The Duchess de la Vallière A Play In Five Acts |
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| 2. | SCENE II. |
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 | The Duchess de la Vallière |  |
SCENE II.
A private Apartment in the Palace of the Duchess de la Vallière.Enter the Duchess de la Vallière.
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
He loves me, then, no longer! All the words
Earth knows shape but one thought—‘He loves no longer!’
Where shall I turn? My mother—my poor mother!
Sleeps the long sleep! Tis better so! Her life
Ran to its lees. I will not mourn for her.
121
This love, for which I gave so much, is dead,
Save in my heart; and love, surviving love,
Changes its nature, and becomes despair!
Ah, me!—ah, me! how hateful is this world!
Enter Gentleman of the Chamber.
GENTLEMAN.
The Duke de Lauzun!
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
News, sweet news, of Louis!
Enter Lauzun.
LAUZUN.
Dare I disturb your thoughts?
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
My Lord, you're welcome!
Came you from court to-day?
LAUZUN.
I left the King
But just now, in the gardens.
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(eagerly.)
Well!
LAUZUN.
He bore him
With his accustomed health!
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
Proceed.
LAUZUN.
Dear Lady,
I have no more to tell.
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE
(aside.)
Alas! No message!
LAUZUN.
We did converse, 'tis true, upon a subject
Most dear to one of us. Your Grace divines it?
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE
(joyfully.)
Was it of me he spoke?
LAUZUN.
Of you
I spoke, and he replied. I praised your beauty—
123
You praised!
LAUZUN.
Your form, your face—that wealth of mind
Which, play'd you not the miser, and concealed it,
Would buy up all the coins that pass for wit.
The King, assenting, wished he might behold you
As happy—as your virtues should have made you.
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
'Twas said in mockery!
LAUZUN.
Lady, no!—in kindness.
Nay, more, (he added,) would you yet your will
Mould to his wish—
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
His wish!—the lightest!
LAUZUN.
Ah!
You know not how my heart throbs while you speak!
Be not so rash to promise; or, at least,
Be faithful to perform!
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You speak in riddles.
LAUZUN.
Of your lone state and beautiful affections,
Formed to make Home an Eden, our good King,
Tenderly mindful, fain would see you link
Your lot to one whose love might be your shelter.
He spake, and all my long-concealed emotions
Gush'd into words, and I confess'd—O Lady,
Hear me confess once more—how well I love thee!
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
You dare?—and he—the King—
LAUZUN.
Upon me smiled,
And bade me prosper.
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
Ah!
(Sinks down, and covers her face with her hands.)
LAUZUN.
Nay, nay, look up!
The heart that could forsake a love like thine
Doth not deserve regret. Look up, dear Lady!
125
He bade thee prosper!
LAUZUN.
Pardon! My wild hope
Outran discretion.
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
Louis bade thee prosper!
LAUZUN.
Ah, if this thankless—this remorseless love
Thou couldst forget! Oh, give me but thy friendship,
And take respect, faith, worship, all, in Lauzun!
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
Consign me to another! Well, 'tis well!
Earth's latest tie is broke!—earth's hopes are over!
LAUZUN.
Speak to me, sweet Louise!
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
So, thou art he
To whom this shattered heart should be surrendered?—
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Wouldst take the cast-off leman of a King,
Nor think thyself disgraced! Fie!—fie! thou'rt shameless!
LAUZUN.
You were betray'd by love, and not by sin,
Nor low ambition. Your disgrace is honour
By the false side of dames the world calls spotless.
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
Go, sir, nor make me scorn you. If I've erred,
I know, at least, the majesty of virtue,
And feel—what you forget.
LAUZUN.
Yet hear me, Madam!
DUCHESS DE LA VALLIÈRE.
Go, go! You are the King's friend—you were mine;
I would not have you thus debased: refused
By one, at once the fallen and forsaken!
His friend shall not be shamed so!
[Exit the Duchess de la Vallière.
127
(passing his hand over his eyes.)
I do swear
These eyes are moist! And he who owned this gem
Casts it away, and cries ‘divine’ to tinsel!
So falls my hope. My fortunes call me back
To surer schemes. Before that ray of goodness
How many plots shrunk, blinded, into shadow!
Lauzun forgot himself, and dreamt of virtue!
[Exit Lauzun.
| The Duchess de la Vallière | |