With such a noble zeal their generous troops, That to their latest day of bearing arms, Their gray-hair'd soldiers have all dangers braved Of desperate service, claim'd with boastful pride, As those who fought beneath them in their youth. Such men have been; of whom it may be said, Their spirits conquer'd when their clay was cold. Valt. Yes, I have seen in the eventful field, When new occasion mock'd all rules of art, E'en old commanders hold experience cheap, And look to Basil ere his chin was dark. Ros. One fault he has; I know but only one; Absorbs his thoughts, and makes him oft appear Fred. Well, feel I not undaunted in the field? As much enthusiastic love of glory? Why am I not as good a man as he? Ros. It is a fair one, though you mark'd it not. As she and all her lovely damsels pass'd; Where every kind of beauty charms the eye; Valt. Demure, or over-wise, or given to freaks. Ros. Or given to freaks! hold, hold, good Valtomer! Ros. He's form'd for great occasions, thou for Thou'lt leave no woman handsome under heaven. small. Valt. But small occasions in the path of life Should on the whole a better figure make, Enter BASIL, who returns their salute without speaking. Ros. What think'st thou, Valtomer, of Mantua's princess? Ros. I have repented me, I will not go; What mighty thoughts engage my pensive friend? Ros. How runs thy fancy? what is admirable? Bas. I know you praised her, and her offerings Valt. Fame praised her much, but hath not She might have given the treasures of the east, praised her more Than on a better proof the eye consents to. With all that grace and nobleness of mien, She might do honour to an emperor's throne; She is too noble for a petty court. [assent.) Is it not so, my lord To Basil, who only bows Fred. Nay, it is treason but to call her woman; Ere I had known it. O didst thou mark her when she first appear'd? too : O how they smiled! 'twas like the beams of I felt my roused soul within me start, Ros. The beams of heaven do many slumberers To care and misery! Bas. There's something grave and solemn in your voice Bas. (in a quick voice.) Mark'd you her hand? As you pronounce these words. What dost thou I did not see her hand. And yet she waved it twice. mean? Thou wouldst not sound my knell ? Ros. No, not for all beneath the vaulted sky! Bas. What, dost thou think I am beside myself, Bas. I'm glad thou art; we'll talk of her no more; Why should I vex my friend? Ros. Thou hast not issued orders for the march. Bas. I'll do it soon; thou need'st not be afraid, To morrow's sun shall bear us far from hence, Never perhaps to pass these gates again. For me there is but one of all the sex, Bas. Happy art thou! who is this wondrous Ros. It is mine own good mother, faith and truth! Bas. (smiling.) Give me thy hand; I love her dearly too. Rivals we are not, though our love is one. Ros. And yet I might be jealous of her love, For she bestows too much of it on thee, Who hast no claim but to a nephew's share. Bas. (going.) I'll meet thee some time hence. I must to court. Ros. A private conference will not stay thee long. I'll wait thy coming near the palace gate. Bas. 'Tis to the public court I mean to go. Ros. I thought you had determined otherwise. Bas. Yes, but on farther thought it did appear As though it would be failing in respect At such a time-That look doth wrong me, Rosin berg! For on my life, I had determined thus, Ros. With last night's close, did you not curse Ere I beheld-before we enter'd Mantua. this town That would one single day your troops retard? And now, methinks, you talk of leaving it, As though it were the place that gave you birth; As though you had around these strangers' walls Your infant gambols play'd. But wilt thou change that soldier's dusty garb, And go with me thyself? Ros. Yes, I will go. (As they are going Ros. stops, and looks at Basil.) Bas. Why dost thou stop? Ros. 'Tis for my wonted caution, Bas. The sight of what may be but little prized, Which first thou gavest me-I shall ne'er forget it! Doth cause a solemn sadness in the mind, When view'd as that we ne'er shall sec again. Ros. No, not a whit to wandering men like us. No, not a whit! What custom hath endear'd We part with sadly, though we prize it not: But what is new some powerful charm must own, Thus to affect the mind. "Twas at Vienna, on a public day; Thou but a youth, I then a man full form'd; "Now pray thec be not caught with some gay dame. Bas. (hastily.) We'll let it pass-It hath no To laugh and ogle, and befool thyself: consequence : Thou art impatient. Ros. I'm not impatient. 'Faith, I only wish Some other route our destined march had been, That still thou mightst thy glorious course pursue With an untroubled mind. Bas. O wish it, wish it not! bless'd be that route ! What we have seen to-day, I must remember I should be brutish if I could forget it. Oft in the watchful post, or weary march, My fixed mind shall gaze upon it still; Ros. What! midst the dangers of eventful war, It is offensive in the public eye, And suits not with a man of thy endowments." But I must go to-day without my caution. End of the First Act. [EXEUNT. Note.-My first idea, when I wrote this play, was to represent Basil as having seen Victoria for the first time in the procession, that I might show more perfectly the passion from its first beginning, and also its sudden power over the mind; but I was induced from the criticism of one, whose judgment I very much respect, to alter it, and represent him as having formerly seen and loved her. The first review that took notice of this work objected to Basil's having seen her before as a defect; and, as we are all easily determined to follow our own opinion, I have upon after-consideration, given the play in this edition, third,] as far as this is concerned, exactly in its original state. Strong internal evidence of this will be discovered by any one, who will take the trouble of reading attentively the second scenes of the first and second acts in the present and former editions of this book. Had Basil seen and loved Victoria before, his first speech, in which he describes her to Rosinberg as walking in the procession, would not be natural; and there are, I think, other little things besides, which will show that the circumstance of his former meeting with her is an interpolation. The blame of this, however, I take entirely upon myself: the critice, whose opinion I have mentioned, judged of the piece entirely as an unconnected play, and knew nothing of the general plan of this work, which ought to have been communicated to him. Had it been, indeed, an unconnected play, and had I put this additional circumstance to it with proper judgment and skill, I am i:clined to think it would have been an improvement. ACT II. SCENE I-A ROOM OF STATE. Your third day's march will to his presence bring Enter VICTORIA, the COUNTESS of Albini, Isabella, and Ladies. Bas. (who changes countenance upon seeing Yes, I believe-I think-I know not well- count, When you expect th' imperial force to join. I somewhat have mistaken of your words. Bas. A dizzy mist that swims before my sight- The DUKE of MANTUA, BASIL, ROSINBERG, and a number It may return again.-(To Rosinberg, who stands at of Courtiers, Attendants, &c. The DUKE and BASIL appear talking together on the front of the stage. Duke. But our opinions differ widely there; A soldier's reputation is too fine To be exposed e'en to the smallest cloud. a little distance, looking earnestly at Basil. Duke leaves them, and joins Victoria's party.) Ros. Good heavens, Basil, is it thus with thee! Would we were far from hence! Duke. An untried soldier's is; but yours, my I cannot bear thine eyes. lord, Nursed with the bloody showers of many a field, Yet after all, by the bless'd holy cross! The DUKE, with VICTORIA and her Ladies, advance to the Duke. Victoria, welcome here the brave Count His kinsman too, the gallant Rosinberg. And two days' rest would much recruit their I shall not be offended when I see strength. Bas. Your highness will be pleased to pardon me; Duke. Bas. Were I indeed free master of myself, These gracious tokens of your princely favour Your power surpasses mine. Vict. Our feeble efforts will presumptuous seem Attempting that in which your highness fails. Duke. There's honour in th' attempt; success attend ye.-(Duke retires and mixes with Bas. Vict. Ah! surely then you make too good amends Ros. They must not linger who would quit these Duke. Well, bear my greetings to the brave Pis- For if they do, a thousand masked foes; caro, And say how warmly I embrace the cause. Some under show of rich luxurious feasts, Nay, some, my gentle ladies, true it is, Isab. From this last wicked foe should we infer Yourself have suffer'd much? Albin. No, Isabella, these are common words, To please you with false notions of your power. So all men talk of ladies and of love. Vict. 'Tis even so. If love a tyrant be, To tell such rude and wicked tales of him? Bas. (aside, looking after them.) O! what a fool am I where fled my thoughts? I might as well as he, now, by her side, Bas. Your pardon, madam; honour me so far— SCENE II.-A GALLERY HUNG WITH PICTURES. VICTORIA discovered in conversation with ROSINBERG, BASIL, ALBINI, and ISABELLA. Vict. (to Ros.) It is indeed a work of wondrous art. Ros. But there you wrong me; I have felt it oft. (To Isab.) You call'd Francisco here? Oft has it made me sigh at ladies' fee Soft ditties sing, and dismal sonnets scrawl. Albin. In all its strange effects, most worthy Rosinberg, Has it e'er made thee in a corner sit, Sad, lonely, moping sit, and hold thy tongue ? Albin. Ha, ha, ha, ha! then thou hast never loved. Ros. Nay, but I have, and felt love's bondage too. Vict. Fy! it is pedantry to call it bondage! Love-marring wisdom, reason full of bars, Deserve, methinks, that appellation more. Is it not so, my lord ?-(To Basil.) Bas. O surely, madam! That is not bondage which the soul inthrall'd So gladly bears, and quits not but with anguish. Stern honour's laws, the fair report of men, These are the fetters that enchain the mind, But such as must not, cannot be unloosed. Vict. No, not unloosed, but yet one day relax'd, To grant a lady's suit, unused to sue. Ros. Your highness deals severely with us now, And proves indeed our freedom is but small, Who are constrain'd when such a lady sues, To say, It cannot be. Vict. It cannot be ! Count Basil says not so. Ros. For that I am his friend, to save him pain I take th' ungracious office on myself. Vict. How ill thy face is suited to thine office! Ros. (smiling.) Would I could suit mine office to my face, If that would please your highness. Vict. No, you are obstinate and perverse all, And would not grant it if you had the power. Albini, I'll retire; come, Isabella. Isab. He comes even now. Enter ATTENDANT. Vict. (to Ros.) He will conduct you to the northern gallery ; Its striking shades will call upon the eye, To point its place there needs no other guide. [EXEUNT Ros. and Attendant. (To Bas.) Loves not Count Basil too this charming art? It is in ancient painting much admired. Bas. Ah! do not banish me these few short mo ments: Too soon they will be gone! for ever gone! Bas. Ah, madam! ask the life-blood from my heart! Ask all but what a soldier may not give. Vict. 'Tis ever thus when favours are denied; All had been granted but the thing we beg ; And still some great unlikely substitute, Your life, your soul, your all of earthly good, Is proffer'd in the room of one small boon. So keep your life-blood, generous, valiant lord, And may it long your noble heart enrich, Until I wish it shed. (Bas. attempts to speak.) Nay frame no new excuse; I will not hear it. (She puts out her hand as if she would snul his mouth, but at a distance from it; Bas. runs eagerly up to her, and presses it to his lips.) Bas. Let this sweet hand indeed its threat perform, And make it heaven to be for ever dumb! Bas. (aside to Ros.) Ah, Rosinberg! thou hast (Vict. looks stately and offended.-Basil kneels.) too far presumed; She is offended with us. O pardon me! I know not what I do. Frown not, reduce me not to wretchedness; But only grant Vict. What should I grant to him, I will not wait your noble friend's return, Bas. I will perform it. Vict. Farewell, my lord. [EXIT, with her ladies. Bas. (alone.) "Farewell, my lord." O! what delightful sweetness! The music of that voice dwells on the ear! Gaur. But does the princess know your secret aim? Duke. No, that had marr'd the whole; she is a woman; Her mind, as suits the sex, too weak and narrow "Farewell, my lord!"-Ay, and then look'd she Besides, so far unlike a child of mine, SO The slightest glance of her bewitching eye, Tnose dark blue eyes, commands the inmost soul. Kind mercy! how my heart within me beat Thou hast yielded then. Ros. O Basil! thou art weaker than a child. ness; A weakness which hath greater things achieved Ros. Fated, indeed! but an ill-fated day, Bas. Thanks, hosinberg! thou art a noble heart! [EXEUNT. SCENE III. A SMALL APARTMENT IN THE PALACE. Enter DUKE and GAURIECIO. She holds its subtle arts in high derision, Gaur. O any thing! parts; Yet mighty things might be-deep subtle wits This brave Count Basil, dost thou know him well? Might he be tamper'd with? Gaur. power, Will tame the hottest spirit to your service, Gaur. Earth-kindled fire, which from a little spark, On hidden fuel feeds his growing strength, Duke. His father was my friend,-I wish'd to But since fantastic fancies bind him thus, Gaur. I have prepared Bernardo for your service; Duke. The point is gain'd; my daughter is And should he find them on the eve of battle, successful; And Basil is detain'd another day. I've bid him wait the issue of the field, |