Dr. Thorne monologue (Act 1) — Within the Gates

After all, there _is_ another life. I really did not think it. (_Stops and passes his hand over his eyes; muses._) God knows--if there is a God--how it is with me. If I have never done anything, or been anything, or felt anything that was fit to _last_, I have loved one woman, and her only--and thought high thoughts for her, and felt great emotions for her, and I could forget myself for her sake--and I would have had joy to suffer for her, and I’ve been a better man for love of her. And I have loved her,--oh, I have so loved her that ten thousand deaths could not murder that living love! (_Falters._) And I spoke to her--I said to her--like any low and brutal fellow, any common wife-tormentor--I went from her dear presence to _this_. (_Brokenly._) ... And here there is neither speech nor language. Neither earth nor heaven, nor my love ... nor my shame ... can give my famished eyes the sight of her dear face,--nor my sealed lips the power to say, Forgive!