hy not cease?...
When, as Shades whisper in the chasmal night,
"Better, far better, no percipience here."--
O happy lack, that I should have no child
To come into my hideous heritage,
And groan beneath the burden of my name![11]

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

I'll speak. His mood is ripe for such a parle.
[Sending a voice into VILLENEUVE'S ear.]

Thou dost divine the hour!

VILLENEUVE

But those stern Nays,
That heretofore were audible to me
At each unhappy time I strove to pass?

SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

Have been annulled. The Will grants exit freely;
Yea, It says "Now." Therefore make now thy time.

SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

May his sad sunken soul merge into nought
Meekly and gently as a breeze at eve!

VILLENEUVE

From skies above me and the air around
Those callings which so long have circled me
At last do whisper "Now." Now it shall be!

[He seals a letter, and addresses it to his wife; then takes a
dagger from his accoutrements that are hanging alongside, and,
lying down upon his back on the bed, stabs himself determinedly
in many places, leaving the weapon in the last wound.]

Ungrateful master; generous foes; Farewell!

[VILLENEUVE dies; and the scene darkens.]

SCENE VII

KING GEORGE'S WATERING-PLACE, SOUTH WESSEX

[The interior of the "Old Rooms" Inn. Boatmen and burghers are
sitting on settles round the fire, smoking and drinking.

FIRST BURGHER

So they've brought him home at last, hey? And he's to be solemnized
with a roaring funeral?

FIRST BOATMAN

Yes, thank God.... 'Tis better to lie dry than wet, if canst do it
without stinking on the road gravewards. And they took care that he
shouldn't.

SECOND BOATMAN

'Tis to be at Paul's; so they say that know. And the crew of the
"Victory" have to walk in front, and Captain Hardy is to carry his
stars and garters on a great velvet pincushion.

FIRST BURGHER

Where's the Captain now?

SECOND BOATMAN [nodding in the direction of Captain Hardy's house]

Down at home here biding with his own folk a bit. I zid en walking
with them on the Esplanade yesterday. He looks ten years older than
he did when he went. Ay--he brought the galliant hero home!

SECOND BURGHER

Now how did they bring him home so that he could lie in state
afterwards to the nak