Collected Works (Vol. I)

THE POEM 61 BRANDON. And you for abducting my son. He’s coming with me now or there’ll be a fuss. Mark my words, you rascal ! [Enter two Footmen. VAUGHAN. Seize that man. [7Z<%ey seize and hold him after a strugole.| Esmé! go away to your room; this is no place for you. Now, sir, say all you have to say ! [ESME wazts 71 the doorway. BRANDON. Give me my son, and be damned to you! That’s all ; and it’s plain enough, I hope. PERCY. Father, Iam leaving Mr. Vaughan’s house, as I shall only get him into trouble if I stay. But I will not come home with you, you who broke my mother’s heart, and turned me from your doors penniless. BRANDON, Unnatural puppy ! PERCY. My mother’s spirit forgives you, and in my heart is no longer the desire for vengeance. So far have I risen, but not far enough to forget that you are the most abominable villain that plagues God’s beautiful world with his infesting life. BRANDON [ze2¢h setdden calnness|. This to his father! say, you wretch? PERCY [to VAUGHAN]. I will go, my true new father. Kiss Esmé for me a hundred times ! BRANDON [breaking from the Footmen]. Damn you; that’s your game, is it? No, you go with me, Sir Poet. [Rushing at his son, strikes. PERCY, warding off the unexpected blow, staggers. BRANDON, maddened by the idea of fighting, snatches up a knife and drives it into hts heart. He falls with a lowcry. NAUGHAN dashes forward and strikes BRAN- DON heavily. Sle falls; footmen drag hin off tnsenstbhle. VAUGHAN [dbend7ng over PERCY]. Are you burt ? PERCY. Oh, hardly hurt at all! Only my head a little, and [ wanted so to finish the poem to-night, EsMr. Let me come to hin, father. Oh, Percy, Percy, look at me, look at me3 you're not hurt, are you? PERCY, Am T ever hurt with your arms round me? EsME. Oh, but you grow whiter; you must he hurt. VAUGHAN, A knife! Te must have stabbed him. What does the Bible, Fetch a doctor, one of you, sharp| [five a man,