Empress. Steal?
Coun. Ay, steal!

Must we coin terms for those that are above us,
To make offences gracious to their ears,

When they commit them-which, by us enacted,
Would blast with damning names!

Empress. Thou hast a spirit!

Coun. Thou knew'st he loved me, and didst covet him! Covet a heart at second-hand-an Empress !

Hear me, that am a subject, and thy subject

His heart was mine, till thou didst rob me of it;
Not of it all, but of a part-though if

A part be gone, go all! Well, as I said,

His heart was mine at first. 'Tis gone-my peace,
Hopes, everything, along with it! What then?
Would I have it back ?-No!-I would sooner die!
Its worth was its fidelity-that lost,

All's lost. Thou covetedst a faithless heart!
Empress. Didst thou deserve that heart?
Coun. [Weeping.] I did!-I loved him

Better than thou couldst do!

Empress. I'faith, thou'rt brave ! Thy love of him was persecution. Coun. [Weeping.] Yet

I loved him!

Empress. Loved him! It was tyranny Enforced without the mercy of a pause.

Coun. [Weeping still, and more bitterly.] The more I loved him!

Empress. Loved him!-and constrained him

To nuptials he abhorred !

Coun. I did-and then

I loved him most!

[In an agony of tears.

Empress. How had it fared with him,

Hadst thou been I?

Coun. Far differently.

Empress. How?

Coun. I then had been above rebuke or blame!
I would have given his merits their fair field,
Encouraged them to challenge their deserts,
Rewarded them till they had lifted him
So near equality to me, the seat

I filled, he might have shared along with me.

aid.

Empress. That field he found himself without
I saw him there, and challenged simple greatness
In spite of its disguise; desired it doff

Its lowly suit, and show the thing it was;
Nor stopped till, step by step, I saw it climb
To where it stands; nor mean I to stop there.
Coun. How?

Empress. I design for him the highest grace
I can bestow.

Coun. The highest ?
Empress. Yes, beyond

His hopes, until to-day-until to-day
Never divulged to him.

"Coun. He knows it, then?

my

"Empress. He does; and, till my promise is fulfilled, "With fears that shake him, spite of certainty

"Of his immeasurable happiness

66 For such he thinks it-wears a doubtful life."

Coun. Thy hand!

Empress. The hand of her, more proud to be The empress of his heart than of my realm. Coun. He shall not take it

Coun. Wast thou the empress of the world, I'd say to thee again—he shall not marry! Empress. Thou know'st a let?

Coun. I do!

Empress. The troth he pledged To Catherine-you see I am advised Of all! The marriage is anulled.

Coun. It is?
Empress. It is.

Coun. How?

Empress. By the church!

Coun. The church? And yet He shall not marry!

Empress. What! Not marry thee?

Coun. [Changing, and falling on her knees.] Madam!
Empress. The hand that I design for him-

Crown of my favour, his deserts-is thine,
Not mine, my girl-the guerdon fair for which
He would not take my empire in exchange-
Ay, with my hand, to boot!

Coun. My liege, my empress!

Empress. My fiery queen, and have I tamed you now? Tamed you so soon? I half repent me on't,

Mine's the true spirit, namesake! It admires

To see itself in others, 'Faith, my glass

Never reflected me more honestly

Than thou didst even now.

Listen to me.

I am thy Huon's friend, and nothing more.

Rise. Now we'll talk as sister does with sister.
Hither thy Huon bears me company-

Unwarned to what intent until to-day;

Until to-day, in darkness, that the bar

The church, with thy fair aid, 'twixt him and thee
Did set-the church, at my persisting suit,

Hath quite annulled; and now he's in the lists
Striving to win thee! He that never yet,

In strait of life or death, much less a tilt,

Suffered defeat. [Trumpets.] That flourish is the close.
Smile at it, girl! It makes thee Huon's wife!
Huon-no more the serf-but nobleman-
Nor nobleman alone! This hour a prince,

For thy fair sake!

Coun. [Dejectedly to herself.] Would he were still a serf.

Empress. Dejected girl!

Coun. Madam !

[Music.

Here thou art chief.

Empress. They come! come hither! Here take thy seat in the centre.

We are but second! Smile-thy Huon comes!

The

Music.-ULRICK and the rest re-enter from the Tourna ment. The EMPRESS anxiously surveys them. COUNTESS absent and dejected

Where is he?

Coun. Madam?

Empress. Which is Huon?
Coun. Which?

Empress. [Aside to Countess.] -canst make him out?

[Aside to Countess.

Methinks he is not here

Girl, tell me, is thy lover here or not?
He seems not here, and yet he must be here.
Herald. Madam, the lists are closed.

The prize which he has won.

The victor waits Shall he receive it?

Empress. [Aside to Countess.] Shall I say yes? I must say yes. Thou smilest.

I will say yes!-[Aloud.]—He shall receive the prize.
Who is that that bows?

Herald. The victor, madam.

Empress. [To Countess.] Ha! Do you know him?
Coun. Not in his armour; yet

Methinks I ought to know him were it he.

Empress. Sir Knight, so please you, raise your visor. 'Tis

The prince of Milan! Girl-what means thine eye
To blaze with joy? It looks on thy despair!

The prince of Milan 'tis, has won the day.

Hear'st thou me ?

Coun. I do!

Know'st thou what I say?

Both hear and comprehend thee.

Empress. Ay, and smile.

Coun. And smile.

Empress. Art thou thyself? Am I myself?

I think myself the same! [To Ulrick, L.] Where is

Huon?

Ulrick. Gone

To take his armour off.

Empress. How fared it with him?

Ulrick. He entered first the lists, and one by one

O'erthrow all comers, till the prince of Milan
Unhorsed him.

Coun. Is he hurt?

Ulrick. No, madam.

Coun. [Starting up.] Thanks!

My lord, bring Huon hither! Hither!

Now all is as it should be.

Empress. Should be, girl?

Hie!

[Exit Ulrick, L.

Say rather should not be. Thy lover's foiled.
Where is the ashy cheek that meets disaster,

The brow that's like the wrack? the gusty breath ?
The quivering, bloodless lip, and quaking frame?
These should be, and they are not!

Where are they?

Or rather wherefore see I in their stead

Things 'twould become to wait on holidays
Rather than days of penance? Look not thus
Else thou wilt make me hate thee!

Coun. Madam, madam,

I tell thee, and believe me, all is well.

Empress. [Indignantly.] Then let the prince of Milan take his prize.

Fred. I claim it on my knee.

At the moment the PRINCE kneels, Huon, led by ULRICK, enters, and the COUNTESS rushes towards him.

Coun. How is it, Huon?

Thou look'st as hurt.

Huon. Sped in the spirit, lady.

Forgetful of my charger, all unmindful,
He lacked my argument to hearten him.

Bent on the most surpassing prize alone,

I did not think to change him, and he failed me. “Coun. Fortune, farewell! and pride go with thee! "Go!

"Welcome adversity! Shake hands with me, Thou tester of true hearts! whose homely fare "No flatterer sits down to-hollow friend,

Foe, masking thoughts of scorn with smiling face“But truth and honesty! affection staunch! "That grasps the hand before it scans the sleeve "And greets the lowly portal with a grace