o scathed things with leisure to repent,
And grow acquainted with the grave, and die
Tired out if not at peace, and be forgotten?
It were not so impossible to bear.
But this--that, fresh from last night's pledge renewed
Of love with the successful gallant there,
She calmly bids me help her to entice,
Inveigle an unconscious trusting youth
Who thinks her all that's chaste and good and pure,
--Invites me to betray him... who so fit
As honour's self to cover shame's arch-deed?
--That she'll receive Lord Mertoun--(her own phrase)--
This, who could bear? Why, you have heard of thieves,
Stabbers, the earth's disgrace, who yet have laughed,
"Talk not to me of torture--I'll betray
No comrade I've pledged faith to!"--you have heard
Of wretched women--all but Mildreds--tied
By wild illicit ties to losels vile
You'd tempt them to forsake; and they'll reply
"Gold, friends, repute, I left for him, I find
In him, why should I leave him then, for gold,
Repute or friends?"--and you have felt your heart
Respond to such poor outcasts of the world
As to so many friends; bad as you please,
You've felt they were God's men and women still,
So, not to be disowned by you. But she
That stands there, calmly gives her lover up
As means to wed the Earl that she may hide
Their intercourse the surelier: and, for this,
I curse her to her face before you all.
Shame hunt her from the earth! Then Heaven do right
To both! It hears me now--shall judge her then!
[AS MILDRED faints and falls, TRESHAM rushes out.]

AUSTIN. Stay, Tresham, we'll accompany you!

GUENDOLEN. We?
What, and leave Mildred? We? Why, where's my place
But by her side, and where yours but by mine?
Mildred--one word! Only look at me, then!

AUSTIN. No, Guendolen! I echo Thorold's voice.
She is unworthy to behold...

GUENDOLEN. Us two?
If you spoke on reflection, and if I
Approved your speech--if you (to put the thing
At lowest) you the soldier, bound to make
The king's cause yours and fight for it, and throw
Regard to others of its right or wrong,
--If with a death-white woman you can help,
Let alone sister, let alone a Mildred,
You left her--or if I, her cousin, frien