Nich. Not a better in all Germany. Chris. Then take my advice and keep it. Nich. I will. Chris. Do! [Nicholas goes out, L.] My mistress will be discovered at last, well as she disguises herself and plays the man. I wish she had not taken this fancy into her head-it may bring her into trouble. [Catherine sings without, R.] Ha! here she is; returned to her proper self Who would believe that this was the spark I let into the house at two o'clock in the morning? Enter CATHERINE, R. Cath. [Speaking as she enters.] Christina! Cath. Oh, here you are! Was not Nicholas with you just now? Chris. Yes, he is only this moment gone. I have just been giving him a lesson. He saw you when you came home last night. Cath. Hush! secrets should be dumb to very walls! A chink may change a nation's destinies, "And where are walls without one-that have doors? "Voice hath a giant's might, not a dwarf's bulk; "It passeth where a tiny fly must stop; 66 'Conspiracy that does not lock it out, "Fastens the door in vain." Let's talk in whispers, And then, with mouth to ear. 'Tis strange, Christina, So long I practice this deceit, and still Pass for a thing I am not-ne'er suspected The thing I am-'mongst those who know me best, too. Yet would that all dissemblers meant as fair! I play the cheat for very honesty, To find a worthy heart out, and reward it. 66 Far as the poles asunder are two things, "Self-interest and undesigning love : "Yet no two things more like, to see them smile. "He is a conjurer, Christina, then, "Can tell you which is which!" Shall I be won, For that I bring to him who winneth me? To find men out; they are such simple things! And then they are down upon you, and you're caged, Cath. And there's a little airy, fairy thing, Ekes my dimensions out, beyond what, else, Chris. And think you, none did e'er suspect your sex? you Cath. With the man! It was my girlhood's study. Bless thee, child, From such a time to such, I am a man. As water turneth iron cinder black, Chris. But of your lovers? Cath. Tell me who they are! Alas, to have a rival in one's gown! For 'tis the same thing-'tis your property. Heaven's fashioning-your body and your face; And how much more, then, with a wretched serf, But what my betters stoop to, day by day, [Crosses, L.. Chris. And such a man, methinks, Sir Rupert seems. Cath. Ah! he is poor! Chris. And what of that? He's proud, And seems as jealous of his poverty Almost as you are. Cath. Yes! He makes no suit: He ever follows me, yet stands aloof, Chris. And of his rivals Prefer you any ? Cath. No. Have I not said, When taxed with paying court to me, the rest- Cath. Sir Rupert? No! Chris. I am sure Sir Rupert loves you: he has all The signs of a lover. Cath. What are they? Chris. He sighs! Cath. Sighs! Listen to me! [Drawing a deep sigh | Of that, for a sigh! and say you, I'm in love? And him to show it, I would see it on! Cath. What is that to you? Dear girl, Chris. A most strange lady, she! A form of flesh and a heart of ice. A heart, Christina, all possessed of pride- Chris. Will she ever love? Her heart is scarce the soil to root love's flower! Cath. No telling how love thrives! to what it comes! Whence grows! 'Tis e'en of as mysterious root, As the pine that makes its lodging of the rock ; Yet there it lives, a huge tree, flourishing, Where you'd think a blade of grass would die! What is love's poison, if it be not hate? Yet in that poison oft is found love's food. Frowns that are clouds to us, are sun to him! He finds a music in a scornful tongue, That melts him more than softest melody.But come, we must attire us for the fieldThe field-the field-Christina, wer't to take The field in love?—a fair and honest fight! I wonder, be there one true man on the earth? But if there be, I one true woman know To match him-were he true as native gold. [They go out, R. SCENE II.-An Apartment in the Duke's Castle. The COUNTESS discovered, L. c— -HUON reading to her, R. Coun. Give o'er! I hate the poet's argument! 'Tis falsehood-'tis offence. A noble maid Stoop to a peasant !-Ancestry, sire, dam, Kindred and all, of perfect blood, despised For love! Huon. The peasant, though of humble stock, High nature did ennoble Huon. Descent, You'll grant, is not alone nobility, Will you not? Never yet was line so long, But it beginning had: and that was found 66 Supposed propitious to the general weal, "On those who should descend from him entailed." Which from descent to nature may be traced, Enlodge the worth that roots the noble tree. [The Countess eyes I trust I seem not bold, to argue so. Coun. Sir, when to me it matters what you seem, Make question on't. If you have more to say, Proceed-yet mark you how the poet mocks Himself your advocacy; in the sequel His hero is a hind in masquerade! He proves to be a lord. Huon. The poet sinned Against himself, in that! He should have known A better trick, who had at hand his own Than the low cunning of the common craft. Her heart was his. Wedlock joins nothing, if it joins not hearts. Or wood. Examine as you will the blood, Coun. Dost thou know Thou speak'st to me? Huon. 'Tis therefore so I speak. him. |