Page:The robbers - a tragedy (IA robberstragedy00schiiala).pdf/75

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THE ROBBERS.
51

ACT II.

SCENE, Moor's Castle.

Francis de Moor alone in his apartment.

I'VE lost all patience with these doctors.—An old man's life is an eternity.—Must my noble plans creep the snail's pace of a dotard's lingering hours of life? If one could point a new track for death to enter the fort!—That to tear the soul should kill the body!—Ay, that were something! an original invention!—He that should make that discovery were a second Columbus in the empire of death!—Think on that, Moor.—'Twere an art worthy to have thee for its inventor!—How then shall we begin the work?—What horrible emotion would have the force to break at once the thread of life? Rage? No! that hungry wolf surfeits himself, and regorges his meal! Grief? That's a worm that lingers in the flesh, and mines his way too slowly!—Fear? No! hope blunts his dart, and will not let him strike his prey!—What! are these our only executioners? Is the arsenal of

G 2
death
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