Seized on the town of Faviaux, and displaced BARADAS. Yet released you From the Bastile DE MAUPRAT. To call me to his presence, And thus address me: "You have seized a town Death! BARADAS. DE MAUPRAT. "I have pity on your youth and birth, Nor wish to glut the headsman; join your troop, Now on the march against the Spaniards; change The traitor's scaffold for the soldier's grave; Your memory stainless, they who shared your crime Exiled or dead, your king shall never learn it." BARADAS. Oh tender pity! Oh most charming prospect! DE MAUPRAT. You have heard if I fought bravely. Death became Desired as Daphne by the eager Daygod. Like him, I chased the nymph-to grasp the laurel! I could not die! BARADAS. Poor fellow! DE MAUPRAT. When the cardinal Review'd the troops, his eye met mine; he frown'd, Summon'd me forth. "How's this?" quoth he; "you have shunn'd The sword, beware the axe! 'twill fall one day!" And you know all! BARADAS. And, knowing this, why halt you, Spell'd by the rattlesnake, while in the breasts Of your firm friends beat hearts, that vow the death Of your grim tyrant? Wake! Be one of us; The time invites; the king detests the cardinal; Dares not disgrace; but groans to be delivered Of that too great a subject; join your friends, Free France, and save yourself. DE MAUPRAT. Hush! Richelieu bears A charm'd life: to all who have braved his power, The block your doom! Than the assassin. BARADAS. Nay; if he live, DE MAUPRAT. Better the victim, count, But does not need a Mauprat. Truce to this; All time one midnight, where my thoughts are spectres. What to me fame? What love? BARADAS. Love? I am young Yet dost thou love not? DE MAUPRAT. BARADAS. And Julie fair! (Aside) It is so; Upon the margin of the grave, his hand Would pluck the rose that I would win and wear! (Aloud)* [Thou lovest * That in brackets omitted in representation. DE MAUPRAT. Who, lonely in the midnight tent, Gazed on the watchfires in the sleepless air, Nor chose one star amid the clustering hosts To bless it in the name of some fair face Set in his spirit, as that star in heaven? For our divine affections, like the spheres, Move ever, ever musical. BARADAS. As one who fed on poetry. You speak DE MAUPRAT. Why, man, The thoughts of lovers stir with poetry As leaves with summer-wind. The heart that loves Dwells in an Eden, hearing angel-lutes, As Eve in the first garden. Hast thou seen My Julie, and not felt it henceforth dull To live in the common world, and talk in words That clothe the feelings of the frigid herd? Upon the perfumed pillow of her lips As on his native bed of roses flush'd With Paphian skies-Love smiling sleeps: her voice, The bless'd interpreter of thoughts as pure As virgin wells where Dian takes delight, Or fairies dip their changelings! In the maze (Like some severer grace that leads the choir Curls at the purfled phrases of a lover; BARADAS (aside). With each word Thou wak'st a jealous demon in my heart, And my hand clutches at my hilt DE MAUPRAT (gayly). No more! I love! Your breast holds both my secrets; never Lounge through the gardens, flaunt it in the taverns, (As they are going out, enter Huguet and four arquebusiers.) HUGUET. Messire de Mauprat, I arrest you! Follow To the lord cardinal. DE MAUPRAT. You see, my friend, I'm out of my suspense! the tiger's play'd [Exeunt de Mauprat, Huguet, &c. BARADAS. Farewell! I trust for ever! I design'd thee Of my lord cardinal; and then, what then? The king loves Julie-feeble prince-false master (Producing and gazing on the parchment.) Then, by the aid of Bouillon and the Spaniard, [Exit. SCENE II. A room in the Palais Cardinal, the walls hung with arras. A large screen in one corner. A table covered with books, papers, &c. A rude clock in a recess. Busts, statues, bookcases, weapons of different periods, and banners suspended over Richelieu's chair. Richelieu.-Joseph. RICHELIEU. And so you think this new conspiracy Fox! Well, I like the nickname! What did Plutarch JOSEPH. I forget. RICHELIEU. That where the lion's skin fell short, he eked it A weed of hasty growth; First gentleman of the chamber; titles, lands, JOSEPH. A scheme To make your orphan-ward an instrument |