I go to revel it with sprightly dames, (Filling another cup, and drinking.) Man. I should be glad to see your honour gay. De Mon. And thou too shalt be gay. There, honest Manuel, Put these broad pieces in thy leathern purse, Enter SERVANT. Ser. My lord, I met e'en now, a short way off, Your countryman, the Marquis Rezervelt. De Mon. (starting from his seat, and letting the cup fall from his hand.) Who, say'st thou? Ser. Marquis Rezenvelt, an' please you. De Mon. Thou liest-it is not so-it is impos sible! Ser. I saw him with these eyes, plain as yourself. The air wherein thou draw'st thy fulsome breath (Knocking at the chamber door.) Enter FREBERG. Freb. (taking his hand kindly.) How art thou now? How hast thou past the night? Has kindly sleep refresh'd thee? De Mon. Yes, I have lost an hour or two in sleep, And so should be refresh'd. Freb. And art thou not? De Mon. Fool! 'tis some passing stranger thou Which soon will pass away. hast seen, And with a hideous likeness been deceived. Ser. I surely thought no harm to look upon him. Does it so please thee well? (Servant endeavours to speak.) Hold thy damn'd tongue! By heaven I'll kill thee! (Going furiously up to him.) Freb. (shaking his head.) Ah no, De Monfort! Tells me another tale. Then wrong me not Freb. Nay, do not call me so. Wert thou my Wouldst thou not open all thine inmost soul, Man. (in a soothing voice.) Nay, harm him not, But only him who, in smooth studied works my lord; he speaks the truth; I've met his groom, who told me certainly De Mon. (becoming all at once calm, and To break my leisure with the paltry tidings Of all the cursed things he stares upon. Take thine ill-favour'd visage from my sight, [EXIT Servant. Of polish'd sages, shines deceitfully Freb. Well, be reserved then; perhaps I'm De Mon. How goes the hour? Freb. 'Tis early still; a long day lies before us; Yes, him of whom I spake. But I will speak in mystery no more; It is thy townsman, noble Rezen velt. Freb. No, say not all men. But thou art offend- He seem'd amazed; and fain he would have learnt ed. I see it well. I thought to do thee pleasure. De Mon. What dost thou mean to say? What is't Whether I meet with such a thing as Rezenvelt What cause procured us so much happiness. I could not satisfy his strong desire. Rez. And know you not what brings De Freb. In truth, I thought you had been well with And here with postman's speed he follows me, him. He praised you much. De Mon. I thank him for his praise-Come, let us move: This chamber is confined and airless grown. I hear a stranger's voice! (Starting.) "Tis Rezervelt, Let him be told that we are gone abroad. Finding his home so dull and tiresome grown. Your town so changed? De Mon. Not altogether so ; Rez. But he laughs not, and therefore he is wise. De Mon. (proudly.) No! let him enter. Who Contemptuous; therefore he is very wise. waits there? Ho! Manuel! Enter MANUEL. What stranger speaks below? Man. The Marquis Rezenvelt. (A long pause. De Monfort walking up and Enter REZENVELT, and runs freely up to De Monfort. De Mon. Freb. It is indeed an early hour for me. (Bowing gayly to De Monfort.) Rez. Nay, say not so; not too much honour, surely, Unless, indeed, 'tis more than pleases you. De Mon. (confused.) Having no previous notice of your coming, I look'd not for it. Rez. Ay, true indeed; when I approach you I'll send a herald to proclaim my coming, Nay, daily frets his most refined soul Freb. Fy, Rezenvelt! you are too early gay. (To De Monfort, who, after walking impatiently What would you, Monfort? (Turns away again.) Freb. (to Rez.) Waltser informs me that you have agreed To read his verses o'er, and tell the truth. De Mon. (to Ser.) What dost thou want? Ser. I thought, my lord, you would not ride De Mon. (impatiently.) Well-'tis good. Begone! I want thee not. [EXIT Servant. Rez. (smiling significantly.) I humbly crave your pardon, gentle marquis. It grieves me that I cannot stay with you, And make my visit of a friendly length. Freb. My cheerful friend? I know not whom I trust your goodness will excuse me now; you mean. De Mon. Count Waterlan. Freb. I know not one so named. De Mon. (very confused.) O pardon me-it was Another time shall be less unkind. (To Freberg.) Will you not go with me? Freb. Excuse me, Monfort, I'll return again. [EXEUNT Rezen velt and Freberg. De Mon. (alone, tossing his arms distractedly.) Freb. You have not yet inquired for honest Hell hath no greater torment for th' accursed at Bâle I knew him. Reisdale. I met him as I came, and mention'd you. Than this man's presence gives- A damned pleasure in the pain he gives! Thy hateful visage ever spoke thy worth: That men should be besotted with him thus! ACT II. She is not deck'd in any gallant trim, Lady. Thine eyes deceive thee, boy; Freb. (starting from his seat, where he has been Or it is Jane De Monfort. [EXIT. Did she inquire for me? Page. She ask'd to see the lady of Count Freberg. Lady. Perhaps it is not she-I fear it isHa! here they come. He has but guess'd too well. Enter FREBERG, leading in JANE DE MONFORT. Freb. (presenting her to Lady.) Here, madam, welcome a most worthy guest. Lady. Madam, a thousand welcomes! Pardon me; I could not guess who honour'd me so far; Freb. (looking round.) In truth, I like those I should not else have waited coldly here. decorations well: They suit those lofty walls. And here, my love, The gay profusion of a woman's fancy Is well display'd. Noble simplicity Becomes us less, on such a night as this, Than gaudy show. Jane. I thank you for this welcome, gentle countess ; But take those kind excuses back again; I am a bold intruder on this hour, And am entitled to no ceremony. I came in quest of a dear truant friend, Lady. Is it not noble then? (He shakes his head.) But Freberg has inform'd me→ I thought it so ; And as I know you love simplicity, I did intend it should be simple too. Freb. Be satisfied, I pray; we want to-night A cheerful banquet-house, and not a temple. How runs the hour? (To Freberg.) And he is well, you say? Lady. It is not late, but soon we shall be roused He is suspicious grown. With the loud entry of our frolick guests. Enter a PAGE, richly dressed. Page. Madam, there is a lady in your hall, Who begs to be admitted to your presence. Lady. Is it not one of our invited friends? Page. No, far unlike to them; it is a stranger. Lady. How looks her countenance? Page. So queenly, so commanding, and so noble, I shrunk at first in awe; but when she smiled, For so she did to see me thus abash'd, Methought I could have compass'd sea and land To do her bidding. Page. Neither, if right I guess; but she is fair: For time hath laid his hand so gently on her, As he too had been awed. Lady. I thought at first her stature was gigantic ; Page. I cannot well describe the fashion of it. Jane. Not so, Count Freberg, Monfort is too noble. Say rather, that he is a man in grief, Freb. (bowing with great respect.) So will I say; I'll own nor word nor will, that can offend you. Lady. De Monfort is engaged to grace our feast; Ere long you'll see him here. Jane. I thank you truly, but this homely dress Suits not the splendour of such scenes as these. Freb. (pointing to her dress.) Such artless and majestic elegance, So exquisitely just, so nobly simple, Jane. (smiling.) Nay, nay, be more consistent, courteous knight, And do not praise a plain and simple guise I cannot join your company to night. To joy and sweet forgetfulness of pain; Lady. We wear not masks, but you may be con- Behind the double foldings of a veil. As ever fancy own'd. Beauty of every cast and shade is there, 1st Gent. There is, indeed, a gay variety. As would have well defied all other art With borrow'd locks in rosy chaplets bound, Clothes her dim eye, parch'd lips, and skinny cheek In most unlovely softness: And youthful age, with fat, round, trackless face, Jane. (after pausing to consider.) In truth, I The downcast look of contemplation deep feel a little so inclined. Methinks unknown, I e'en might speak to him, And do what she commands you. [EXEUNT Jane and Waiting-woman. Freb. (looking after Jane, as she goes out, with admiration.) O! what a soul she bears! see how she steps! Naught but the native dignity of worth Lady. Such lofty mien, and high assumed gait The paltry imitation thou hast seen. thy motley gown? They seem like garlands on a May-day queen, (Lady turns away displeased.) But see, Enter groups of well-dressed people, who pay their compliments to FREBERG and his LADY; and followed by her, pass into the inner apartment, where more company appear assembling, as if by another entry. Freb. (who remains on the front of the stage with a friend or two.) How loud the hum of this gay-meeting crowd! 'Tis like a bee-swarm in the noonday sun. Music will quell the sound. Who waits without? Music strike up. (Music, and when it ceases, enter from the inner apartment Rezenvelt, with several gentlemen, all richly dressed.) Most pensively assumes. Is it not even so? The native prude, Freb. Fy thou art too severe. Say, rather, gentle. From all those divers modes of dire assault, Freb. (to De Mon. who has entered during How pleasantly he gives his wit the rein, (De Mon. is silent.) De Mon. Nay, think not, Rezenvelt, there is no I can bestow on thee. There is a smile, No thanks to pay for nobly giving me Freb. (to those just entered.) What, lively gal- Than bitterest execrations. Are there no beauties in that moving crowd To fix your fancy? Rez. Ay, marry, are there! men of every fancy Freb. These idle words will lead us to dis quiet: Forbear, forbear, my friends! Go, Rezenvelt, Enter a group of LADIES from the other apartment, who walk slowly across the bottom of the stage, and return to it again. REZ. shrugs up his shoulders, as if unwilling to go. I've proudly to th' inquiring stranger told, 1st Gent. (to Rez.) Behold in sable veil a lady Despising all the blandishments of love; comes, Whose noble air doth challenge fancy's skill To suit it with a countenance as goodly. (Pointing to Jane De Mon. who now enters in a thick black veil.) Rez. Yes, this way lies attraction. (To Freb.) With permission, (going up to Jane.) Fair lady, though within that envious shroud Your beauty deigns not to enlighten us, We bid you welcome, and our beauties here Will welcome you the more for such concealment. With the permission of our noble host (Taking her hand, and leading her to the front of the stage.) Jane. (to Freb.) Pardon me this presumption, courteous sir: I thus appear, (pointing to her veil,) not careless of respect Unto the generous lady of the feast. De Mon. Yes, it is ever thus. Undo that veil, Jane. I know it well, even to a proverb grown, Is lovers' faith, and I had borne such slight: But he, who has, alas! forsaken me, Was the companion of my early days, My cradle's mate, mine infant play fellow. Within our opening minds, with riper years, The love of praise and generous virtue sprung: Through varied life our pride, our joys were one; At the same tale we wept: he is my brother. De Mon. And he forsook thee?—No, I dare not curse him: My heart upbraids me with a crime like his. Jane. Ah! do not thus distress a feeling heart. All sisters are not to the soul entwined With equal bans; thine has not watch'd for thee, Wept for thee, cheer'd thee, shared thy weal and Wo, As I have done for him. De Mon. (eagerly.) Ah! has she not? By heaven the sum of all thy kindly deeds Were but as chaff poised against massy gold, Compared to that which I do owe her love. O pardon me! I mean not to offendI am too warm-but she of whom I speak Is the dear sister of my earliest love; In noble, virtuous worth to none a second: And though behind those sable folds were hid As fair a face as ever woman own'd, Still would I say she is as fair as thou. How oft amidst the beauty-blazing throng, Whilst many a youth his hopeless love conceal'd, Jane. (Off her guard, in a soft natural tone of voice.) O no! nor do me any. De Mon. What voice speaks now? Withdraw, withdraw this shade! For if thy face bear semblance to thy voice, I'll fall and worship thee. Pray! pray undo! (Puts forth his hand eagerly to snatch away the veil, whilst she shrinks back, and Rezen velt steps between to prevent him.) Rez. Stand off: no hand shall lift this sacred veil. De Mon. What, dost thou think De Monfort fall'n so low, That there may live a man beneath heaven's roof, Who dares to say, he shall not? Rez. He lives who dares to say Jane. (throwing back her veil, much alarmed, ana rushes between them.) Forbear, forbear! (Rezenvelt, very much struck, steps back respectfully, and makes her a low bow. De Monfort stands for a while motionless, gazing upon her, till she, looking expressively to him, extends her arms, and he, rushing into them, bursts into tears. Freberg seems very much pleased. The company then advancing from the inner apartment, gather about them, and the Scene closes.) SCENE II. DE MONFORT'S APARTMENTS Enter DE MONFORT, with a disordered air, and his hand pressed upon his forehead, followed by JANE. De Mon. No more, my sister, urge me not again: My secret troubles cannot be reveal'd. From all participation of its thoughts My heart recoils: I pray thee be contented. Jane. What, must I, like a distant humble friend, Observe thy restless eye, and gait disturb'd, In timid silence, whilst with yearning heart I turn aside to weep? O no! De Monfort! A nobler task thy nobler mind will give; Thy true intrusted friend I still shall be. De Mon. Ah, Jane, forbear! I cannot e'en to thee. Jane. Then, fy upon it! fy upon it, Monfort! There was a time when e'en with murder stain'd, Had it been possible that such dire deed Could e'er have been the crime of one so piteous, Thou wouldst have told it me. De Mon. So would I now-but ask of this no more. All other trouble but the one I feel I had disclosed to thee. I pray thee spare me ; Jane. Then secret let it be; I urge no farther. |