Osorio. What boots it who or when?
Hang up the torch. I'll tell his tale to thee.

[They hang [up] their torches in some shelf of [on some ridge in Remorse] the cavern.

Osorio. He was a man different from other men,
And he despised them, yet revered himself.[567:1]

Ferdinand. What? he was mad?

Osorio. All men seem'd mad to him, [85]
[[568]] Their actions noisome folly, and their talk—
A goose's gabble was more musical.
Nature had made him for some other planet,
And press'd his soul into a human shape
By accident or malice. In this world [90]
He found no fit companion!

Ferdinand. Ah, poor wretch!
Madmen are mostly proud.

Osorio. He walk'd alone,
And phantasies, unsought for, troubled him.
Something within would still be shadowing out
All possibilities, and with these shadows 95
His mind held dalliance. Once, as so it happen'd,
A fancy cross'd him wilder than the rest:
To this in moody murmur, and low voice,
He yielded utterance as some talk in sleep.
The man who heard him——
Why didst thou look round? [100]

Ferdinand. I have a prattler three years old, my lord!
In truth he is my darling. As I went
From forth my door, he made a moan in sleep—
But I am talking idly—pray go on!
And what did this man?

Osorio. With his human hand [105]
He gave a being and reality
To that wild fancy of a possible thing.
Well it was done. [Then very wildly.
Why babblest thou of guilt?
The deed was done, and it pass'd fairly off.
And he, whose tale I tell thee—dost thou listen? 110

Ferdinand. I would, my lord, you were by my fireside!
I'd listen to you with an eager eye,
Tho' you began this cloudy tale at midnight.
But I do listen—pray proceed, my lord!