Page:The Family Legend.pdf/85

FIRST VASSAL.

Next rising tide will bring a sure relief

To all the ills we leave thee.

HELEN. (starting).

I understand ye.

(Raising her clasped hands to heaven.)
Lord of heaven and earth;
Of storms and tempests, and th' unfathom'd deep;
Is this thy righteous will?
(Grasping the hands of the men imploringly.)
Ye cannot mean it.
Ye cannot leave a human creature thus
To perish by a slow approaching end,
So awful and so terrible! Instant death
Were merciful to this.

FIRST VASSAL.

If thou prefer it, we can shorten well

Thy term of pain and terror: from this cragg,
Full fourteen fathom deep thou may'st be plung'd.
In shorter time than three strokes of an oar
Thy pains will cease.

SECOND VASSAL.

Come, that were better for thee.

(Both of them take her hands, and are going to