the entire credit of its invention) I may perhaps be allowed to call the chief attraction of the Play? Having, on presenting this drama to the theatre, confided the secret of its authorship to the Manager alone,—having, therefore, induced no party-no single friend or favourer of my own-to attend the early performances which decided its success, I hope that on my side "The Lady of Lyons" has been fairly left to the verdict of the public;-let me now also hope an equal fairness from those who may be tempted to condemn the politician in the author. Do not let the lovers of the Drama discourage other men, immeasurably more fitted than myself to adorn it, solely because in a free country they may, like the Author of this Play, have ventured elsewhere to express political opinions. London, February 26, 1838. DRAMATIS PERSON. AS FIRST PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN. Beauseant (a rich gentleman of Lyons, in love Colonel, afterwards General, Damas (cousin to MR. ELTON. MR. MEADOWS. Madame Deschappelles, and an officer in the Mr. Bartley. French army) ........ .......... Monsieur Deschappelles (a Lyonnese merchant, MR. STRICKLAND. father to Pauline)..... Landlord of the Golden Lion......... Gaspar...... Claude Melnotte. First Officer ...... MR. YARNOLD. MR. DIDDEAR. MR. MACREADY. Second Officer MESSRS. HOWE, Pritchard, and Roberts. The widow Melnotte (mother to Claude)... MRS. GRIFFITH. Janet (the innkeeper's daughter) Marian (maid to Pauline).. MRS. EAST. MISS GARRICK. Scene-Lyons and the neighbourhood. Time-1795-1798. THE LADY OF LYONS: OR, LOVE AND PRIDE. ACT I. SCENE 1. A room in the house of M.DESCHAPPELLES, at Lyons. PAULINE reclining on a sofa; MARIAN, her maid, fanning her. Flowers and notes on a table beside the sofa.-MADAME DESCHAPPELLES seated.-The Gardens are seen from the open window. MADAME DESCHAP. Marian, put that rose a little more to the left.-(MARIAN alters the position of a rose in PAULINE's hair.)—Ah, so!that improves the air, the tournure,—the je ne sais quoi!You are certainly very handsome, child!-quite my style ;I don't wonder that you make such a sensation!-Old, young, rich, and poor, do homage to the Beauty of Lyons !—Ah, we live again in our children,-especially when they have our eyes and complexion! PAULINE (languidly). Dear mother, you spoil your Pauline!(Aside) I wish I knew who sent me these flowers! MADAME DESCHAP. No, child!-if I praise you, it is only to inspire you with a proper ambition.-You are born to make a great marriage. -Beauty is valuable or worthless according as you invest the property to the best advantage.-Marian, go and order the carriage! [Exit MARIAN. PAULINE. Who can it be that sends me, every day, these beautiful flowers?-how sweet they are! Enter Servant. SERVANT. Monsieur Beauseant, Madam. MADAME DESCHAP. Let him enter. Pauline, this is another offer!--I know it is!-Your father should engage an additional clerk to keep the account-book of your conquests. Enter BEAUSEANT. BEAUSEANT. Ah, ladies, how fortunate I am to find you at home! (Aside) How lovely she looks!-It is a great sacrifice I make in marrying into a family in trade!-they will be eternally grateful!- (Aloud) Madame, you will permit me a word with your charming daughter.(Approaches PAULINE, who rises disdainfully)-Mademoiselle, I have ventured to wait upon you, in a hope that you must long since have divined. Last night, when you outshone all the beauty of Lyons, you completed your conquest over me! You know that my fortune is not exceeded by any estate in the province, you know that, but for the Revolution, which has defrauded me of my titles, I should be noble. May I, then, trust that you will not reject my alliance? I offer you my hand and heart. PAULINE (aside). He has the air of a man who confers a favour!—(Aloud) Sir, you are very condescending-I thank you humbly; but, being duly sensible of my own demerits, you must allow me to decline the honour you propose. [Curtsies, and turns away. BEAUSEANT. Decline! impossible!-you are not serious!-Madame, suffer me to appeal to you. I am a suitor for your daughter's hand-the settlements shall be worthy her beauty and my station. May I wait on M. Deschappelles? MADAME DESCHAP. M. Deschappelles never interferes in the domestic arrangements, you are very obliging. If you were still a marquis, or if my daughter were intended to marry a commoner,— why, perhaps, we might give you the preference. BEAUSEANT. A commoner!-we are all commoners in France now. MADAME DESCHAP. In France, yes; but there is a nobility still left in the other countries in Europe. We are quite aware of your good qua lities, and don't doubt that you will find some lady more suitable to your pretensions. We shall be always happy to see you as an acquaintance, M. Beauseant!-My dear child, the carriage will be here presently. BEAUSEANT. Say no more, Madame!-say no more!-(Aside) Refused! and by a merchant's daughter!-refused! It will be all over Lyons before sunset!-I will go and bury myself in my château, study philosophy, and turn woman-hater. Refused! they ought to be sent to a madhouse !-Ladies, I have the honour to wish you a very good morning. MADAME DESCHAP. [Exit. How forward these men are!—I think, child, we kept up our dignity. Any girl, however inexperienced, knows how to accept an offer, but it requires a vast deal of address to refuse one with proper condescension and disdain. I used to practise it at school with the dancing-master! Enter DAMAS. DAMAS. Good morning, cousin Deschappelles.-Well, Pauline, are you recovered from last night's ball?-So many triumphs must be very fatiguing. Even M. Glavis sighed most piteously when you departed ;-but that might be the effect of the supper. M. Glavis, indeed! PAULINE. MADAME DESCHAP. M. Glavis?—as if my daughter would think of M. Glavis! DAMAS. Hey-day! why not?-His father left him a very pretty fortune, and his birth is higher than yours, cousin Deschappelles. But perhaps you are looking to M. Beauseant,—his father was a marquis before the Revolution. PAULINE. M. Beauseant!-Cousin, you delight in tormenting me! MADAME DESCHAP. Don't mind him, Pauline!-Cousin Damas, you have no susceptibility of feeling,-there is a certain indelicacy in all your ideas.-M. Beauseant knows already that he is no match for my daughter! DAMAS. Pooh! pooh! one would think you intended your daughter to marry a prince! |