FERDINAND (muttering passionately through his teeth). Unhappy? Who told thee so? Woman, thou art too vile to have any feelings of thine own; how, then, canst thou judge of the feelings of others? Unhappy, did she say?--ha! that word would call my anger from the grave! She knew that I must become unhappy. Death and damnation! she knew it, and yet betrayed me! Look to it, serpent! That was thy only chance of forgiveness. This confession has condemned thee. Till now I thought to palliate thy crime with thy simplicity, and in my contempt thou hadst well nigh escaped my vengeance (seizing the glass hastily). Thou wert not thoughtless, then-- thou wert not simple--thou wert nor more nor less than a devil! (He drinks.) The drink is bad, like thy soul! Taste it! LOUISA. Oh, heavens! 'Twas not without reason that I dreaded this meeting. FERDINAND (imperiously). Drink! I say. [LOUISA, offended, takes the glass and drinks. The moment she raises the cup to her lips, FERDINAND turns away with a sudden paleness, and recedes to the further corner of the chamber.] LOUISA. The lemonade is good. FERDINAND (his face averted and shuddering.) Much good may it do thee! LOUISA (sets down the glass). Oh! could you but know, Walter, how cruelly you wrong me! FERDINAND. Indeed! LOUISA. A time will come, Walter---- FERDINAND (advancing). Oh! we have done with time. LOUISA. When the remembrance of this evening will lie heavy on your heart! FERDINAND (begins to walk to and fro more vehemently, and to become more agitated; he throws away his sash and sword.) Farewell the prince's service! LOUISA. My God! what mean you! FERDINAND. I am hot, and oppressed. I would be more at ease. LOUISA. Drink! drink! it will cool you. FERDINAND. That it will, most effectually. The strumpet, though, is kind-hearted! Ay, ay, so are they all! LOUISA (rushing into his arms with the deepest expression of love). That to thy Louisa, Ferdinand? FERDINAND (thrusting her from him). Away! away! Hence with those soft and melting eyes! they subdue me. Come to me, snake, in all thy monstrous terrors! Spring upon me, scorpion! Display thy hideous folds, and rear thy proud coils to heaven! Stand before my eyes, hateful as the abyss of hell e'er saw thee! but not in that angel form! Take any shape but that! 'Tis too late. I must crush thee like a viper, or despair! Mercy on thy soul! LOUISA. Oh! that it should come to this! FERDINAND (gazing on her). So fair a work of the heavenly artist! Who would believe it? Who can believe it? (Taking her hand and elevating it.) I will not arraign thy ordinations, oh! incomprehensible Creator! Yet wherefore didst thou pour thy poison into such beauteous vessels? Can crime inhabit so fair a region? Oh! 'tis strange! 'tis passing strange! LOUISA. To hear this, and yet be compelled to silence!