ACT V

Evening.Scene.An Antechamber.Enter theCourtiers.Mau.Now, then, that we may speak—how spring this mine?Gau.Is Guibert ready for its match? He cools!Not so friend Valence with the Duchess there!"Stay, Valence! Are not you my better self?"And her cheek mantled—Gui.Well, she loves him, sir;And more,—since you will have it I grow cool,—She 's right: he 's worth it.Gau.For his deeds to-day?Say so!Gui.What should I say beside?Gau.Not this—For friendship's sake leave this for me to say—That we 're the dupes of an egregious cheat!This plain unpractised suitor, who found wayTo the Duchess through the merest die's turn-up,A year ago had seen her and been seen,Loved and been loved.Gui.Impossible!Gau.—Nor say,How sly and exquisite a trick, moreover,Was this which—taking not their stand on factsBoldly, for that had been endurable,But worming on their way by craft, they chooseResort to, rather,—and which you and we,Sheep-like, assist them in the playing-off!The Duchess thus parades him as preferred,Not on the honest ground of preference,Seeing first, liking more, and there an end—But as we all had started equally,And at the close of a fair race he provedThe only valiant, sage and loyal man.Herself, too, with the pretty fits and starts,—The careless, winning, candid ignoranceOf what the Prince might challenge or forego—She had a hero in reserve! What riskRan she? This deferential easy PrinceWho brings his claims for her to ratify—He 's just her puppet for the nonce! You'll see,—Valence pronounces, as is equitable,Against him: off goes the confederate:As equitably, Valence takes her hand!The Chancellor.You run too fast: her hand, no subject takes.Do not our archives hold her father's will?That will provides against such accident,And gives next heir, Prince Berthold, the reversionOf Juliers, which she forfeits, wedding so.Gau.I know that, well as you,—but does the Prince?Knows Berthold, think you, that this plan, he helps,For Valence's ennoblement,—would end,If crowned with the success which seems its due,In making him the very thing he plays,The actual Duke of Juliers? All agreeThat Colombe's title waived or set aside,He is next heir.The Chan.Incontrovertibly.Gau.Guibert, your match, now, to the train!Gui.Enough!I 'm with you: selfishness is best again.I thought of turning honest—what a dream!Let 's wake now!Gau.Selfish, friend, you never were:'T was but a series of revenges takenOn your unselfishness for prospering ill.But now that you 're grown wiser, what 's our course?Gui.—Wait, I suppose, till Valence weds our lady,And then, if we must needs revenge ourselves,Apprise the Prince.Gau.—The Prince, ere then dismissedWith thanks for playing his mock part so well?Tell the Prince now, sir! Ay, this very night,Ere he accepts his dole and goes his way,Explain how such a marriage makes him Duke,Then trust his gratitude for the surprise!Gui.—Our lady wedding Valence all the sameAs if the penalty were undisclosed?Good! If she loves, she 'll not disown her love,Throw Valence up. I wonder you see that.Gau.The shame of it—the suddenness and shame!Within her, the inclining heart—without,A terrible array of witnesses—And Valence by, to keep her to her word,With Berthold's indignation or disgust!We 'll try it!—Not that we can venture much.Her confidence we've lost forever: Berthold'sIs all to gain.Gui.To-night, then, venture we!Yet—if lost confidence might be renewed?Gau.Never in noble natures! With the base ones,—Twist off the crab's claw, wait a smarting-while,And something grows and grows and gets to beA mimic of the lost joint, just so likeAs keeps in mind it never, never willReplace its predecessor! Crabs do that:But lop the lion's foot—and ...Gui.To the Prince!Gau.[Aside.]And come what will to the lion's foot, I pay you,My cat's paw, as I long have yearned to pay![Aloud.]Footsteps! Himself! 'T is Valence breaks on us,Exulting that their scheme succeeds. We 'll hence—And perfect ours! Consult the archives, first—Then, fortified with knowledge, seek the Hall!Clug.[ToGaucelmeas they retire.]You have not smiled so since your father died!(As they retire, enterValencewith papers.)Val.So must it be! I have examined theseWith scarce a palpitating heart—so calm,Keeping her image almost wholly off.Setting upon myself determined watch,Repelling to the uttermost his claims:And the result is—all men would pronounce,And not I, only, the result to be—Berthold is heir; she has no shade of rightTo the distinction which divided us,But, suffered to rule first, I know not why,Her rule connived at by those Kings and Popes,To serve some devil's-purpose,—now 't is gained,Whate'er it was, the rule expires as well.—Valence, this rapture ... selfish can it be?Eject it from your heart, her home!—It stays!Ah, the brave world that opens on us both!—Do my poor townsmen so esteem it? Cleves,—I need not your pale faces! This, rewardFor service done to you? Too horrible!I never served you: 't was myself I served—Nay, served not—rather saved from punishmentWhich, had I failed you then, would plague me now!My life continues yours, and your life, mine.But if, to take God's gift, I swerve no step—Cleves! If I breathe no prayer for it—if she,[Footsteps without.Colombe, that comes now, freely gives herself—Will Cleves require, that, turning thus to her,I ...(EnterPrince Berthold.)Pardon, sir! I did not look for youTill night, i' the Hall; nor have as yet declaredMy judgment to the lady.Berth.So I hoped.Val.And yet I scarcely know why that should checkThe frank disclosure of it first to you—What her right seems, and what, in consequence,She will decide on.Berth.That I need not ask.Val.You need not: I have proved the lady's mind:And, justice being to do, dare act for her.Berth.Doubtless she has a very noble mind.Val.Oh, never fear but she 'll in each conjunctureBear herself bravely! She no whit dependsOn circumstance; as she adorns a throne,She had adorned ...Berth.A cottage—in what bookHave I read that, of every queen that lived?A throne! You have not been instructed, sure,To forestall my request?Val.'T is granted, sir!My heart instructs me. I have scrutinizedYour claims ...Berth.Ah—claims, you mean, at first preferred?I come, before the hour appointed me,To pray you let those claims at present rest,In favor of a new and stronger one.Val.You shall not need a stronger: on the partO' the lady, all you offer I accept,Since one clear right suffices: yours is clear.Propose!Berth.I offer her my hand.Val.Your hand?Berth.A Duke's, yourself say; and, at no far time,Something here whispers me—an Emperor's.The lady's mind is noble: which inducedThis seizure of occasion: ere my claimsWere—settled, let us amicably say!Val.Your hand!Berth.(He will fall down and kiss it next!)Sir, this astonishment's too flattering,Nor must you hold your mistress' worth so cheap.Enhance it, rather,—urge that blood is blood—The daughter of the Burgraves, Landgraves, Markgraves,Remains their daughter! I shall scarce gainsay.Elsewhere, or here, the lady needs must rule:Like the imperial crown's great chrysoprase,They talk of—somewhat out of keeping there,And yet no jewel for a meaner cap.Val.You wed the Duchess?Berth.Cry you mercy, friend!Will the match also influence fortunes here?A natural solicitude enough.Be certain, no bad chance it proves for you!However high you take your present stand,There 's prospect of a higher still remove—For Juliers will not be my resting-place,And, when I have to choose a substituteTo rule the little burgh, I 'll think of youWho need not give your mates a character.And yet I doubt your fitness to supplantThe gray smooth Chamberlain: he 'd hesitateA doubt his lady could demean herselfSo low as to accept me. Courage, sir!I like your method better: feeling's playIs franker much, and flatters me beside.Val.I am to say, you love her?Berth.Say that too!Love has no great concernment, thinks the world,With a Duke's marriage. How go precedentsIn Juliers' story—how use Juliers' Dukes?I see you have them here in goodly row;Yon must be Luitpold—ay, a stalwart sire!Say, I have been arrested suddenlyIn my ambition's course, its rocky course,By this sweet flower: I fain would gather itAnd then proceed: so say and speedily—(Nor stand there like Duke Luitpold's brazen self!)Enough, sir: you possess my mind, I think.This is my claim, the others being withdrawn,And to this be it that, i' the Hall to-night,Your lady's answer comes; till when, farewell![He retires.Val.[After a pause.]The heavens and earth stay as they were; my heartBeats as it beat: the truth remains the truth.What falls away, then, if not faith in her?Was it my faith, that she could estimateLove's value, and, such faith still guiding me,Dare I now test her? Or grew faith so strongSolely because no power of test was mine?(Enter theDuchess.)Duch.My fate, sir! Ah, you turn away. All 's over.But you are sorry for me? Be not so!What I might have become, and never was,Regret with me! What I have merely been,Rejoice I am no longer! What I seemBeginning now, in my new state, to be,Hope that I am!—for, once my rights proved void,This heavy roof seems easy to exchangeFor the blue sky outside—my lot henceforth.Val.And what a lot is Berthold's!Duch.How of him?Val.He gathers earth's whole good into his arms;Standing, as man now, stately, strong and wise,Marching to fortune, not surprised by her.One great aim, like a guiding-star, above—Which tasks strength, wisdom, stateliness, to liftHis manhood to the height that takes the prize;A prize not near—lest overlooking earthHe rashly spring to seize it—nor remote,So that he rest upon his path content:But day by day, while shimmering grows shine,And the faint circlet prophesies the orb,He sees so much as, just evolving these,The stateliness, the wisdom and the strength,To due completion, will suffice this life,And lead him at his grandest to the grave.After this star, out of a night he springs;A beggar's cradle for the throne of thronesHe quits; so, mounting, feels each step he mounts,Nor, as from each to each exultinglyHe passes, overleaps one grade of joy.This, for his own good:—with the world, each giftOf God and man,—reality, tradition,Fancy and fact—so well environ him,That as a mystic panoply they serve—Of force, untenanted, to awe mankind,And work his purpose out with half the world,While he, their master, dexterously sliptFrom such encumbrance, is meantime employedWith his own prowess on the other half.Thus shall he prosper, every day's successAdding, to what is he, a solid strength—An aëry might to what encircles him,Till at the last, so life's routine lends help,That as the Emperor only breathes and moves,His shadow shall be watched, his step or stalkBecome a comfort or a portent, howHe trails his ermine take significance,—Till even his power shall cease to be most power,And men shall dread his weakness more, nor darePeril their earth its bravest, first and best,Its typified invincibility.Thus shall he go on, greatening, till he ends—The man of men, the spirit of all flesh,The fiery centre of an earthly world!Duch.Some such a fortune I had dreamed should riseOut of my own—that is, above my powerSeemed other, greater potencies to stretch—Val.For you?Duch.It was not I moved there, I think:But one I could,—though constantly beside,And aye approaching,—still keep distant from,And so adore. 'T was a man moved there.Val.Who?Duch.I felt the spirit, never saw the face.Val.See it! 'T is Berthold's! He enables youTo realize your vision.Duch.Berthold?Val.Duke—Emperor to be: he proffers you his hand.Duch.Generous and princely!Val.He is all of this.Duch.Thanks, Berthold, for my father's sake. No handDegrades me!Val.You accept the proffered hand?Duch.That he should love me!Val."Loved" I did not say.Had that been—love might so incline the PrinceTo the world's good, the world that 's at his foot,—I do not know, this moment, I should dareDesire that you refused the world—and Cleves—The sacrifice he asks.Duch.Not love me, sir?Val.He scarce affirmed it.Duch.May not deeds affirm?Val.What does he? ... Yes, yes, very much he does!All the shame saved, he thinks, and sorrow saved—Immitigable sorrow, so he thinks,—Sorrow that 's deeper than we dream, perchance!Duch.Is not this love?Val.So very much he does!For look, you can descend now gracefully:All doubts are banished, that the world might have,Or worst, the doubts yourself, in after-time,May call up of your heart's sincereness now.To such, reply, "I could have kept my rule—Increased it to the utmost of my dreams—Yet I abjured it." This, he does for you:It is munificently much.Duch.Still "much!"But why is it not love, sir? Answer me!Val.Because not one of Berthold's words and looksHad gone with love's presentment of a flowerTo the beloved: because bold confidence,Open superiority, free pride—Love owns not, yet were all that Berthold owned:Because where reason, even, finds no flaw,Unerringly a lover's instinct may.Duch.You reason, then, and doubt?Val.I love, and know.Duch.You love? How strange! I never cast a thoughtOn that! Just see our selfishness! You seemedSo much my own ... I had no ground—and yet,I never dreamed another might divideMy power with you, much less exceed it.Val.Lady,I am yours wholly.Duch.Oh, no, no, not mine!'T is not the same now, never more can be.—Your first love, doubtless. Well, what's gone from me?What have I lost in you?Val.My heart replies—No loss there! So, to Berthold back again:This offer of his hand, he bids me make—Its obvious magnitude is well to weigh.Duch.She 's ... yes, she must be very fair for you!Val.I am a simple advocate of Cleves.Duch.You! With the heart and brain that so helped me,I fancied them exclusively my own,Yet find are subject to a stronger sway!She must be ... tell me, is she very fair?Val.Most fair, beyond conception or belief.Duch.Black eyes?—no matter! Colombe, the world leadsIts life without you, whom your friends professedThe only woman—see how true they spoke!One lived this while, who never saw your face,Nor heard your voice—unless ... Is she from Cleves?Val.Cleves knows her well.Duch.Ah—just a fancy, now!When you poured forth the wrongs of Cleves,—I said,—Thought, that is, afterward ...Val.You thought of me?Duch.Of whom else? Only such great cause, I thought,For such effect: see what true love can do!Cleves is his love. I almost fear to ask... And will not. This is idling: to our work!Admit before the Prince, without reserve,My claims misgrounded; then may follow better... When you poured out Cleves' wrongs impetuously,Was she in your mind?Val.All done was done for her—To humble me!Duch.She will be proud at least.Val.She?Duch.When you tell her.Val.That will never be.Duch.How—are there sweeter things you hope to tell?No, sir! You counselled me,—I counsel youIn the one point I—any woman—can.Your worth, the first thing; let her own come next—Say what you did through her, and she through you—The praises of her beauty afterward!Will you?Val.I dare not.Duch.Dare not?Val.She I loveSuspects not such a love in me.Duch.You jest.Val.The lady is above me and away.Not only the brave form, and the bright mind,And the great heart, combine to press me low—But all the world calls rank divides us.Duch.Rank!Now grant me patience! Here 's a man declaresOracularly in another's case—Sees the true value and the false, for them—Nay, bids them see it, and they straight do see.You called my court's love worthless—so it turned:I threw away as dross my heap of wealth,And here you stickle for a piece or two!First—has she seen you?Val.Yes.Duch.She loves you, then.Val.One flash of hope burst; then succeeded night:And all 's at darkest now. Impossible!Duch.We 'll try: you are—so to speak—my subject yet?Val.As ever—to the death.Duch.Obey me, then!Val.I must.Duch.Approach her, and ... no! first of allGet more assurance. "My instructress," say,"Was great, descended from a line of kings,And even fair"—(wait why I say this folly)—"She said, of all men, none for eloquence,Courage, and" (what cast even these to shade)"The heart they sprung from,—none deserved like himWho saved her at her need: if she said this,What should not one I love, say?"Val.Heaven—this hope—Oh, lady, you are filling me with fire!Duch.Say this!—nor think I bid you cast asideOne touch of all the awe and reverence;Nay, make her proud for once to heart's contentThat all this wealth of heart and soul's her own!Think you are all of this,—and, thinking it,... (Obey!)Val.I cannot choose.Duch.Then, kneel to her![Valencesinks on his knee.I dream!Val.Have mercy! Yours, unto the death,—I have obeyed. Despise, and let me die!Duch.Alas, sir, is it to be ever thus?Even with you as with the world? I knowThis morning's service was no vulgar deedWhose motive, once it dares avow itself,Explains all done and infinitely more,So, takes the shelter of a nobler cause.Your service named its true source,—loyalty!The rest 's unsaid again. The Duchess bids you,Rise, sir! The Prince's words were in debate.Val.[Rising.]Rise? Truth, as ever, lady, comes from you!I should rise—I who spoke for Cleves, can speakFor Man—yet tremble now, who stood firm then.I laughed—for 't was past tears—that Cleves should starveWith all hearts beating loud the infamy,And no tongue daring trust as much to air:Yet here, where all hearts speak, shall I be mute?Oh, lady, for your own sake look on me!On all I am, and have, and do—heart, brain,Body and soul,—this Valence and his gifts!I was proud once: I saw you, and they sank,So that each, magnified a thousand times,Were nothing to you—but such nothingness,Would a crown gild it, or a sceptre prop,A treasure speed, a laurel-wreath enhance?What is my own desert? But should your loveHave ... there 's no language helps here ... singled me,—Then—oh, that wild word "then!"—be just to love,In generosity its attribute!Love, since you pleased to love! All 's cleared—a stageFor trial of the question kept so long:Judge you—Is love or vanity the best?You, solve it for the world's sake—you, speak firstWhat all will shout one day—you, vindicateOur earth and be its angel! All is said.Lady, I offer nothing—I am yours:But, for the cause' sake, look on me and him,And speak!Duch.I have received the Prince's message:Say, I prepare my answer!Val.Take me, Cleves![He withdraws.Duch.Mournful—that nothing 's what it calls itself!Devotion, zeal, faith, loyalty—mere love!And, love in question, what may Berthold's be?I did ill to mistrust the world so soon:Already was this Berthold at my side.The valley-level has its hawks, no doubt:May not the rock-top have its eagles, too?Yet Valence ... let me see his rival then!

Evening.Scene.An Antechamber.

Enter theCourtiers.

Mau.Now, then, that we may speak—how spring this mine?

Gau.Is Guibert ready for its match? He cools!Not so friend Valence with the Duchess there!"Stay, Valence! Are not you my better self?"And her cheek mantled—

Gau.Is Guibert ready for its match? He cools!

Not so friend Valence with the Duchess there!

"Stay, Valence! Are not you my better self?"

And her cheek mantled—

Gui.Well, she loves him, sir;And more,—since you will have it I grow cool,—She 's right: he 's worth it.

Gui.Well, she loves him, sir;

And more,—since you will have it I grow cool,—

She 's right: he 's worth it.

Gau.For his deeds to-day?Say so!

Gau.For his deeds to-day?

Say so!

Gui.What should I say beside?

Gau.Not this—For friendship's sake leave this for me to say—That we 're the dupes of an egregious cheat!This plain unpractised suitor, who found wayTo the Duchess through the merest die's turn-up,A year ago had seen her and been seen,Loved and been loved.

Gau.Not this—

For friendship's sake leave this for me to say—

That we 're the dupes of an egregious cheat!

This plain unpractised suitor, who found way

To the Duchess through the merest die's turn-up,

A year ago had seen her and been seen,

Loved and been loved.

Gui.Impossible!

Gau.—Nor say,How sly and exquisite a trick, moreover,Was this which—taking not their stand on factsBoldly, for that had been endurable,But worming on their way by craft, they chooseResort to, rather,—and which you and we,Sheep-like, assist them in the playing-off!The Duchess thus parades him as preferred,Not on the honest ground of preference,Seeing first, liking more, and there an end—But as we all had started equally,And at the close of a fair race he provedThe only valiant, sage and loyal man.Herself, too, with the pretty fits and starts,—The careless, winning, candid ignoranceOf what the Prince might challenge or forego—She had a hero in reserve! What riskRan she? This deferential easy PrinceWho brings his claims for her to ratify—He 's just her puppet for the nonce! You'll see,—Valence pronounces, as is equitable,Against him: off goes the confederate:As equitably, Valence takes her hand!

Gau.—Nor say,

How sly and exquisite a trick, moreover,

Was this which—taking not their stand on facts

Boldly, for that had been endurable,

But worming on their way by craft, they choose

Resort to, rather,—and which you and we,

Sheep-like, assist them in the playing-off!

The Duchess thus parades him as preferred,

Not on the honest ground of preference,

Seeing first, liking more, and there an end—

But as we all had started equally,

And at the close of a fair race he proved

The only valiant, sage and loyal man.

Herself, too, with the pretty fits and starts,—

The careless, winning, candid ignorance

Of what the Prince might challenge or forego—

She had a hero in reserve! What risk

Ran she? This deferential easy Prince

Who brings his claims for her to ratify

—He 's just her puppet for the nonce! You'll see,—

Valence pronounces, as is equitable,

Against him: off goes the confederate:

As equitably, Valence takes her hand!

The Chancellor.You run too fast: her hand, no subject takes.Do not our archives hold her father's will?That will provides against such accident,And gives next heir, Prince Berthold, the reversionOf Juliers, which she forfeits, wedding so.

The Chancellor.You run too fast: her hand, no subject takes.

Do not our archives hold her father's will?

That will provides against such accident,

And gives next heir, Prince Berthold, the reversion

Of Juliers, which she forfeits, wedding so.

Gau.I know that, well as you,—but does the Prince?Knows Berthold, think you, that this plan, he helps,For Valence's ennoblement,—would end,If crowned with the success which seems its due,In making him the very thing he plays,The actual Duke of Juliers? All agreeThat Colombe's title waived or set aside,He is next heir.

Gau.I know that, well as you,—but does the Prince?

Knows Berthold, think you, that this plan, he helps,

For Valence's ennoblement,—would end,

If crowned with the success which seems its due,

In making him the very thing he plays,

The actual Duke of Juliers? All agree

That Colombe's title waived or set aside,

He is next heir.

The Chan.Incontrovertibly.

Gau.Guibert, your match, now, to the train!

Gui.Enough!I 'm with you: selfishness is best again.I thought of turning honest—what a dream!Let 's wake now!

Gui.Enough!

I 'm with you: selfishness is best again.

I thought of turning honest—what a dream!

Let 's wake now!

Gau.Selfish, friend, you never were:'T was but a series of revenges takenOn your unselfishness for prospering ill.But now that you 're grown wiser, what 's our course?

Gau.Selfish, friend, you never were:

'T was but a series of revenges taken

On your unselfishness for prospering ill.

But now that you 're grown wiser, what 's our course?

Gui.—Wait, I suppose, till Valence weds our lady,And then, if we must needs revenge ourselves,Apprise the Prince.

Gui.—Wait, I suppose, till Valence weds our lady,

And then, if we must needs revenge ourselves,

Apprise the Prince.

Gau.—The Prince, ere then dismissedWith thanks for playing his mock part so well?Tell the Prince now, sir! Ay, this very night,Ere he accepts his dole and goes his way,Explain how such a marriage makes him Duke,Then trust his gratitude for the surprise!

Gau.—The Prince, ere then dismissed

With thanks for playing his mock part so well?

Tell the Prince now, sir! Ay, this very night,

Ere he accepts his dole and goes his way,

Explain how such a marriage makes him Duke,

Then trust his gratitude for the surprise!

Gui.—Our lady wedding Valence all the sameAs if the penalty were undisclosed?Good! If she loves, she 'll not disown her love,Throw Valence up. I wonder you see that.

Gui.—Our lady wedding Valence all the same

As if the penalty were undisclosed?

Good! If she loves, she 'll not disown her love,

Throw Valence up. I wonder you see that.

Gau.The shame of it—the suddenness and shame!Within her, the inclining heart—without,A terrible array of witnesses—And Valence by, to keep her to her word,With Berthold's indignation or disgust!We 'll try it!—Not that we can venture much.Her confidence we've lost forever: Berthold'sIs all to gain.

Gau.The shame of it—the suddenness and shame!

Within her, the inclining heart—without,

A terrible array of witnesses—

And Valence by, to keep her to her word,

With Berthold's indignation or disgust!

We 'll try it!—Not that we can venture much.

Her confidence we've lost forever: Berthold's

Is all to gain.

Gui.To-night, then, venture we!Yet—if lost confidence might be renewed?

Gui.To-night, then, venture we!

Yet—if lost confidence might be renewed?

Gau.Never in noble natures! With the base ones,—Twist off the crab's claw, wait a smarting-while,And something grows and grows and gets to beA mimic of the lost joint, just so likeAs keeps in mind it never, never willReplace its predecessor! Crabs do that:But lop the lion's foot—and ...

Gau.Never in noble natures! With the base ones,—

Twist off the crab's claw, wait a smarting-while,

And something grows and grows and gets to be

A mimic of the lost joint, just so like

As keeps in mind it never, never will

Replace its predecessor! Crabs do that:

But lop the lion's foot—and ...

Gui.To the Prince!

Gau.[Aside.]And come what will to the lion's foot, I pay you,My cat's paw, as I long have yearned to pay![Aloud.]Footsteps! Himself! 'T is Valence breaks on us,Exulting that their scheme succeeds. We 'll hence—And perfect ours! Consult the archives, first—Then, fortified with knowledge, seek the Hall!

Gau.[Aside.]And come what will to the lion's foot, I pay you,

My cat's paw, as I long have yearned to pay!

[Aloud.]Footsteps! Himself! 'T is Valence breaks on us,

Exulting that their scheme succeeds. We 'll hence—

And perfect ours! Consult the archives, first—

Then, fortified with knowledge, seek the Hall!

Clug.[ToGaucelmeas they retire.]You have not smiled so since your father died!

(As they retire, enterValencewith papers.)

Val.So must it be! I have examined theseWith scarce a palpitating heart—so calm,Keeping her image almost wholly off.Setting upon myself determined watch,Repelling to the uttermost his claims:And the result is—all men would pronounce,And not I, only, the result to be—Berthold is heir; she has no shade of rightTo the distinction which divided us,But, suffered to rule first, I know not why,Her rule connived at by those Kings and Popes,To serve some devil's-purpose,—now 't is gained,Whate'er it was, the rule expires as well.—Valence, this rapture ... selfish can it be?Eject it from your heart, her home!—It stays!Ah, the brave world that opens on us both!—Do my poor townsmen so esteem it? Cleves,—I need not your pale faces! This, rewardFor service done to you? Too horrible!I never served you: 't was myself I served—Nay, served not—rather saved from punishmentWhich, had I failed you then, would plague me now!My life continues yours, and your life, mine.But if, to take God's gift, I swerve no step—Cleves! If I breathe no prayer for it—if she,[Footsteps without.Colombe, that comes now, freely gives herself—Will Cleves require, that, turning thus to her,I ...

Val.So must it be! I have examined these

With scarce a palpitating heart—so calm,

Keeping her image almost wholly off.

Setting upon myself determined watch,

Repelling to the uttermost his claims:

And the result is—all men would pronounce,

And not I, only, the result to be—

Berthold is heir; she has no shade of right

To the distinction which divided us,

But, suffered to rule first, I know not why,

Her rule connived at by those Kings and Popes,

To serve some devil's-purpose,—now 't is gained,

Whate'er it was, the rule expires as well.

—Valence, this rapture ... selfish can it be?

Eject it from your heart, her home!—It stays!

Ah, the brave world that opens on us both!

—Do my poor townsmen so esteem it? Cleves,—

I need not your pale faces! This, reward

For service done to you? Too horrible!

I never served you: 't was myself I served—

Nay, served not—rather saved from punishment

Which, had I failed you then, would plague me now!

My life continues yours, and your life, mine.

But if, to take God's gift, I swerve no step—

Cleves! If I breathe no prayer for it—if she,

[Footsteps without.

Colombe, that comes now, freely gives herself—

Will Cleves require, that, turning thus to her,

I ...

(EnterPrince Berthold.)

Pardon, sir! I did not look for youTill night, i' the Hall; nor have as yet declaredMy judgment to the lady.

Pardon, sir! I did not look for you

Till night, i' the Hall; nor have as yet declared

My judgment to the lady.

Berth.So I hoped.

Val.And yet I scarcely know why that should checkThe frank disclosure of it first to you—What her right seems, and what, in consequence,She will decide on.

Val.And yet I scarcely know why that should check

The frank disclosure of it first to you—

What her right seems, and what, in consequence,

She will decide on.

Berth.That I need not ask.

Val.You need not: I have proved the lady's mind:And, justice being to do, dare act for her.

Val.You need not: I have proved the lady's mind:

And, justice being to do, dare act for her.

Berth.Doubtless she has a very noble mind.

Val.Oh, never fear but she 'll in each conjunctureBear herself bravely! She no whit dependsOn circumstance; as she adorns a throne,She had adorned ...

Val.Oh, never fear but she 'll in each conjuncture

Bear herself bravely! She no whit depends

On circumstance; as she adorns a throne,

She had adorned ...

Berth.A cottage—in what bookHave I read that, of every queen that lived?A throne! You have not been instructed, sure,To forestall my request?

Berth.A cottage—in what book

Have I read that, of every queen that lived?

A throne! You have not been instructed, sure,

To forestall my request?

Val.'T is granted, sir!My heart instructs me. I have scrutinizedYour claims ...

Val.'T is granted, sir!

My heart instructs me. I have scrutinized

Your claims ...

Berth.Ah—claims, you mean, at first preferred?I come, before the hour appointed me,To pray you let those claims at present rest,In favor of a new and stronger one.

Berth.Ah—claims, you mean, at first preferred?

I come, before the hour appointed me,

To pray you let those claims at present rest,

In favor of a new and stronger one.

Val.You shall not need a stronger: on the partO' the lady, all you offer I accept,Since one clear right suffices: yours is clear.Propose!

Val.You shall not need a stronger: on the part

O' the lady, all you offer I accept,

Since one clear right suffices: yours is clear.

Propose!

Berth.I offer her my hand.

Val.Your hand?

Berth.A Duke's, yourself say; and, at no far time,Something here whispers me—an Emperor's.The lady's mind is noble: which inducedThis seizure of occasion: ere my claimsWere—settled, let us amicably say!

Berth.A Duke's, yourself say; and, at no far time,

Something here whispers me—an Emperor's.

The lady's mind is noble: which induced

This seizure of occasion: ere my claims

Were—settled, let us amicably say!

Val.Your hand!

Berth.(He will fall down and kiss it next!)Sir, this astonishment's too flattering,Nor must you hold your mistress' worth so cheap.Enhance it, rather,—urge that blood is blood—The daughter of the Burgraves, Landgraves, Markgraves,Remains their daughter! I shall scarce gainsay.Elsewhere, or here, the lady needs must rule:Like the imperial crown's great chrysoprase,They talk of—somewhat out of keeping there,And yet no jewel for a meaner cap.

Berth.(He will fall down and kiss it next!)

Sir, this astonishment's too flattering,

Nor must you hold your mistress' worth so cheap.

Enhance it, rather,—urge that blood is blood—

The daughter of the Burgraves, Landgraves, Markgraves,

Remains their daughter! I shall scarce gainsay.

Elsewhere, or here, the lady needs must rule:

Like the imperial crown's great chrysoprase,

They talk of—somewhat out of keeping there,

And yet no jewel for a meaner cap.

Val.You wed the Duchess?

Berth.Cry you mercy, friend!Will the match also influence fortunes here?A natural solicitude enough.Be certain, no bad chance it proves for you!However high you take your present stand,There 's prospect of a higher still remove—For Juliers will not be my resting-place,And, when I have to choose a substituteTo rule the little burgh, I 'll think of youWho need not give your mates a character.And yet I doubt your fitness to supplantThe gray smooth Chamberlain: he 'd hesitateA doubt his lady could demean herselfSo low as to accept me. Courage, sir!I like your method better: feeling's playIs franker much, and flatters me beside.

Berth.Cry you mercy, friend!

Will the match also influence fortunes here?

A natural solicitude enough.

Be certain, no bad chance it proves for you!

However high you take your present stand,

There 's prospect of a higher still remove—

For Juliers will not be my resting-place,

And, when I have to choose a substitute

To rule the little burgh, I 'll think of you

Who need not give your mates a character.

And yet I doubt your fitness to supplant

The gray smooth Chamberlain: he 'd hesitate

A doubt his lady could demean herself

So low as to accept me. Courage, sir!

I like your method better: feeling's play

Is franker much, and flatters me beside.

Val.I am to say, you love her?

Berth.Say that too!Love has no great concernment, thinks the world,With a Duke's marriage. How go precedentsIn Juliers' story—how use Juliers' Dukes?I see you have them here in goodly row;Yon must be Luitpold—ay, a stalwart sire!Say, I have been arrested suddenlyIn my ambition's course, its rocky course,By this sweet flower: I fain would gather itAnd then proceed: so say and speedily—(Nor stand there like Duke Luitpold's brazen self!)Enough, sir: you possess my mind, I think.This is my claim, the others being withdrawn,And to this be it that, i' the Hall to-night,Your lady's answer comes; till when, farewell![He retires.

Berth.Say that too!

Love has no great concernment, thinks the world,

With a Duke's marriage. How go precedents

In Juliers' story—how use Juliers' Dukes?

I see you have them here in goodly row;

Yon must be Luitpold—ay, a stalwart sire!

Say, I have been arrested suddenly

In my ambition's course, its rocky course,

By this sweet flower: I fain would gather it

And then proceed: so say and speedily

—(Nor stand there like Duke Luitpold's brazen self!)

Enough, sir: you possess my mind, I think.

This is my claim, the others being withdrawn,

And to this be it that, i' the Hall to-night,

Your lady's answer comes; till when, farewell![He retires.

Val.[After a pause.]The heavens and earth stay as they were; my heartBeats as it beat: the truth remains the truth.What falls away, then, if not faith in her?Was it my faith, that she could estimateLove's value, and, such faith still guiding me,Dare I now test her? Or grew faith so strongSolely because no power of test was mine?

Val.[After a pause.]The heavens and earth stay as they were; my heart

Beats as it beat: the truth remains the truth.

What falls away, then, if not faith in her?

Was it my faith, that she could estimate

Love's value, and, such faith still guiding me,

Dare I now test her? Or grew faith so strong

Solely because no power of test was mine?

(Enter theDuchess.)

Duch.My fate, sir! Ah, you turn away. All 's over.But you are sorry for me? Be not so!What I might have become, and never was,Regret with me! What I have merely been,Rejoice I am no longer! What I seemBeginning now, in my new state, to be,Hope that I am!—for, once my rights proved void,This heavy roof seems easy to exchangeFor the blue sky outside—my lot henceforth.

Duch.My fate, sir! Ah, you turn away. All 's over.

But you are sorry for me? Be not so!

What I might have become, and never was,

Regret with me! What I have merely been,

Rejoice I am no longer! What I seem

Beginning now, in my new state, to be,

Hope that I am!—for, once my rights proved void,

This heavy roof seems easy to exchange

For the blue sky outside—my lot henceforth.

Val.And what a lot is Berthold's!

Duch.How of him?

Val.He gathers earth's whole good into his arms;Standing, as man now, stately, strong and wise,Marching to fortune, not surprised by her.One great aim, like a guiding-star, above—Which tasks strength, wisdom, stateliness, to liftHis manhood to the height that takes the prize;A prize not near—lest overlooking earthHe rashly spring to seize it—nor remote,So that he rest upon his path content:But day by day, while shimmering grows shine,And the faint circlet prophesies the orb,He sees so much as, just evolving these,The stateliness, the wisdom and the strength,To due completion, will suffice this life,And lead him at his grandest to the grave.After this star, out of a night he springs;A beggar's cradle for the throne of thronesHe quits; so, mounting, feels each step he mounts,Nor, as from each to each exultinglyHe passes, overleaps one grade of joy.This, for his own good:—with the world, each giftOf God and man,—reality, tradition,Fancy and fact—so well environ him,That as a mystic panoply they serve—Of force, untenanted, to awe mankind,And work his purpose out with half the world,While he, their master, dexterously sliptFrom such encumbrance, is meantime employedWith his own prowess on the other half.Thus shall he prosper, every day's successAdding, to what is he, a solid strength—An aëry might to what encircles him,Till at the last, so life's routine lends help,That as the Emperor only breathes and moves,His shadow shall be watched, his step or stalkBecome a comfort or a portent, howHe trails his ermine take significance,—Till even his power shall cease to be most power,And men shall dread his weakness more, nor darePeril their earth its bravest, first and best,Its typified invincibility.Thus shall he go on, greatening, till he ends—The man of men, the spirit of all flesh,The fiery centre of an earthly world!

Val.He gathers earth's whole good into his arms;

Standing, as man now, stately, strong and wise,

Marching to fortune, not surprised by her.

One great aim, like a guiding-star, above—

Which tasks strength, wisdom, stateliness, to lift

His manhood to the height that takes the prize;

A prize not near—lest overlooking earth

He rashly spring to seize it—nor remote,

So that he rest upon his path content:

But day by day, while shimmering grows shine,

And the faint circlet prophesies the orb,

He sees so much as, just evolving these,

The stateliness, the wisdom and the strength,

To due completion, will suffice this life,

And lead him at his grandest to the grave.

After this star, out of a night he springs;

A beggar's cradle for the throne of thrones

He quits; so, mounting, feels each step he mounts,

Nor, as from each to each exultingly

He passes, overleaps one grade of joy.

This, for his own good:—with the world, each gift

Of God and man,—reality, tradition,

Fancy and fact—so well environ him,

That as a mystic panoply they serve—

Of force, untenanted, to awe mankind,

And work his purpose out with half the world,

While he, their master, dexterously slipt

From such encumbrance, is meantime employed

With his own prowess on the other half.

Thus shall he prosper, every day's success

Adding, to what is he, a solid strength—

An aëry might to what encircles him,

Till at the last, so life's routine lends help,

That as the Emperor only breathes and moves,

His shadow shall be watched, his step or stalk

Become a comfort or a portent, how

He trails his ermine take significance,—

Till even his power shall cease to be most power,

And men shall dread his weakness more, nor dare

Peril their earth its bravest, first and best,

Its typified invincibility.

Thus shall he go on, greatening, till he ends—

The man of men, the spirit of all flesh,

The fiery centre of an earthly world!

Duch.Some such a fortune I had dreamed should riseOut of my own—that is, above my powerSeemed other, greater potencies to stretch—

Duch.Some such a fortune I had dreamed should rise

Out of my own—that is, above my power

Seemed other, greater potencies to stretch—

Val.For you?

Duch.It was not I moved there, I think:But one I could,—though constantly beside,And aye approaching,—still keep distant from,And so adore. 'T was a man moved there.

Duch.It was not I moved there, I think:

But one I could,—though constantly beside,

And aye approaching,—still keep distant from,

And so adore. 'T was a man moved there.

Val.Who?

Duch.I felt the spirit, never saw the face.

Val.See it! 'T is Berthold's! He enables youTo realize your vision.

Val.See it! 'T is Berthold's! He enables you

To realize your vision.

Duch.Berthold?

Val.Duke—Emperor to be: he proffers you his hand.

Val.Duke—

Emperor to be: he proffers you his hand.

Duch.Generous and princely!

Val.He is all of this.

Duch.Thanks, Berthold, for my father's sake. No handDegrades me!

Duch.Thanks, Berthold, for my father's sake. No hand

Degrades me!

Val.You accept the proffered hand?

Duch.That he should love me!

Val."Loved" I did not say.Had that been—love might so incline the PrinceTo the world's good, the world that 's at his foot,—I do not know, this moment, I should dareDesire that you refused the world—and Cleves—The sacrifice he asks.

Val."Loved" I did not say.

Had that been—love might so incline the Prince

To the world's good, the world that 's at his foot,—

I do not know, this moment, I should dare

Desire that you refused the world—and Cleves—

The sacrifice he asks.

Duch.Not love me, sir?

Val.He scarce affirmed it.

Duch.May not deeds affirm?

Val.What does he? ... Yes, yes, very much he does!All the shame saved, he thinks, and sorrow saved—Immitigable sorrow, so he thinks,—Sorrow that 's deeper than we dream, perchance!

Val.What does he? ... Yes, yes, very much he does!

All the shame saved, he thinks, and sorrow saved—

Immitigable sorrow, so he thinks,—

Sorrow that 's deeper than we dream, perchance!

Duch.Is not this love?

Val.So very much he does!For look, you can descend now gracefully:All doubts are banished, that the world might have,Or worst, the doubts yourself, in after-time,May call up of your heart's sincereness now.To such, reply, "I could have kept my rule—Increased it to the utmost of my dreams—Yet I abjured it." This, he does for you:It is munificently much.

Val.So very much he does!

For look, you can descend now gracefully:

All doubts are banished, that the world might have,

Or worst, the doubts yourself, in after-time,

May call up of your heart's sincereness now.

To such, reply, "I could have kept my rule—

Increased it to the utmost of my dreams—

Yet I abjured it." This, he does for you:

It is munificently much.

Duch.Still "much!"But why is it not love, sir? Answer me!

Duch.Still "much!"

But why is it not love, sir? Answer me!

Val.Because not one of Berthold's words and looksHad gone with love's presentment of a flowerTo the beloved: because bold confidence,Open superiority, free pride—Love owns not, yet were all that Berthold owned:Because where reason, even, finds no flaw,Unerringly a lover's instinct may.

Val.Because not one of Berthold's words and looks

Had gone with love's presentment of a flower

To the beloved: because bold confidence,

Open superiority, free pride—

Love owns not, yet were all that Berthold owned:

Because where reason, even, finds no flaw,

Unerringly a lover's instinct may.

Duch.You reason, then, and doubt?

Val.I love, and know.

Duch.You love? How strange! I never cast a thoughtOn that! Just see our selfishness! You seemedSo much my own ... I had no ground—and yet,I never dreamed another might divideMy power with you, much less exceed it.

Duch.You love? How strange! I never cast a thought

On that! Just see our selfishness! You seemed

So much my own ... I had no ground—and yet,

I never dreamed another might divide

My power with you, much less exceed it.

Val.Lady,I am yours wholly.

Val.Lady,

I am yours wholly.

Duch.Oh, no, no, not mine!'T is not the same now, never more can be.—Your first love, doubtless. Well, what's gone from me?What have I lost in you?

Duch.Oh, no, no, not mine!

'T is not the same now, never more can be.

—Your first love, doubtless. Well, what's gone from me?

What have I lost in you?

Val.My heart replies—No loss there! So, to Berthold back again:This offer of his hand, he bids me make—Its obvious magnitude is well to weigh.

Val.My heart replies—

No loss there! So, to Berthold back again:

This offer of his hand, he bids me make—

Its obvious magnitude is well to weigh.

Duch.She 's ... yes, she must be very fair for you!

Val.I am a simple advocate of Cleves.

Duch.You! With the heart and brain that so helped me,I fancied them exclusively my own,Yet find are subject to a stronger sway!She must be ... tell me, is she very fair?

Duch.You! With the heart and brain that so helped me,

I fancied them exclusively my own,

Yet find are subject to a stronger sway!

She must be ... tell me, is she very fair?

Val.Most fair, beyond conception or belief.

Duch.Black eyes?—no matter! Colombe, the world leadsIts life without you, whom your friends professedThe only woman—see how true they spoke!One lived this while, who never saw your face,Nor heard your voice—unless ... Is she from Cleves?

Duch.Black eyes?—no matter! Colombe, the world leads

Its life without you, whom your friends professed

The only woman—see how true they spoke!

One lived this while, who never saw your face,

Nor heard your voice—unless ... Is she from Cleves?

Val.Cleves knows her well.

Duch.Ah—just a fancy, now!When you poured forth the wrongs of Cleves,—I said,—Thought, that is, afterward ...

Duch.Ah—just a fancy, now!

When you poured forth the wrongs of Cleves,—I said,

—Thought, that is, afterward ...

Val.You thought of me?

Duch.Of whom else? Only such great cause, I thought,For such effect: see what true love can do!Cleves is his love. I almost fear to ask... And will not. This is idling: to our work!Admit before the Prince, without reserve,My claims misgrounded; then may follow better... When you poured out Cleves' wrongs impetuously,Was she in your mind?

Duch.Of whom else? Only such great cause, I thought,

For such effect: see what true love can do!

Cleves is his love. I almost fear to ask

... And will not. This is idling: to our work!

Admit before the Prince, without reserve,

My claims misgrounded; then may follow better

... When you poured out Cleves' wrongs impetuously,

Was she in your mind?

Val.All done was done for her—To humble me!

Val.All done was done for her

—To humble me!

Duch.She will be proud at least.

Val.She?

Duch.When you tell her.

Val.That will never be.

Duch.How—are there sweeter things you hope to tell?No, sir! You counselled me,—I counsel youIn the one point I—any woman—can.Your worth, the first thing; let her own come next—Say what you did through her, and she through you—The praises of her beauty afterward!Will you?

Duch.How—are there sweeter things you hope to tell?

No, sir! You counselled me,—I counsel you

In the one point I—any woman—can.

Your worth, the first thing; let her own come next—

Say what you did through her, and she through you—

The praises of her beauty afterward!

Will you?

Val.I dare not.

Duch.Dare not?

Val.She I loveSuspects not such a love in me.

Val.She I love

Suspects not such a love in me.

Duch.You jest.

Val.The lady is above me and away.Not only the brave form, and the bright mind,And the great heart, combine to press me low—But all the world calls rank divides us.

Val.The lady is above me and away.

Not only the brave form, and the bright mind,

And the great heart, combine to press me low—

But all the world calls rank divides us.

Duch.Rank!Now grant me patience! Here 's a man declaresOracularly in another's case—Sees the true value and the false, for them—Nay, bids them see it, and they straight do see.You called my court's love worthless—so it turned:I threw away as dross my heap of wealth,And here you stickle for a piece or two!First—has she seen you?

Duch.Rank!

Now grant me patience! Here 's a man declares

Oracularly in another's case—

Sees the true value and the false, for them—

Nay, bids them see it, and they straight do see.

You called my court's love worthless—so it turned:

I threw away as dross my heap of wealth,

And here you stickle for a piece or two!

First—has she seen you?

Val.Yes.

Duch.She loves you, then.

Val.One flash of hope burst; then succeeded night:And all 's at darkest now. Impossible!

Val.One flash of hope burst; then succeeded night:

And all 's at darkest now. Impossible!

Duch.We 'll try: you are—so to speak—my subject yet?

Val.As ever—to the death.

Duch.Obey me, then!

Val.I must.

Duch.Approach her, and ... no! first of allGet more assurance. "My instructress," say,"Was great, descended from a line of kings,And even fair"—(wait why I say this folly)—"She said, of all men, none for eloquence,Courage, and" (what cast even these to shade)"The heart they sprung from,—none deserved like himWho saved her at her need: if she said this,What should not one I love, say?"

Duch.Approach her, and ... no! first of all

Get more assurance. "My instructress," say,

"Was great, descended from a line of kings,

And even fair"—(wait why I say this folly)—

"She said, of all men, none for eloquence,

Courage, and" (what cast even these to shade)

"The heart they sprung from,—none deserved like him

Who saved her at her need: if she said this,

What should not one I love, say?"

Val.Heaven—this hope—Oh, lady, you are filling me with fire!

Val.Heaven—this hope—

Oh, lady, you are filling me with fire!

Duch.Say this!—nor think I bid you cast asideOne touch of all the awe and reverence;Nay, make her proud for once to heart's contentThat all this wealth of heart and soul's her own!Think you are all of this,—and, thinking it,... (Obey!)

Duch.Say this!—nor think I bid you cast aside

One touch of all the awe and reverence;

Nay, make her proud for once to heart's content

That all this wealth of heart and soul's her own!

Think you are all of this,—and, thinking it,

... (Obey!)

Val.I cannot choose.

Duch.Then, kneel to her![Valencesinks on his knee.I dream!

Duch.Then, kneel to her!

[Valencesinks on his knee.

I dream!

Val.Have mercy! Yours, unto the death,—I have obeyed. Despise, and let me die!

Val.Have mercy! Yours, unto the death,—

I have obeyed. Despise, and let me die!

Duch.Alas, sir, is it to be ever thus?Even with you as with the world? I knowThis morning's service was no vulgar deedWhose motive, once it dares avow itself,Explains all done and infinitely more,So, takes the shelter of a nobler cause.Your service named its true source,—loyalty!The rest 's unsaid again. The Duchess bids you,Rise, sir! The Prince's words were in debate.

Duch.Alas, sir, is it to be ever thus?

Even with you as with the world? I know

This morning's service was no vulgar deed

Whose motive, once it dares avow itself,

Explains all done and infinitely more,

So, takes the shelter of a nobler cause.

Your service named its true source,—loyalty!

The rest 's unsaid again. The Duchess bids you,

Rise, sir! The Prince's words were in debate.

Val.[Rising.]Rise? Truth, as ever, lady, comes from you!I should rise—I who spoke for Cleves, can speakFor Man—yet tremble now, who stood firm then.I laughed—for 't was past tears—that Cleves should starveWith all hearts beating loud the infamy,And no tongue daring trust as much to air:Yet here, where all hearts speak, shall I be mute?Oh, lady, for your own sake look on me!On all I am, and have, and do—heart, brain,Body and soul,—this Valence and his gifts!I was proud once: I saw you, and they sank,So that each, magnified a thousand times,Were nothing to you—but such nothingness,Would a crown gild it, or a sceptre prop,A treasure speed, a laurel-wreath enhance?What is my own desert? But should your loveHave ... there 's no language helps here ... singled me,—Then—oh, that wild word "then!"—be just to love,In generosity its attribute!Love, since you pleased to love! All 's cleared—a stageFor trial of the question kept so long:Judge you—Is love or vanity the best?You, solve it for the world's sake—you, speak firstWhat all will shout one day—you, vindicateOur earth and be its angel! All is said.Lady, I offer nothing—I am yours:But, for the cause' sake, look on me and him,And speak!

Val.[Rising.]Rise? Truth, as ever, lady, comes from you!

I should rise—I who spoke for Cleves, can speak

For Man—yet tremble now, who stood firm then.

I laughed—for 't was past tears—that Cleves should starve

With all hearts beating loud the infamy,

And no tongue daring trust as much to air:

Yet here, where all hearts speak, shall I be mute?

Oh, lady, for your own sake look on me!

On all I am, and have, and do—heart, brain,

Body and soul,—this Valence and his gifts!

I was proud once: I saw you, and they sank,

So that each, magnified a thousand times,

Were nothing to you—but such nothingness,

Would a crown gild it, or a sceptre prop,

A treasure speed, a laurel-wreath enhance?

What is my own desert? But should your love

Have ... there 's no language helps here ... singled me,—

Then—oh, that wild word "then!"—be just to love,

In generosity its attribute!

Love, since you pleased to love! All 's cleared—a stage

For trial of the question kept so long:

Judge you—Is love or vanity the best?

You, solve it for the world's sake—you, speak first

What all will shout one day—you, vindicate

Our earth and be its angel! All is said.

Lady, I offer nothing—I am yours:

But, for the cause' sake, look on me and him,

And speak!

Duch.I have received the Prince's message:Say, I prepare my answer!

Duch.I have received the Prince's message:

Say, I prepare my answer!

Val.Take me, Cleves![He withdraws.

Duch.Mournful—that nothing 's what it calls itself!Devotion, zeal, faith, loyalty—mere love!And, love in question, what may Berthold's be?I did ill to mistrust the world so soon:Already was this Berthold at my side.The valley-level has its hawks, no doubt:May not the rock-top have its eagles, too?Yet Valence ... let me see his rival then!

Duch.Mournful—that nothing 's what it calls itself!

Devotion, zeal, faith, loyalty—mere love!

And, love in question, what may Berthold's be?

I did ill to mistrust the world so soon:

Already was this Berthold at my side.

The valley-level has its hawks, no doubt:

May not the rock-top have its eagles, too?

Yet Valence ... let me see his rival then!

Night.Scene.The Hall.EnterBertholdandMelchior.Mel.And here you wait the matter's issue?Berth.Here.Mel.I don't regret I shut Amelius, then.But tell me, on this grand disclosure,—howBehaved our spokesman with the forehead?Berth.Oh,Turned out no better than the foreheadless—Was dazzled not so very soon, that 's all!For my part, this is scarce the hasty showyChivalrous measure you give me credit of.Perhaps I had a fancy,—but 't is gone.—Let her commence the unfriended innocentAnd carry wrongs about from court to court?No, truly! The least shake of fortune's sand,—My uncle-Pope chokes in a coughing fit,King-cousin takes a fancy to blue eyes,—And wondrously her claims would brighten up;Forth comes a new gloss on the ancient law,O'er-looked provisoes, o'er-past premises,Follow in plenty. No: 't is the safe step.The hour beneath the convent-wall is lost:Juliers and she, once mine, are ever mine.Mel.Which is to say, you, losing heart already,Elude the adventure.Berth.Not so—or, if so—Why not confess at once that I adviseNone of our kingly craft and guild just nowTo lay, one moment, down their privilegeWith the notion they can any time at pleasureRetake it: that may turn out hazardous.We seem, in Europe, pretty well at endO' the night, with our great masque: those favored fewWho keep the chamber's top, and honor's chanceOf the early evening, may retain their placeAnd figure as they list till out of breath.But it is growing late: and I observeA dim grim kind of tipstaves at the doorwayNot only bar new-comers entering now,But caution those who left, for any cause,And would return, that morning draws too near;The ball must die off, shut itself up. We—I think, may dance lights out and sunshine in,And sleep off headache on our frippery:But friend the other, who cunningly stole out,And, after breathing the fresh air outside,Means to re-enter with a new costume,Will be advised go back to bed, I fear.I stick to privilege, on second thoughts.Mel.Yes—you evade the adventure: and, beside,Give yourself out for colder than you are.King Philip, only, notes the lady's eyes?Don't they come in for somewhat of the motiveWith you too?Berth.Yes—no: I am past that now.Gone 't is: I cannot shut my soul to fact.Of course, I might by forethought and contrivanceReason myself into a rapture. Gone:And something better come instead, no doubt.Mel.So be it! Yet, all the same, proceed my way,Though to your ends; so shall you prosper best!The lady—to be won for selfish ends—Will be won easier my unselfish ... call it,Romantic way.Berth.Won easier?Mel.Will not she?Berth.There I profess humility without bound:Ill cannot speed—not I—the Emperor.Mel.And I should think the Emperor best waived,From your description of her mood and way.You could look, if it pleased you, into hearts;But are too indolent and fond of watchingYour own—you know that, for you study it.Berth.Had you but seen the orator her friend,So bold and voluble an hour before,Abashed to earth at aspect of the change!Make her an Empress? Ah, that changed the case!Oh, I read hearts! 'T is for my own behoof,I court her with my true worth: wait the event!I learned my final lesson on that headWhen years ago,—my first and last essay—Before the priest my uncle could by helpOf his superior raise me from the dirt—Priscilla left me for a Brabant lordWhose cheek was like the topaz on his thumb.I am past illusion on that score.Mel.Here comesThe lady—Berth.—And there you go. But do not! Give meAnother chance to please you! Hear me plead!Mel.You 'll keep, then, to the lover, to the man?(Enter theDuchess—followed byAdolfandSabyne,and, after an interval, by theCourtiers.)Berth.Good auspice to our meeting!Duch.May it prove!—And you, sir, will be Emperor one day?Berth.(Ay, that 's the point!) I may be Emperor.Duch.'T is not for my sake only, I am proudOf this you offer: I am prouder farThat from the highest state should duly springThe highest, since most generous, of deeds.Berth.(Generous—still that!) You underrate yourself.You are, what I, to be complete, must gain—Find now, and may not find, another time.While I career on all the world for stage,There needs at home my representative.Duch.—Such, rather, would some warrior-woman be—One dowered with lands and gold, or rich in friends—One like yourself.Berth.Lady, I am myself,And have all these: I want what 's not myself,Nor has all these. Why give one hand two swords?Here 's one already: be a friend's next giftA silk glove, if you will—I have a sword.Duch.You love me, then?Berth.Your lineage I revere,Honor your virtue, in your truth believe,Do homage to your intellect, and bowBefore your peerless beauty.Duch.But, for love—Berth.A further love I do not understand.Our best course is to say these hideous truths,And see them, once said, grow endurable:Like waters shuddering from their central bed,Black with the midnight bowels of the earth,That, once up-spouted by an earthquake's throe,A portent and a terror—soon subside,Freshen apace, take gold and rainbow huesIn sunshine, sleep in shadow, and at lastGrow common to the earth as hills or trees—Accepted by all things they came to scare.Duch.You cannot love, then?Berth.—Charlemagne, perhaps!Are you not over-curious in love-lore?Duch.I have become so, very recently.It seems, then, I shall best deserve esteemRespect, and all your candor promises,By putting on a calculating mood—Asking the terms of my becoming yours?Berth.Let me not do myself injustice, neither.Because I will not condescend to fictionsThat promise what my soul can ne'er acquit,It does not follow that my guarded phraseMay not include far more of what you seek,Than wide profession of less scrupulous men.You will be Empress, once for all: with meThe Pope disputes supremacy—you stand,And none gainsays, the earth's first woman.Duch.That—Or simple Lady of Ravestein again?Berth.The matter 's not in my arbitrament:Now I have made my claims—which I regret—Cede one, cede all.Duch.This claim then, you enforce?Berth.The world looks on.Duch.And when must I decide?Berth.When, lady? Have I said thus much so promptlyFor nothing?—Poured out, with such pains, at onceWhat I might else have suffered to ooze forthDroplet by droplet in a lifetime long—For aught less than as prompt an answer, too?All 's fairly told now: who can teach you more?Duch.I do not see him.Berth.I shall ne'er deceive.This offer should be made befittinglyDid time allow the better setting forthThe good of it, with what is not so good,Advantage, and disparagement as well:But as it is, the sum of both must serve.I am already weary of this place;My thoughts are next stage on to Rome. Decide!The Empire—or,—not even Juliers now!Hail to the Empress—farewell to the Duchess![TheCourtiers,who have been drawing nearer and nearer, interpose.Gau.—"Farewell," Prince? when we break in at our risk—Clug.Almost upon court-license trespassing—Gau.—To point out how your claims are valid yet!You know not, by the Duke her father's will,The lady, if she weds beneath her rank,Forfeits her Duchy in the next heir's favor—So 't is expressly stipulate. And ifIt can be shown 't is her intent to wedA subject, then yourself, next heir, by rightSucceed to Juliers.Berth.What insanity?—Gui.Sir, there 's one Valence, the pale fiery manYou saw and heard this morning—thought, no doubt,Was of considerable standing here:I put it to your penetration, Prince,If aught save love, the truest love for herCould make him serve the lady as he did!He 's simply a poor advocate of Cleves—Creeps here with difficulty, finds a placeWith danger, gets in by a miracle,And for the first time meets the lady's face—So runs the story: is that credible?For, first—no sooner in, than he 's apprisedFortunes have changed; you are all-powerful here,The lady as powerless: he stands fast by her!Duch.[Aside.]And do such deeds spring up from love alone?Gui.But here occurs the question, does the ladyLove him again? I say, how else can she?Can she forget how he stood singly forthIn her defence; dared outrage all of us,Insult yourself—for what, save love 's reward?Duch.[Aside.]And is love then the sole reward of love?Gui.But, love him as she may and must—you ask,Means she to wed him? "Yes," both natures answer!Both, in their pride, point out the sole result;Naught less would he accept nor she propose.For each conjecture was she great enough—Will be, for this.Clug.Though, now that this is known,Policy, doubtless, urges she deny ...Duch.—What, sir, and wherefore?—since I am not sureThat all is any other than you say!You take this Valence, hold him close to me,Him with his actions: can I choose but look?I am not sure, love trulier shows itselfThan in this man, you hate and would degrade,Yet, with your worst abatement, show me thus.Nor am I—(thus made look within myself,Ere I had dared)—now that the look is dared—Sure that I do not love him!Gui.Hear you, Prince?Berth.And what, sirs, please you, may this prattle meanUnless to prove with what alacrityYou give your lady's secrets to the world?How much indebted, for discoveringThat quality, you make me, will be foundWhen there 's a keeper for my own to seek.Courtiers."Our lady?"Berth.—She assuredly remains.Duch.Ah, Prince—and you too can be generous?You could renounce your power, if this were so,And let me, as these phrase it, wed my loveYet keep my Duchy? You perhaps exceedHim, even, in disinterestedness!Berth.How, lady, should all this affect my purpose?Your will and choice are still as ever, free.Say, you have known a worthier than myselfIn mind and heart, of happier form and face—Others must have their birthright: I have gifts,To balance theirs, not blot them out of sight.Against a hundred alien qualities,I lay the prize I offer. I am nothing:Wed you the Empire?Duch.And my heart away?Berth.When have I made pretension to your heart?I give none. I shall keep your honor safe;With mine I trust you, as the sculptor trustsYon marble woman with the marble rose,Loose on her hand, she never will let fall,In graceful, slight, silent security.You will be proud of my world-wide career,And I content in you the fair and good.What were the use of planting a few seedsThe thankless climate never would mature—Affections all repelled by circumstance?Enough: to these no credit I attach,—To what you own, find nothing to object.Write simply on my requisition's faceWhat shall content my friends—that you admit,As Colombe of Ravestein, the claims therein,Or never need admit them, as my wife—And either way, all 's ended!Duch.Let all end!Berth.The requisition!Gui.—Valence holds, of course!Berth.Desire his presence![Adolfgoes out.Courtiers.[To each other.]Out it all comes yet;He 'll have his word against the bargain yet;He 's not the man to tamely acquiesce.One passionate appeal—upbraiding even,May turn the tide again. Despair not yet![They retire a little.Berth.[ToMelchior.]The Empire has its old success, my friend!Mel.You 've had your way: before the spokesman speaksLet me, but this once, work a problem out,And ever more be dumb! The Empire wins?To better purpose have I read my books!(EnterValence.)Mel.[To theCourtiers.]Apart, my masters![ToValence.]Sir, one word with you!I am a poor dependant of the Prince's—Pitched on to speak, as of slight consequence.You are no higher, I find: in other words,We two, as probably the wisest here,Need not hold diplomatic talk like fools.Suppose I speak, divesting the plain factOf all their tortuous phrases, fit for them?Do you reply so, and what trouble saved!The Prince, then—an embroiled strange heap of newsThis moment reaches him—if true or false,All dignity forbids he should inquireIn person, or by worthier deputy;Yet somehow must inquire, lest slander come:And so, 't is I am pitched on. You have heardHis offer to your lady?Val.Yes.Mel.—ConceiveHer joy thereat?Val.I cannot.Mel.No one can.All draws to a conclusion, therefore.Val.[Aside.]So!No after-judgment—no first thought revised—Her first and last decision!—me, she leaves,Takes him; a simple heart is flung aside,The ermine o'er a heartless breast embraced.Oh Heaven, this mockery has been played too oft!Once, to surprise the angels—twice, that fiends,Recording, might be proud they chose not so—Thrice, many thousand times, to teach the worldAll men should pause, misdoubt their strength, since menCan have such chance yet fail so signally—But ever, ever this farewell to Heaven,Welcome to earth—this taking death for life—This spurning love and kneeling to the world—Oh Heaven, it is too often and too old!Mel.Well, on this point, what but an absurd rumorArises—these, its source—its subject, you!Your faith and loyalty misconstruing,They say, your service claims the lady's hand!Of course, nor Prince nor lady can respond:Yet something must be said: for, were it trueYou made such claim, the Prince would ...Val.Well, sir,—would?Mel.—Not only probably withdraw his suit,But, very like, the lady might be forcedAccept your own. Oh, there are reasons why!But you 'll excuse at present all save one,—I think so. What we want is, your own witness,For, or against—her good, or yours: decide!Val.[Aside.]Be it her good if she accounts it so![After a contest.]For what am I but hers, to choose as she?Who knows how far, beside, the light from herMay reach, and dwell with, what she looks upon?Mel.[To thePrince.]Now to him, you!Berth.[ToValence.]My friend acquaints you, sir,The noise runs ...Val..—Prince, how fortunate are you,Wedding her as you will, in spite of noise,To show belief in love! Let her but love you,All else you disregard! What else can be?You know how love is incompatibleWith falsehood—purifies, assimilatesAll other passions to itself.Mel.Ay, sir:But softly! Where, in the object we select,Such love is, perchance, wanting?Val.Then indeed,What is it you can take?Mel.Nay, ask the world!Youth, beauty, virtue, an illustrious name,An influence o'er mankind.Val.When man perceives ...—Ah, I can only speak as for myself!Duch.Speak for yourself!Val.May I?—no, I have spoken,And time 's gone by. Had I seen such an one,As I loved her—weighing thoroughly that word—So should my task be to evolve her love:If for myself!—if for another—well.Berth.Heroic truly! And your sole reward,—The secret pride in yielding up love's right?Val.Who thought upon reward? And yet how muchComes after—oh, what amplest recompense!Is the knowledge of her, naught? the memory, naught?—Lady, should such an one have looked on you,Ne'er wrong yourself so far as quote the worldAnd say, love can go unrequited here!You will have blessed him to his whole life's end—Low passions hindered, baser cares kept back,All goodness cherished where you dwelt—and dwell.What would he have? He holds you—you, both formAnd mind, in his,—where self-love makes such roomFor love of you, he would not serve you nowThe vulgar way,—repulse your enemies,Win you new realms, or best, to save the oldDie blissfully—that 's past so long ago!He wishes you no need, thought, care of him—Your good, by any means, himself unseen,Away, forgotten!—He gives that life's task up,As it were ... but this charge which I return—[Offers the requisition, which she takes.Wishing your good.Duch.[Having subscribed it.]And opportunely, sir—Since at a birthday's close, like this of mine,Good wishes gentle deeds reciprocate.Most on a wedding-day, as mine is too,Should gifts be thought of: yours comes first by right.Ask of me!Berth.He shall have whate'er he asks,For your sake and his own.Val.[Aside.]If I should ask—The withered bunch of flowers she wears—perhaps,One last touch of her hand, I never moreShall see![After a pause, presenting his paper to thePrince.Cleves' Prince, redress the wrongs of Cleves!Berth.I will, sir!Duch.[AsValenceprepares to retire.]—Nay, do out your duty, first!You bore this paper; I have registeredMy answer to it: read it and have done![Valencereads it.I take him—give up Juliers and the world.This is my Birthday.Mel.Berthold, my one heroOf the world she gives up, one friend worth my books,Sole man I think it pays the pains to watch,—Speak, for I know you through your Popes and Kings!Berth.[After a pause.]Lady, well rewarded! Sir, as well deserved!I could not imitate—I hardly envy—I do admire you. All is for the best.Too costly a flower were this, I see it now,To pluck and set upon my barren helmTo wither—any garish plume will do.I 'll not insult you and refuse your Duchy—You can so well afford to yield it me,And I were left, without it, sadly lorn.As it is—for me—if that will flatter you,A somewhat wearier life seems to remainThan I thought possible where ... 'faith, their lifeBegins already! They 're too occupiedTo listen: and few words content me best.[Abruptly to theCourtiers.]I am your Duke, though! Who obey me here?Duch.Adolf and Sabyne follow us—Gui.[Starting from theCourtiers.]—And I?Do I not follow them, if I may n't you?Shall not I get some little duties upAt Ravestein and emulate the rest?God save you, Gaucelme! 'T is my Birthday, too!Berth.You happy handful that remain with me... That is, with Dietrich the black BarnabiteI shall leave over you—will earn your wagesOr Dietrich has forgot to ply his trade!Meantime,—go copy me the precedentsOf every installation, proper stylesAnd pedigrees of all your Juliers' Dukes—While I prepare to plod on my old way,And somewhat wearily, I must confess!Duch.[With a light joyous laugh as she turns from them.]Come, Valence, to our friends, God's earth ...Val.[As she falls into his arms.]—And thee!

Night.Scene.The Hall.

EnterBertholdandMelchior.

Mel.And here you wait the matter's issue?

Berth.Here.

Mel.I don't regret I shut Amelius, then.But tell me, on this grand disclosure,—howBehaved our spokesman with the forehead?

Mel.I don't regret I shut Amelius, then.

But tell me, on this grand disclosure,—how

Behaved our spokesman with the forehead?

Berth.Oh,Turned out no better than the foreheadless—Was dazzled not so very soon, that 's all!For my part, this is scarce the hasty showyChivalrous measure you give me credit of.Perhaps I had a fancy,—but 't is gone.—Let her commence the unfriended innocentAnd carry wrongs about from court to court?No, truly! The least shake of fortune's sand,—My uncle-Pope chokes in a coughing fit,King-cousin takes a fancy to blue eyes,—And wondrously her claims would brighten up;Forth comes a new gloss on the ancient law,O'er-looked provisoes, o'er-past premises,Follow in plenty. No: 't is the safe step.The hour beneath the convent-wall is lost:Juliers and she, once mine, are ever mine.

Berth.Oh,

Turned out no better than the foreheadless—

Was dazzled not so very soon, that 's all!

For my part, this is scarce the hasty showy

Chivalrous measure you give me credit of.

Perhaps I had a fancy,—but 't is gone.

—Let her commence the unfriended innocent

And carry wrongs about from court to court?

No, truly! The least shake of fortune's sand,

—My uncle-Pope chokes in a coughing fit,

King-cousin takes a fancy to blue eyes,—

And wondrously her claims would brighten up;

Forth comes a new gloss on the ancient law,

O'er-looked provisoes, o'er-past premises,

Follow in plenty. No: 't is the safe step.

The hour beneath the convent-wall is lost:

Juliers and she, once mine, are ever mine.

Mel.Which is to say, you, losing heart already,Elude the adventure.

Mel.Which is to say, you, losing heart already,

Elude the adventure.

Berth.Not so—or, if so—Why not confess at once that I adviseNone of our kingly craft and guild just nowTo lay, one moment, down their privilegeWith the notion they can any time at pleasureRetake it: that may turn out hazardous.We seem, in Europe, pretty well at endO' the night, with our great masque: those favored fewWho keep the chamber's top, and honor's chanceOf the early evening, may retain their placeAnd figure as they list till out of breath.But it is growing late: and I observeA dim grim kind of tipstaves at the doorwayNot only bar new-comers entering now,But caution those who left, for any cause,And would return, that morning draws too near;The ball must die off, shut itself up. We—I think, may dance lights out and sunshine in,And sleep off headache on our frippery:But friend the other, who cunningly stole out,And, after breathing the fresh air outside,Means to re-enter with a new costume,Will be advised go back to bed, I fear.I stick to privilege, on second thoughts.

Berth.Not so—or, if so—

Why not confess at once that I advise

None of our kingly craft and guild just now

To lay, one moment, down their privilege

With the notion they can any time at pleasure

Retake it: that may turn out hazardous.

We seem, in Europe, pretty well at end

O' the night, with our great masque: those favored few

Who keep the chamber's top, and honor's chance

Of the early evening, may retain their place

And figure as they list till out of breath.

But it is growing late: and I observe

A dim grim kind of tipstaves at the doorway

Not only bar new-comers entering now,

But caution those who left, for any cause,

And would return, that morning draws too near;

The ball must die off, shut itself up. We—

I think, may dance lights out and sunshine in,

And sleep off headache on our frippery:

But friend the other, who cunningly stole out,

And, after breathing the fresh air outside,

Means to re-enter with a new costume,

Will be advised go back to bed, I fear.

I stick to privilege, on second thoughts.

Mel.Yes—you evade the adventure: and, beside,Give yourself out for colder than you are.King Philip, only, notes the lady's eyes?Don't they come in for somewhat of the motiveWith you too?

Mel.Yes—you evade the adventure: and, beside,

Give yourself out for colder than you are.

King Philip, only, notes the lady's eyes?

Don't they come in for somewhat of the motive

With you too?

Berth.Yes—no: I am past that now.Gone 't is: I cannot shut my soul to fact.Of course, I might by forethought and contrivanceReason myself into a rapture. Gone:And something better come instead, no doubt.

Berth.Yes—no: I am past that now.

Gone 't is: I cannot shut my soul to fact.

Of course, I might by forethought and contrivance

Reason myself into a rapture. Gone:

And something better come instead, no doubt.

Mel.So be it! Yet, all the same, proceed my way,Though to your ends; so shall you prosper best!The lady—to be won for selfish ends—Will be won easier my unselfish ... call it,Romantic way.

Mel.So be it! Yet, all the same, proceed my way,

Though to your ends; so shall you prosper best!

The lady—to be won for selfish ends—

Will be won easier my unselfish ... call it,

Romantic way.

Berth.Won easier?

Mel.Will not she?

Berth.There I profess humility without bound:Ill cannot speed—not I—the Emperor.

Berth.There I profess humility without bound:

Ill cannot speed—not I—the Emperor.

Mel.And I should think the Emperor best waived,From your description of her mood and way.You could look, if it pleased you, into hearts;But are too indolent and fond of watchingYour own—you know that, for you study it.

Mel.And I should think the Emperor best waived,

From your description of her mood and way.

You could look, if it pleased you, into hearts;

But are too indolent and fond of watching

Your own—you know that, for you study it.

Berth.Had you but seen the orator her friend,So bold and voluble an hour before,Abashed to earth at aspect of the change!Make her an Empress? Ah, that changed the case!Oh, I read hearts! 'T is for my own behoof,I court her with my true worth: wait the event!I learned my final lesson on that headWhen years ago,—my first and last essay—Before the priest my uncle could by helpOf his superior raise me from the dirt—Priscilla left me for a Brabant lordWhose cheek was like the topaz on his thumb.I am past illusion on that score.

Berth.Had you but seen the orator her friend,

So bold and voluble an hour before,

Abashed to earth at aspect of the change!

Make her an Empress? Ah, that changed the case!

Oh, I read hearts! 'T is for my own behoof,

I court her with my true worth: wait the event!

I learned my final lesson on that head

When years ago,—my first and last essay—

Before the priest my uncle could by help

Of his superior raise me from the dirt—

Priscilla left me for a Brabant lord

Whose cheek was like the topaz on his thumb.

I am past illusion on that score.

Mel.Here comesThe lady—

Mel.Here comes

The lady—

Berth.—And there you go. But do not! Give meAnother chance to please you! Hear me plead!

Berth.—And there you go. But do not! Give me

Another chance to please you! Hear me plead!

Mel.You 'll keep, then, to the lover, to the man?

(Enter theDuchess—followed byAdolfandSabyne,and, after an interval, by theCourtiers.)

Berth.Good auspice to our meeting!

Duch.May it prove!—And you, sir, will be Emperor one day?

Duch.May it prove!

—And you, sir, will be Emperor one day?

Berth.(Ay, that 's the point!) I may be Emperor.

Duch.'T is not for my sake only, I am proudOf this you offer: I am prouder farThat from the highest state should duly springThe highest, since most generous, of deeds.

Duch.'T is not for my sake only, I am proud

Of this you offer: I am prouder far

That from the highest state should duly spring

The highest, since most generous, of deeds.

Berth.(Generous—still that!) You underrate yourself.You are, what I, to be complete, must gain—Find now, and may not find, another time.While I career on all the world for stage,There needs at home my representative.

Berth.(Generous—still that!) You underrate yourself.

You are, what I, to be complete, must gain—

Find now, and may not find, another time.

While I career on all the world for stage,

There needs at home my representative.

Duch.—Such, rather, would some warrior-woman be—One dowered with lands and gold, or rich in friends—One like yourself.

Duch.—Such, rather, would some warrior-woman be—

One dowered with lands and gold, or rich in friends—

One like yourself.

Berth.Lady, I am myself,And have all these: I want what 's not myself,Nor has all these. Why give one hand two swords?Here 's one already: be a friend's next giftA silk glove, if you will—I have a sword.

Berth.Lady, I am myself,

And have all these: I want what 's not myself,

Nor has all these. Why give one hand two swords?

Here 's one already: be a friend's next gift

A silk glove, if you will—I have a sword.

Duch.You love me, then?

Berth.Your lineage I revere,Honor your virtue, in your truth believe,Do homage to your intellect, and bowBefore your peerless beauty.

Berth.Your lineage I revere,

Honor your virtue, in your truth believe,

Do homage to your intellect, and bow

Before your peerless beauty.

Duch.But, for love—

Berth.A further love I do not understand.Our best course is to say these hideous truths,And see them, once said, grow endurable:Like waters shuddering from their central bed,Black with the midnight bowels of the earth,That, once up-spouted by an earthquake's throe,A portent and a terror—soon subside,Freshen apace, take gold and rainbow huesIn sunshine, sleep in shadow, and at lastGrow common to the earth as hills or trees—Accepted by all things they came to scare.

Berth.A further love I do not understand.

Our best course is to say these hideous truths,

And see them, once said, grow endurable:

Like waters shuddering from their central bed,

Black with the midnight bowels of the earth,

That, once up-spouted by an earthquake's throe,

A portent and a terror—soon subside,

Freshen apace, take gold and rainbow hues

In sunshine, sleep in shadow, and at last

Grow common to the earth as hills or trees—

Accepted by all things they came to scare.

Duch.You cannot love, then?

Berth.—Charlemagne, perhaps!Are you not over-curious in love-lore?

Berth.—Charlemagne, perhaps!

Are you not over-curious in love-lore?

Duch.I have become so, very recently.It seems, then, I shall best deserve esteemRespect, and all your candor promises,By putting on a calculating mood—Asking the terms of my becoming yours?

Duch.I have become so, very recently.

It seems, then, I shall best deserve esteem

Respect, and all your candor promises,

By putting on a calculating mood—

Asking the terms of my becoming yours?

Berth.Let me not do myself injustice, neither.Because I will not condescend to fictionsThat promise what my soul can ne'er acquit,It does not follow that my guarded phraseMay not include far more of what you seek,Than wide profession of less scrupulous men.You will be Empress, once for all: with meThe Pope disputes supremacy—you stand,And none gainsays, the earth's first woman.

Berth.Let me not do myself injustice, neither.

Because I will not condescend to fictions

That promise what my soul can ne'er acquit,

It does not follow that my guarded phrase

May not include far more of what you seek,

Than wide profession of less scrupulous men.

You will be Empress, once for all: with me

The Pope disputes supremacy—you stand,

And none gainsays, the earth's first woman.

Duch.That—Or simple Lady of Ravestein again?

Duch.That—

Or simple Lady of Ravestein again?

Berth.The matter 's not in my arbitrament:Now I have made my claims—which I regret—Cede one, cede all.

Berth.The matter 's not in my arbitrament:

Now I have made my claims—which I regret—

Cede one, cede all.

Duch.This claim then, you enforce?

Berth.The world looks on.

Duch.And when must I decide?

Berth.When, lady? Have I said thus much so promptlyFor nothing?—Poured out, with such pains, at onceWhat I might else have suffered to ooze forthDroplet by droplet in a lifetime long—For aught less than as prompt an answer, too?All 's fairly told now: who can teach you more?

Berth.When, lady? Have I said thus much so promptly

For nothing?—Poured out, with such pains, at once

What I might else have suffered to ooze forth

Droplet by droplet in a lifetime long—

For aught less than as prompt an answer, too?

All 's fairly told now: who can teach you more?

Duch.I do not see him.

Berth.I shall ne'er deceive.This offer should be made befittinglyDid time allow the better setting forthThe good of it, with what is not so good,Advantage, and disparagement as well:But as it is, the sum of both must serve.I am already weary of this place;My thoughts are next stage on to Rome. Decide!The Empire—or,—not even Juliers now!Hail to the Empress—farewell to the Duchess!

Berth.I shall ne'er deceive.

This offer should be made befittingly

Did time allow the better setting forth

The good of it, with what is not so good,

Advantage, and disparagement as well:

But as it is, the sum of both must serve.

I am already weary of this place;

My thoughts are next stage on to Rome. Decide!

The Empire—or,—not even Juliers now!

Hail to the Empress—farewell to the Duchess!

[TheCourtiers,who have been drawing nearer and nearer, interpose.

Gau.—"Farewell," Prince? when we break in at our risk—

Clug.Almost upon court-license trespassing—

Gau.—To point out how your claims are valid yet!You know not, by the Duke her father's will,The lady, if she weds beneath her rank,Forfeits her Duchy in the next heir's favor—So 't is expressly stipulate. And ifIt can be shown 't is her intent to wedA subject, then yourself, next heir, by rightSucceed to Juliers.

Gau.—To point out how your claims are valid yet!

You know not, by the Duke her father's will,

The lady, if she weds beneath her rank,

Forfeits her Duchy in the next heir's favor—

So 't is expressly stipulate. And if

It can be shown 't is her intent to wed

A subject, then yourself, next heir, by right

Succeed to Juliers.

Berth.What insanity?—

Gui.Sir, there 's one Valence, the pale fiery manYou saw and heard this morning—thought, no doubt,Was of considerable standing here:I put it to your penetration, Prince,If aught save love, the truest love for herCould make him serve the lady as he did!He 's simply a poor advocate of Cleves—Creeps here with difficulty, finds a placeWith danger, gets in by a miracle,And for the first time meets the lady's face—So runs the story: is that credible?For, first—no sooner in, than he 's apprisedFortunes have changed; you are all-powerful here,The lady as powerless: he stands fast by her!

Gui.Sir, there 's one Valence, the pale fiery man

You saw and heard this morning—thought, no doubt,

Was of considerable standing here:

I put it to your penetration, Prince,

If aught save love, the truest love for her

Could make him serve the lady as he did!

He 's simply a poor advocate of Cleves

—Creeps here with difficulty, finds a place

With danger, gets in by a miracle,

And for the first time meets the lady's face—

So runs the story: is that credible?

For, first—no sooner in, than he 's apprised

Fortunes have changed; you are all-powerful here,

The lady as powerless: he stands fast by her!

Duch.[Aside.]And do such deeds spring up from love alone?

Gui.But here occurs the question, does the ladyLove him again? I say, how else can she?Can she forget how he stood singly forthIn her defence; dared outrage all of us,Insult yourself—for what, save love 's reward?

Gui.But here occurs the question, does the lady

Love him again? I say, how else can she?

Can she forget how he stood singly forth

In her defence; dared outrage all of us,

Insult yourself—for what, save love 's reward?

Duch.[Aside.]And is love then the sole reward of love?

Gui.But, love him as she may and must—you ask,Means she to wed him? "Yes," both natures answer!Both, in their pride, point out the sole result;Naught less would he accept nor she propose.For each conjecture was she great enough—Will be, for this.

Gui.But, love him as she may and must—you ask,

Means she to wed him? "Yes," both natures answer!

Both, in their pride, point out the sole result;

Naught less would he accept nor she propose.

For each conjecture was she great enough

—Will be, for this.

Clug.Though, now that this is known,Policy, doubtless, urges she deny ...

Clug.Though, now that this is known,

Policy, doubtless, urges she deny ...

Duch.—What, sir, and wherefore?—since I am not sureThat all is any other than you say!You take this Valence, hold him close to me,Him with his actions: can I choose but look?I am not sure, love trulier shows itselfThan in this man, you hate and would degrade,Yet, with your worst abatement, show me thus.Nor am I—(thus made look within myself,Ere I had dared)—now that the look is dared—Sure that I do not love him!

Duch.—What, sir, and wherefore?—since I am not sure

That all is any other than you say!

You take this Valence, hold him close to me,

Him with his actions: can I choose but look?

I am not sure, love trulier shows itself

Than in this man, you hate and would degrade,

Yet, with your worst abatement, show me thus.

Nor am I—(thus made look within myself,

Ere I had dared)—now that the look is dared—

Sure that I do not love him!

Gui.Hear you, Prince?

Berth.And what, sirs, please you, may this prattle meanUnless to prove with what alacrityYou give your lady's secrets to the world?How much indebted, for discoveringThat quality, you make me, will be foundWhen there 's a keeper for my own to seek.

Berth.And what, sirs, please you, may this prattle mean

Unless to prove with what alacrity

You give your lady's secrets to the world?

How much indebted, for discovering

That quality, you make me, will be found

When there 's a keeper for my own to seek.

Courtiers."Our lady?"

Berth.—She assuredly remains.

Duch.Ah, Prince—and you too can be generous?You could renounce your power, if this were so,And let me, as these phrase it, wed my loveYet keep my Duchy? You perhaps exceedHim, even, in disinterestedness!

Duch.Ah, Prince—and you too can be generous?

You could renounce your power, if this were so,

And let me, as these phrase it, wed my love

Yet keep my Duchy? You perhaps exceed

Him, even, in disinterestedness!

Berth.How, lady, should all this affect my purpose?Your will and choice are still as ever, free.Say, you have known a worthier than myselfIn mind and heart, of happier form and face—Others must have their birthright: I have gifts,To balance theirs, not blot them out of sight.Against a hundred alien qualities,I lay the prize I offer. I am nothing:Wed you the Empire?

Berth.How, lady, should all this affect my purpose?

Your will and choice are still as ever, free.

Say, you have known a worthier than myself

In mind and heart, of happier form and face—

Others must have their birthright: I have gifts,

To balance theirs, not blot them out of sight.

Against a hundred alien qualities,

I lay the prize I offer. I am nothing:

Wed you the Empire?

Duch.And my heart away?

Berth.When have I made pretension to your heart?I give none. I shall keep your honor safe;With mine I trust you, as the sculptor trustsYon marble woman with the marble rose,Loose on her hand, she never will let fall,In graceful, slight, silent security.You will be proud of my world-wide career,And I content in you the fair and good.What were the use of planting a few seedsThe thankless climate never would mature—Affections all repelled by circumstance?Enough: to these no credit I attach,—To what you own, find nothing to object.Write simply on my requisition's faceWhat shall content my friends—that you admit,As Colombe of Ravestein, the claims therein,Or never need admit them, as my wife—And either way, all 's ended!

Berth.When have I made pretension to your heart?

I give none. I shall keep your honor safe;

With mine I trust you, as the sculptor trusts

Yon marble woman with the marble rose,

Loose on her hand, she never will let fall,

In graceful, slight, silent security.

You will be proud of my world-wide career,

And I content in you the fair and good.

What were the use of planting a few seeds

The thankless climate never would mature—

Affections all repelled by circumstance?

Enough: to these no credit I attach,—

To what you own, find nothing to object.

Write simply on my requisition's face

What shall content my friends—that you admit,

As Colombe of Ravestein, the claims therein,

Or never need admit them, as my wife—

And either way, all 's ended!

Duch.Let all end!

Berth.The requisition!

Gui.—Valence holds, of course!

Berth.Desire his presence![Adolfgoes out.

Courtiers.[To each other.]Out it all comes yet;He 'll have his word against the bargain yet;He 's not the man to tamely acquiesce.One passionate appeal—upbraiding even,May turn the tide again. Despair not yet![They retire a little.

Courtiers.[To each other.]Out it all comes yet;

He 'll have his word against the bargain yet;

He 's not the man to tamely acquiesce.

One passionate appeal—upbraiding even,

May turn the tide again. Despair not yet![They retire a little.

Berth.[ToMelchior.]The Empire has its old success, my friend!

Mel.You 've had your way: before the spokesman speaksLet me, but this once, work a problem out,And ever more be dumb! The Empire wins?To better purpose have I read my books!

Mel.You 've had your way: before the spokesman speaks

Let me, but this once, work a problem out,

And ever more be dumb! The Empire wins?

To better purpose have I read my books!

(EnterValence.)

Mel.[To theCourtiers.]Apart, my masters![ToValence.]Sir, one word with you!I am a poor dependant of the Prince's—Pitched on to speak, as of slight consequence.You are no higher, I find: in other words,We two, as probably the wisest here,Need not hold diplomatic talk like fools.Suppose I speak, divesting the plain factOf all their tortuous phrases, fit for them?Do you reply so, and what trouble saved!The Prince, then—an embroiled strange heap of newsThis moment reaches him—if true or false,All dignity forbids he should inquireIn person, or by worthier deputy;Yet somehow must inquire, lest slander come:And so, 't is I am pitched on. You have heardHis offer to your lady?

Mel.[To theCourtiers.]Apart, my masters!

[ToValence.]Sir, one word with you!

I am a poor dependant of the Prince's—

Pitched on to speak, as of slight consequence.

You are no higher, I find: in other words,

We two, as probably the wisest here,

Need not hold diplomatic talk like fools.

Suppose I speak, divesting the plain fact

Of all their tortuous phrases, fit for them?

Do you reply so, and what trouble saved!

The Prince, then—an embroiled strange heap of news

This moment reaches him—if true or false,

All dignity forbids he should inquire

In person, or by worthier deputy;

Yet somehow must inquire, lest slander come:

And so, 't is I am pitched on. You have heard

His offer to your lady?

Val.Yes.

Mel.—ConceiveHer joy thereat?

Mel.—Conceive

Her joy thereat?

Val.I cannot.

Mel.No one can.All draws to a conclusion, therefore.

Mel.No one can.

All draws to a conclusion, therefore.

Val.[Aside.]So!No after-judgment—no first thought revised—Her first and last decision!—me, she leaves,Takes him; a simple heart is flung aside,The ermine o'er a heartless breast embraced.Oh Heaven, this mockery has been played too oft!Once, to surprise the angels—twice, that fiends,Recording, might be proud they chose not so—Thrice, many thousand times, to teach the worldAll men should pause, misdoubt their strength, since menCan have such chance yet fail so signally—But ever, ever this farewell to Heaven,Welcome to earth—this taking death for life—This spurning love and kneeling to the world—Oh Heaven, it is too often and too old!

Val.[Aside.]So!

No after-judgment—no first thought revised—

Her first and last decision!—me, she leaves,

Takes him; a simple heart is flung aside,

The ermine o'er a heartless breast embraced.

Oh Heaven, this mockery has been played too oft!

Once, to surprise the angels—twice, that fiends,

Recording, might be proud they chose not so—

Thrice, many thousand times, to teach the world

All men should pause, misdoubt their strength, since men

Can have such chance yet fail so signally

—But ever, ever this farewell to Heaven,

Welcome to earth—this taking death for life—

This spurning love and kneeling to the world—

Oh Heaven, it is too often and too old!

Mel.Well, on this point, what but an absurd rumorArises—these, its source—its subject, you!Your faith and loyalty misconstruing,They say, your service claims the lady's hand!Of course, nor Prince nor lady can respond:Yet something must be said: for, were it trueYou made such claim, the Prince would ...

Mel.Well, on this point, what but an absurd rumor

Arises—these, its source—its subject, you!

Your faith and loyalty misconstruing,

They say, your service claims the lady's hand!

Of course, nor Prince nor lady can respond:

Yet something must be said: for, were it true

You made such claim, the Prince would ...

Val.Well, sir,—would?

Mel.—Not only probably withdraw his suit,But, very like, the lady might be forcedAccept your own. Oh, there are reasons why!But you 'll excuse at present all save one,—I think so. What we want is, your own witness,For, or against—her good, or yours: decide!

Mel.—Not only probably withdraw his suit,

But, very like, the lady might be forced

Accept your own. Oh, there are reasons why!

But you 'll excuse at present all save one,—

I think so. What we want is, your own witness,

For, or against—her good, or yours: decide!

Val.[Aside.]Be it her good if she accounts it so![After a contest.]For what am I but hers, to choose as she?Who knows how far, beside, the light from herMay reach, and dwell with, what she looks upon?

Val.[Aside.]Be it her good if she accounts it so!

[After a contest.]For what am I but hers, to choose as she?

Who knows how far, beside, the light from her

May reach, and dwell with, what she looks upon?

Mel.[To thePrince.]Now to him, you!

Berth.[ToValence.]My friend acquaints you, sir,The noise runs ...

Berth.[ToValence.]My friend acquaints you, sir,

The noise runs ...

Val..—Prince, how fortunate are you,Wedding her as you will, in spite of noise,To show belief in love! Let her but love you,All else you disregard! What else can be?You know how love is incompatibleWith falsehood—purifies, assimilatesAll other passions to itself.

Val..—Prince, how fortunate are you,

Wedding her as you will, in spite of noise,

To show belief in love! Let her but love you,

All else you disregard! What else can be?

You know how love is incompatible

With falsehood—purifies, assimilates

All other passions to itself.

Mel.Ay, sir:But softly! Where, in the object we select,Such love is, perchance, wanting?

Mel.Ay, sir:

But softly! Where, in the object we select,

Such love is, perchance, wanting?

Val.Then indeed,What is it you can take?

Val.Then indeed,

What is it you can take?

Mel.Nay, ask the world!Youth, beauty, virtue, an illustrious name,An influence o'er mankind.

Mel.Nay, ask the world!

Youth, beauty, virtue, an illustrious name,

An influence o'er mankind.

Val.When man perceives ...—Ah, I can only speak as for myself!

Val.When man perceives ...

—Ah, I can only speak as for myself!

Duch.Speak for yourself!

Val.May I?—no, I have spoken,And time 's gone by. Had I seen such an one,As I loved her—weighing thoroughly that word—So should my task be to evolve her love:If for myself!—if for another—well.

Val.May I?—no, I have spoken,

And time 's gone by. Had I seen such an one,

As I loved her—weighing thoroughly that word—

So should my task be to evolve her love:

If for myself!—if for another—well.

Berth.Heroic truly! And your sole reward,—The secret pride in yielding up love's right?

Berth.Heroic truly! And your sole reward,—

The secret pride in yielding up love's right?

Val.Who thought upon reward? And yet how muchComes after—oh, what amplest recompense!Is the knowledge of her, naught? the memory, naught?—Lady, should such an one have looked on you,Ne'er wrong yourself so far as quote the worldAnd say, love can go unrequited here!You will have blessed him to his whole life's end—Low passions hindered, baser cares kept back,All goodness cherished where you dwelt—and dwell.What would he have? He holds you—you, both formAnd mind, in his,—where self-love makes such roomFor love of you, he would not serve you nowThe vulgar way,—repulse your enemies,Win you new realms, or best, to save the oldDie blissfully—that 's past so long ago!He wishes you no need, thought, care of him—Your good, by any means, himself unseen,Away, forgotten!—He gives that life's task up,As it were ... but this charge which I return—[Offers the requisition, which she takes.Wishing your good.

Val.Who thought upon reward? And yet how much

Comes after—oh, what amplest recompense!

Is the knowledge of her, naught? the memory, naught?

—Lady, should such an one have looked on you,

Ne'er wrong yourself so far as quote the world

And say, love can go unrequited here!

You will have blessed him to his whole life's end—

Low passions hindered, baser cares kept back,

All goodness cherished where you dwelt—and dwell.

What would he have? He holds you—you, both form

And mind, in his,—where self-love makes such room

For love of you, he would not serve you now

The vulgar way,—repulse your enemies,

Win you new realms, or best, to save the old

Die blissfully—that 's past so long ago!

He wishes you no need, thought, care of him—

Your good, by any means, himself unseen,

Away, forgotten!—He gives that life's task up,

As it were ... but this charge which I return—

[Offers the requisition, which she takes.

Wishing your good.

Duch.[Having subscribed it.]And opportunely, sir—Since at a birthday's close, like this of mine,Good wishes gentle deeds reciprocate.Most on a wedding-day, as mine is too,Should gifts be thought of: yours comes first by right.Ask of me!

Duch.[Having subscribed it.]And opportunely, sir—

Since at a birthday's close, like this of mine,

Good wishes gentle deeds reciprocate.

Most on a wedding-day, as mine is too,

Should gifts be thought of: yours comes first by right.

Ask of me!

Berth.He shall have whate'er he asks,For your sake and his own.

Berth.He shall have whate'er he asks,

For your sake and his own.

Val.[Aside.]If I should ask—The withered bunch of flowers she wears—perhaps,One last touch of her hand, I never moreShall see![After a pause, presenting his paper to thePrince.Cleves' Prince, redress the wrongs of Cleves!

Val.[Aside.]If I should ask—

The withered bunch of flowers she wears—perhaps,

One last touch of her hand, I never more

Shall see!

[After a pause, presenting his paper to thePrince.

Cleves' Prince, redress the wrongs of Cleves!

Berth.I will, sir!

Duch.[AsValenceprepares to retire.]—Nay, do out your duty, first!You bore this paper; I have registeredMy answer to it: read it and have done![Valencereads it.I take him—give up Juliers and the world.This is my Birthday.

Duch.[AsValenceprepares to retire.]—Nay, do out your duty, first!

You bore this paper; I have registered

My answer to it: read it and have done!

[Valencereads it.

I take him—give up Juliers and the world.

This is my Birthday.

Mel.Berthold, my one heroOf the world she gives up, one friend worth my books,Sole man I think it pays the pains to watch,—Speak, for I know you through your Popes and Kings!

Mel.Berthold, my one hero

Of the world she gives up, one friend worth my books,

Sole man I think it pays the pains to watch,—

Speak, for I know you through your Popes and Kings!

Berth.[After a pause.]Lady, well rewarded! Sir, as well deserved!I could not imitate—I hardly envy—I do admire you. All is for the best.Too costly a flower were this, I see it now,To pluck and set upon my barren helmTo wither—any garish plume will do.I 'll not insult you and refuse your Duchy—You can so well afford to yield it me,And I were left, without it, sadly lorn.As it is—for me—if that will flatter you,A somewhat wearier life seems to remainThan I thought possible where ... 'faith, their lifeBegins already! They 're too occupiedTo listen: and few words content me best.[Abruptly to theCourtiers.]I am your Duke, though! Who obey me here?

Berth.[After a pause.]Lady, well rewarded! Sir, as well deserved!

I could not imitate—I hardly envy—

I do admire you. All is for the best.

Too costly a flower were this, I see it now,

To pluck and set upon my barren helm

To wither—any garish plume will do.

I 'll not insult you and refuse your Duchy—

You can so well afford to yield it me,

And I were left, without it, sadly lorn.

As it is—for me—if that will flatter you,

A somewhat wearier life seems to remain

Than I thought possible where ... 'faith, their life

Begins already! They 're too occupied

To listen: and few words content me best.

[Abruptly to theCourtiers.]

I am your Duke, though! Who obey me here?

Duch.Adolf and Sabyne follow us—

Gui.[Starting from theCourtiers.]—And I?Do I not follow them, if I may n't you?Shall not I get some little duties upAt Ravestein and emulate the rest?God save you, Gaucelme! 'T is my Birthday, too!

Gui.[Starting from theCourtiers.]—And I?

Do I not follow them, if I may n't you?

Shall not I get some little duties up

At Ravestein and emulate the rest?

God save you, Gaucelme! 'T is my Birthday, too!

Berth.You happy handful that remain with me... That is, with Dietrich the black BarnabiteI shall leave over you—will earn your wagesOr Dietrich has forgot to ply his trade!Meantime,—go copy me the precedentsOf every installation, proper stylesAnd pedigrees of all your Juliers' Dukes—While I prepare to plod on my old way,And somewhat wearily, I must confess!

Berth.You happy handful that remain with me

... That is, with Dietrich the black Barnabite

I shall leave over you—will earn your wages

Or Dietrich has forgot to ply his trade!

Meantime,—go copy me the precedents

Of every installation, proper styles

And pedigrees of all your Juliers' Dukes—

While I prepare to plod on my old way,

And somewhat wearily, I must confess!

Duch.[With a light joyous laugh as she turns from them.]Come, Valence, to our friends, God's earth ...

Val.[As she falls into his arms.]—And thee!

Back to Index Next