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 You'll grant, is not alone nobility, Will you not? Never yet was line so long, But it beginning had : and that was found Supposed propitious to the general weal, "On those who should descend from him entailed." Enlodge the worth that roots the noble tree. [The Countess eyes him. 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 Excelling nature to admonish him, Than the low cunning of the common craft. A hind, his hero, won the lady's love : He had worth enough for that! Her heart was his. Heraldry flourishes on metal, silk, Or wood. Examine as you will the blood, ́é Coun. Dost thou know Thou speak'st to me? Huon. 'Tis therefore so I speak. Coun. And know'st thy duty to me? Coun. And see'st My station, and thine own? Huon. I see my own. Huon. I cannot, for the fair That towerest 'bove thy station !-Pardon me ! We shall be loved! Kings, from their thrones cast down, Has kissed the dust before them, stripped of all! Coun. [Confused.] I nothing see that's relative in this, That bears upon the argument. Huon. Oh, much, Durst but my heart explain. Coun. Hast thou a heart? I thought thou wast a serf; and, as a serf, Had'st thought and will none other than thy lord's, What, were it e'en suspicion, were thy death. Thou lookedst so? [Huon smiles. Huon. To die for thee were such. Coun. Sir? Huon. For his master oft a serf has died, And thought it sweet; and may not, then, a serf' Coun. Thou art presumptuous-very-so, no wonder Thou'dst do well If I misunderstood thee. To be thyself, and nothing more. Huon. Myself! Coun. Why, art thou not a serf? What right hast thou To set thy person off with such a bearing? And move with such a gait? to give thy brow The set of noble s, and thy tongue his phrase? Than on themselves, "and they were made for them." And humoured it, to boast thee off! He may chance If others' eyes see that they should not see, Huon. Oh, lady Coun. What? Huon. Heard I aright? Coun. Aright-what heard'st thou, then? Thou know'st 'twere shame, the lowest free-woman Huon. I know it, lady. Coun. That I meant to say, [Crosses to B. No more. Don't read such books to me again. For the future, no reply, when I remark. Hear, but don't speak-unless you're told-and then Enter FALCONER, with hawk, R. My Falconer! So. An hour I'll fly my hawk. [Crosses, L [Retires a little, L. Coun. They are no portion of his excellence : Till he o'ertops his prey; then gives his stoop, [Huon advances, B. Obedient-yet a daring, dauntless bird! END OF ACT I. [Exeunt, L. ACT II. SCENE I.-The Country. On one side a Ruin, on the other a clump of lofty trees. Enter PRINCE FREDERICK and ULRICK, R. Fred. Now thou hast seen her, tell me what thou thinks't Has she a heart? Ulrick. I think her flesh and blood. Fred. Ay, most sweet flesh, and blood most rich! She has a heart. |