Yes, all but this—and this, could I be sure——” Just then a light within the window shone, And show’d a lady, weeping and alone. His heart beat fondly—on another view, 380 It beat more strongly, and in terror too— It was his Sister!—and there now appear’d A servant, creeping like a man that fear’d. He spoke with terror—“Sir, did Joseph tell? Have you not met him?”— “Is your Lady well?” Well? Sir—your Honour——” “Heaven and earth! what mean Your stupid questions? I have nothing seen, Nor heard, nor know, nor—Do, good Thomas, speak! Your mistress——” “Sir, has gone from home a week— My Lady, Sir, your sister”—— But, too late 390 Was this—my Friend had yielded to his fate. He heard the truth, became serene and mild, Patient and still, as a corrected child; At once his spirit with his fortune fell To the last ebb, and whisper’d—‘It is well.’ Such was his fall; and grievous the effect! } From henceforth all things fell into neglect— } The mind no more alert, the form no more erect. } Villars long since, as he indulged his spleen By lonely travel on the coast, had seen 400 A large old mansion suffer’d to decay In some law-strife, and slowly drop away. Dark elms around the constant herons bred; Those the marsh dykes, the neighbouring ocean, fed; Rocks near the coast no shipping would allow, And stubborn heath around forbad the plough; Dull must the scene have been in years of old, But now was wildly dismal to behold— One level sadness! marsh, and heath, and sea, And, save these high dark elms, nor plant nor tree. 410 In this bleak ruin Villars found a room, Square, small, and lofty—seat of grief and gloom. A sloping skylight on the white wall threw, When the sun set, a melancholy hue; The Hall of Vathek has a room so bare, So small, so sad, so form’d to nourish care. “Here,” said the Traveller, “all so dark within, And dull without, a man might mourn for sin, Or punish sinners—here a wanton wife And vengeful husband might be cursed for life.” 420 His mind was now in just that wretched state That deems Revenge our right, and crime our fate. All other views he banish’d from his soul, And let this tyrant vex him and control; Life he despised, and had that Lord defied, But that he long’d for Vengeance e’er he died. The law he spurn’d, the combat he declined, And to his purpose all his soul resign’d. Full fifteen months had pass’d, and we began To have some hope of the returning man; 430 Now to his steward of his small affairs He wrote, and mention’d leases and repairs; But yet his soul was on its scheme intent, And but a moment to his interest lent. His faithless wife and her triumphant peer Despised his vengeance, and disdained to fear; In splendid lodgings near the town they dwelt,