With human love, and mourn thy blessedness.- I'll gaze no more-there's witchcraft in this skill, (Puts the picture in his bosom.) Gasp. (Without.) Go, go-his lordship may not be dis turbed Mon. (Without.) I have a cause that must be heard- Gasp. Alack, that folk will be so troublesome. My good lord, here's a strange woman, who craves vehemently to be heard. De Val. Nay, in the morning be it-not at this hour. Gasp. I told her so; my very words: but her grief seems to have crazed her reason. De Val. How! is she unhappy, then? Her sorrows be her passport here. (Enter Monica.) Mon. So, you are seen at last, my lord! Men say your heart is good grant heaven! I find it so! De Val. Woman, give me a knowledge of your griefs with method. Mon. I will, I will, but anguish stifles me. Oh! my lord, this is your castle, and here she fled for shelter! Oh! my lord! save her! save her! (She throws herself at his feet.) De Val. Rise, attempt composure; your words are riddles to me. Gasp. My lord, 'tis of the poor lunatic she speaks; she whom the baron has confined. my De Val. I saw the person not. Rest, good woman, rest; kinsman is her friend. Mon. No, no-he is a monster! Here, here read his character. (Producing Eugenia's MSS.) De Val. Woman! Beware! grief yields no privilege to slander. Mon. I am not a slanderer; indeed, indeed I am not. Your lordship, I find, is called the Count de Valmont; had you not once a relation of the same title, who fell in battle? De Val. Never. Mon. Yet 'twas the same title; ay, here 'tis written-“ in forcing the passage of the Durance." De Val. How! 'tis of myself you read. Mon. Ah, my lord, were you once wedded to a lady named Eugenia ? De Val. Woman! Ah, name beloved! Mon. Yes-yes-it is-it must be so-here-read-read --read this! (Giving the scroll.) De Val. Eternal powers! cure this writing? When and where did you pro Mon. This very morning, from her own hand, my lord; Eugenia lives to bless and to be blessed again. De Val. (Starting amazed.) sex, and kill thee for thy cruelty. Begone! lest I forget thy Mon. Nay, read, and let your eyes assure your soul of joy. (The count staggers back into a chair.) Gasp. Woman, if you have spoken falsely- Mon. By the great issue, let my words be judged. De Val. (Reading.) "The chamber burst in flames. I snatched my infant from its slumber; I heard the voice of Longueville direct our murder"-(Starting forward.) Oh, God of wrath and vengeance! hear thou a husband's and a father's prayer! Strike the pale villain! dead! (He draws his sword, and strikes with it as at a combatant-he reels and faints.) Gasp. Help, help, help! (Geraldine rushes in, followed by domestics.) Ger. Ah, heavens! what killing sight is this? Uncle, uncle, speak to me, 'tis Geraldine that calls. (Enter Florian.) Flor. My patron! dying! Ger. Nay, bend him forward--he sees-he knows us→→ De Val. (Grasps the scroll.) Longueville! Longueville! (Relapses into insensibility.) Flor. Enough! I comprehend! Scene 13.-A rugged cliff and river. (Enter Longueville and Sanguine.) (Exeunt.) Long. Tardy, neglectful slave! still does he loiter? Sang. You bade Lenoir to sound his bugle when he reached the bank? Long. Ay, thrice-hark! hear you nothing! Sang. Only the rising tide that murmers hoarsely. Sang. Long since. Long. Night! Oh, to the murderer, thou art terrible! on beds of down he feels the rack! Sang. How now, my lord? conscience! Nay, then, let Eugenia live. Long. Not for an angel's birthright! (Exeunt.) Scene 14.-The river's bank a small bower of lattice work-the moon, at full-Bertrand watching the pavilion. Bert. I watch in vain! Oh! that this heart might bleed to its last guilty drop, in ransom for Eugenia! (A bugle is sounded three times.) Ha! a bugle! the omen of some fatal deed! Eugenia, I will preserve, or perish with thee. (He retires into the bower.) (Enter Longueville.) Long. 'Twas the signal! Ho! Lenoir ! advance! (Enter Lenoir.) Len. All is prepared--your orders are fulfilled. Long. The moon has risen high; your course may be ob. served. Len. Dismiss that fear ;-not e'en the solitary fisher spreads his nets upon the stream. Long. Where have you left the boat? Len. Under the bank, in shade. Long. Then, when you reach the middle of the current-Len. Ay-Eugenia's funeral rites are few and brief. (Bertrand clasps his hands in despair, and groans.) Long. Ha! what sound is that? Len. Some tree moaning to the blast. Long. Wherefore come you not masked? Len. I left a mask within the boat; this flowing mantle will conceal my dress. (Bertrand makes a gesticulation of hope-then glides silently out.) Long. "Tis well!-Ho! Sanguine! lead forth your charge. Dispatch, Lenoir! return to the boat and row it swiftly hither: away! (Exit Lenoir.) She comes! ill-starred Eugenia! (Enter Sanguine and Eugenia.) Eug. Whither do you lead me? Ah! Longueville-now then I read my answer--'tis death--'tis murder! Long. Lady, you misjudge my purpose.-A safe asylum is provided, where peace shall gild the evening of your life. Eug. No, no, I find a language in your eye, more certain than your lip murder, midnight murder! Long. (A noise of combat without.) Ha! the clash of swords! Sanguine, fly to the spot. Lenoir, I fear me, is in danger. (Exit Sanguine.) Eugenia, return to the pavilion. Eug. Not while succor seems so nigh: help, help! Long. Dare but repeat that cry! (Draws a dagger.) Nay, nay, you strive in vain. (Forces Eugenia to the pavilion.) (Re-enter Sanguine.) Sang. My lord, the combatants had vanished: close to the water's edge, the turf was stained with blood. Long. 'Sdeath! some prying hind has stolen on our plans: doubtless Lenoir has been assailed, and for a while avoids the bank. Follow me! (Exit with Sanguine.) (Eugenia appears at the window.) Eug. Does the great thunder sleep, still patient of a murderer's crimes! (Enter Florian.) Flor. Baron! baron! (Runs to the door.) Flor. Heavens! (Opens the door, and Eugenia clings wildly round him.) Unhappy woman, whence these cries? Eug. Swear to preserve me; swear not to yield me to the murderer's dagger! Flor. My honor and my manhood both, are pledges for your safety; but who is the enemy you dread? Eug. Longueville, he seeks my life; nay, nay, I am not mad, indeed I am not. Flor. Appease these agonies-by my eternal hope, I swear, I will defend you with my life from injury. Eug. A wretch's blessing crown thee! Oh, let my soul dissolve in tears upon this gracious hand! (Eugenia clasps Florian's hand and covers it with tears--she rubs the back of the hand she has seizeḍ.) Flor. Why do you fasten thus your looks upon my hand; what moves your wonder? . Eug. This scar, this deep-deep scar! Speak, how gained you first this dreadful mark?" Flor. From infancy I recollect the stamp. Eug. Who were your parents? Flor. Alas, that knowledge never blessed my heart; I am a foundling eighteen years since Eug. Ah, did watchful angels then-yes, yes-'tis nature's holy proof! Flor. Merciful heavens! Woman! woman! pronounce my parents' name, and I will worship you. Eug. Your parents! (She faints.) Flor. Speak! I conjure you, speak! breathe but their sacred name! (Enter Longueville and Sanguine.) Long. The lurking knave, whate'er his aim, has fled beyond our reach. Has Lenoir returned your signal to approach the bank? Sang. He rows towards us now. Nay, look-the boat draws close. Long. Then to our last decisive deed! (Passing to the pa vilion.) Ha! Eugenia rescued, and in Florian's arms? Flor. Help, baron! help! Aid me to preserve a dying woman! Long. Florian, this fair impostor, resign her to my care. Flor. Pardon me, Longueville, to this female's fate my soul is newly bound by ties so strange and strong, that even your displeasure must not part us. (The alarm-bell tolls from the castle.) Long. Ha! the castle is alarmed-look out, Sanguine,what means this tumult? Sang. My lord, the glare of torches wavers through the grove Long Distraction! Florian, instantly resign this woman. (Attempting to force her from him.) Flor. Never! my word stands pledged for her protection. Long. Confusion!-Ho! Lenoir! Lenoir! Eug. (Recovering.) Stay, blessed vision! Ah! 'twas real -I fold him to my heart! (A man enveloped in a mantle and a mask, at that instant enters.) Long. Ha! now presumptuous boy! (He draws and rushes upon Florian, who stands upon the defense.) Flor. In a just cause, I would not shrink before a giant's arm. Eug. (Frantic.) Inhuman Longueville !-forbear, forbear! (While Florian encounters Longueville, Sanguine darts upon Eugenia-by the action of a moment he transports her from her protector's side, to the baron's.) Long. Away! drag her to the boat :-be mine the task to curb her champion's valor. |