And yet a strange compounded motive make, Freb. I ask no more, happy to see you here Lady. (to Freberg.) My Freberg, you are heedless of respect: You surely mean to say the Lady Jane. Freb. Respect! no, madam; princess, empress, queen, Could not denote a creature so exalted As this plain appellation doth, The noble Jane De Monfort. friends! Lady. (turning from him displeased to Mon.) You And meets not this man's love.-Friends! rarest are fatigued, my lord; you want repose; Say, should we not retire? Ha! is it so? Freb. My friend, your face is pale, have you been ill? De Mon. No, Freberg, no; I think I have been well. Freb. (shaking his head.) I fear thou hast not, We'll re-establish thee: we'll banish pain. Rather than share his undiscerning praise [EXIT. JEROME'S HOUSE; A TABLE AND BREAKFAST SET OUT. Enter De MONFORT, followed by MANUEL, and sets himself down by the table, with a cheerful face. De Mon. Manuel, this morning's sun shines pleasantly: These old apartments too are light and cheerful. De Mon. Thus, it is true, from the sad years of He serves as though he loved me. This pure air Freb. Judge for thyself: in truth I do not There are no serpents in our pleasant fields. De Mon. Think'st thou there are no serpents in the world But those who slide along the grassy sod, Do bask their spotted skins in fortune's sun, Man. Heaven guard your honour from such horrid scath! They are but rare, I hope? De Mon. (shaking his head.) We mark the hollow eye, the wasted frame, The gait disturb'd of wealthy honour'd men, But do not know the cause. Man. 'Tis very true. God keep you well, my lord! De Mon. I thank thee, Manuel, I am very well. I shall be gay too, by the setting sun. 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 your self. 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. And go thou too; I choose to be alone. [EXIT Manuel. (De Monfort goes to the door by which they went But is he gone indeed? yes, he is gone. It is too much by heaven it is too much! 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. (De Mon. pulls his hand hastily from Freberg, Fre. No, say not all men. But thou art offend- He seem'd amazed; and fain he would have learnt Freb. In truth, I thought you had been well with And here with postman's speed he follows me, him. (A long pause. De Monfort walking up and Enter REZENVELT, and runs freely up to De Monfort. 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, Finding his home so dull and tiresome grown. Your town so changed? De Mon. Rez. But he laughs not, and therefore he is wise. Freb. Fy, Rezen velt! 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? I thought your honour rung. De Mon. I have forgot-stay; are my horses saddled? Ser. I thought, my lord, you would not ride /to-day, After so long a journey. 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. Another time I 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 De Mon. (very confused.) O pardon me-it was 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: I loathed thee when a boy. 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. 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: F time hath laid his hand so gently on her, A 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; The sight of me would wake his feeling mind 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, (To Lady.) Lady. Who waits? (Enter her Woman.) Attend this lady to my wardrobe, 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. They seem like garlands on a May-day queen, (Lady turns away displeased.) Enter groups of well-dressed people, who pay their 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. Music strike up. Who waits without? (Music, and when it ceases, enter from the inner apartment Rezen velt, 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 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, |