Mad.This piece won the Post-Graduate medal at the Ninth Annual Commencement of the Mt. Vernon Institute of Elocution and Languages, 1892.’Twas many years since I had left my homeTo travel distant lands, but time sped on;[1229]Again with eagerness and wondermentI sought the cherish’d haunts[1230]and friends of yore.One man whom I remember’d as a boy,Whose piercing eyes, pale face, and silken locksHad oft comment attracted, now I foundIn mad-house pent. He recognized my face,Although he would anon bewilder’d gaze.In changing tones which shed a ling’ring light[1231]Awhile upon his soul, but swiftly turn’dTo fierce embitter’d grief, he told me thereHis all-absorbing tale. ’Twas thus he spoke:“They call me mad. And hour by hour I’m watch’dBy lurking keepers, who with looks askance,[1232]Would search my thoughts, and deem themselves unseen,For when I would return their gaze, they droopTheir eyes, and with a heedless air pass by.[1233]They call me mad, and so deny[1234]my rightTo liberty enjoy’d by other men.They call me mad! but know they[1235]what they mean?“Yea, if vividly to recall the past,And linger with emotions deep and fondOn all that yielded life a moment’s joy,And now lies garner’d in sweet Mem’ry’s store—If this[1236]betokens madness—I am mad.Or if to know with what dear promise youthWas robed—how cherish’d were the constant thoughtsOf happiness to come in future years—And feel how treach’rous was the fate that crush’d[1237]Those thoughts and bade me dare to seek revenge[1238]—If this may madness prove, then I am mad.And this is why,[1239]forsooth, they deem me so!“Even now the recollection of the past,In varied visions, float[1240]before mine eyes,And thoughts of old afflictions make me feelHow blest[1241]I might have been—how sad I am![1242]“A group of children trotting[1243]off to school,While two[1244]amongst the rest, a boy and girl,Go hand in hand, and prattle as they go,Then fondly kiss and part, till, school-time o’er,They meet and kiss again, and hand in handReturn to home,[1245]recounting all they’ve learnt.Anon they paddle in the rippling brook,[1246]Their merry voices striving to out-doThe babble of the water ’neath their feet;Or, roaming in the fields,[1247]they mimic birds[1248]That seem to sing a sweet accomp’nimentTo happy childhood passing thus away.“The glad years speed[1249]along. Those children twainHave ripen’d ’neath the influence of time,For life has but reveal’d its summer daysTo him[1250]of impulse strong and keen-sensed soul—To her[1251]of beauteous face and loving heart,And each is happy in the other’s love.“And this glad pair in childhood and in youthWas Cousin Ruth and I. Oh! it was joyTo loiter arm in arm on summer evesBy hedge-rows,[1252]or through fields[1253]of long-grown grassWhere breath’d sweet-scented breezes all around,[1254]And birds sang anthems to the dying day;Or wonder where the murm’ring river ran,[1255]While tales of love gave birth to cheerful smiles.And just as pleasant in the winter-tideTo tread the hard, crisp roads; and watch the stars,That look’d like angel-lovers gladd’ning Earth,While we humm’d homely airs, and never dreamtThat aught but death could e’er divide our hearts.“Ah! Death assumed most unsuspected guise—The guise of one whom I deemed friend, alas!And whom I’d make my confidant of hopesTo be fulfill’d in future happy days.You know[1256]the rest. My friend became my foe,And won the heart of her I loved, though thatI might have brook’d in silence and in pain,But he a villain[1257]proved, and mock’d[1258]her tears.I learnt the truth; then sought,[1259]and found him, too,Though not alone, as my heart wish’d. AroseWithin my breast[1260]the promptings of wild hate,And, like a furied fiend, with fierce intentI grasp’d[1261]his throat and dash’d[1262]him to the ground,And would have slain[1263]him there had those aroundNot dragg’d my tight’ning fingers from his flesh.“Thus foil’d, a sudden impulse seized my soul,And hate[1264]intense begat intenser love.[1265]From those who held me I sprang forth,[1266]then rush’dTo find my Ruth and clasp[1267]her to my breast;I yearn’d, at least, to heal her sorrow’d heart,Forget her wrong, and love her as of old.But when I found her, my poor girl was dead;There[1268]on the cruel river’s bank she lay,The water dripping[1269]from her golden hair—Those golden ringlets I had fondled oft!I clasp’d her hand[1270]and gazed into her eyes,Whose steadfast stare seemed now to pierce me through,And placed my lips against her clay-cold cheekTill presently they bore her[1271]from my sight.“Night came; the wand’ring wind was wailing wild,And dreary rains were lashing[1272]all the land;I felt them not, I only felt the fireThat raged within my soul,[1273]and wander’d on[1274]With pale and haggard features, glaring, blood-shot eyes,Dishevell’d hair, clench’d fists,[1275]and boiling blood!Amid the chaos of my brain[1276]one thoughtUsurp’d despotic sway, and led me onAnd on, with purpose fix’d and fierce—to kill,[1277]To murder[1278]him who slew my only love!“Ere long I found the thing I sought—alone!I heard[1279]the sound of voices, heard them say‘Good-night,’ ‘Good-night.’ One voice I knew; ’twas his!I cowered low,[1280]till, with quick step, he pass’d,Then, silent as a tiger, follow’d[1281]swift.When he had gain’d the meadow he must cross,I quicken’d pace, and saw him speed before—[1282]‘Hillo, hillo!’ I cried; he stood to hear,And ere a moment pass’d I reach’d his side.There was a look of terror in his face,And seeing me he scream’d, and would have fled,But, with a grasp of steel, I clutch’d[1283]his throat,And, though he craved for mercy, strangled him,And crush’d[1284]the reptile’s form beneath my foot,Then left him[1285]lying on the meadow path,And onward[1286]swiftly sped—I know not where,Until, o’ercome by agony of heart,Upon the grass[1287]in dark despair I fell!My throat[1288]was parch’d, a mist[1289]came o’er my eyes,My head was rack’d, the blood forsook my veins,And coldness, by degrees, my senses numb’d.[1290]“When I awoke as ’twere from a long dreamOf agonizing thought, I was confinedWithin these walls,[1291]and knew they call’d me mad.”Gestures.[1229]H. Sw.[1230]H. F.[1231]P. H. F.[1232]Eyes Sp.[1233]H. Sw.[1234]D. L.[1235]H. O.[1236]H. F.[1237]P. D. O.[1238]Cli. raised.[1239]H. O.[1240]V. H. Sw.[1241]B. H. O.[1242]Drop hands hopelessly.[1243]H. Sw.[1244]Ind. H. O.[1245]Left H. Sw.[1246]D. F.[1247]H. Sw.[1248]Look up.[1249]H. Sw.[1250]H. O.[1251]Left H. O.[1252]H. O.[1253]Imp.[1254]B. H. O.[1255]H. Sw.[1256]H. F.[1257]Cli. D.[1258]P. Ind. H. O.[1259]H. F.[1260]To breast.[1261]-[1262]B. Sp.[1263]Ind. D. F.[1264]B. Cli. D.[1265]B. H. O.[1266]H. F.[1267]B. Sp.[1268]D. F.[1269]Turn to P.[1270]Sp.[1271]Left H. Sw.[1272]B. P. H. O.[1273]To breast.[1274]H. Sw.[1275]B. Cli.[1276]To head.[1277]Ind. H. O.[1278]Cli. D. O.[1279]Lis. to left.[1280]Bend body.[1281]H. Sw.[1282]H. F.[1283]B. Sp.[1284]B. P. D. F.[1285]D. O.[1286]H. F.[1287]P. D. F.[1288]To throat.[1289]To eyes.[1290]P. D. O.[1291]B. H. O.
This piece won the Post-Graduate medal at the Ninth Annual Commencement of the Mt. Vernon Institute of Elocution and Languages, 1892.
’Twas many years since I had left my homeTo travel distant lands, but time sped on;[1229]Again with eagerness and wondermentI sought the cherish’d haunts[1230]and friends of yore.One man whom I remember’d as a boy,Whose piercing eyes, pale face, and silken locksHad oft comment attracted, now I foundIn mad-house pent. He recognized my face,Although he would anon bewilder’d gaze.In changing tones which shed a ling’ring light[1231]Awhile upon his soul, but swiftly turn’dTo fierce embitter’d grief, he told me thereHis all-absorbing tale. ’Twas thus he spoke:“They call me mad. And hour by hour I’m watch’dBy lurking keepers, who with looks askance,[1232]Would search my thoughts, and deem themselves unseen,For when I would return their gaze, they droopTheir eyes, and with a heedless air pass by.[1233]They call me mad, and so deny[1234]my rightTo liberty enjoy’d by other men.They call me mad! but know they[1235]what they mean?“Yea, if vividly to recall the past,And linger with emotions deep and fondOn all that yielded life a moment’s joy,And now lies garner’d in sweet Mem’ry’s store—If this[1236]betokens madness—I am mad.Or if to know with what dear promise youthWas robed—how cherish’d were the constant thoughtsOf happiness to come in future years—And feel how treach’rous was the fate that crush’d[1237]Those thoughts and bade me dare to seek revenge[1238]—If this may madness prove, then I am mad.And this is why,[1239]forsooth, they deem me so!“Even now the recollection of the past,In varied visions, float[1240]before mine eyes,And thoughts of old afflictions make me feelHow blest[1241]I might have been—how sad I am![1242]“A group of children trotting[1243]off to school,While two[1244]amongst the rest, a boy and girl,Go hand in hand, and prattle as they go,Then fondly kiss and part, till, school-time o’er,They meet and kiss again, and hand in handReturn to home,[1245]recounting all they’ve learnt.Anon they paddle in the rippling brook,[1246]Their merry voices striving to out-doThe babble of the water ’neath their feet;Or, roaming in the fields,[1247]they mimic birds[1248]That seem to sing a sweet accomp’nimentTo happy childhood passing thus away.“The glad years speed[1249]along. Those children twainHave ripen’d ’neath the influence of time,For life has but reveal’d its summer daysTo him[1250]of impulse strong and keen-sensed soul—To her[1251]of beauteous face and loving heart,And each is happy in the other’s love.“And this glad pair in childhood and in youthWas Cousin Ruth and I. Oh! it was joyTo loiter arm in arm on summer evesBy hedge-rows,[1252]or through fields[1253]of long-grown grassWhere breath’d sweet-scented breezes all around,[1254]And birds sang anthems to the dying day;Or wonder where the murm’ring river ran,[1255]While tales of love gave birth to cheerful smiles.And just as pleasant in the winter-tideTo tread the hard, crisp roads; and watch the stars,That look’d like angel-lovers gladd’ning Earth,While we humm’d homely airs, and never dreamtThat aught but death could e’er divide our hearts.“Ah! Death assumed most unsuspected guise—The guise of one whom I deemed friend, alas!And whom I’d make my confidant of hopesTo be fulfill’d in future happy days.You know[1256]the rest. My friend became my foe,And won the heart of her I loved, though thatI might have brook’d in silence and in pain,But he a villain[1257]proved, and mock’d[1258]her tears.I learnt the truth; then sought,[1259]and found him, too,Though not alone, as my heart wish’d. AroseWithin my breast[1260]the promptings of wild hate,And, like a furied fiend, with fierce intentI grasp’d[1261]his throat and dash’d[1262]him to the ground,And would have slain[1263]him there had those aroundNot dragg’d my tight’ning fingers from his flesh.“Thus foil’d, a sudden impulse seized my soul,And hate[1264]intense begat intenser love.[1265]From those who held me I sprang forth,[1266]then rush’dTo find my Ruth and clasp[1267]her to my breast;I yearn’d, at least, to heal her sorrow’d heart,Forget her wrong, and love her as of old.But when I found her, my poor girl was dead;There[1268]on the cruel river’s bank she lay,The water dripping[1269]from her golden hair—Those golden ringlets I had fondled oft!I clasp’d her hand[1270]and gazed into her eyes,Whose steadfast stare seemed now to pierce me through,And placed my lips against her clay-cold cheekTill presently they bore her[1271]from my sight.“Night came; the wand’ring wind was wailing wild,And dreary rains were lashing[1272]all the land;I felt them not, I only felt the fireThat raged within my soul,[1273]and wander’d on[1274]With pale and haggard features, glaring, blood-shot eyes,Dishevell’d hair, clench’d fists,[1275]and boiling blood!Amid the chaos of my brain[1276]one thoughtUsurp’d despotic sway, and led me onAnd on, with purpose fix’d and fierce—to kill,[1277]To murder[1278]him who slew my only love!“Ere long I found the thing I sought—alone!I heard[1279]the sound of voices, heard them say‘Good-night,’ ‘Good-night.’ One voice I knew; ’twas his!I cowered low,[1280]till, with quick step, he pass’d,Then, silent as a tiger, follow’d[1281]swift.When he had gain’d the meadow he must cross,I quicken’d pace, and saw him speed before—[1282]‘Hillo, hillo!’ I cried; he stood to hear,And ere a moment pass’d I reach’d his side.There was a look of terror in his face,And seeing me he scream’d, and would have fled,But, with a grasp of steel, I clutch’d[1283]his throat,And, though he craved for mercy, strangled him,And crush’d[1284]the reptile’s form beneath my foot,Then left him[1285]lying on the meadow path,And onward[1286]swiftly sped—I know not where,Until, o’ercome by agony of heart,Upon the grass[1287]in dark despair I fell!My throat[1288]was parch’d, a mist[1289]came o’er my eyes,My head was rack’d, the blood forsook my veins,And coldness, by degrees, my senses numb’d.[1290]“When I awoke as ’twere from a long dreamOf agonizing thought, I was confinedWithin these walls,[1291]and knew they call’d me mad.”
’Twas many years since I had left my homeTo travel distant lands, but time sped on;[1229]Again with eagerness and wondermentI sought the cherish’d haunts[1230]and friends of yore.One man whom I remember’d as a boy,Whose piercing eyes, pale face, and silken locksHad oft comment attracted, now I foundIn mad-house pent. He recognized my face,Although he would anon bewilder’d gaze.In changing tones which shed a ling’ring light[1231]Awhile upon his soul, but swiftly turn’dTo fierce embitter’d grief, he told me thereHis all-absorbing tale. ’Twas thus he spoke:“They call me mad. And hour by hour I’m watch’dBy lurking keepers, who with looks askance,[1232]Would search my thoughts, and deem themselves unseen,For when I would return their gaze, they droopTheir eyes, and with a heedless air pass by.[1233]They call me mad, and so deny[1234]my rightTo liberty enjoy’d by other men.They call me mad! but know they[1235]what they mean?“Yea, if vividly to recall the past,And linger with emotions deep and fondOn all that yielded life a moment’s joy,And now lies garner’d in sweet Mem’ry’s store—If this[1236]betokens madness—I am mad.Or if to know with what dear promise youthWas robed—how cherish’d were the constant thoughtsOf happiness to come in future years—And feel how treach’rous was the fate that crush’d[1237]Those thoughts and bade me dare to seek revenge[1238]—If this may madness prove, then I am mad.And this is why,[1239]forsooth, they deem me so!“Even now the recollection of the past,In varied visions, float[1240]before mine eyes,And thoughts of old afflictions make me feelHow blest[1241]I might have been—how sad I am![1242]“A group of children trotting[1243]off to school,While two[1244]amongst the rest, a boy and girl,Go hand in hand, and prattle as they go,Then fondly kiss and part, till, school-time o’er,They meet and kiss again, and hand in handReturn to home,[1245]recounting all they’ve learnt.Anon they paddle in the rippling brook,[1246]Their merry voices striving to out-doThe babble of the water ’neath their feet;Or, roaming in the fields,[1247]they mimic birds[1248]That seem to sing a sweet accomp’nimentTo happy childhood passing thus away.“The glad years speed[1249]along. Those children twainHave ripen’d ’neath the influence of time,For life has but reveal’d its summer daysTo him[1250]of impulse strong and keen-sensed soul—To her[1251]of beauteous face and loving heart,And each is happy in the other’s love.“And this glad pair in childhood and in youthWas Cousin Ruth and I. Oh! it was joyTo loiter arm in arm on summer evesBy hedge-rows,[1252]or through fields[1253]of long-grown grassWhere breath’d sweet-scented breezes all around,[1254]And birds sang anthems to the dying day;Or wonder where the murm’ring river ran,[1255]While tales of love gave birth to cheerful smiles.And just as pleasant in the winter-tideTo tread the hard, crisp roads; and watch the stars,That look’d like angel-lovers gladd’ning Earth,While we humm’d homely airs, and never dreamtThat aught but death could e’er divide our hearts.“Ah! Death assumed most unsuspected guise—The guise of one whom I deemed friend, alas!And whom I’d make my confidant of hopesTo be fulfill’d in future happy days.You know[1256]the rest. My friend became my foe,And won the heart of her I loved, though thatI might have brook’d in silence and in pain,But he a villain[1257]proved, and mock’d[1258]her tears.I learnt the truth; then sought,[1259]and found him, too,Though not alone, as my heart wish’d. AroseWithin my breast[1260]the promptings of wild hate,And, like a furied fiend, with fierce intentI grasp’d[1261]his throat and dash’d[1262]him to the ground,And would have slain[1263]him there had those aroundNot dragg’d my tight’ning fingers from his flesh.“Thus foil’d, a sudden impulse seized my soul,And hate[1264]intense begat intenser love.[1265]From those who held me I sprang forth,[1266]then rush’dTo find my Ruth and clasp[1267]her to my breast;I yearn’d, at least, to heal her sorrow’d heart,Forget her wrong, and love her as of old.But when I found her, my poor girl was dead;There[1268]on the cruel river’s bank she lay,The water dripping[1269]from her golden hair—Those golden ringlets I had fondled oft!I clasp’d her hand[1270]and gazed into her eyes,Whose steadfast stare seemed now to pierce me through,And placed my lips against her clay-cold cheekTill presently they bore her[1271]from my sight.“Night came; the wand’ring wind was wailing wild,And dreary rains were lashing[1272]all the land;I felt them not, I only felt the fireThat raged within my soul,[1273]and wander’d on[1274]With pale and haggard features, glaring, blood-shot eyes,Dishevell’d hair, clench’d fists,[1275]and boiling blood!Amid the chaos of my brain[1276]one thoughtUsurp’d despotic sway, and led me onAnd on, with purpose fix’d and fierce—to kill,[1277]To murder[1278]him who slew my only love!“Ere long I found the thing I sought—alone!I heard[1279]the sound of voices, heard them say‘Good-night,’ ‘Good-night.’ One voice I knew; ’twas his!I cowered low,[1280]till, with quick step, he pass’d,Then, silent as a tiger, follow’d[1281]swift.When he had gain’d the meadow he must cross,I quicken’d pace, and saw him speed before—[1282]‘Hillo, hillo!’ I cried; he stood to hear,And ere a moment pass’d I reach’d his side.There was a look of terror in his face,And seeing me he scream’d, and would have fled,But, with a grasp of steel, I clutch’d[1283]his throat,And, though he craved for mercy, strangled him,And crush’d[1284]the reptile’s form beneath my foot,Then left him[1285]lying on the meadow path,And onward[1286]swiftly sped—I know not where,Until, o’ercome by agony of heart,Upon the grass[1287]in dark despair I fell!My throat[1288]was parch’d, a mist[1289]came o’er my eyes,My head was rack’d, the blood forsook my veins,And coldness, by degrees, my senses numb’d.[1290]“When I awoke as ’twere from a long dreamOf agonizing thought, I was confinedWithin these walls,[1291]and knew they call’d me mad.”
’Twas many years since I had left my home
To travel distant lands, but time sped on;[1229]
Again with eagerness and wonderment
I sought the cherish’d haunts[1230]and friends of yore.
One man whom I remember’d as a boy,
Whose piercing eyes, pale face, and silken locks
Had oft comment attracted, now I found
In mad-house pent. He recognized my face,
Although he would anon bewilder’d gaze.
In changing tones which shed a ling’ring light[1231]
Awhile upon his soul, but swiftly turn’d
To fierce embitter’d grief, he told me there
His all-absorbing tale. ’Twas thus he spoke:
“They call me mad. And hour by hour I’m watch’d
By lurking keepers, who with looks askance,[1232]
Would search my thoughts, and deem themselves unseen,
For when I would return their gaze, they droop
Their eyes, and with a heedless air pass by.[1233]
They call me mad, and so deny[1234]my right
To liberty enjoy’d by other men.
They call me mad! but know they[1235]what they mean?
“Yea, if vividly to recall the past,And linger with emotions deep and fondOn all that yielded life a moment’s joy,And now lies garner’d in sweet Mem’ry’s store—If this[1236]betokens madness—I am mad.Or if to know with what dear promise youthWas robed—how cherish’d were the constant thoughtsOf happiness to come in future years—And feel how treach’rous was the fate that crush’d[1237]Those thoughts and bade me dare to seek revenge[1238]—If this may madness prove, then I am mad.And this is why,[1239]forsooth, they deem me so!
“Yea, if vividly to recall the past,
And linger with emotions deep and fond
On all that yielded life a moment’s joy,
And now lies garner’d in sweet Mem’ry’s store—
If this[1236]betokens madness—I am mad.
Or if to know with what dear promise youth
Was robed—how cherish’d were the constant thoughts
Of happiness to come in future years—
And feel how treach’rous was the fate that crush’d[1237]
Those thoughts and bade me dare to seek revenge[1238]—
If this may madness prove, then I am mad.
And this is why,[1239]forsooth, they deem me so!
“Even now the recollection of the past,In varied visions, float[1240]before mine eyes,And thoughts of old afflictions make me feelHow blest[1241]I might have been—how sad I am![1242]
“Even now the recollection of the past,
In varied visions, float[1240]before mine eyes,
And thoughts of old afflictions make me feel
How blest[1241]I might have been—how sad I am![1242]
“A group of children trotting[1243]off to school,While two[1244]amongst the rest, a boy and girl,Go hand in hand, and prattle as they go,Then fondly kiss and part, till, school-time o’er,They meet and kiss again, and hand in handReturn to home,[1245]recounting all they’ve learnt.Anon they paddle in the rippling brook,[1246]Their merry voices striving to out-doThe babble of the water ’neath their feet;Or, roaming in the fields,[1247]they mimic birds[1248]That seem to sing a sweet accomp’nimentTo happy childhood passing thus away.
“A group of children trotting[1243]off to school,
While two[1244]amongst the rest, a boy and girl,
Go hand in hand, and prattle as they go,
Then fondly kiss and part, till, school-time o’er,
They meet and kiss again, and hand in hand
Return to home,[1245]recounting all they’ve learnt.
Anon they paddle in the rippling brook,[1246]
Their merry voices striving to out-do
The babble of the water ’neath their feet;
Or, roaming in the fields,[1247]they mimic birds[1248]
That seem to sing a sweet accomp’niment
To happy childhood passing thus away.
“The glad years speed[1249]along. Those children twainHave ripen’d ’neath the influence of time,For life has but reveal’d its summer daysTo him[1250]of impulse strong and keen-sensed soul—To her[1251]of beauteous face and loving heart,And each is happy in the other’s love.
“The glad years speed[1249]along. Those children twain
Have ripen’d ’neath the influence of time,
For life has but reveal’d its summer days
To him[1250]of impulse strong and keen-sensed soul—
To her[1251]of beauteous face and loving heart,
And each is happy in the other’s love.
“And this glad pair in childhood and in youthWas Cousin Ruth and I. Oh! it was joyTo loiter arm in arm on summer evesBy hedge-rows,[1252]or through fields[1253]of long-grown grassWhere breath’d sweet-scented breezes all around,[1254]And birds sang anthems to the dying day;Or wonder where the murm’ring river ran,[1255]While tales of love gave birth to cheerful smiles.And just as pleasant in the winter-tideTo tread the hard, crisp roads; and watch the stars,That look’d like angel-lovers gladd’ning Earth,While we humm’d homely airs, and never dreamtThat aught but death could e’er divide our hearts.
“And this glad pair in childhood and in youth
Was Cousin Ruth and I. Oh! it was joy
To loiter arm in arm on summer eves
By hedge-rows,[1252]or through fields[1253]of long-grown grass
Where breath’d sweet-scented breezes all around,[1254]
And birds sang anthems to the dying day;
Or wonder where the murm’ring river ran,[1255]
While tales of love gave birth to cheerful smiles.
And just as pleasant in the winter-tide
To tread the hard, crisp roads; and watch the stars,
That look’d like angel-lovers gladd’ning Earth,
While we humm’d homely airs, and never dreamt
That aught but death could e’er divide our hearts.
“Ah! Death assumed most unsuspected guise—The guise of one whom I deemed friend, alas!And whom I’d make my confidant of hopesTo be fulfill’d in future happy days.You know[1256]the rest. My friend became my foe,And won the heart of her I loved, though thatI might have brook’d in silence and in pain,But he a villain[1257]proved, and mock’d[1258]her tears.I learnt the truth; then sought,[1259]and found him, too,Though not alone, as my heart wish’d. AroseWithin my breast[1260]the promptings of wild hate,And, like a furied fiend, with fierce intentI grasp’d[1261]his throat and dash’d[1262]him to the ground,And would have slain[1263]him there had those aroundNot dragg’d my tight’ning fingers from his flesh.
“Ah! Death assumed most unsuspected guise—
The guise of one whom I deemed friend, alas!
And whom I’d make my confidant of hopes
To be fulfill’d in future happy days.
You know[1256]the rest. My friend became my foe,
And won the heart of her I loved, though that
I might have brook’d in silence and in pain,
But he a villain[1257]proved, and mock’d[1258]her tears.
I learnt the truth; then sought,[1259]and found him, too,
Though not alone, as my heart wish’d. Arose
Within my breast[1260]the promptings of wild hate,
And, like a furied fiend, with fierce intent
I grasp’d[1261]his throat and dash’d[1262]him to the ground,
And would have slain[1263]him there had those around
Not dragg’d my tight’ning fingers from his flesh.
“Thus foil’d, a sudden impulse seized my soul,And hate[1264]intense begat intenser love.[1265]From those who held me I sprang forth,[1266]then rush’dTo find my Ruth and clasp[1267]her to my breast;I yearn’d, at least, to heal her sorrow’d heart,Forget her wrong, and love her as of old.But when I found her, my poor girl was dead;There[1268]on the cruel river’s bank she lay,The water dripping[1269]from her golden hair—Those golden ringlets I had fondled oft!I clasp’d her hand[1270]and gazed into her eyes,Whose steadfast stare seemed now to pierce me through,And placed my lips against her clay-cold cheekTill presently they bore her[1271]from my sight.
“Thus foil’d, a sudden impulse seized my soul,
And hate[1264]intense begat intenser love.[1265]
From those who held me I sprang forth,[1266]then rush’d
To find my Ruth and clasp[1267]her to my breast;
I yearn’d, at least, to heal her sorrow’d heart,
Forget her wrong, and love her as of old.
But when I found her, my poor girl was dead;
There[1268]on the cruel river’s bank she lay,
The water dripping[1269]from her golden hair—
Those golden ringlets I had fondled oft!
I clasp’d her hand[1270]and gazed into her eyes,
Whose steadfast stare seemed now to pierce me through,
And placed my lips against her clay-cold cheek
Till presently they bore her[1271]from my sight.
“Night came; the wand’ring wind was wailing wild,And dreary rains were lashing[1272]all the land;I felt them not, I only felt the fireThat raged within my soul,[1273]and wander’d on[1274]With pale and haggard features, glaring, blood-shot eyes,Dishevell’d hair, clench’d fists,[1275]and boiling blood!Amid the chaos of my brain[1276]one thoughtUsurp’d despotic sway, and led me onAnd on, with purpose fix’d and fierce—to kill,[1277]To murder[1278]him who slew my only love!
“Night came; the wand’ring wind was wailing wild,
And dreary rains were lashing[1272]all the land;
I felt them not, I only felt the fire
That raged within my soul,[1273]and wander’d on[1274]
With pale and haggard features, glaring, blood-shot eyes,
Dishevell’d hair, clench’d fists,[1275]and boiling blood!
Amid the chaos of my brain[1276]one thought
Usurp’d despotic sway, and led me on
And on, with purpose fix’d and fierce—to kill,[1277]
To murder[1278]him who slew my only love!
“Ere long I found the thing I sought—alone!I heard[1279]the sound of voices, heard them say‘Good-night,’ ‘Good-night.’ One voice I knew; ’twas his!I cowered low,[1280]till, with quick step, he pass’d,Then, silent as a tiger, follow’d[1281]swift.When he had gain’d the meadow he must cross,I quicken’d pace, and saw him speed before—[1282]‘Hillo, hillo!’ I cried; he stood to hear,And ere a moment pass’d I reach’d his side.There was a look of terror in his face,And seeing me he scream’d, and would have fled,But, with a grasp of steel, I clutch’d[1283]his throat,And, though he craved for mercy, strangled him,And crush’d[1284]the reptile’s form beneath my foot,Then left him[1285]lying on the meadow path,And onward[1286]swiftly sped—I know not where,Until, o’ercome by agony of heart,Upon the grass[1287]in dark despair I fell!My throat[1288]was parch’d, a mist[1289]came o’er my eyes,My head was rack’d, the blood forsook my veins,And coldness, by degrees, my senses numb’d.[1290]
“Ere long I found the thing I sought—alone!
I heard[1279]the sound of voices, heard them say
‘Good-night,’ ‘Good-night.’ One voice I knew; ’twas his!
I cowered low,[1280]till, with quick step, he pass’d,
Then, silent as a tiger, follow’d[1281]swift.
When he had gain’d the meadow he must cross,
I quicken’d pace, and saw him speed before—[1282]
‘Hillo, hillo!’ I cried; he stood to hear,
And ere a moment pass’d I reach’d his side.
There was a look of terror in his face,
And seeing me he scream’d, and would have fled,
But, with a grasp of steel, I clutch’d[1283]his throat,
And, though he craved for mercy, strangled him,
And crush’d[1284]the reptile’s form beneath my foot,
Then left him[1285]lying on the meadow path,
And onward[1286]swiftly sped—I know not where,
Until, o’ercome by agony of heart,
Upon the grass[1287]in dark despair I fell!
My throat[1288]was parch’d, a mist[1289]came o’er my eyes,
My head was rack’d, the blood forsook my veins,
And coldness, by degrees, my senses numb’d.[1290]
“When I awoke as ’twere from a long dreamOf agonizing thought, I was confinedWithin these walls,[1291]and knew they call’d me mad.”
“When I awoke as ’twere from a long dream
Of agonizing thought, I was confined
Within these walls,[1291]and knew they call’d me mad.”
Gestures.