And more, and all--but let her not, no, no,
Meet here the touch and leprosy of shame!

CHARLES (_laughing_): Said I not, said I, friends, we should
have mirth?
You shall laugh with me laughter bright as wine.

ANTONIO: But, sir, this is not good for laughter! Sir!

HAEMON (_to ANTONIO_): Ah, put the lamb on--bleat mock sympathy!

CHARLES (_still laughing_): Fulvia, O, he foots it in the tracks
Of your own fear! and wanders to delusion!

HAEMON: Will you laugh at me, fiend!

CHARLES: Boy!

HAEMON: Had I but
Omnipotence a moment and could dash
Annihilation on you and your race!
(_Throws his glove in ANTONIO'S face._)

HELENA: Haemon!

FULVIA (_restraining her_): No, Helena.

CHARLES: Omnipotence?
And could Omnipotence make such a fool?
There must be two Gods in the world to do it.

HAEMON: She shall not----!
(_Attempts to kill HELENA._)

ANTONIO (_preventing_): Fury!--Ah! what would you do?

CHARLES: Such things can be? A sister, yet he strikes?
(_HAEMON is seized._)

HELENA: O let me speak with him, sir, let me speak!

CHARLES: Not now, girl, no, not now--lest in his breath
Be venom for thee! (_To soldiers._) Shut him from our gates
Till he repent this fever.
(_HAEMON goes quietly out._)
(_To guests who are suspicious and undetermined._) If you stare so
Will the skies stop! Have I not arm in arm
Friended this youth and meant him honor still?
Leave me. I had a thing to tell; but it
Must wait more seasonable festivity.
(_To PAULA._) See to thy mistress, child. Antonio, stay.

(_All go but ANTONIO and CHARLES, who leaves his chair
slowly and with dejection._)

ANTONIO: Father----

CHARLES (_unheeding_): Did I not humble me?

ANTONIO: Father----?

CHARLES: Or ask more than a brevity of joy
To bud on my life's withering close?

ANTONIO: But, sir----!

CHARLES: If it bud not----!

ANTONIO: What thought impels and wrings
These angers from your eyes?

CHARLES (_slowly, gazing at him_): You're like your mother.

ANTONIO: In trouble for your peace, more than in feature.

CHARLES: Peace--peace? Antonio, a dream has come:
To stir--to wake--to learn it is a dream--
I must not, will not look on such aby