Terraces, &c._

_Enter_ HENRY.

_Hen._ Where are we now? This villain hath the garden Of the Hesperides. Long moss-grown alleys, Contrived, no doubt, to lengthen out a love tale-- Dark winding mazes to elude intrusion, And bowers scarce known to the nightingale. ’Tis well That love creates such eyes for hiding places, Else were I lost. Aye, here’s the group of Cupids-- This is the spot.

_Enter_ KATHERINE _down a terrace_.

_Kath._ Speak not above the breeze, Nor let your foot fall louder than the leaf, Did any see you come?

_Hen._ If love be blind, Not one.

_Kath._ My liege, such pure and holy hopes As call no stain upon a maiden’s cheek, Were, haply, worthless to a mighty king, But still methinks ’twere pleasant to deserve them.

_Hen._ I _will_ deserve--

_Kath._ Was it deserving them To write this letter?

_Hen._ Hear me, Katherine--

_Kath._ Sire, you would tell me how the lawless love Of royalty brings not contamination Like sins of vulgar birth. I spare mine answer. Moments are precious now--but, oh! remember How oft the glance of greatness brands our sex With sins we never dreamt on. Let me pray Dismissal from the thoughts wherein ’twere shame I longer dwelt.

_Hen._ [_aside_]. ’Tis something like the tone They all have used, and something better acted. I thought her more a novice [_aloud_]. Pray you, heed me-- My life, as you have shown, is here environ’d With many perils, which (tho’ lengthen’d use Has taught me to bestow small care on them) Compel brief speech. Then hear me, Katherine, I’ve never seen thy like, nor loved till now-- I ne’er will change till I have found thy better, Which the earth holds not.--I will keep from thee No royal proof--if e’er I’ve royal power-- That I o’erstep not now, in love’s romance, My reason or my truth.

_Kath._ Perhaps ’twas wrong To think my service to your majesty Compatible with that I owed myself-- Perhaps the insult should have been proclaimed, The consequence uncared for.

_Hen._ Menaces?

_Kath._ Not so, my liege. I could have meant no menace To one who oft hath proved he knows no fear. I spoke of dangers ere you gave me cause For menaces; and if your own avail not, I’ll tax your chivalry to think of mine.

_Hen._ Peril to thee!

_Kath._ You know my birth is noble, And that my kindred are your enemies-- Were I suspected of the thousand’th part Of what your wish would make me--

_Hen._ ’Sdeath, most true! I never dreamt of that! And, now I think on’t, This interview can never pass unknown-- It were pure madness if I left thee here.

_Kath._ [_going_]. Heaven shield you, sire, my coming was well meant, As witness my going hence.

_Hen._ What would’st thou have? Be frank at once and leave me not to guess-- What special thing have I forgot to promise?

_Kath._ You have forgotten, sire, the promise made Already by your matchless deeds of honour. In Cahors, sire, your sword remained unsheathed Five bloody days and nights, because you deemed Your _honour_ was at stake--you loved it _then_! At Arques you said Your business was to die, or live with _honour_; And still more late upon the plains of Ivri, Your broken ranks had but to keep their eyes On your white plume, and follow it to _honour_! These are the promises you’ve made and broken To be the model of a royal king. Who follows now your majesty will come To other end than _honour_.

_Hen._ By my soul, Thou’st set the blood of Henry more in motion Than did the storm of any field thou’st cited! Maiden, forgive me--I have done thee wrong.

_Kath._ Repair it, sire, by flying from this place.

_Hen._ Yet hear me once again before we part-- There is one field you named not in your list-- The field that holds my monument, or binds A crown upon the brows of Katherine.

_Kath._ Your majesty forgets you _have_ a queen.

_Hen._ My majesty! alas, my mockery! King without kingdom--warrior without powers-- And husband without wife! Is she my queen? Margaret of Valois? She who wrung my youth With fetters forced, and by her deep schemes poisoned? No, maiden, no--Heaven sees the scandal on’t-- The church in justice--

_Kath._ You are wed to glory, And to your people’s good--let that suffice.

_Hen._ Thou dost refuse a kingdom?

_Kath._ My dread liege, I claim of you forbearance of this suit, Which only can prevail when I am false Elsewhere, and therefore worthless if it--

_Hen._ Elsewhere? And thou hast other hopes? Then so end mine! I would not wrong thee, in the thoughts of him Whose thoughts are dear to thee, for the best throne Since kings were fooled, and flattered, and betrayed.

_Kath._ You are betrayed e’en now. Look, look, my liege-- What lights are these? What voices?

_Hen._ Faith, I care not--[_draws his sword_]. Since I have failed in such dear purpose here, I am so out with Fortune I would fain Defy her to her worst.

_Kath._ Away, they come!

_Hen._ They could not find me in a fitter mood To do them justice.

_Marq._ [_without--in a low cautious tone_]. Maignan!

_Hen._ [_suddenly alarmed_]. Rosny’s voice! What evil genius can have brought _him_ here?

_Marq._ [_without_]. Varlet! I’ve lost thee?

_Hen._ He, by all that’s fearful! Had e’er romance so rude a wakener! I’ve stood some odds ere now--but honest Rosny!

_Voices._ [_without_]. Follow, come on! he’s here about.

_Hen._ I am gone-- Maiden, farewell! the time shall be thou’lt find--

_Voices._ [_to the_ R.]. I have him--

_Hen._ [_returning_]. No, thou liest!

[_going to the opposite side._

_Voices._ Help, help! I’ve got him!

_Hen._ I do not think it!--[_going to another point_].

_Kath._ [_stops him_]. That way lies the water!

_Hen._ So be ’t! I’ll take it like a hunted deer. [_Exit._

_Voices._ [_without._] Ho there! Where are you? Where?

_Kath._ Beset on all sides!

_Enter the_ MARQUIS.

My Lord de Rosny.

_Marq._ Precisely, madam; that most unfortunate--

_Kath._ Follow the king, my lord, let him not lose one moment.

_Marq._ Hush, madam, hush. If darkness befriend him only half so much as it bewilders me, he’s safe for this time--Gods, what a dilemma!

_Kath._ Alas, my lord, how got you here?

_Marq._ Madam, I’ll answer that another time--the question is how to get _hence_--odds life, poor Maignan! ’Tis well he is light of heel!

_Voices._ [_without_]. Come on, the sounds were here--

_Kath._ Hark! ’tis the superintendent--

_Marq._ With all his troop of drunkards! Here’s the reward of loyalty! [_they stand aside_].

_De F._ [_without_]. Shoot ’em, I say--shoot everybody you see!

_Enter_ DE FRESNE, LA PLUME, DU FRONT _and others, with arms and flambeaux_.

Shoot ’em and ask no questions! Woo’ns! Where are they?

_Du F._ Some one escaped us by the terrace.

_De F._ The king, the king!

_La P._ Another leaped the wall!

_De F._ Both of them the king! You’ll never have such another opportunity to shoot the king by accident, as long as you live! After him! Off to the citizens! Drum up the soldiers! Away! [_As they are hurrying out the marquis steps before them_].

_Marq._ Hold, gentlemen! If you would seek the king, I pray you take me with you--

_De F._ Rosny! Rosny turned gallant!

_Marq._ My lord superintendent, these drunken bouts are intolerable; the keeper of the king’s exchequer, and the governor of Paris, sallying forth with a troop of cut-throats to murder my attendants. ’Fore heaven, my lord, ’tis well I chanced to be here.

_De F._ ’Oons, you are very good! But how happen’d you to come? What are you doing with my niece in the dark? That’s the question--

_All._ Aye, aye.

_Marq._ [_aside to Kath_]. A rather difficult impromptu, madam. We must keep to the same story, and stick at nothing.

_De F._ If their doing be fair and honest, I consent they be married forthwith. If they refuse, Rosny is not here on his own account, and he would not run the risk for any one but the king--let him answer that!

_All._ Aye, aye, that’s the point, let him answer that!

_Marq._ Consent we be married! Married! Is this the state and are these the witnesses you choose for the negociation of a marriage? Go home, my lord, get sober, and to-morrow we shall understand each other.

_De F._ Ho, hear you this? I am to wait till to-morrow to know whether my house is disgraced! To give my Lord de Rosny time to account for his visit!

_Marq._ My lord superintendent, the man who invites a suspicion upon the honour of his house--

_De F._ I know all that--but why don’t he answer, whether he means marrying?

_Marq._ I crave your pardon, my lord, and desire you to salute this lady with the best title his majesty may think I have merited [_aside to Kath_]. Consent, madam! There’s no alternative.

_De F._ By Jupiter, I can scarce believe this! [_aside_]. I see but crookedly to-night, but if I would patch up matters with the king, which I believe were the best policy, such a marriage might prove a wind fall.

_Kath._ [_unwilling to favour the deception_]. My lord--

_Marq._ [_interrupting her_]. Madam, I beseech you give no farther explanation of an arrangement with which no one has any business but ourselves! [_she attempts to speak_]. And pardon me if, under the circumstances, I want the words best suited to my very peculiar fortune [_she attempts again_]. Madam, I am ill at making vows; but when I prove unworthy of your confidence--when I maintain not against the world, your excellence, your beauty, and your wisdom,--

_Enter_ MADAM CHATEAUPERS--[_the Marquis stops short and speaks apart_].

We wanted nothing else to make this worse than Ivri!

_De F._ Well, wisdom, beauty, what do you stop for?

_Mad._ [_having looked round and collected the meaning of the scene_]. My lord, I came to visit your niece, and was directed hither--I fear somewhat unseasonably--

_De F._ Not in the least, madam. Only Rosny trying his hand at a love scene. There’s nothing interrupted but a few vows of everlasting fidelity, which stopped short just as you came in.

_Mad._ Alas! I hope the marquis will begin again! I would not for the world lose the last edition of my lord’s vows of fidelity. Pray you, my lord! I entreat!--nay then, madam, suffer me to make amends to you, and take up my lord’s story where it usually breaks off. [_regarding the marquis askance_]. “The lands of Rosny, madam, though bare are wide--and hapily or otherwise, as you may determine, cannot be alienated from the family name.”

_De F._ Heh! has he been trying his fortune there too?

_Mad._ Do not imagine it, sir, for my lord finds it very easy--that is to say, very difficult--very embarrassing--because he has not the eloquence--the--

_De F._ Why Rosny, how’s this?

_Marq._ [_aside_]. Loyalty is, beyond comparison, the greatest of human virtues! [_aloud_]. Madam, it is not to be denied that I stand here in a position somewhat unusual--unusual, madam, and not altogether unembarrassing. In short, you have reason to feel surprised at me--very much surprised, and I candidly confess myself unable to make any excuse--[_aside_]. My character is lost!

_Mad._ Nay, my lord, you have the best excuse in the world! Remember, it is a fixed rule in diplomacy to be always provided with _alternatives_--that all your declarations should have _duplicates_--and how difficult it is to divest ourselves of established habits! I have no doubt the “fatal beauty” will make allowance for them. Of the _alternative_ system she cannot fail to perceive the advantages, however she may hesitate on the subject of _duplicates_.

_Marq._ Madam, I have not the eloquence--

_De F._ A cuckoo, a cuckoo! will no one lend him another note?

_Marq._ [_aside_]. This is to be worse than the king!--upon my conscience, worse.

_Kath._ [_aside_]. Another step! Cannot the malice of fortune be content without Victor? As I expected!

_Enter_ VICTOR, _as if from pursuit, his sword drawn_.

_Vict._ Your mysterious visitors, madam, are again indebted to their fears and fleetness, but, as their secret will no longer suit your reputation, you may now, perhaps, be less disposed to withhold it.

_De F._ Never trouble your head about it--the secret is out, and you have nothing to do but wish her joy--the Marchioness de Rosny!

_Vict._ The Marchioness de Rosny!

_Kath._ [_aside_]. Heavens, what answer!

_Vict._ I pray you, madam, this is true?

_Kath._ Victor, you will judge for yourself. If you must needs display the qualities that mar your nature, let it not be said that I provoked you to it. I’ll speak no more.

_Vict._ The usual refuge, madam, of those who have no further subterfuge; I knew you better by your silence than your speech, and do indeed wish the Marquis de Rosny joy of you.

_Marq._ As I live, I must interpose here! Madam, it appears there are impediments to--my hopes, which I did not dream of! Sir, I protest it is the last wish of my heart to be the rival of any man; and if you really pretend to the hand of this lady--

_De F._ No, no, by Jupiter, no! Why, what a pair you are! Each provided with an _alternative_! I never saw the like! Come in, and let us settle preliminaries at once; come in, I say.

_Vict._ Madam, farewell. I thank you that have taught me to scorn my fetters whilst there is yet time to throw them off.

_Mad._ Madam, it is fortunate you are fair--a happy security--but do not forget that the marquis’s declarations have duplicates.

_Vict._ My Lord de Rosny, though I envy not your fortune, you are sensible here is matter for discussion--to-morrow. [_Exit._

_Mad._ My Lord de Rosny, I congratulate you on having found such “eloquence.” [_Exit._

_De F._ ’Fore heaven there are not sane people enough to take care of the mad ones! In, in, I say--and drink another health to the Marchioness de Rosny.

_La P._ [_to Du F._]. Wilt thou bear this?

_Du F._ Shall he break faith with us? Let him look to’t.

_Marq._ [_recovering from his perplexity_]. Permit me, madam--the felicity--[_hands Katherine ceremoniously_]. If I am not immortal after this, there is no security for man! [_Exeunt._

END OF ACT THE THIRD.