Ros. Give me thy hand, I'm glad on't, O! I'm glad on't! .t should be so! How like a hateful ape To close the oppressive splendour of his day, I cannot tell thee Man. Ah! but he is not now the man he was. Liberal he'll be. God grant he may be quiet. Jer. What has befall'n him? Man. But faith, there is no living with him now. Jer. And yet methinks, if I remember well, You were about to quit his service, Manuel, When last he left this house. You grumbled then. Man. I've been upon the eve of leaving him These ten long years; for many times is he So difficult, capricious, and distrustful, He galls my nature-yet, I know not how, A secret kindness binds me to him still. Jer. Some, who offend from a suspicious nature, Will afterward such fair confession make As turns e'en th' offence into a favour. Man. Yes, some indeed do so: so will not he: He'd rather die than such confession make. Jer. Ay, thou art right; for now I call to mind I did him some slight service, o' the sudden And would not be restrain'd from pressing on me His o'erstrain'd gratitude and bounty well, I would have left him many years ago, Man. No, he departed all unknown to her, Jer. All this is strange-something disturbs his mind Belike he is in love. No, Jerome, no. Man. (Listening.) He is arrived-stay thou-I had forgot- [EXIT hastily. (A great bustle without. EXIT Manuel with lights, and returns again, lighting in DE MONFORT, as if just alighted from his journey.) De Mon. Is she not with the dead, the quiet dead, Jer. Wo's me! I thought you would have She was a kindly soul! Before she died, And but the morning ere she breathed her last, Man. Your ancient host, my lord, receives you Indeed I fear I have distress'd you, sir; I surely thought you would be grieved for her. Would she were living still: (Loud knocking without.) De Mon. What fool comes here, at such untimely hours, To make this cursed noise? (To Manuel.) Go to Jer. I hear unusual voices-here they come. Enter JEROME, bearing wine, &c. on a salver. As he Re-enter MANUEL, showing in Count FREBERG and his approaches DE MONFORT, MANUEL pulls him by the sleeve. Man. (aside to Jerome.) No, do not now; he will not be disturb'd. LADY, with a mask in her hand. Freb. (running to embrace De Mon.) My dearest Monfort! most unlook'd for pleasure! Do I indeed embrace thee here again? Jer. What, not to bid him welcome to my house, I saw thy servant standing by the gate, And offer some refreshment? Softly a little while: I prithee do. Jer. (aside to Manuel.) Ah, Manuel, what an His face recall'd, and learnt the joyful tidings. De Mon. I thank thee, Freberg, for this friendly Lady. (Bowing to the lady.) I fear, my lord, We do intrude at an untimely hour: But now, returning from a midnight mask, My husband did insist that we should enter. Freb. No, say not so; no hour untimely call, Which doth together bring long absent friends. "Tis your old landlord, sir. Dear Monfort, why hast thou so slyly play'd, Jer. I joy to see you here I crave your pardon-To come upon us thus so suddenly? His eyes are hollow, and his cheeks are pale- De Mon. O! many varied thoughts do cross our brain, Which touch the will, but leave the memory trackless; 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? Freb. Ha! is it so? 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. SCENE II-A SMALL APARTMENT IN 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. Our landlord's kindness has revived me much; De Mon. Thus, it is true, from the sad years of He serves as though he loved me. This pure air Braces the listless nerves, and warms the blood; I feel in freedom here. (Filling a cup of coffee, and drinking.) Man. Ah! sure, my lord, No air is purer than the air at home. De Mon. Here can I wander with assured steps, Nor dread, at every winding of the path, Lest an abhorred serpent cross my way, To move Man. What says your honour? (Stopping short.) 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, 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, And drive the night away. (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 Rezen velt. De Mon. (starting from his scat, 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 impossible! Ser. I saw him with these eyes, plain as yourself. The air wherein thou draw'st thy fulsome breath Is poison to me-Oceans shall divide us ' (Pauses.) But no; thou think'st I fear thee, cursed reptile; And hast a pleasure in the damned thought. Though my heart's blood should curdle at thy sight, I'll stay and face thee still. (Knocking at the chamber door.) Ha! who knocks there? Freb. (without.) It is thy friend, De Monfort. De Mon. (opening the door.) Enter, then. 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 And so should be refresh'd. 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. No other stranger could deceive my sight. De Mon. (dashing his clenched hand violently upon the table, and overturning every thing.) Heaven blast thy sight! it lights on nothing good. Ser. I surely thought no harm to look upon him. De Mon. What, dost thou still insist? Him must it be? 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.) Man. (in a soothing voice.) Nay, harm him not, my lord; he speaks the truth; I've met his groom, who told me certainly honour. De Mon. (becoming all at once calm, and turning sternly to Manuel.) And how darest thou think it would displease me? What is't to me who leaves or enters Amberg? But it displeases me, yea, even to frenzy, That every idle fool must hither come, To break my leisure with the paltry tidings Of all the cursed things he stares upon. (Servant attempts to speak-De Monfort stamps with his foot.) Take thine ill-favour'd visage from my sight, And speak of it no more. [EXIT Servant. And go thou too; I choose to be alone. [EXIT Manuel. (De Monfort goes to the door by which they went out; opens it and looks.) But is he gone indeed? yes, he is gone. (Goes to the opposite door, opens it, and looks: then gives loose to all the fury of gesture and walks up and down in great agitation.) It is too much: by heaven it is too much! He haunts me-stings me-like a devil hauntsHe'll make a raving maniac of me-Villain! 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 friend, Wouldst thou not open all thine inmost soul, De Mon. Freberg, thou know'st not man; not nature's man, But only him who, in smooth studied works Freb. Well, be reserved then; perhaps I'm wrong. De Mon. How goes the hour? Freb. 'Tis early still; a long day lies before us; Let us enjoy it. Come along with me; I'll introduce you to my pleasant friend. De Mon. Your pleasant friend? Freb. Yes, him of whom I spake. (Taking his hand.) There is no good I would not share with thee; And this man's company, to minds like thine, Is the best banquet feast I could bestow. But I will speak in mystery no more; Art thou pain-stricken, It is thy townsman, noble Rezervelt. 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 to me 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 I have but two short days in Amberg been, 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. Rez. But he laughs not, and therefore he is wise. De Mon. (proudly.) No! let him enter. Who Contemptuous; therefore he is very wise. Freb. It is indeed an early hour for me. (Bowing gayly to De Monfort.) Rez. Nay, say not so; not too much honour, Unless, indeed, 'tis more than pleases you. 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, 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? Ser. 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. 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- |