The word He spake My Lord! my King! my Christ! Was my name: "MARY!" No language had I then, No language have I now! only I turned My quick glance upward; saw Him; knew Him! sprang, In this scene, four characters are introduced: Richelieu, the minister of France and cardinal of the church of Rome; Louis, the king; Baradas, the chief conspirator; Julie, Richelieu's ward. The king and Baradas have planned the assassination of Richelieu. The king has also designed to marry Julie; but in order to prevent this, Richelieu has given her in marriage to Adrien de Mauprat, whom Baradas has induced to become the tool in the assassination of Richelieu. As De Mauprat enters Richelieu's room to commit the murder, Richelieu, having anticipated him, thwarts him in his purpose, and then explains to him the treachery of Baradas; whereupon De Mauprat becomes concerned for Richelieu's safety, and meeting the conspirators after leaving the house, announces to them that Richelieu is dead. On the following day, the conspirators, together with De Mauprat, convene at the king's palace. While here, Baradas, who has already imprisoned Huguet, a spy, conspires against De Mauprat, and finally, by gaining the consent of the king, succeeds in having him also imprisoned in the Bastile. And now as the king and the conspirators are rejoicing over the supposed death of Richelieu, and are discussing plans as to the best disposition of public offices, Richelieu enters and says: Rich. [fiercely.] Room, my lords, room. The minister of France can need no intercession with the King. Louis. What means this false report of death, Lord Cardinal? Rich, Are you, then, angered, Sire, that I live still? Louis. No; but such artifice Rich. Not mine; look elsewhere, Louis! My castle swarmed with the assassins. Bar. [advancing.] We have punished them already. Huguet My liege! What page, man, in the last court grammar, Rich. Rivals, Sire, in what? Service to France? I have none. Lives the man Armand Richelieu? Louis. What, so haughty! Remember, he who made, can unmake. Never! Rich. Louis [motions to BARADAS and turns haughtily to the Cardinal]. Enough! Your Eminence must excuse a longer audience. Nor place, nor season. Rich. Good, my liege, for Justice All place a temple, and all season summer! Though loathed by Charity, might ask for justice! Kneeling for favors; but erect and loud, As men who ask man's rights! My liege, my Louis, Do you refuse me justice — audience even In the pale presence of the baffled Murder? Louis. Lord Cardinal, one by one you have severed from me The bonds of human love; all near and dear My closest kindred. You would tear them from me; Enough of plots and treasons for one reign. Home! home! and sleep away these phantoms. Rich. Sire! I patience, Heaven! Sweet Heaven! Sire, from the foot Rich. Goddess of bright dreams, My country-shalt thou lose me now, when most Julie. Heaven! I thank thee! It cannot be, or this all-powerful man Would not stand idly thus. Rich. Julie de Maupart, what dost thou here? Home! Julie. Home!-is Adrien there? You're dumb, yet strive For words; I see them trembling on your lips, But choked by pity. It was truth-all truth! Rich. Be soothed, child. Julie. Child no more! I love, and I am woman! Hope and suffer: Love, suffering, hope what else doth make the strength And majesty of woman? I ask thee for my home, my fate, my all! Rich. You are Richelieu's ward, A soldier's bride; they who insist on truth Must out-face fear: you ask me for your husband? Julie. O, mercy, mercy! Save him, restore him, father! Art thou not The Cardinal King? the lord of life and death? Rich. Yesterday I was; To-day, a very weak old man; to-morrow, I know not what. [Enter CLERMONT.] Cler. Madame de Mauprat! Pardon, your Eminence; even now I seek This lady's home-commanded by the King Rich. To those who sent you! And say you found the virtue they would slay And sheltered by the wings of sacred Rome! [Enter BARADAS.] Bar. My lord, the King cannot believe your Eminence So far forgets your duty, and his greatness, As to resist his mandate.- Pray you, madame, Obey the King; no cause for fear. Ay, is it so? Rich. Set but a foot within that holy ground, And on thy head yea, though it wore a crown Bar. I dare not brave you; I do but speak the orders of my King: The Church, your rank, power, very word, my lord, If it should cost your power. Rich. That's my stake. Ah! Dark gamester! what is thine? Look to it well- Bar. In sooth, my lord, You do need rest; the burdens of the state And life are breaking fast. His mind Rich. [overhearing him.] Irreverent ribald! I tell thee, scorner of these whitening hairs, I defy thee! -Sir Edward Lytton. THE UTILITY OF BOOING This selection is taken from an old English play, "The Man of the World." It was written to satirize a mean old Scotchman who amassed a large fortune by questionable means, and was elevated to the Peerage under the title of the Earl of Eldon. The Earl, who is represented in the play as Sir Pertinax MacSycophant, is giving his son Egerton an account of his successful business ventures. Sir PERTINAX MACSYCOPHANT and EGERton. Sir P. Zounds! sir, I will not hear a word aboot it; I insist upon it you are wrong; you should have paid your court till my lord, and not have scrupled swallowing a bumper or twa, or twenty, till oblige him. Eger. Sir, I did drink his toast in a bumper. Sir P. Yes, you did; but how, how?- just as a bairn takes. physic with aversions and wry faces, which my lord observed; |