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Which； somehow； once one's in the vein；
Comes clattering afterthere again！
What are we twaindeuce take't！we two；
I mean； to dodrench'd through and through
Oh； I shall choke of rhymes； which I believe
Are all that we shall have to live on here。
ROS。
What； is our victual gone too？
FIFE。
Ay； that brute
Has carried all we had away with her；
Clothing； and cate； and all。
ROS。
And now the sun；
Our only friend and guide； about to sink
Under the stage of earth。
FIFE。
And enter Night；
With Capa y Espadaandpray heaven！
With but her lanthorn also。
ROS。
Ah； I doubt
To…night； if any； with a dark oneor
Almost burnt out after a month's consumption。
Well！ well or ill； on horseback or afoot；
This is the gate that lets me into Poland；
And； sorry welcome as she gives a guest
Who writes his own arrival on her rocks
In his own blood
Yet better on her stony threshold die；
Than live on unrevenged in Muscovy。
FIFE。
Oh； what a soul some women haveI mean
Some men
ROS。
Oh； Fife； Fife； as you love me； Fife；
Make yourself perfect in that little part；
Or all will go to ruin！
FIFE。
Oh； I will；
Please God we find some one to try it on。
But； truly； would not any one believe
Some fairy had exchanged us as we lay
Two tiny foster…children in one cradle？
ROS。
Well； be that as it may； Fife； it reminds me
Of what perhaps I should have thought before；
But better late than neverYou know I love you；
As you； I know； love me； and loyally
Have follow'd me thus far in my wild venture。
Well！ now thenhaving seen me safe thus far
Safe if not wholly soundover the rocks
Into the country where my business lies
Why should not you return the way we came；
The storm all clear'd away； and； leaving me
（Who now shall want you； though not thank you； less；
Now that our horses gone） this side the ridge；
Find your way back to dear old home again；
While ICome； come！
What； weeping my poor fellow？
FIFE。
Leave you here
Alonemy LadyLord！ I mean my Lord
In a strange countryamong savages
Oh； now I knowyou would be rid of me
For fear my stumbling speech
ROS。
Oh； no； no； no！
I want you with me for a thousand sakes
To which that is as nothingI myself
More apt to let the secret out myself
Without your help at allCome； come； cheer up！
And if you sing again； 'Come weal； come woe；'
Let it be that； for we will never part
Until you give the signal。
FIFE。
'Tis a bargain。
ROS。
Now to begin； then。 'Follow； follow me；
'You fairy elves that be。'
FIFE。
Ay； and go on
Something of 'following darkness like a dream；'
For that we're after。
ROS。
No； after the sun；
Trying to catch hold of his glittering skirts
That hang upon the mountain as he goes。
FIFE。
Ah； he's himself past catchingas you spoke
He heard what you were saying； andjust so
Like some scared water…bird；
As we say in my country； /dove/ below。
ROS。
Well； we must follow him as best we may。
Poland is no great country； and； as rich
In men and means； will but few acres spare
To lie beneath her barrier mountains bare。
We cannot； I believe； be very far
From mankind or their dwellings。
FIFE。
Send it so！
And well provided for man； woman； and beast。
No； not for beast。 Ah； but my heart begins
To yearn for her
ROS。
Keep close； and keep your feet
From serving you as hers did。
FIFE。
As for beasts；
If in default of other entertainment；
We should provide them with ourselves to eat
Bears； lions； wolves
ROS。
Oh； never fear。
FIFE。
Or else；
Default of other beasts； beastlier men；
Cannibals； Anthropophagi； bare Poles
Who never knew a tailor but by taste。
ROS。
Look； look！ Unless my fancy misconceive
With twilightdown among the rocks there； Fife
Some human dwelling； surely
Or think you but a rock torn from the rocks
In some convulsion like to…day's； and perch'd
Quaintly among them in mock…masonry？
FIFE。
Most likely that； I doubt。
ROS。
No； nofor look！
A square of darkness opening in it
FIFE。
Oh； I don't half like such openings！
ROS。
Like the loom
Of night from which she spins her outer gloom
FIFE。
Lord； Madam； pray forbear this tragic vein
In such a time and place
ROS。
And now again
Within that square of darkness； look！ a light
That feels its way with hesitating pulse；
As we do； through the darkness that it drives
To blacken into deeper night beyond。
FIFE。
In which could we follow that light's example；
As might some English Bardolph with his nose；
We might defy the sunsetHark； a chain！
ROS。
And now a lamp； a lamp！ And now the hand
That carries it。
FIFE。
Oh； Lord！ that dreadful chain！
ROS。
And now the bearer of the lamp； indeed
As strange as any in Arabian tale；
So giant…like； and terrible； and grand；
Spite of the skin he's wrapt in。
FIFE。
Why； 'tis his own：
Oh； 'tis some wild man of the woods； I've heard
They build and carry torches
ROS。
Never Ape
Bore such a brow before the heavens as that
Chain'd as you say too！
FIFE。
Oh； that dreadful chain！
ROS。
And now he sets the lamp down by his side；
And with one hand clench'd in his tangled hair
And with a sigh as if his heart would break
（During this Segismund has entered from the fortress； with a torch。）
SEGISMUND。
Once more the storm has roar'd itself away；
Splitting the crags of God as it retires；
But sparing still what it should only blast；
This guilty piece of human handiwork；
And all that are within it。 Oh； how oft；
How oft； within or here abroad； have I
Waited； and in the whisper of my heart
Pray'd for the slanting hand of heaven to strike
The blow myself I dared not； out of fear
Of that Hereafter； worse； they say； than here；
Plunged headlong in； but； till dismissal waited；
To wipe at last all sorrow from men's eyes；
And make this heavy dispensation clear。
Thus have I borne till now； and still endure；
Crouching in sullen impotence day by day；
Till some such out…burst of the elements
Like this rouses the sleeping fire within；
And standing thus upon the threshold of
Another night about to close the door
Upon one wretched day to open it
On one yet wretcheder because one more；
Once more； you savage heavens； I ask of you
I； looking up to those relentless eyes
That； now the greater lamp is gone below；
Begin to muster in the listening skies；
In all the shining circuits you have gone
About this theatre of human woe；
What greater sorrow have you gazed upon
Than down this narrow chink you witness still；
And which； did you yourselves not fore…devise；
You registered for others to fulfil！
FIFE。
This is some Laureate at a birthday ode；
No wonder we went rhyming。
ROS。
Hush！ And now
See； starting to his feet； he strides about
Far as his tether'd steps
SE