But for you, Austin, I believe!--there, there,
'Twill pass away soon!--ah,--I had forgotten:
I am dying.

GUENDOLEN. Thorold--Thorold--why was this?

TRESHAM. I said, just as I drank the poison off,
The earth would be no longer earth to me,
The life out of all life was gone from me.
There are blind ways provided, the fore-done
Heart-weary player in this pageant-world
Drops out by, letting the main masque defile
By the conspicuous portal: I am through--
Just through!

GUENDOLEN. Don't leave him, Austin! Death is close.

TRESHAM. Already Mildred's face is peacefuller,
I see you, Austin--feel you; here's my hand,
Put yours in it--you, Guendolen, yours too!
You're lord and lady now--you're Treshams; name
And fame are yours: you hold our 'scutcheon up.
Austin, no blot on it! You see how blood
Must wash one blot away: the first blot came
And the first blood came. To the vain world's eye
All's gules again: no care to the vain world,
From whence the red was drawn!

AUSTIN. No blot shall come!

TRESHAM. I said that: yet it did come. Should it come,
Vengeance is God's, not man's. Remember me!
[Dies.]

GUENDOLEN [letting fall the pulseless arm].
Ah, Thorold, we can but--remember you!

The End

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