Page:Keats - Poetical Works, DeWolfe, 1884.djvu/391

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Painful, clog up and stagnate. Weigh this matter
Even as a miser balances his coin;
And in the name of mercy, give command
That your knight Albert be brought here before you.
He will expound this riddle; he will show
A noon-day proof of bad Auranthe's guilt.

 Otho. Let Albert straight be summon'd.
[Exit one of the Nobles.  

 Ludolph.Impossible!
I cannot doubt—I will not—no—to doubt
Is to be ashes!—wither'd up to death!

 Otho. My gentle Ludolph, harbor not a fear;
You do yourself much wrong.

 Ludolph.O, wretched dolt!
Now, when my foot is almost on thy neck,
Wilt thou infuriate me? Proof! Thou fool!
Why wilt thou tease impossibility
With such a thick-skull'd persevering suit?
Fanatic obstinacy! Prodigy!
Monster of folly! Ghost of a turn'd brain!
You puzzle me,—you haunt me,—when I dream
Of you my brain will split! Bold sorcerer!
Juggler! May I come near you? On my soul
I know not whether to pity, curse, or laugh.

Enter Albert, and the Nobleman.

Here, Albert, this old phantom wants a proof!
Give him his proof! A camel's load of proofs!

 Otho. Albert, I speak to you as to a man
Whose words once utter'd pass like current gold;
And therefore fit to calmly put a close
To this brief tempest. Do you stand possess'd