Charles (to a guard): Gaping, ghastly fool!
Do you behold him murderous and lay
No hand on him!
Antonio: But, sir——!
Charles: Let him not fawn
About me! Seize him! God forgives not Hell.
Not this blood only but my soul's be on him.
Helena: O, do not, he——
Charles: Stand! stand! Touch me not with
Your voice or eyes or being! They are soft
With perfidy, and stole me to believe
There's sweetness in a flower, light in air,
And beauty in the innocence of earth.
Bind him! Leucadia's just cliff awaits
All traitors—'tis the law, they must be flung
Out on the dizzy and supportless wind.
Fulvia: But this shall never be! No, though your looks
Heave out with hate upon me.
Charles (convulsed, then coldly): You are dead,
And speak to me. Once you were Fulvia—
No more! And once my friend, now but a ghost
Whom I must gaze upon forgetlessly.
Obey, at once! and at to-morrow's sunset!
(Antonio is taken and led out.)
Helena (falling at Charles' feet): You cannot, will not—O, he is your son
And loves you much!
Charles: Touch me not! touch me not!
(To Hæmon.) Lead her away—and quickly, quickly, quickly! (Hæmon goes with Helena through the postern.
Friends—friends—(unsteadily) I am—quite—friendless now—? (Clutching his wounded arm.) Ah—quite! (He faints.)
Fulvia: Charles! Charles! my lord! return!—A numbness
Has barred the way of soothing to his breast!