Osorio. Ha! what did he say?

Velez. He caught his garment up and hid his face.
It seem'd as he were struggling to suppress—— 190

Osorio. A laugh! a laugh! O hell! he laughs at me!

Velez. It heaved his chest more like a violent sob.

Osorio. A choking laugh! [A pause—then very wildly.
I tell thee, my dear father!
I am most glad of this!

Velez. Glad!—aye—to be sure.

Osorio. I was benumb'd, and stagger'd up and down 195
Thro' darkness without light—dark—dark—dark—
And every inch of this my flesh did feel
As if a cold toad touch'd it! Now 'tis sunshine,
And the blood dances freely thro' its channels! [He turns off—then (to himself) mimicking Ferdinand's manner.[558:1]
'A common trick of gratitude, my lord! 200
Old Gratitude! a dagger would dissect
His own full heart,' 'twere good to see its colour!

Velez (looking intently at the picture). Calm, yet commanding! how he bares his breast,
Yet still they stand with dim uncertain looks,
As penitence had run before their crime. 205
A crime too black for aught to follow it
Save blasphemous despair! See this man's face—
With what a difficult toil he drags his soul
To do the deed. [Then to Osorio.
O this was delicate flattery
To poor Maria, and I love thee for it! 210

Osorio (in a slow voice with a reasoning laugh). Love—love—and then we hate—and what? and wherefore?
Hatred and love. Strange things! both strange alike!
What if one reptile sting another reptile,
Where is the crime? The goodly face of Nature
Hath one trail less of slimy filth upon it. 215
[[559]] Are we not all predestined rottenness
And cold dishonor? Grant it that this hand
Had given a morsel to the hungry worms
Somewhat too early. Where's the guilt of this?
That this must needs bring on the idiotcy 220
Of moist-eyed penitence—'tis like a dream!

Velez. Wild talk, my child! but thy excess of feeling [Turns off from Osorio.
Sometimes, I fear, it will unhinge his brain!