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In the contest you menace。 That contest but draws Every right into ruin。 By all human laws Of man's heart I forbid it； by all sanctities Of man's social honor！ The Duke droop'd his eyes。 〃I obey you；〃 he said； 〃but let woman beware How she plays fast and loose thus with human despair； And the storm in man's heart。 Madam； yours was the right； When you saw that I hoped； to extinguish hope quite。 But you should from the first have done this； for I feel That you knew from the first that I loved you。〃 Lucile This sudden reproach seem'd to startle。 She raised A slow； wistful regard to his features； and gazed On them silent awhile。 His own looks were downcast。 Through her heart； whence its first wild alarm was now pass'd； Pity crept； and perhaps o'er her conscience a tear； Falling softly； awoke it。 However severe； Were they unjust； these sudden upbraidings； to her？ Had she lightly misconstrued this man's character； Which had seem'd； even when most impassion'd it seem'd； Too self…conscious to lose all in love？ Had she deem'd That this airy； gay； insolent man of the world； So proud of the place the world gave him； held furl'd In his bosom no passion which once shaken wide Might tug； till it snapped； that erect lofty pride？ Were those elements in him； which once roused to strife Overthrow a whole nature； and change a whole life？ There are two kinds of strength。 One； the strength of the river Which through continents pushes its pathway forever To fling its fond heart in the sea； if it lose This； the aim of its life； it is lost to its use； It goes mad； is diffused into deluge； and dies。 The other； the strength of the sea； which supplies Its deep life from mysterious sources； and draws The river's life into its own life； by laws Which it heeds not。 The difference in each case is this： The river is lost； if the ocean it miss； If the sea miss the river； what matter？ The sea Is the sea still； forever。 Its deep heart will be Self…sufficing； unconscious of loss as of yore； Its sources are infinite； still to the shore； With no diminution of pride； it will say； 〃I am here； I； the sea！ stand aside； and make way！〃 Was his love； then； the love of the river？ and she； Had she taken that love for the love of the sea？
V。
At that thought； from her aspect whatever had been Stern or haughty departed； and； humble in mien； She approach'd him and brokenly murmur'd； as though To herself more than him； 〃Was I wrong？ is it so？ Hear me； Duke！ you must feel that； whatever you deem Your right to reproach me in this； your esteem I may claim on ONE groundI at least am sincere。 You say that to me from the first it was clear That you loved me。 But what if this knowledge were known At a moment in life when I felt most alone； And least able to be so？ a moment； in fact； When I strove from one haunting regret to retract And emancipate life； and once more to fulfil Woman's destinies； duties； and hopes？ would you still So bitterly blame me； Eugene de Luvois； If I hoped to see all this； or deem'd that I saw For a moment the promise of this in the plighted Affection of one who； in nature； united So much that from others affection might claim； If only affection were free？ Do you blame The hope of that moment？ I deem'd my heart free From all； saving sorrow。 I deem'd that in me There was yet strength to mould it once more to my will； To uplift it once more to my hope。 Do you still Blame me； Duke； that I did not then bid you refrain From hope？ alas！ I too then hoped！〃
LUVOIS。
Oh； again； Yet again； say that thrice blessed word！ say； Lucile； That you then deign'd to hope
LUCILE。
Yes！ to hope I could feel； And could give to you； that without which all else given Were but to deceive； and to injure you even： A heart free from thoughts of another。 Say； then； Do you blame that one hope？
LUVOIS。
O Lucile！ 〃Say again；〃 She resumed； gazing down； and with faltering tone； 〃Do you blame me that； when I at last had to own To my heart that the hope it had cherish'd was o'er； And forever； I said to you then； 'Hope no more'？ I myself hoped no more！〃 With but ill…suppressed wrath The Duke answer'd 。 。 。 〃What； then！ he recrosses your path； This man； and you have but to see him； despite Of his troth to another； to take back that light Worthless heart to your own； which he wrong'd years ago！〃 Lucile faintly； brokenly murmur'd 。 。 。 〃No！ no！ 'Tis not thatbut alas！but I cannot conceal That I have not forgotten the pastbut I feel That I cannot accept all these gifts on your part； In return for what 。 。 。 ah； Duke； what is it？ 。 。 。 a heart Which is only a ruin！〃 With words warm and wild； 〃Though a ruin it be； trust me yet to rebuild And restore it；〃 Luvois cried； 〃though ruin'd it be； Since so dear is that ruin； ah； yield it to me！〃 He approach'd her。 She shrank back。 The grief in her eyes Answer'd； 〃No！〃 An emotion more fierce seem'd to rise And to break into flame； as though fired by the light Of that look； in his heart。 He exclaim'd； 〃Am I right？ You reject ME！ Accept HIM？〃 〃I have not done so；〃 She said firmly。 He hoarsely resumed； 〃Not yetno！ But can you with accents as firm promise me That you will not accept him？〃 〃Accept？ Is he free？ Free to offer？〃 she said。 〃You evade me； Lucile；〃 He replied； 〃ah； you will not avow what you feel！ He might make himself free？ Oh； you blushturn away！ Dare you openly look in my face； lady； say！ While you deign to reply to one question from me？ I may hope not； you tell me： but tell me； may he？ What！ silent？ I alter my question。 If quite Freed in faith from this troth； might he hope then？〃 He might；〃 She said softly。
VI。
Those two whisper'd words； in his breast； As he heard them； in one maddening moment releast All that's evil and fierce in man's nature； to crush And extinguish in man all that's good。 In the rush Of wild jealousy； all the fierce passions that waste And darken and devastate intellect； chased From its realm human reason。 The wild animal In the bosom of man was set free。 And of all Human passions the fiercest； fierce jealousy； fierce As the fire； and more wild than the whirlwind； to pierce And to rend； rush'd upon him； fierce jealousy； swell'd By all passions bred from it； and ever impell'd To involve all things else in the anguish within it； And on others inflict its own pangs！ At that minute What pass'd through his mind； who shall say？ who may tell The dark thoughts of man's heart； which the red glare of hell Can illumine alone？ He stared wildly around That lone place； so lonely！ That silence！ no sound Reach'd that room； through the dark evening air； save drear Drip and roar of the cataract ceaseless and near！ It was midnight all round on the weir