--You liked
My choice, accepted him.--We came to town;
Where, by important matter summoned thence,
I left you an affianced bride!
Julia. You did!
You did! [Leans her head upon her hand and weeps.]
Wal. Nay, check thy tears! Let judgment now,
Not passion, be awake. On my return,
I found thee--what? I'll not describe the thing
I found thee then! I'll not describe my pangs
To see thee such a thing! The engineer
Who lays the last stone of his sea-built tower,
It cost him years and years of toil to raise -
And, smiling at it, tells the winds and waves
To roar and whistle now--but, in a night,
Beholds the tempest sporting in its place -
May look aghast, as I did!
Julia. [Falling on her knees.] Pardon me!
Forgive me! pity me!
Wal. Resume thy seat. [Raises her.]
I pity thee; perhaps not thee alone
It fits to sue for pardon.
Julia. Me alone!
None other!
Wal. But to vindicate myself,
I name thy lover's stern desertion of thee.
What wast thou then with wounded pride? A thing
To leap into a torrent! throw itself
From a precipice! rush into a fire! I saw
Thy madness--knew to thwart it were to chafe it -
And humoured it to take that course, I thought,
Adopted, least 'twould rue!
Julia.
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