Empress. Anon, my lord!

Anon is not our time

For friends to greet us, when they summon us.

Enter three Attendants, the first bearing a coronet on a cushion, the second a pile of parchments, the third followed by Vassals, carrying money-coffers; then the COUNTESS, plainly attired, followed by her Women, in costly dresses. She stops before the Empress. Empress. Why, lady! what is this?

Coun. My liege, receive

This emblem of that pomp which I resign,
Because 'tis adjunct to conditions such

As render it a burden to me, past

The faculty of sufferance to bear.
Empress. Lady!

Coun. So please you, madam, give me leave :→→→
As joint executor with this worthy lord,
Into your hands I also yield all right
And title to this fair chateau, besides.
The lands and forests, its appendages,
As well as vassals, natives of the soil.
Empress. But, lady-

:

Coun. Madam, suffer me to conclude :-
These are the coffers which my father left;
And as he left them, rendered to your highness;
And with them all resigned, save such endowment
As shall entitle me to that retreat,

Holy and calm, wherein I mean to pass,

I'll say, the remnant of my days, i' th' hope,
Though few are passed, still fewer are to come :
Which option, as you know, my father's will
Has left to me.

Empress Then will you not abide

The cast of fate in the tournament? nor take
The husband she may send-nor yet select
Yourself?

Coun. I cannot, madam.
Empress. How?

Coun. I am

Forestalled.

Empress. By whom?

Coun. By you!

Empress. Let every one Repair to the tournament.

Let it proceed,

As we ourself were there. [To Ulrick.] And you, my lord, Preside for us. It is our will the lists

Be opened straight. The Countess stays with me. [Flourish.-All go out except the Empress and Coun

tess.

We are alone! Now, how am I a let

To such espousals as your choice would make?
Coun. Do you not know?

Empress. Girl, be direct with me,

Nor in the headlong passion of your soul,
That seems to joy in strife and wrack, forget
'Tis your liege lady that vouchsafes you audience.
Coun. That I forget, and everything beside,
Except one thing, in still revolving which
The earth hath shrunk in estimation
Into a grain-the sun into a spark!
Naught hath kept substance but my dosolation,
Which seems to me to fill up space itself
Till nothing else hath room.

Empress. Thy desolation

Who made it for thee?

Coun. Thou!

Empress. In what regard?

Coun. In thy attractive favor shown to Huon! Empress. I made thy desolation? Thou thyself Didst make it with thy pride, the greater, but Worse portion of thee!

Coun. By my pride?
Empress. Thy pride,

Which evil counsellor to thy love, advised it
To blush with shame at homage from the which
It could not yet refrain, because 'twas due-
Tribute to such desert, as far behind

Left all desert beside, and might have worn
The subject's heart-whose mistress's it won !—

Thy story-everything are known to me
Coun. Then thou confessest it?
Empress. What?

Coun. What?
Empress. Beware!

I brook not such a tone from thee.

Coun. The heart

Will speak, despite the checks of shows and forms,
Shadows compared to its realities!

It is not so with thee ?-e'er hast thou felt

A pang-and if thou hast, whose, then, thy palace?
Thy retinue ?-thy guards ?-thy empire ?-Gone
With all their proud appurtenances, and

No habitation left thee but thy breast,
The only house of happiness or woe!
How shall it be with me, then, with a heart
Maddened with torture? Shall I cast about
To furnish looks, and words, and tones for things,
I have no interest in, and thou, that hast,
In equal case wouldst give to disregard ?
Empress. Remember thou'rt a subject!
Coun. So I will

While thou'rt the Empress; but when thou becomest
A woman-a mere woman like myself-

Stepp'st from the eminence that lifts thee 'bove me-
Level'st thee to me in one common nature-

I deal with thee as woman deals with woman!
I own thy power! I must, and do! Thy breath
Can doom me exile, bondage, what it will!
There I submit! Thou art the Empress there.
But when thou thwart'st me in the interests
Which are the right not more of one than all—
Trenchest upon my private peace-my love-
Thou dost me wrong, for which I challenge thee
As equal may an equal.

Empress. Come! Thy challenge?

What dost allege against me?

Coun. Thou dost love him!

Empress. Ay, by my troth, as much as thou didst scorn

him!

Coun. He did accuse me to thee?

Empress. Wayward woman,

He never spoke of thee, except with love!

Coun. How couldst thou love him then? How could

E'en Sundays not excepted.

Is a coward.

Sir Rup. Furies!

Sirs, your friend
[Coolly puts up her sword.

Cath. Fiends, and all sorts of imps!

Swearing won't save you, sir-I'll prove my words.
I dare you at the tournament, to-morrow,

To break a lance with me.- -Observé you, sirs:

I'll wager

My sword to your dagger, he takes flight to-day,
And waits not for to-morrow.

Sir Rup. Will I not?

I will have satisfaction:-I accept

His challenge. I will have satisfaction, sirs!

Cath. You shall, and have it to your heart's content. Take linsey-woolsey with a halt, and the skin

Of a negro, rather than essay a tilt

With chance to win a Countess! I could laugh
To scorn, the man that would believe him! Oh!
He shall have satisfaction! I could beat him
With a rush in rest.—He shall have satisfaction!
Sirs, he will cower at the very sight of me!
Fall on his knees, and beg his life of me
With clasped hands. He shall have satisfaction!
[They go out severally.

SCENE III.-A Room in the Castle.

Enter COUNTESS, L. U. E.

Coun. It is confirmed the place he holds beside her, Her every action speaks. Of all her court, He is the only one, whose duties to her She takes as favours, not as things of course. He comes! Who stops him thus untimely? How changed he is! The fiery hardihood Of the life he hath of late made consort of, Hath given another spirit to his eyes; His face is cast anew, as circumstance Could alter Nature's modelling, and work, Improving on her mould. Is that the man Was once my father's serf, and I did scorn Fell ever at my wayward frown that brow? Or stooped that knee for me, to kiss the ground? Would they do it now? Fell ever at my feet

?

That form, as prostrate as the hand of death

Had struck it to the floor? 'Twould take that hand
To lay it now there-and a waive of mine

Had done it once! If he confesses hold

Of any other, never shall he learn

His hold of me; but if he strives in love,

I bless my stars I have the 'vantage ground.

[Huon enters and remains standing at a distance, with his eyes on the ground.

Coun. Is Huon here, and does not Huon speak. [Pauses. Absent so long, no greeting for a friend?A woman, too! [Pauses.] No salutation kind, Prelude of happy news she'd joy to hear, Relation of adventures she would thrill To listen to,-exploits she would wonder at, And the next moment at her wonder blush, Knowing whose arm achieved them! Huon. I am glad

To find you well.

Coun. You are glad to find me well?

I hope you are!

It were not saying much,

I trust, to say I know you are!
To find me well!

You are glad

Is that your news for me?

If 'tis, it is strange news.

Huon. You wished to see me,

And I am here to learn your will.

Coun. More news!

You are a friend worth parting with, you bring

Such marvels home with you! Some time, methinks,
Since last we met together, and you are glad

To find me well!—and, as I wished to see you,
You are here to learn my will! You were not here,
Had not I sent for you.

Huon. It would have been

Presumptuous.

Coun. Presumptuous?

Huon. Yes, madam,

In the serf.

Coun. With sudden indignation.] No, sir, not in the favourite

Of the Empress! [She rises.] Huon, this is not the way We ought to meet-it should not be in anger!