Burst forth to curb the great and raise the low.
Mark where she stands! around her form I draw
The awful circle of our solemn church!
Set but a foot within that holy ground,

And on thy head-yea, though it wore a crown-
I launch the curse of Rome!

BARADAS.

I dare not brave you!

I do but speak the orders of my king.

The church, your rank, power, very word, my lord, Suffice you for resistance: blame yourself

If it should cost you power!

RICHELIEU.

That my stake.

Ah!

Dark gamester! what is thine? Look to it well! Lose not a trick. By this same hour to-morrow Thou shalt have France, or I thy head!

BARADAS (aside to De Beringhen).

He cannot

Have the despatch?

DE BERINGHEN.

Were lost already.

No were it so, your stake

JOSEPH (aside).

Patience is your game!

Reflect you have not the despatch!

RICHELIEU.

Oh! monk!

Leave patience to the saints, for I am human!
Did not thy father die for France, poor orphan?
And now they say thou hast no father! Fy!
Art thou not pure and good? if so, thou art
A part of that-the beautiful, the sacred-
Which in all climes men that have hearts adore,
By the great title of their mother country!

He wanders!

BARADAS (aside).

RICHELIEU.

So cling close unto my breast;

Here, where thou droop'st, lies France! I am very

feeble;

Of little use it seems to either now.

Well, well, we will go home.

BARADAS.

In sooth, my lord,

You do need rest; the burdens of the state
O'ertask your health!

RICHELIEU (to Joseph).

I'm patient, see!

BARADAS (aside).

His mind

And life are breaking fast!

RICHELIEU (overhearing him).

Irreverent ribald !

If so, beware the falling ruins! Hark!

I tell thee, scorner of these whitening hairs,
When this snow melteth there shall come a flood!
Avaunt! my name is Richelieu; I defy thee!

Walk blindfold on; behind thee stalks the headsman.
Ha ha! how pale he is! Heaven save my country!

[Falls back in Joseph's arms.

(Baradas exit, followed by De Beringhen, betraying his exultation by his gestures.)

ACT V.

Fourth Day.

SCENE I.

The Bastile-a corridor-in the background the door of one of the condemned cells.

Enter Joseph and jailer.

JAILER.

Stay, father, I will call the governor.

JOSEPH.

He has it, then, this Huguet; so we learn

[Exit jailer.

From François; humph! Now if I can but gain

One moment's access, all is ours! The cardinal
Trembles 'tween life and death. His life is power:
Smite one, slay both! No Esculapian drugs,
By learned quacks baptized with Latin jargon,
E'er bore the healing which that scrap of parchment
Will medicine to Ambition's flagging heart.
France shall be saved, and Joseph be a bishop!

Enter Governor and Joseph.

GOVERNOR.

Father, you wish to see the prisoners Huguet
And the young knight De Mauprat?

JOSEPH.

So my office

And the lord cardinal's order warrant, son!

GOVERNOR.

Father, it cannot be: Count Baradas

Has summon'd to the Louvre Sieur De Mauprat.

JOSEPH.

Well, well! But Huguet

GOVERNOR.

Dies at noon.

JOSEPH.

At noon!

No moment to delay the pious rites

Which fit the soul for death; quick, quick, admit me!

GOVERNOR.

You cannot enter, monk! Such are my orders!

JOSEPH.

Orders! vain man! the cardinal still is minister.
His orders crush all others!

GOVERNOR (lifting his hat).

Save his king's!

See, monk, the royal sign and seal affix'd

To the count's mandate. None may have access
To either prisoner, Huguet or De Mauprat,
Not even a priest, without the special passport
Of Count de Baradas. I'll hear no more!

JOSEPH.

Just Heaven! and are we baffled thus! Despair!!
Think on the cardinal's power; beware his anger.

GOVERNOR.

I'll not be menaced, priest! Besides, the cardinal
Is dying and disgraced; all Paris knows it.
You hear the prisoner's knell.

[Bell tolls.

JOSEPH.

I do beseech you!

The cardinal is not dying. But one moment,
And-hist!-five thousand pistoles!

GOVERNOR.

How! a bribe,

And to a soldier gray with hairs of honour!
Begone!

By all

By those gray hairs,

Yea, by this badge (touching the cross of St. Louis, worn by the governor), the guerdon of your valour; your toils-hard days and sleepless nightsBorne in your country's service, noble son, Let me but see the prisoner!

GOVERNOR.

No!

JOSEPH.

He hath

Secrets of state, papers in which

GOVERNOR (interrupting).

Such was his message to Count Baradas;

Doubtless the count will see to it―

I know;

JOSEPH.

Then not a hope! You shall—

GOVERNOR.

The count!

Betray my trust!

Never; not one word more; you heard me, jailer!

JOSEPH.

What can be done? distraction! Richelieu yet Must-what?-I know not-thought, nerve, strength, forsake me.

Dare you refuse the church her holiest rights?

GOVERNOR.

I refuse nothing, I obey my orders

JOSEPH.

And sell your country to her parricides !
Oh, tremble yet! Richelieu-

A most audacious shaveling, interdicted
Above all others by the count-

JAILER.

I hope, sir,

I shall not lose my perquisites. The Sieur
De Mauprat will not be reprieved?

GOVERNOR.

Oh, fear not :

The count's commands by him who came for Mauprat
Are to prepare headsman and axe by noon:
The count will give you perquisites enough;

Two deaths in one day!

JAILER.

Sir, may Heaven reward him