,
Suffer and toil and love and die with them
Rather than touch your hand. You over-rate
Your power to hurt our souls. You are mistaken!
There is a golden rule!

JOHN

And with such lips
You take to preaching! I was a fool to worry
Your soul with reason. With hair like yours--it's hopeless!
But Marian--you shall hear me.

[_He catches her in his arms._]

Yes, by God,
Marian, you shall! I love you.

MARIAN

[_Struggling._]

You should not live!

JOHN

One kiss, then! Devil take it.

[_Enter FITZWALTER above._]

MARIAN

[_Wresting herself free._]

You should not live!
Were I a man and not a helpless girl
You should not live!

JOHN

Come, now, that's very wicked.
See how these murderous words affright your father.
My good Fitzwalter, there's no need to look
So ghastly. For your sake and hers and mine
I have been trying to make your girl forget
The name of Huntingdon. A few short months
At our gay court would blot his memory out!
I promise her a life of dazzling pleasures,
And, in return she flies at me--a tigress--
Clamouring for my blood! Try to persuade her!

FITZWALTER

My lord, you are very good. She must decide
Herself.

JOHN

[_Angrily._]

I'll not be trifled with! I hold
The hand of friendship out and you evade it,
The moment I am gone, back comes your outlaw.
You say you have no power with your own child!
Well, then I'll take her back this very night;
Back to the court with me. How do I know
What treasons you are hatching here? I'll take her
As hostage for yourself.

FITZWALTER

My lord, you jest!
I have sworn to you.

JOHN

No more! If you be loyal,
What cause have you to fear?

FITZWALTER

My lord, I'll give
A hundred other pledges; but not this.

JOHN

By heaven, will you dictate your terms to me?
I say that she shall come back to the court
This very night! Ho, there, my men.

[_Enter JOHN'S retainers._]

Escort
This lady back with us.

FITZWALTER

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