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SCENE III] THE MOURNING BRIDE 435
Leon. Alas, a little farther, and behold
Zara all pale and dead! two frightful men,
Who seem the murderers, kneel weeping by,
Feeling remorse too late for what they've done.
But O forbear—lift up your eyes no more;
But haste away, fly from this fatal place!
Where miseries are multiplied; return,
Return! and not look on; for there's a dagger
Ready to stab the sight, and make your eyes
Rain blood.
Aim. Oh I foreknuw, foresee that object.
Is it at last then so? is hr then dead?
What, dead at last! quite, quite, for ever dead!
There, there I see him 1 there he lies, the blood
Yet bubbling from his wounds—D more than savage!
Had they or hearts or eyes, that did this deed!
Could eyes endure to guide such cruel hands?
Are not my eyes guilty alike with theirs,
That thus can gaze, and yet not turn to stone?
I do not weep! The springs of tears are dried
And of a sudden I am calm, as if
All things were well: and yet my husband's murdered!
Yes, yes, I know to mourn! I'll sluice this heart,
The source of woe, and let the torrent loose.
Those men have left to weep! they look on me!
I hope they murder all on whom they look.
Behold me well; your bloody hands have erred,
And wrongfully have slain these innocents;
I am the sacrifice designed to bleed;
And come prepared to yield my throat—they shake
Their heads, in sign of grief and innocence!
[The Mutes point to the bowl on the ground.
And point—what mean they? Ha! a cup. O well
I understand what medicine has been here.
O noble thirst! yet greedy to drink all—
Oh for another draught of death.—What mean they?
| The Mutes point to the other cup.
Ha! point again? 'tis there, and full, I hope.
Thanks to the liberal hand that filled thee thus;
I'll drink my glad acknowledgment—
Leon. O hold.
For mercy's sake! upon my knee I beg—
Aim. With thee the kneeling world should beg in vain.