Chorus
Painted emblems of a race,
All accurst in days of yore,
Each to his accustomed place
Steps unwillingly once more!
[By this time the Ghosts have changed to pictures again. Robin is overcome by emotion.
Enter Adam.
Adam. My poor master, you are not well—
Rob. Gideon Crawle, it won't do—I've seen 'em—all my ancestors—they're just gone. They say that I must do something desperate at once, or perish in horrible agonies. Go—go to yonder village—carry off a maiden—bring her here at once—any one—I don't care which—
Adam. But—
Rob. Not a word, but obey! Fly! [Exit Adam
Recit. and Song
Rob.
Away, Remorse!
Compunction, hence!
Go, Moral Force!
Go, Penitence!
To Virtue's plea
A long farewell—
Propriety,
I ring your knell!
Come, guiltiness of deadliest hue!
Come, desperate deeds of derring do!
Henceforth all the crimes that I find in the "Times".
I've promised to perpetrate daily;
To-morrow I start with a petrified heart,
On a regular course of Old Bailey.
There's confidence tricking, bad coin, pocket-picking,
And several other disgraces—
There's postage-stamp prigging, and then thimble-rigging,
The three-card delusion at races!
