bear yourself
Exactly as, in curious dreams I've had
How felons, this wild earth is full of, look
When they're detected, still your kind has looked!
The br