Ordonio. With this human hand
He gave a substance and reality [125]
To that wild fancy of a possible thing.—
Well it was done!
Why babblest thou of guilt?
The deed was done, and it passed fairly off.
And he whose tale I tell thee—dost thou listen?

Isidore. I would, my lord, you were by my fire-side, 130
I'd listen to you with an eager eye,
Though you began this cloudy tale at midnight,
But I do listen—pray proceed, my lord.

Ordonio. Where was I?

Isidore. He of whom you tell the tale—

Ordonio. Surveying all things with a quiet scorn, 135
Tamed himself down to living purposes,
The occupations and the semblances
Of ordinary men—and such he seemed!
But that same over ready agent—he—

Isidore. Ah! what of him, my lord?

Ordonio. He proved a traitor, [140]
Betrayed the mystery to a brother-traitor,
And they between them hatch'd a damnéd plot
To hunt him down to infamy and death.
What did the Valdez? I am proud of the name
Since he dared do it.—
[Ordonio grasps his sword, and turns off from Isidore, then after a pause returns.
Our links burn dimly. 145

Isidore. A dark tale darkly finished! Nay, my lord!
Tell what he did.

Ordonio. That which his wisdom prompted—
He made the traitor meet him in this cavern,
And here he kill'd the traitor.

Isidore. No! the fool! 150
He had not wit enough to be a traitor.
Poor thick-eyed beetle! not to have foreseen
That he who gulled thee with a whimpered lie
[[864]] To murder his own brother, would not scruple
To murder thee, if e'er his guilt grew jealous, [155]
And he could steal upon thee in the dark!