with you to disgrace all your family thus! Nobly! Oh you abominable, hardened, pitiful, mean, ugly villain!

DAMAS.

Ugly! Why he was beautiful yesterday!

PAULINE.

Madam, this is his roof, and he is my husband. Respect your daughter, and let blame fall alone on her.

MADAME DESCHAP.

You-you-Oh, I'm choking.

MONS. DESCHAP.

Sir, it were idle to waste reproach upon a conscience like yours-you renounce all pretensions to the person of this lady?

MELNOTTE.

I do.—(Gives a paper.) paper.) Here is my consent to a divorce my full confession of the fraud, which annuls the marriage. Your daughter has been foully wronged-I grant it, Sir; but her own lips will tell you, that from the hour in which she crossed this threshold, I returned to my own station, and respected hers. Pure and inviolate, as when yestermorn you laid hand upon your her head and blessed her, I yield her back to you.

For myself I deliver

you for ever from my presence.

An outcast and a

criminal, I seek some distant land, where I may mourn my sin and pray for your daughter's peace. Farewell-farewell to you all, for ever!

WIDOW.

Claude, Claude, you will not leave your poor old mother? She does not disown you in your sorrow -no, not even in your guilt. No divorce can separate a mother from her son.

PAULINE.

This poor widow teaches me my duty. No, mother-no, for you are now my mother also!—nor should any law, human or divine, separate the wife from her husband's sorrows. Claude-Claude-all is forgotten-forgiven-I am thine for ever!

MADAME DESCHAP.

What do I hear ?-Come away, or never see my face again.

MONS. DESCHAP.

Pauline, we never betrayed you !—do you forsake us for him

PAULINE (going back to her father).

Oh, no—but you will forgive him too; we will live together he shall be your son.

MONS. DESCHAP.

Never! Cling to him and forsake your parents!

His home shall be yours-his fortune yours-his fate yours the wealth I have acquired by honest industry shall never enrich the dishonest man.

PAULINE.

And you would have a wife enjoy luxury while a husband toils! Claude, take me; thou canst not give me wealth, titles, station-but thou canst give me a true heart. I will work for thee, tend thee, bear with thee, and never, never shall these lips reproach thee for the past.

DAMAS.

I'll be hanged if I am not going to blubber!

MELNOTTE.

This is the heaviest blow of all!-What a heart I have wronged!-Do not fear me, Sir; I am not all hardened-I will not rob her of a holier love than mine. Pauline!-angel of love and mercy!-your memory shall lead me back to virtue !-The husband of a being so beautiful in her noble and sublime tenderness may be poor-may be low-born;-(there is no guilt in the decrees of Providence !)—but he should be one who can look thee in the face without a blush, to whom thy love does not bring remorse, -who can fold thee to his heart, and say,-" Here there is no deceit !"I am not that man!

DAMAS (aside to Melnotte).

Thou art a noble fellow, notwithstanding; and would'st make an excellent soldier. Serve in my regiment. I have had a letter from the Directoryour young General takes the command of the army in Italy, I am to join him at Marseilles,-I will depart this day, if thou wilt go with me.

MELNOTTE.

It is the favour I would have asked thee, if I dared. Place me wherever a foe is most dreaded,-wherever France most needs a life!

DAMAS.

There shall not be a forlorn hope without thee!

MELNOTTE.

There is my hand!-Mother! your blessing. I shall see you again,—a better man than a prince,a man who has bought the right to high thoughts by brave deeds. And thou!-thou! so wildly worshipped, so guiltily betrayed,-all is not yet lost!for thy memory, at least, must be mine till death! If I live, the name of him thou hast once loved shall not rest dishonoured ;-if I fall, amidst the carnage and the roar of battle, my soul will fly back to thee, and Love shall share with Death my last sigh!— More-more would I speak to thee!—to pray!-to bless! But, no !—when I am less unworthy I will

G

utter it to Heaven!-I cannot trust myself to-(turning to Deschappelles) Your pardon, Sir;they are my last words-Farewell!

[Exit.

DAMAS.

I will go after him.-France will thank me for

this.

[Exit.

PAULINE (starting from her father's arms). Claude !-Claude !—my husband!

MONS. DESCHAP.

You have a father still!

END OF ACT IV.