It falls on its knees, making most piteous suit Fred. To that intent I sent for thee; for thou art keen of sight Ulrick. Your pardon, sir:-your father bade me come To warn you, in these times of turbulence, He means to stand aloof, and take no part Between the barons and the empress; so Your course you know to shape. What company Is this? [Looking off, Fred. The countess flies her hawk to-day, Who his revenue spends upon his back. I say, he follows her: he woos her not, Through pride, 'tis said, lest he be thought to hunt [They retire, R. U. E. Enter, L., CATHERINE, SIR CONRAD, SIR OTTO, and SIR RUPERT. Cath. [R.] Spy you my hawk ?-'twas here he struck his bird, And vanished from my sight. Sir O. [R. c.] Or I mistake, Or from his stoop he rose again, and skimmed Sir Con. [L. c.] I marked not if He soared a second time. Cath. Were I a man, And waited on a lady that did hawk, I'd keep her bird in sight. Sir Rupert, what Say you? Where shall we go and seek Or lurks he hereabouts? Sir Rup. [L.] I saw him not At all. my hawk, Cath. Not see my hawk at all? You'll do For a falconer! So! Had I that boy, My hair-brained cousin, whom you say you know, And fair Sir Rupert hath such fancy for, [Crosses to R. My hawk, ere you began to look for it.— my hawk [Sir Otto and Sir Conrad quickly run off, L. and R. What! like you not my wages, sir, you stand, Nor make a proffer of your service? Sir Rup. To kiss your hand would be most rich reward, If love's sweet gift to him who sought your love; But if love's gift, to one alone 'twere made, And not to any one! Cath. Love's gift!-what's that? Most thankless proffer made by empty hand! ? Give me bright diamonds, I shall have bright eyes. You shall not dine at home one day out of three- Cath. Sir, I am A young Diogenes in petticoats! I have strings of axioms :-Here are more for you. Cath. Indeed, and very deed; for I have known And mend a curve the surgeon had given up Sir Rup. Nay, you speak in irony. Cath. I speak in truth, speaking in irony; For irony is but a laughing truth, Told of a worthless thing. Will you have more? Or never dreamed you such a thing as this- Virtue, grace, beauty, though it taxed the owners To find them out? What! not a word to say? Let's change the theme, then: The argument shall be, that you're in love: The which I shall affirm, while you deny. I say, you are in love. Come, prove me wrong! Of argument. Cath. Come, come, You are in love-I'll prove it by fifty things. A lover is the dullest thing on earth! A wise man-ever found out, that the use Of his tongue was to hold it? Thou must be in love, I'd give no other-thou dost follow me! Sir R. Madam, although I may not use my tongue I do my eyes and ears. Cath. But not your feet. Will you not seek my hawk, and run a chance Loving yourself too well! Sir Rup. You wrong me there. Cath. Why, see what pains you take with your person How you dress! Sir Rup. 'Tis not my vanity, but pride. I am too poor to put mean habit on : Whose garments wither, shall meet faded smiles So the plague poverty is loathed and shunned, From such prostration, never can I rise What! go not to fetch my hawk, and there [Crosses to R. Or want you earnest of your wages? Well, Sir Rup. If I could speak Cath. My hawk were off again ere you had done, Cath. I gave him pain, [Exit, R. Though he has borne it with a noble heart! Re-enter SIR Rupert, R. Sir Rup. I have missed the hawk-he has taken wing again. Cath. 'Twas not your fault-you did the best you could. I am not angry-there's my hand for you. Marked you which course he took? Then, come along, We'll hunt for him together. Sir Rup. Stop-it lowers! There's shelter here. [They approach the Ruins. Enter the COUNTESS and HUON, L. S. E.-Prince Frederick and Ulrick come forward a little, R., but so as not to be noticed. Coun. [To Sir R.] Will there not be a storm? Huon. I am sure there will. Coun. I asked not you to speak! When you should speak, It shall be shown-it shall be plain. Be sure It is so, ere you give your counsel, sir. [Huon retires R. to a group of trees, and leans against one of them. Do you not think there's threatening of a storm? Sir Rup. Yes, lady. When the Heavens look troubled thus, Earth can't be long at peace. Fred. The only man She brooketh speech from with complacency. Coun. [Haughtily.] The rain is on, sir: I am better here. Sir O. A storm! a storm! Those pitch-black clouds that speed In wild career to meet the sun, as though In envy of this light to blot him out, Come right against the wind-a token they Sir Con. Yes: I saw a forkéd flash, And while I held my breath and listened, heard The distant thunder. To Sir O.] Avoid the trees: their tops, |