Dr. Thorne monologue (Act 2) — Within the Gates

(_continues to speak, for his emotion bears him on_) I did not expect to live when I was dead. I lived--I died--and yet I live. I did not think that love would live when breath was gone. I loved--I blasphemed love--I breathed my last--and still I love. If this be true--_any_thing may be true-- (_breaks off_). God! It may be years before I can see her face--twenty years--thirty-- (_groaning_)--_Whence_ came the love of man and woman, that it should outlive the laws of Nature, and defy dissolution, and outlast the body, and curse or bless the spirit? If love can live, anything can live. Since this is--_any_thing may be-- (_Falters; glances about; finds himself quite alone with the sleeping child; lifts his eyes to the sky, and then his hands; stands irresolute. Then slowly, reluctantly, still standing manfully upright, with a touching embarrassment._)