Page:The robbers - a tragedy (IA robberstragedy00schiiala).pdf/243
Switzer! (Taking their hands, and placing himself between them.) Young man! (To Kozinski.) Thou art yet unspotted—amongst the guilty, only guiltless! (To Switzer.) These hands I have deep imbrued in blood! That be my offence, not thine! Here with this grasp I take what is mine own.—Now, Switzer, thou art pure! (Raises their hands to heaven with fervour.) Father of heaven! here I give them up! lost sheep restored! They will be now more fervently thine own than those who never fell! (Switzer and Kozinski fall on each other's neck.) Not now, my friends! O spare me—in this decisive hour!An earldom is mine by heritage, a rich domain, on which no malediction rests.—Share it between you:—Become good men! good citizens! And if for ten whom I have destroyed you make but one man blest, my soul may yet be saved!—Go! quick! while yet my fortitude remains! (Switzer and Kozinski go out, hiding their faces.)
Good citizen! And am not I too worthy of that name? What law so terrible as that which I have obeyed? What vengeance or atonement of offence that's like to mine?Be my fate fulfilled!—Hard by I have observed a wretch
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