Ros. Give me thy hand, I'm glad on't, O! I'm glad on't! It 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. He galls my nature—yet, I know not how, 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 That once he wrong'd me with unjust suspicion, When first he came to lodge beneath my roof And when it so fell out that I was proved Most guiltless of the fault, I truly thought He would have made profession of regret. But silent, haughty, and ungraciously He bore himself as one offended still. Yet shortly after, when unwittingly I did him some slight service, o' the sudden He overpower'd me with his grateful thanks, And would not be restrain'd from pressing on me A noble recompense. I understood His o'erstrain'd gratitude and bounty well, I would have left him many years ago, To serve him still.-And then his sister too; A noble dame, who should have been a queen: Man. No, he departed all unknown to her, Jer. All this is strange-something disturbs his mind Belike he is in love. Man. Jer. Hear I not horses trampling at the gate? (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.) Jer. Here is a little of the favourite wine That you were wont to praise. Pray honour me. (Fills a glass.) De Mon. (after drinking.) I thank you, Jerome, Jer. Ay, my dear wife did ever make it so. Alas, my lord! she's 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; De Mon. Move what thou wilt, and trouble me To make this cursed noise? (To Manuel.) Go to no more. (Manuel, with the assistance of other Servants, sets about putting the things in order, and De Monfort remains sitting in a thoughtful posture.) the gate. All sober citizens are gone to bed; [EXIT Manuel. It is some drunkards on their nightly rounds, 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? His face recall'd, and learnt the joyful tidings. De Mon. I thank thee, Freberg, for this friendly (Bowing to the lady.) I fear, my lord, Jer. aside to Manuel.) Ah, Manuel, what an We do intrude at an untimely hour: But now, returning from a midnight mask, Freb. No, say not so; no hour untimely call, De Mon. O! many varied thoughts do cross our brain, Which touch the will, but leave the memory trackless; 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 With every table wit, and bookform'd sage, And paltry poet puling to the moon, I'd court from him proscription, yea, abuse, And think it proud distinction. [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. 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 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, 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 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 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 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. 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.) Freb. (shaking his head.) Ah no, De Monfort! something in thy face Tells me another tale. Then wrong me not 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 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. 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 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! Of polish'd sages, shines deceitfully 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. Yes, him of whom I spake. It is thy townsman, noble Rezervelt. (De Mon. pulls his hand hastily from Freberg, and shrinks back.) Ha! what is this? Art thou pain-stricken, Monfort? Nay, on my life, thou rather seem'st offended: Does it displease thee that I call him friend? De Mon. No, all men are thy friends. 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. Rez. And know you not what brings Freb. Truly, I do not. O'tis love of me. 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. What stranger speaks below? Man. De 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. The Marquis Rezenvelt. (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, Freb. Fy, Rezenvelt! you are too early gay. Such spirits rise but with the evening glass: They suit not placid morn. (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. Rez. Yet I'll be honest: I can but lose his favour and a feast. (Whilst they speak, De Monfort walks up and down impatiently and irresolute; at last pulls the bell violently.) 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 ReZenvelt 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- |