Corr. in MS. III.

[[299]]

interpolated by S. T. C. MS. III.

ACT THE FOURTH

Scene the First.—A cavern, dark except where a gleam of moonlight is seen on one side of the further end of it, supposed to be cast on it from a cranny [crevice Remorse] in a part of the cavern out of sight.

[Ferdinand alone, an extinguished torch in his hand.

Ferdinand. Drip! drip! drip! drip!—in such a place as this
It has nothing else to do but drip! drip! drip!
I wish it had not dripp'd upon my torch.
Faith 'twas a moving letter—very moving!
His life in danger—no place safe but this. [5]
'Twas his turn now to talk of gratitude!
And yet—but no! there can't be such a villain.
It cannot be!
Thanks to that little cranny
[[563]] Which lets the moonlight in! I'll go and sit by it.
To peep at a tree, or see a he-goat's beard, [10]
Or hear a cow or two breathe loud in their sleep,
'Twere better than this dreary noise of water-drops!

[He goes out of sight, opposite to the patch of moonlight, [and returns. Remorse] returns after a minute's elapse in an ecstasy of fear.

A hellish pit! O God—'tis like my night-mair!
I was just in!—and those damn'd fingers of ice
Which clutch'd my hair up! Ha! what's that? it moved! [15]