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, friend
This morning, playfellow but yesterday,
Who said, or thought at least a thousand times,
"I'd serve you if I could," should now face round
And say, "Ah, that's to only signify
I'd serve you while you're fit to serve yourself:
So long as fifty eyes await the turn
Of yours to forestall its yet half-formed wish,
I'll proffer my assistance you'll not need--
When every tongue is praising you, I'll join
The praisers' chorus--when you're hemmed about
With lives between you and detraction--lives
To be laid down if a rude voice, rash eye,
Rough hand should violate the sacred ring
Their worship throws about you,--then indeed,
Who'll stand up for you stout as I?" If so
We said, and so we did,--not Mildred there
Would be unworthy to behold us both,
But we should be unworthy, both of us.
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