The Mother’s Tragedy

THE MOTHER’S TRAGEDY 23 To witness; and I call mankind to hear; This is my faith: I live and die by it. I, nobler, cast away the infamy, Break with my hands these rotten barricades, [He picks up his mother’s Bible, tears it, and casts tt into the fire. And swear before the Spirit of the World, In sight of God, this day: I love you still With carnal love and spiritual love! And I will have you, by the living God, To be my mistress. If I fail in this, Or falter in this counsel of despair, May God’s own curses dog me into hell, And mine own life perpetuate itself Through all the ages of eternity. Amen! Amen! Come, Cora, to my heart! [He stoops to embrace her. Horror and madness catch him, and he runs about the room wildly, crying for CORA, whom he cannot see. MADELINE enters. MADELINE. O Cora! Cora! Ulric! Help! Help! Help! ULRIC regains his self-control. Hush! Allis well! I cannot tell you now. Some news—a letter—it has frightened her. MADELINE. But you were crying aS a madman would.