Her. No! no! no! no!
Cha. So she
Is free. But now LeVal goes back. My friend!
O, giant heart! I see you stagger, drop,
As feverous as the smitten earth——
Her. Who could
Believe such things? You're wrong! You must—you shall
Be wrong! He was a traitor, bitter-souled.
Undoing my father's work!
Cha. Farewell!
Her. Oh, Chartrien,
I did it for the best!
Cha. The woman's cry.
She'd wreck a world, and from that earthquake piled
Look up to say she did it for the best.
Her. You will not go? You loved me one hour past.
I am not changed. I'm Hernda still.
Cha. The same.
And yet I loved you. But no blush need burn
The soul escaped enchantment. 'Twas a charm
Enringed me with its bale till helpless there,
And feeble as a babe in bassinet,
I cooed away my manhood,—emptied time
With infant fingering toward your protean hair!
Her. You loved me!
Cha. More than ever could be laid
To madness' charge, or god that passion whelms
With mortal longing till his skies become
His prison, and dark earth Elysian ground
Beneath the feet he loves!