It were a sharper grief to think her worthless They said "to-day!" This day, so wildly welcomed— And mark'd for bliss! This day! oh, could I see her, Make ruin less appalling in its silence. DAMAS. Easily done! Come with me to her house; Your dress-your cloak-moustache-the bronzed hues They may have forced Out of mistaken love. Pauline is yet so young, her to these second bridals MELNOTTE. No, bid me hope not! Bid me not hope! I could not bear again To fall from such a heaven! One gleam of sunshine, And now I-I- (bursts into an agony of grief). DAMAS. What, comrade! all the women That ever smiled destruction on brave hearts Were not worth tears like these! MELNOTTE. "Tis past-forget it. I am prepared; life has no farther ills! The cloud has broken in that stormy rain, DAMAS. His very face is changed; a breaking heart Does its work soon!-Come, Melnotte, rouse thyself: One effort more. Again thou'lt see her. MELNOTTE. See her! There is a passion in that simple sentence. [Exeunt. Forget her, yes! -For death remembers not. SCENE II. A room in the house of Monsieur Deschappelles; Pauline seated in great dejection. PAULINE. It is so, then. I must be false to Love, To pray that thou may'st find some fairer boon Than the deep faith of this devoted heart,— Nourish'd till now-now broken? Enter Monsieur Deschappelles. MONS. DESCHAP. My dear child, Thou hast saved How shall I thank-how bless thee? I will not say my fortune-I could bear Reverse, and shrink not-but that prouder wealth These thou hast saved, my child! No hope but this ? PAULINE. Is there no hope ? MONS. DESCHAP. None. If, without the sum Which Beauseant offers for thy hand, this day "How pride has fallen !-Lo, the bankrupt merchant !"-My daughter, thou hast saved us! E PAULINE. And am lost! MONS. DESCHAP. Come, let me hope that Beauseant's love PAULINE. His love! Talk not of love-Love has no thought of self! Without a heart! Love sacrifices all things. MONS. DESCHAP. If thou deem'st thus, reject him! Shame and ruin These aged limbs are laid, why still, my child, PAULINE. No-no-forgive me! You, my honour'd father,- But, father, talk no more of love! MONS. DESCHAP. My child, 'Tis but one struggle; he is young, rich, noble; PAULINE. I have set My foot upon the ploughshare-I will pass The fiery ordeal. (Aside) Merciful Heaven, support me! And on the absent wanderer shed the light Of happier stars-lost evermore to me! Enter Madame Deschappelles, Beauseant, Glavis, and Notary MADAME DESCHAP. Why, Pauline, you are quite in deshabille-you ought to be more alive to the importance of this joyful occasion. We had once looked higher, it is true; but you see, after all, Monsieur Beauseant's father was a Marquis, and that's a great comfort! Pedigree and jointure!-you have them both in Monsieur BeauA young lady decorously brought up should only have two considerations in her choice of a husband:-first, is his birth honorable, secondly, will his death be advantageous? All other trifling details should be left to parental anxiety! seant. BEAUSEANT (approaching, and waving aside Madame). Ah, Pauline! let me hope that you are reconciled to an event which confers such rapture upon me. This man must have some mercy-his heart cannot be marble. (Aloud) Oh, Sir, be just-be generous!-Seize a noble triumph-a great revenge!-Save the father, and spare the child! BEAUSEANT (aside). Joy-joy alike to my hatred and my passion! The haughty Pauline is at last my suppliant. (Aloud) You ask from me what I have not the sublime virtue to grant-a virtue reserved only for the gardener's son! I cannot forego my hopes in the moment of their fulfilment!-I adhere to the contract-your father's ruin, or your hand! PAULINE. Then all is over.-Sir, I have decided. (The Clock strikes One. Enter Damas and Melnotte. DAMAS. Your servant, cousin Deschappelles.-Let me introduce Colonel Morier. MADAME DESCHAP. (curtsying very low). What, the celebrated hero? This is indeed an honour! (Melnotte bows, and remains in the back-ground.) DAMAS (to Pauline). My little cousin, I congratulate you! What, no smile-no blush? You are going to be divorced from poor Melnotte, and marry this rich gentleman. You ought to be excessively happy! Happy! PAULINE. DAMAS. Why, how pale you are, child!-Poor Pauline! Histconfide in me! Do they force you to this? Then you are the most-I will not say what you are. PAULINE. You think ill of me—be it so-yet if you knew all DAMAS. There is some mystery-speak out, Pauline. PAULINE (suddenly). Oh! perhaps you can save me! you are our relation-our friend. My father is on the verge of bankruptcy-this day he requires a large sum to meet demands that cannot be denied; that sum Beauseant will advance--this hand the condition of the barter. Save me if you have the means-save me! You will be repaid above! DAMAS (aside). recant-Women are not so bad after all!-(aloud) Humph, child! I cannot help you-I am too poor! PAULINE, The last plank to which I clung is shivered! DAMAS. Hold-you see my friend Morier: Melnotte is his most intimate friend-fought in the same fields-slept in the same tent. Have you any message to send to Melnotte?—any word to soften this blow? |