What! and have you both been here?

CLARIN. I, at least, was here, I'll swear.

MOSCON. And I, also.

CYPRIAN. O, despair
End at once my sad career!
Ah, what human heart to woe
Like to mine has given a home?

* * * * *

SCENE V.

THE COUNTRY.

CYPRIAN, CLARIN, and MOSCON.

CLARIN. Whither Moscon, do we roam?

MOSCON. When we've reached the end, we'll know.
Leagues behind us lies the town,
Still we go.

CLARIN. A strange proceeding!--
Little time have we for reading,
Idly pacing up and down.

CYPRIAN. Clarin, get thee home.

MOSCON. And I?

CLARIN. Sly-boots, would you rather stay?

CYPRIAN. Go: here leave me both; away!

CLARIN. Mind, he tells us both to fly.

[Exeunt CLARIN and MOSCON.

* * * * *

SCENE VI.

CYPRIAN. Memory of a maddened brain,
Do not with such strong control
Make me think another soul
Is what in my heart doth reign.
Blind idolator I have been--
Lost in love's ambitious flight,
Since such beauty met my sight,
Since a goddess I have seen.
Yet in such a maze of woe
Rigorous fate doth make me move,
That I know but whom I love,
And of whom I am jealous--no.
Yet this passion is so strong--
Ah, so sweet this fascination,
Driving my imagination
With resistless force along--
That I would (I know too well
How this madness doth degrade me)
To some devilish power to aid me,
Were it even to rise from hell,
Where some mightier power hath kept it,--
Sharing all its pains in common,--
I would, to possess this woman,
Give my soul.

* * * * *

SCENE VII.

The Demon and CYPRIAN.

Demon [within]. And I accept it.

[A great tempest is heard, with thunder and lightning.

CYPRIAN. What's this, ye heavens so pure?
Clear but a moment hence and now obscure,
Ye fright the gentle day!
The thunder-balls, the lightning's forked ray,
Leap from its riven breast--
Terrific shapes it cannot keep at rest;
All the whole heaven a crown of clouds doth wear,
And with the curling mist, like streaming hair,
This mountain's brow is bound.
Outspread below, the whole ho