University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A Street in Bruges.—Enter Bouchard, St. Prieux, and Albert.
BOUCHARD.
Nothing is gained while Thancmar is alive.

ST. PRIEUX.
Yet still we have done gloriously;—the city
Is all our own; no public officer
But has sworn fealty to us.—They who first
Did waver, soon o'erawed by our bold front,
And by the daring of the mighty deed,
Have all submitted, and no man in Bruges
But hails us for his masters. Surely this
Is much;—what would you further?

BOUCHARD.
Thancmar! Thancmar!—
He has escaped, and all the rest is worthless;
But he will come again—there's balm in that!
Oh! I will welcome him
With a more close embrace than ever yet
Did lover his lost mistress!

ALBERT.
Yet be calm
And take your needful rest.

BOUCHARD.
I will—I will.—
Had I been calm before, I had not missed him!—
But oh! St. Prieux, thou didst not know the war
Of this poor brain!—I have sat in the deep midnight,
Watching the workings of approaching frenzy,
And as the horrid images arose,
I laugh'd—and long'd to be all mad! And then
I saw my wife—such as she used to be—
That pure and gentle, loving, tender girl;—
I saw her innocent smile—poor thing! poor thing!
And then I did not laugh—but wept—wept—wept!
And so the fever passed.

ST. PRIEUX
[affectionately].
Will you not home?

BOUCHARD.
Home! where?—where is my home? Is it the chamber
Where—Hell! I cannot name it—where the old man
Through day and night watches beside his child,
Muttering sad thoughts, and sunk beyond the reach
Of hope or care? Oh! that I were so too!—
But it is denied to me;—my burning blood
Still rushes onward through its parch'd-up channels,
Drying the source of life—but not of pain.

[Distant shouts and cries.]
Enter Messenger.
ST. PRIEUX.
What means that outcry?

MESSENGER.
By a sudden effort
The northern gate is forced—the guard is fled—
And Thancmar with the chamberlain and Hebert
Leads troops into the city.

BOUCHARD
[drawing his sword].
Thancmar!

ALBERT
[holding him].
Hush!—
Do none oppose him?

MESSENGER.
Nay, they rather hail him.

BOUCHARD.
He is come!
Thancmar is come! You said the northern gate?

ST. PRIEUX.
You shall not seek him.

BOUCHARD.
How!

ST. PRIEUX.
'Twas thus before,—
Your eagerness defeated your intent.—
Remember, Thancmar is enclosed by thousands,
And half the city interposed between you;—
You are alone—your troops are all shut up;—
Had you a hundred lives, you'd waste them all
Before you reach'd him.

Enter Second Messenger.
ALBERT.
Now,—your tidings, sirrah?

SECOND MESSENGER.
The Palace-gates are closed, and crowds collect there
With threatening gestures, crying for the Provost
And Sir Bouchard;—we soon shall be beset.
ALBERT to Bouchard.
Your course is plain—to gain at once the palace;
Or soon, cut off from all resource, the crowd
Will crush you unavenged. There wait your foe,
And, as occasions offer, choose your own.

BOUCHARD
[irresolute].
Which way makes vengeance surest?

ST. PRIEUX.
To the Palace!

BOUCHARD.
Albert,—St. Prieux,—you counsel this,—I yield;
But mark me,—if by this my foe escape,
I'll think you Thancmar—and your blood shall be
To me in place of his.—Come! to the Palace!

[Exeunt.