I am a lofty tree of growth too great
For its thin soil, from whose wide rooted fangs
The very rocks and earth that foster'd it
Do rend and fall away.—I stand alone!
I stand alone! I thought, alas! to spread
My wide protecting boughs o'er my youth's friends;
But they, like pois'nous brushwood at my root,
Have chok'd my stately growth e'en more than all.
(musing for some time gloomily.)
How marr'd and stinted hath my greatness been!
What am I now of that which long ere now
I hop'd to be? O! it doth make me mad
To think of this! By hell it shall not be!
I would cut off this arm and cast it from me
For vultures meat, if it did let or hinder
Its nobler fellow.
Yes, they shall die! I to my fortunes height
Will rear my lofty head, and stand alone,
Fearless of storm or tempest.
(turns round his head upon hearing a noise, and seeing Elburga enter at the bottom of the stage with a lamp in her hand, like one risen from bed, he starts back and gazes wildly upon her.)
If thou indeed art aught of living kind.
Elb. Why didst thou start? Dost thou not know me?
