ACT III.

Miss Violet takes from the Countess her tone;

She agrees to meet Norman "by moonlight alone,"

And slip off to his bark, "The night being dark,"

Though "the moon," the Sea-Captain says, rises in Heaven

"One hour before midnight," _i.e._ at eleven.

From which speech I infer,-- Though perhaps I may err--

That, though weatherwise, doubtless, 'midst surges and surf, he

When "capering on shore" was by no means a Murphy.

He starts off, however, at sunset, to reach

An old chapel in ruins, that stands on the beach,

Where the Priest is to bring, as he's promised by letter, a

Paper to prove his name, "birthright," &c.

Being rather too late, Gaussen, lying in wait,

Gives poor Father Onslow a knock on the pate,

But bolts, seeing Norman, before he has wrested

From the hand of the Priest, as Sir Maurice requested,

The marriage certificate duly attested.--

Norman kneels by the clergyman fainting and gory,

And begs he won't die till he's told him his story;

The Father complies, Re-opens his eyes,

And tells him all how and about it--and dies!

The Ingoldsby Legends; or, Mirth and Marvels · 第 3 / 9 章