Bern. to Monks, &c. Come, let us all depart.
(Exeunt Abbess and Nuns, followed by the Monks. One Monk lingering a little behind.)
De Mon. All gone! (Perceiving the Monk.)
O stay thou here!
Monk.It must not be.
De Mont. I'll give thee gold; I'll make thee rich in gold,
If thou wilt stay e'en but a little while.
Monk. I must not, must not stay.
De Mon.I do conjure thee!
Monk. I dare not stay with thee.(Going.)
De Mon.And wilt thou go?
(Catching hold of him eagerly.)
O! throw thy cloak upon this grizly form!
The unclos'd eyes do stare upon me still.
O do not leave me thus!
[Monk covers the body, and Exit.
De Mon. (Alone, looking at the covered body, but at a distance.) Alone with thee! but thou art nothing now.
'Tis done, 'tis number'd with the things o'erpast,
Would! would it were to come!
What fated end, what darkly gath'ring cloud
Will close on all this horrour?
O that dire madness would unloose my thoughts,
And fill my mind with wildest fantasies,
Dark, restless, terrible! ought, ought but this!
(Pauses and shudders.)
How with convulsive life he heav'd beneath me,
