 | The Works of Sir Henry Taylor |  |
i
I. [VOLUME I]
iii
PHILIP VAN ARTEVELDE.
A DRAMATIC ROMANCE IN TWO PARTS.
“DRAMATICA POESIS EST VELUTI HISTORIA SPECTABILIS.”
Bacon. De Augmentis.
I. PART THE FIRST.
“No arts, no letters, no society,—and, which is worst of all,
continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of Man,
solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
Leviathan, Part I., c. 18.
- Philip Van Artevelde, man of Ghent.
- Peter Van den Bosch, A Leader of the White-Hoods, man of Ghent.
- Sir Guy, Lord of Occo, A Leader of the White-Hoods, man of Ghent.
- Peter Van Nuitre, A Leader of the White-Hoods, man of Ghent.
- Frans Ackerman, A Leader of the White-Hoods, man of Ghent.
- Van Aeswyn, Squire to Sir Guy of Occo, man of Ghent.
- Henry Van Drongelen, Page to Van Artevelde, man of Ghent.
- Father John of Heda, a Monk, formerly Preceptor to Van Artevelde, man of Ghent.
- Van Ryk, Dean of one of the Crafts, man of Ghent.
- Van Muck, Dean of one of the Crafts, man of Ghent.
- Ukenheim, a Citizen of Ghent.
- Sir Simon Bette, A Wealthy Citizen of Ghent.
- Sir Guisebert Grutt, A Wealthy Citizen of Ghent.
- Myk Steensel, A Wealthy Citizen of Ghent.
- The Earl of Flanders, man of Bruges.
- Sir Walter D'Arlon, man of Bruges.
- Gilbert Matthew, man of Bruges.
- Sir Robert Mareschault, man of Bruges and others.
- Adriana Van Merestyn.
- Clara Van Artevelde, Sister of Philip Van Artevelde.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
1
ACT I.
Scene I.
—A Street in the Suburbs of Ghent.The Lord of Occo, meeting Sir Simon Bette and Sir Guisebert Grutt.
Occo.
Sir Guisebert Grutt, and, by my faith, I think
Sir Simon Bette too! Pray you pardon me;
I thought that you were sped upon your mission
To treat for peace at Bruges?
Sir Simon.
Sir, in good time.
We'd have a word with you before we go.
You are a noble born, my Lord of Occo;
And let me tell you, many marvel much
To find a gentleman of so great worth
A flatterer of the Commons.
Sir Guisebert.
Yea, my Lord:
It looks not well when nobles fall away
2
Should lift their hands against their natural Lord
Is but the plague and sorrow of the time,
Which we, that are of credit, must abide:
But ne'er till now a gentleman of name
Was found amongst their leaders.
Occo.
Oh, dear Sirs,
I could remind you how your sometime selves
Bore less goodwill towards the Earl's affairs
Than spurs your errand now; and if to you
Pardon be promised, I would fain be told
Why not to me as well.
Sir Guisebert.
Truly, why not?
To whoso merits it 'twill freely fall;
So give us leave to make a good report
Of how you stand affected.
Occo.
You are kind,
And I am nothing loth. So please you, say
That I am not of them that evermore
Cry out for war, and having not a hope
Of the Earl's mercy, act as desperate men;
For were I sure the many would be spared,
It should not then behove me to stand out
For my particular ransom,—though, to say truth,
The Earl should get himself but little gain
Were he to deal too hardly with us all.
Sir Simon.
'Tis fairly spoken, Sir. When we come back,
3
We'll ask your aid amongst the Commons. Yea,
For truly there are here a sort of crafts
So factious still for war and obstinate,
That we shall be endanger'd. Suing for peace
Is ever treason to the White-Hoods. Well,
We'll look for your support.
Occo.
In me, be sure
A friendly overture shall find a friend.
[Exeunt Sir Simon Bette and Sir Guisebert Grutt. Van Aeswyn comes forward.
Aeswyn.
My Lord, were those that parted from you here
The worshipful negotiators?
Occo.
Ay!
Would they had pass'd the windmills—how they crawl!—
And met no babbling burghers on their way.
Aeswyn.
What! you have made an offer?
Occo.
No, not so;
I've flung my line, and yonder pair of hooks
Are aptly baited to ensure me one;
But I am not, nor mean I to be bound,
Till it be seen if yet my suit may thrive
With yon fair frozen dew-drop, all that's left
To represent Van Merestyn's hot blood.
Aeswyn.
'Tis said she is but backwardly inclined
To any of her swains.
Occo.
Such wealth as hers
4
She that can have her will, be what it may,
Is much to seek to settle what it is.
The damsel must be tried; for if she yield,
The charier must I be, whilst times permit,
Of the good town's goodwill. Her lands lie all
Within the Franc of Ghent. Time presses now,
And I must press my suit. This very hour
I bade her to expect me. Forth we go.
Scene II.
—The House Van Merestyn.Adriana Van Merestyn and Clara Van Artevelde.
Clara.
I do not bid you take him or refuse him;
I only say, think twice.
Adriana.
But once to think,
When the heart knows itself, is once too much.
Clara.
Well; answer what you will; no, yes—yes, no;
Either or both; I would the chance were mine;
I say no more; I would it were my lot
To have a lover.
Adriana.
Yours? why, there's Sir Walter.
Clara.
Sir Walter? very good; but he's at Bruges.
I want one here.
Adriana.
On days of truce he comes.
Clara.
I want one every day. Besides, the war
Ne'er slackens now; a truce to truces now;
And though on moonless, cloud-encompass'd nights
5
Hazard a trip, yet should he be discover'd
Mild Van den Bosch would pat him on the head,
And then he'd come no more. But ponder well
What you shall say; for if it must be “no”
In substance, you shall hardly find that form
Which shall convey it pleasantly.
Adriana.
In truth,
To mould denial to a pleasing shape
In all things, and most specially in love,
Is a hard task; alas! I have not wit
From such a sharp and waspish word as “no”
To pluck the sting. What think you I should say?
Clara.
A colourable thing or two; as thus:
My Lord, we women steer not by our hearts,
Nor yet our judgments, but the world's loud voice;
And though I prize you dearly in my soul
And think you of all excellence made up,
Yet 'tis a serious and unhappy thing
To hear you spoken of; for men protest
That you are cruel, cowardly, and cold,
Boastful, malicious, envious, spiteful, false;
A bull in ire, an ape in jealousy,
A wolf in greediness for blood.
Adriana.
No more?
Am I to use no courtesies but these?
Clara.
No more? Yes, plentifully more! where was I?
This for your mind's repute. Then for your person,
6
'Tis said that you are hideous to behold;
Your brow as bleak as winter, with a fringe
Of wither'd grass for hair; your nose oblique,
Pointing and slanting like a dial's hand;
They say the fish you had your eyes of laugh'd
To see how they were set, and that your mouth
Grows daily wider, bandying of big words:
All which imaginations, good my Lord,
Grossly as they may counterfeit defect
Where worth abounds, are yet so noised abroad
That in despite of that so high esteem
In which I hold you, I'm constrained to say
I'd sooner wed your scullion than yourself.
Adriana.
Thanks for your counsel; cunning is the maid
That can convert a lover to a friend,
And you have imp'd me with a new device.
But look! Is this—no, 'tis your brother's page.
Clara.
All hail to him! he is my daily sport;
Of all things under heaven that make me merry
It makes me merriest to see a boy
That wants to be a man.
Adriana.
His want fulfill'd
He will not be the worse; 'tis well for them
That have no faults but what they needs must leave.
Clara.
Are my faults of that grain? What faults are mine?
7
Perchance I err in thinking that I know;
But grant I know and err not, 'twere not wise
To tell you. Many will beseech their friends
To tell them of their faults, which being told,
They ne'er forgive the tellers. And besides
I've heard you oft confess them.
Clara.
Well, I own
There's a main difference betwixt faults confess'd
And faults arraign'd. We tell ourselves our faults,
And at ourselves ourselves take no offence,
For we are well assured we mean no harm;
But should my friend accuse me of the like,
Though I had charged him to be blunt and frank,
I seize him by the throat.
Enter the Page.
Sir Henry! Ah!
'Twas you I dreamt of; whither away, brave knight?
Page.
I'm coming but to pay my duty here;
The lady Adriana lets me come.
Clara.
I wish thy master knew it.
Page.
So he does;
He tells me to come too.
Clara.
Alas, poor man!
Has he no eyes?
Page.
I know not what you mean.
Clara.
Why, when our pages steal away our loves,
Tell gardeners to keep blackbirds. Look—look here!
8
What have you done?
Page.
Who, I? it was not I.
Clara.
Who was it, then? Well—“kissing goes by favour”—
So says the proverb; truly, more's the pity!
Yet I commend your prudence, Adriana,
For favouring in place of men and monsters
This pure and pretty child. I'll learn from you,
And if, when I have kissed my pug and parrot,
I have the matter of a mouthful left,
For fear of waste that's worse, I'll spend them here.
Page.
I would advise you to be more discreet.
Clara.
So-ho! and wherefore? Oh! so old you are!
Full fifteen summers older than your beard,
And that was born last week—before its time.
I told you, Adriana, did I not,
Of the untimely birth? O' Wednesday 'twas,
By reason of a fright he gave his chin,
Making its innocent down to stand on end
With brandishing of a most superfluous razor.
Adriana.
You told me no such tale; and if you had,
I should not have believed you; for your tongue
Was ever nimbler in the track of sport
Than fits for hunting in a leash with truth.
She is a slanderer, Henry, heed her not.
Clara.
Ay, no one marks me. I but jest and lie,
9
Slanders and jests have lost the ear o' the world!
But do I slander him to say he's young?
Page.
I am almost as old as you.
Clara.
I grant you;
But we are women when boys are but boys;
God gives us grace to ripen and grow wise
Some six years earlier. Thank Heaven for that!
We grow upon the sunny side o' the wall.
Page.
Methinks your wisdom grows o' the windy side,
And bears but little fruit.
Clara.
What! malapert!
It bears more fruit than thou hast wit to steal
Or stomach to digest. Were I thy tutor
To teach thee wisdom, and beheld such store
Of goodly fruitage, I should say to thee,
“Rob me this orchard.” Then wouldst thou reply,
“Five feet three inches stand I in my shoes
And yet I cannot reach to pluck these plums,
So loftily they flourish!” God ha' mercy!
Here comes the Knight upon an ambling nag.
Now, Adriana!
Adriana.
I am sore perplex'd.
What shall I say?
Clara.
My counsel you have heard,
And partly slighted: wherefore seek to better;
Take we direction from our full-grown friend.
Henry, a Knight will presently be here
10
What shall she answer?
Page.
Let her say—“My Lord,
You are the flower of Flemish chivalry,
But I have vow'd to live and die a maid.”
Clara.
A goodly vow! which grant her grace to make,
So it be not too troublesome to keep.
But he's no more the flower of Flemish Knights
Than you the pearl of pages. Adriana,
Bethink you of your answer; have it pat,
Lest he surprise you and you speak the truth.
Adriana.
Prithee, what truth? There's nothing I would hide.
Clara.
Except, except—yes, turn your face away
That so informs against you. Here he comes.
Enter the Lord of Occo.
Occo.
Fairest of ladies! an unworthy Knight
Does homage to your beauty.
Adriana.
Good my Lord,
If 'tis to beauty you pay homage, here
You see it less in me than in my friend,
A daughter of the House of Artevelde.
Occo.
Fair damsel, I am happy in the beams
Which shine upon me from two spheres at once.
Clara.
Fair Sir, I thank you; you're as true as brave,
And there is none in Ghent with ears to hear
11
The exploits of Lord Occo.
Occo.
On my soul
I blush to hear it said; though true it is
I have perform'd what little in me lay
To bring renown to Flemish chivalry.
I give to God the glory, and, next Him,
To her whose charms would fire the faintest heart.
Clara.
Whoe'er inspired your valour, your exploits
Must give that lady high pre-eminence.
Three hundred men-at-arms, I think it was,
You freely fell upon with sword in hand,
After the storming of the fort at Sas,
And not a soul survived?
Occo.
Your pardon, no;
Some other trifle's in your thoughts; at Sas
There is no fort, and they who perish'd there
Were but three hundred peasants who were burn'd
By firing of a barn to which they'd fled.
Clara.
Ah, was it so? At Zeveren then, surely—
Occo.
What happen'd there, too, was of no account.
Clara.
Oh, pardon me; the modesty which still
Accompanies true valour, casts in shade
Your noble actions. I beseech you tell
What came to pass at Zeveren?
Occo.
The town
Was taken by surprise.
Clara.
Ay, true, and then
12
Within the convent's walls—
Occo.
At Zeveren
There was no garrison.
Clara.
You say not so?
How false is fame! I'm certain I was told
Of a great onslaught in the convent there.
Occo.
Well; a proportion of the sisterhood
Met with mishap. But, Lady, by your leave
We'll treat of other things. Haply not knowing
The usages of war, you scarce approve
Proceedings which its hard necessities
Will oft-times force upon us warriors.
A softer theme were meeter, and there's one
On which I burn to speak.
Clara.
Alack, alack!
Then I am gone; soft speeches please mine ear,
As do soft pillows—when I fain would sleep.
But what's the time of day? Come, Henry, come;
We walk by high examples in this world;
Let's to the poultry-yard and win our spurs.
Give you good day, my Lord.
[Exeunt Clara and Page.
Occo.
A merry lady,
And swift of speech: but now that she is gone,
I must entreat your hearing for a word
Of graver import—grave, if aught imports
The life or death of this poor heart of mine.
13
I waste like wax before a witch's fire
Whilst but one word from you would make earth heaven,
And I must soon be nothing or a god!
There's an unutterable want and void,
A gulf, a craving and a sucking in,
As when a mighty ship goes down at sea.
I roam about with hunger-bitten heart,
A famine in my bosom, a dry heat,
A desperate thirst, and I must glut it now,
Or like a dog by summer solstice parch'd
I shall go mad.
Adriana.
Your pardon, good my Lord,
You flatter me or else deceive yourself;
But, so far as I may, I yield you thanks,
And if no more than thanks, the poorer I,
That have not more to give.
Occo.
Nay, Lady, nay;
Deem that I've been tormented long enough
And let this coyness have a timely end.
Adriana.
I am not coy, and plainly now to speak,
When aught but plainness should be less than just,
I cannot be your wife.
Occo.
And wherefore so?
'Tis not that love is foreign to your breast;
You will not tell me that?
Adriana.
I've told you all
Which it can profit you to know.
14
Ah! now
I see it clearly; there's some smooth-tongued rogue
Has been before me,—yea, some wheedling slave,
With song and dance and lute and lily hands,
Has wriggled into favour, I the while
Fighting hard battles to my neck in blood.
Tell me in honesty if this be sooth:
If it be not, in charity say No.
Adriana.
In charity I never will speak more
With you, Sir Guy of Occo:
Nor, till I see a sign of gentle blood
Or knightly courtesy in one so bold,
Will I again hold converse, or with him
Or any that abets him. This to me!
[Exit.
Occo.
Thanks, gentle Lady! Thanks, kind, loving soul!
I am instructed; there came out the truth;
Much more those eyes flash'd out than tongue could tell.
They are as plain to read as are the stars
To him who knows their signs. Would that I knew
The name of him who blocks the way; his name,
And what star rules him in the house of life.
Who hither rides and waves that long salute?
Philip Van Artevelde! 'Tis he, 'tis he,
And no more need I knowledge of the stars.
15
Scene III.
—The Stadt-House.Enter Myk Steensel, followed by several Burghers.
Myk.
And who is Van den Bosch, resolve me that:
I say, Sirs, who is he, to lay on taxes?
1st Burgher.
Or Ackerman, or Launoy, who are they?
Myk.
I say, Sirs, if our goods be not our own,
Better our natural liege Lord should have them
Than thus to render them to John or Peter.
2nd Burgher.
Why, look you, Sirs, our case stands simply here:
The Earl of Flanders is a valiant Lord,
And was a gracious master, till the Devil,
Who never sleeps, awaken'd them of Bruges
To dig about the Lis to turn the water.
But what, Sirs,—we have fought enough for that.
Myk.
Why still the more we fight the more we lose;
For every battle that our White-Hoods win
But gives a warrant to this Van den Bosch
To spoil us of our substance.—Welcome, Sirs.
Enter two Deans of the Crafts.
1st Dean.
Friends, have ye heard the news?
Myk.
I know not, Sir;
If the news be, we owe the White-Hoods pay
For giving us a hosier for our liege,
'Tis old, Sir, old.
16
No, this is what you'll owe them;
A ready market for your rats and mice.
Corn is already risen cent. per cent.,
Though many question if the news be true.
Our John of Launoy's slain with all his men,
The Quatre-Metiers lost and much beside.
Myk.
No more supplies from Brabant then. But say,
How came it all about?
2nd Dean.
'Twas briefly thus:
Beside Nivelle the Earl and Launoy met;
Six thousand voices volley'd to the skies
“Ghent the good Town! Ghent and the White-Hoods! Ghent!”
But from that force thrice-told there came the cry
Of “Flanders with the Lion of the Bastard!”
So then the battle join'd, and they of Ghent
Gave back and open'd after three hours' fight,
And hardly flying had they gain'd Nivelle
When the Earl's vanguard came upon their rear
Ere the gate closed, and enter'd with them; then
They all were slain save Launoy and his guard,
Who, barricaded in the Minster tower,
Made desperate resistance, whereupon
The Earl wax'd wrothful and bade fire the church.
1st Burgher.
Say'st thou? O sacrilege accursed! Was't done?
2nd Dean.
'Twas done,—and presently was heard a yell,
17
Then Launoy from the steeple cried aloud
“A ransom!” and held up his coat to sight
With florins fill'd; but they without but laugh'd
And mock'd him, saying, “Come amongst us, John,
And we will give thee welcome; make a leap;
Come out at window, John.”—With that the flames
Rose up and reach'd him, and he drew his sword,
Cast his rich coat behind him in the fire,
And shouting “Ghent, ye slaves!” leapt freely forth,
When they below received him on their spears.
And so died John of Launoy.
1st Burgher.
A brave end.
'Tis certain we must now make peace betimes;
The city will be starved else—Will be? nay!
Starvation is upon us; want and woe
Stand round about and stare us in the face.
And what will be the end?
Myk.
Believe me, Sirs,
So long as Van den Bosch bears rule in Ghent
You'll not have peace; for well wots he no terms
That spare his life will pacify the Earl.
Sirs, if we make no peace but with the will
Of them whose heads must answer it, woe to us!
For we must fight for ever; Sirs, I say,
We must put down this Van den Bosch, and up
The men that with the Earl stand fair and free,
Who shall take counsel for the city's weal.
18
Truly we must,
Myk.
Then, friends, stand fast by me,
And as we're all agreed to give no doit
Of this five hundred marks, a tongue have I
Will tell him so in words more just than nice.
Enter Van den Bosch, Frans Ackerman, and the Lord of Occo, with a retinue of White-Hoods.
Van Den Bosch.
Good morrow, worthy friends; good morrow, all!
'Tis a sweet sight to look on, in these times,
A score of true and trusty friends to Ghent
So fresh and hearty and so well provided.
Ah, Sirs, you know not, you, who lies afield
When nights are cold, with frogs for bed-fellows;
You know not, you, who fights and sheds his blood
And fasts and fills his belly with the east wind!
Poor souls and virtuous citizens they are!
'Tis they that keep the franchises of Ghent.
But, what! they must be fed; they must have meat!
Sirs, have ye brought me these five hundred marks
That they demanded?
Myk.
Master Van den Bosch,
Look round about; as many as stand here
Are of one mind, and this is what they think:
The company of White-Hoods, some time past,
Were, as thou say'st, brave citizens and true,
19
But they were afterward as beasts of prey,
That, tasting blood, grow greedy and break loose
And turn upon their keepers: so at length
The city, like a camp in mutiny,
Saw nothing else to walk her streets unharm'd
But these your free companions. They at will
Enter'd our houses, lived upon our means
In riotry, made plunder of our goods,
Debauched our wives and daughters; and if once
Some hardy fool made bold to lift his hand
For safeguard of his own, he met his death.
Now this no longer will we suffer; no,
Nor will we give our substance so to feed
The lewd excesses of your crew.
Van den Bosch.
How now,
Myk Steensel! Truly thou art bold of tongue;
I marvel thou shouldst speak so traitor-like
In presence of such honest, virtuous men
As these thou seest about me. How can I,
Think you, give warranty that some good soul,
Inflamed with anger at thy foolish speech,
May not cut out thy tongue and slit thy nose
For uttering of such treasons?
Myk.
Van den Bosch,
Thou thinkst by this to hound thy pack upon me;
But dog and huntsman I alike defy.
Thy brother Launoy with his men-at-arms
20
And if thou dare do violence to me
Thou shalt be fain to take as long a leap
As his was at Nivelle.
Van den Bosch.
Oh, ho! good Sirs!
'Tis this then that emboldens you, this tale
Brought by Van Borselen, who ran away
Before the fight began, and calls it lost
That so his cowardice should stand excused;
For which his foul betrayal and false report
I have already had him gibbeted.
Bring not yourselves, I pray you, gentle Sirs,
With the like nimbleness to a grave i' the air.
I say, Sirs, bring me these five hundred marks,
And that or e'er to morrow's sun go down—
Five hundred marks—I'll bate you not a scute.
Ye slothful, hide-blown, gormandizing niggards!
What, all must starve but you, that lie a-bed
Paunch uppermost, and lack a day of fast
To purge your grossness. Know ye who I am?
Or are ye sleeping off the last night's wine,
And deeming this some tustle with your wives
For pulling of a blanket here or there?
Five hundred marks—begone and bring it!
Myk.
So;
Begone we will. Let's to our homes, my friends;
And what we'll bring thee thou shalt know betimes,
Nor wait the setting of to-morrow's sun.
21
But what shall best befit a brave man's hand.
[Exeunt Myk and the Burghers; the retinue of White-Hoods follow. Manent Van den Bosch, Occo, and Frans Ackerman.
Van den Bosch.
You see, Sirs, how the rogues take heart and rail
On this mishap.
Occo.
I saw both that and more;
Our White-Hoods looked like recreants faint with fright,
As though they knew not which to fear the most,
Thy rod and gallows-tree, or the Earl's block.
Peter, we're crumbling.
Van den Bosch.
You have judged aright.
But what can I? Our chiefs drop one by one;
Launoy, too truly, perish'd at Nivelle;
Le Clerc lies leaning up against a hedge
(Till some one dare go bury him) at Chem;
Your cousin fell with Launoy. Now, Van Ranst
And Lichtenvelde are good for men-at-arms,
But want the wit to govern a great town.
And I am good at arms, and want not wit;
But then I'm sore suspected of the rich,
By reason of my rudeness, and the fruit
Which that same gallows-tree of mine has borne:
And to say truth, although my wit be good,
It has a fitter range without the gates,
In ordering of an enterprise, than here.
22
And on its shoulders we must stick a head.
Occo.
Hast thou bethought thee of a man that's wise
And fit to bear this rule?
Van den Bosch.
Why such there be;
Though one that's wise would scarce be wise to take it.
What think'st thou, Frans? Canst pick me out a man
That, being wise, were willing?
Ackerman.
There's no game
So desperate that the wisest of the wise
Will not take freely up for love of power,
Or love of fame, or merely love of play.
These men are wise, and then reputed wise,
And so their great repute of wisdom grows,
Till for great wisdom a great price is bid,
And then their wisdom do they part withal:
Such men must still be tempted with high stakes.
Occo.
Tempt them and take them; true, there be such men;
Philip Van Artevelde is such a man.
Van den Bosch.
That is well thought of. Philip is the man.
Scene IV.
—The House Van Merestyn.Adriana Van Merestyn and Clara Van Artevelde.
Clara.
So you have dismissed the Lord of Occo?
Adriana.
Yes.
23
How many suitors have you discharged this morning?
Adriana.
How many?
Clara.
Yes. Was not Philip here?
Adriana.
He saw me through the lattice and stayed his horse an instant under the window.
Clara.
Was that all?
Adriana.
Yes—no—yes—I suppose so.
Clara.
Oh that maids would learn to speak the truth, or else to lie becomingly!
Adriana.
Do I not lie becomingly?—Well, 'tis from want of use. What should I say?
Clara.
What say? Had my sworn friend so questioned me,
And I been minded, maugre all our vows,
To coil my thoughts up in my secret self,
I with a brave and careless hardihood
Had graced the disavowal of my love.
Adriana.
But did I say I loved him not? Oh, God!
If I said that, I say since truth was truth
There never was a falsehood half so false.
I say I love him, and I say beside
That but to say I love him is as nought;
'Tis but a tithe and scantling of the truth;
And oh! how much I love him what can tell?
Not words—not tears—Heaven only knows how much,
And every evening when I say my prayers
I pray to be forgiven for the sin
24
Clara.
Well, God forgive you! for you answer now
Like a true maid and honest, though a sinning.
But tell me, if that's mention'd in your prayers,
For how much love has he to be forgiven?
Adriana.
Alas! I know not.
Clara.
Nay, but you can guess.
Adriana.
Oh I have guessed a thousand times too oft;
And sometimes I am hopeful as the dawn,
And up my fluttering heart is borne aloft
As high and gladsome as the lark, and then,
As meeting in mid-flight the fowler's shaft,
It comes plumb down with such a dead, dead fall.
Clara.
And all the while is he, I nothing doubt,
As wayward and as love-sick as yourself.
Adriana.
He love-sick! No—it may be that he loves,
But if he does, 'tis in no sickly sort.
His nerves are made of other cord than ours;
He strays as is his wont along the Lis,
A careless angler with his rod and line;
And when he told me he must come to-night,
And that he then would lay a burden down
Too long in silence borne, so calm and strong
His voice, I doubted if it could be love
He harboured in his thoughts.
Clara.
Oh! much the doubt!
But this I knew; I read it written large
When answering with your vacant No and Yes
25
Adriana.
But honestly,
What think you? Think you that it must be love
He comes to speak of?
Clara.
Well, 'tis either that
Or else to tell you of what fish he caught.
Adriana.
Oh, do not tease me, Sweet; I am not well;
I cannot frisk and gambol.
Clara.
As you please;
But if your love's so lamentable sick,
Nurse it yourself: I'll go.
Adriana.
With all my heart;
You're too light-headed for my company.
Clara.
Is it with all your heart? Then I'll not go,
Or else I'll take you with me. Come, I say;
Your garden has its troubles like yourself
And lacks your tendance; from the soft south-west
The winds have broken in, and many a flower
Looks ruffled and is hanging down its head
Since the bold kissing of those wild intruders.
Come then with me; the dew is on the grass,
Two snails are running races, and ere night
A frog that jumps and stares and stares and jumps,
A little frog, light-headed if you will,
But having eyes to see, will know which wins.
26
Scene V.
—The House Van Artevelde.Philip Van Artevelde and Father John of Heda.
Artevelde.
I never look'd that he should live so long.
He was a man of that unsleeping spirit,
He seem'd to live by miracle: his food
Was glory, which was poison to his mind
And peril to his body. He was one
Of many thousand such that die betimes,
Whose story is a fragment known to few;
Then comes the man who has the luck to live
And he's a prodigy. Weigh chance with chance
And deem there's ne'er a one in dangerous times
Who wins the race of glory, but than him
A thousand men more gloriously endowed
Have fallen upon the course; a thousand more
Have had their fortunes by haphazard wreck'd
Whilst lighter barks push'd past them; to whom add
A smaller tally, of the singular few
Who, gifted with predominating powers,
Bear yet a temperate will and keep the peace.
The world knows nothing of its greatest men.
Father John.
Had Launoy lived he might have passed for great,
But not by conquests in the Franc of Bruges.
The sphere, the scale of circumstance, is all
That makes the wonder of the many. Still
27
Were such as dazzled many a Flemish dame.
There'll some bright eyes in Ghent be dimm'd for him.
Artevelde.
They will be dim and then be bright again.
All is in busy, stirring, stormy motion,
And many a cloud drifts by and none sojourns.
Lightly is life laid down amongst us now,
And lightly is death mourn'd: a dusk star blinks
As fleets the rack, but look again, and lo!
In a wide solitude of wintry sky
Twinkles the re-illuminated star,
And all is out of sight that smirch'd the ray.
We have not time to mourn.
Father John.
The worse for us!
He that lacks time to mourn lacks time to mend.
Eternity mourns that. 'Tis an ill cure
For life's worst ills to have no time to feel them.
Where sorrow's held intrusive and turn'd out
There wisdom will not enter, nor true power,
Nor aught that dignifies humanity.
Yet such the barrenness of busy life!
From shelf to shelf Ambition clambers up
To reach the naked'st pinnacle of all,
Whilst Magnanimity, absolved from toil,
Reposes self-included at the base.
But this you know.
Artevelde.
Else had I little learn'd
From my much learn'd preceptor.
28
Artevelde.
Whence art thou?
Hast thou been idling in the market-place?
Canst tell whose chattels have been sold to-day
For payment of the White-Hoods?
Page.
Sir, I cannot;
'Tis at the house Van Merestyn I've been
To see the Lady Adriana.
Artevelde.
Her!
Well, and what said the damsel?
Page.
Sir, not much;
For Mistress Clara was her visitor,
And she said everything; she said it all.
Artevelde.
What was it that they spake of?
Page.
When I came
The talk was all of chivalry and love;
And presently arrived the Lord of Occo.
Artevelde.
And what was talk'd of then?
Page.
Oh! still the same.
The ladies praised him mightily for deeds
The fame whereof, far-spreading, should eclipse
Sir Rowland's and Sir Oliver's.
Artevelde.
Mark you that,
Good Father, mark you that! Hearts soft as wax
These damsels would be thought to bear about,
Yet ever is the bloodiest Knight the best.
Father John.
Oh, it is true. Full many a dame I've known
29
And shriek and wring her hands and rend her hair
To see her Lord brought wounded to the door—
Many to weep by day, at night lie down
The nightmare sole sad partner of their bed,
Rise up in horror to recount bad dreams
And seek to witches to interpret them,—
This oft I've known, but never knew I one
Who'd be content her Lord should live at home
In love and Christian charity and peace.
Artevelde.
And wherefore so? Because the women's heaven
Is vanity, and that is over all.
What's firiest still finds favour in their eyes;
What's noisiest keeps the entrance of their ears.
The noise and blaze of arms enchants them most:
Wit, too, and wisdom, that's admired of all,
They can admire—the glory, not the thing.
An unreflected light did never yet
Dazzle the vision feminine. For me,
Nor noise nor blaze attend my peaceful path;
Nor, were it otherwise, should I desire
That noise and blaze of mine won any heart.
Wherefore it is that I would fain possess,
If any, that which David wept,—a love
Passing the love of women.
Father John.
Deem you not
There may be one who so transcends her sex
30
Artevelde.
It may be I have deem'd or dream'd of such;
But what know I? We figure to ourselves
The thing we like, and then we build it up
As chance will have it, on the rock or sand:
For thought is tired of wandering o'er the world
And home-bound fancy runs her bark ashore.
Enter an Attendant.
Attendant.
Sir, here is Master Van den Bosch below
Desires to speak with you.
Artevelde.
To speak with me!
I marvel on what errand Van den Bosch
Can seek Van Artevelde. I come. So say.
Will you not stay?
Father John.
No, no, my son; farewell!
The very name of men like Van den Bosch
Sends me to prayers.
Scene VI.
—The Market-place, at the entrance of the Clothiers' Hall.The Provost of the Clothiers, with several Burghers and the Chaplain of that craft.
Provost.
Him! did ye say? choose him for Captain? So!
31
For ye shall find him stirring before noon;
The latest time o' the day is twelve o' the clock;
Then comes he forth his study with his book,
And looking off and on like parson preaching,
Delivers me his orders.
1st Burgher.
Nay, Provost, nay;
He is a worthy and a mild good man,
And we have need of such.
Chaplain.
He's what you say;
But 'tis not mildness of the man that rules
Makes the mild regimen.
Provost.
Who's to rule the fierce?
“I prithee, Van den Bosch, cut not that throat;
Roast not this man alive, or, for my sake,
If roast he must, not at so slow a fire;
Nor yet so hastily impale this other,
But give him time to ruminate and foretaste
So terrible an end.” Mild Philip thus
Shall read his lecture of humanity.
Chaplain.
Truly the tender mercies of the weak,
As of the wicked, are but cruel. Well;
Pass we within; the most of us are here,
And Heaven direct us to a just resolve!
[Exeunt all but two Burghers.
1st Burgher.
The scaffold, as I see, is newly wet.
Who was the last that suffer'd?
2nd Burgher.
What, to-day?
32
(God rest his soul!) can scarcely yet be dry
That suffer'd yesterday.
1st Burgher.
For treason was't?
2nd Burgher.
The treason of the times; the being rich;
His wealth was wanted.
1st Burgher.
Hath he not an heir?
2nd Burgher.
A bold one if he claim the inheritance.
Come, pass we in.
Scene VII.
—The House Van Artevelde.Artevelde and Van den Bosch.
Artevelde.
This is a mighty matter, Van den Bosch,
And much to be revolved ere it be answered.
Van den Bosch.
The people shall elect you with one voice.
I will ensure the White-Hoods, and the rest
Will eagerly accept your nomination,
So to be rid of some that they like less.
Your name is honour'd both of rich and poor;
For all are mindful of the glorious rule
Your father bore, when Flanders, prosperous then,
From end to end obey'd him as one town.
Artevelde.
They may remember it—and, Van den Bosch,
May I not too bethink me of the end
33
Of his good husbandry they gorged the fruits,
Till, drunk with long prosperity, and blind
With too much fatness, they tore up the root
From which their common weal had sprung and grown.
Van den Bosch.
Nay, Master Philip, let the past be past.
Artevelde.
Here on the doorstep of my father's house
The blood of his they spilt is seen no more;
But when I was a child I saw it there;
For so long as my widow-mother lived
Water might touch not that memorial stain.
She loved to show it me, and then with awe,
But hoarding still the purpose of revenge,
I heard the tale—which like a daily prayer
Repeated, to a rooted feeling grew—
How long he fought, how falsely came like friends
The villains Guisebert Grutt and Simon Bette,—
All the base murder of the one by many.
Even such a brutal multitude as they
Who slew my father, yea, who slew their own,
(For like one had he ruled them first and last)
Even such a multitude you'd have me sway.
Van den Bosch.
Why, what if Jacques Artevelde was killed?
He had his reign, and that for many a year,
And a great glory did he gain thereby.
And as for Guisebert Grutt and Simon Bette,
34
If you be as stout-hearted as your sire
And mindful of the villainous part they play'd,
Their hour of reckoning is well-nigh come.
Of that, and of this base false-hearted league
They're making with the Earl, these two to us
Shall give account.
Artevelde.
They cannot render back
The golden bowl that's broken at the fountain,
Or mend the wheel that's broken at the cistern,
Or twist again the silver cord that's loosed.
Yea, life for life, vile bankrupts as they are,
Their worthless lives for his of countless price,
Is their whole wherewithal to pay their debt.
Yet retribution is a child of grace,
And I could well baptize it in their blood.
Van den Bosch.
Then will I call the people to the Square
And speak for your election.
Artevelde.
Not so fast.
Your vessel, Van den Bosch, has felt the storm:
She rolls dismasted in an ugly swell,
And you would make a jury-mast of me
Whereon to spread the tatters of your sails.
And what am I?—I fain would be the oak
That, rooted in the vale of life apart,
Welcomes with equal breast each wind that blows,
Nor knows of fair and foul.
35
Ho! what is this?
I pray you, speak it in the Burghers' tongue;
I lack the scholarship to talk in tropes.
Artevelde.
Then view the matter naked as it stands:
Shall I, who, chary of tranquillity,
Not busy in this factious city's broils,
Nor frequent in the market-place, eschew'd
The even battle,—shall I join the rout?
Van den Bosch.
Times are sore changed, I see; there's none in Ghent
That answers to the name of Artevelde.
Your father did not carp nor question thus
When Ghent besought his aid. The days have been
When not a citizen drew breath in Ghent
But freely would have died in freedom's cause.
Artevelde.
With a good name the cause you christen. True;
In choice of despots is some freedom found,
The only freedom for this turbulent town,
Rule her who may. And in my father's time
We still were independent, if not free;
And wealth from independence, and from wealth
Enfranchisement, will partially proceed.
The cause, I grant you, Van den Bosch, is good;
And were I link'd to earth no otherwise
But that my whole heart centred in myself,
I could have toss'd you this poor life to play with,
Taking no second thought. But as things are,
36
And send you word betimes of my resolve.
Van den Bosch.
Betimes it must be; for some two hours hence
I meet the Deans of crafts, and ere we part
Our course must be determined.
Artevelde.
In two hours,
If I be for you, I will send this ring
In token I'm so minded. Fare you well.
Van den Bosch.
Philip Van Artevelde, a greater man
Than ever Ghent beheld we'll make of you,
If you be bold enough to try this venture.
God give you heart to do so, and farewell.
[Exit Van den Bosch.
Artevelde.
Is it vain-glory which thus whispers me
That 'tis ignoble to have led my life
In idle meditations—that the times
Demand me, echoing my father's name?
Oh! what a fiery heart was his! such souls
Whose sudden visitations daze the world,
Vanish like lightning, but they leave behind
A voice that in the distance far away
Wakens the slumbering ages. Father! Yes,
Thy life is eloquent, and more persuades
Unto dominion than thy death deters;
For that reminds me of a debt of blood
Descended with my patrimony to me,
Whose paying off would clear my soul's estate.
37
Clara.
Was some one here? I thought I heard you speak.
Artevelde.
You heard me speak?
Clara.
I surely thought I heard you,
Just now, as I came in.
Artevelde.
It may be so.
Clara.
Was no one here then?
Artevelde.
No one, as you see.
Clara.
Why then I trust the orator your tongue
Found favour with the audience your ears;
But this poor orator of mine finds none,
For all at once I see they droop and flag.
Will you not listen? I've a tale to tell.
Artevelde.
My fairest, sweetest, best beloved girl!
Who in the whole world would protect thy youth
If I were gone?
Clara.
Gone! where? what ails you, Philip?
Artevelde.
Nowhere, my love. Well, what have you to tell?
Clara.
When I came home, on entering the hall
I stared to see the household all before me.
There was the steward sitting on the bench,
His head upon his hands between his knees;
In the oak chair old Ursel sate upright
Swaying her body—so—from side to side,
Whilst maids and varlets stood disconsolate round.
38
Is Philip well? Yea, Madam, God be praised.
Then what dost look so gloomy for, my friend?
Alack a-day, the stork! then all chimed in,
The stork, the stork, the stork! What, he is sick?
No, Madam; sick!—he's gone—he's flown away!
Why then, quoth I, God speed him! speaking so
To raise their hearts, but they were all-too-heavy.
And, Philip, to say truth, I could have wish'd
This had not happen'd.
Artevelde.
I remember now,
I thought I miss'd his clatter all night long.
Clara.
Old Ursel says the sign proved never false
In all her time,—and she's so very old!
And then she says that Roger was esteem'd
The wisest stork in Ghent, and flew away
But twice before—the first time in the night
Before my father took that office up
Which proved so fatal in the end; and then
The second time, the night before he died.
Artevelde.
Sooner or later, something, it is certain,
Must bring men to their graves. Our every act
Is death's forerunner. It is but the date
That puzzles us to fix. My father lived
In that ill-omen'd office many a year,
And men had augur'd he must die at last
Without the stork to aid. If this be all
The wisest of his tribe can prophesy,
39
You have been visiting your friend to-day,—
The Lady Adriana.
Clara.
I come thence:
She is impatiently expecting you.
Artevelde.
Can she with such impatience flatter one
So slothful and obscure as Artevelde?
Clara.
How mean you?
Artevelde.
Clara, know I not your sex?
Is she not one of you? Are you not all,
All from the shade averse? All prompt and prone
To make your idol of the million's idol?
Had I been one of these rash White-Hood chiefs
Who live by military larceny,
Then might I well believe that she would wait
Impatiently my coming.
Clara.
There you're wrong;
She never loved the White-Hoods.
Artevelde.
She were wise
In that unloving humour to abide;
To wed a White-Hood, other ills apart,
Would put in jeopardy her fair possessions.
Fatal perchance it might be to her wealth;
Fatal it surely would be to her weal.
Farewell her peace, if such a one she loved.
Clara.
Go ask her, Philip,—ask her whom she loves,
And she will tell you it is no such man.
Why go you not?
40
My mind is not at ease.
Yet I am going—to my chamber now,
Where let me own an undisturb'd half hour
Of rumination;—afterward to her.
Scene VIII.
—The Market-place in front of the Stadt-House.Enter two of Van den Bosch's Officers, dragging a Burgher between them, and followed by an Executioner with an axe and a crowd of Citizens. A scaffold is seen at a distance.
1st Officer.
Where hast thou put it?
Burgher.
What? Put what—put what?
2nd Officer.
A few last words—where is it?
Burgher.
Mercy! what?
1st Officer.
Oh, very well! Come, clap his thumb in a winch.
Burgher.
No need of that—what is it that ye seek?
1st Officer.
Van Borselen's head. 'Twas sticking on that spike
At nine last night. Who took it thence but thou?
Burgher.
I never touch'd it.
2nd Officer.
Thou art next of kin,
And rightfully shouldst fill his vacancy.
1st Officer.
Thy head to his stands in a just succession.
Besides, they are as like as are two cherries.
41
2nd Officer.
Friend with the axe, come on!
[Exeunt all but two Citizens.
1st Citizen.
When will this end?
2nd Citizen.
When Van den Bosch . . .
1st Citizen.
Hush! Hush!
Scene IX.
—The Entrance-Hall of the House Van Merestyn.Enter Artevelde with Attendants.
Artevelde.
Bear thou these letters to my steward; say
That messengers must straight proceed with them
To Grammont and elsewhere, as superscribed;
And should mishap occur to any one
Upon the road, which is not over free,
I charge me with ten masses for his soul. (To another)
The Lord of Occo's counsel I will weigh;
So tell him, with my service and my thanks. (To the rest)
I will return alone. If any come
To seek me at my house, entreat their stay.
They withdraw, and a Waiting-Woman enters.
This, if I err not, is the pretty wench
That waits upon my Lady. What, fair maid!
Thy mistress, having comeliness to spare,
Hath given thee of it. She's within, I think,
Or else wert thou a truant.
42
Sir, she is.
Artevelde.
Acquaint her then that I attend her here.
[Exit Waiting-Woman.
There is but one thing that still harks me back.
To bring a cloud upon the summer's day
Of one so made for happiness and peace,—
It is a hard condition. For myself,
I know not that the circumstance of life,
Change how it may, can so far work within
As makes it much worth while to look before.
But she is younger,—of a sex beside
Whose spirits are to ours as flame to fire,
More sudden and more perishable too;
So that the gust which vivifies the one
Extinguishes the other. Oh, she is fair!
As fair as Heaven to look upon! as fair
As ever vision of the Virgin blest
That weary pilgrim, resting by the fount
Beneath the palm and dreaming to the tune
Of flowing waters, duped his soul withal.
It was permitted in my pilgrimage
To rest beside the fount beneath the tree,
Beholding there no vision, but a maid
Whose form was light and graceful as the palm,
Whose heart was pure and springing as the fount,
And spread a freshness and a verdure round.
This was permitted in my pilgrimage,
And loth am I to take my staff again.
43
Yet must my road be full of hazardous turns,
And they that walk with me must look to meet,
Not lions only in the path, but snakes.—
Danger from foes—a daylight danger that;
Danger from tyrants—that too is seen and known;
But jealous multitudes and envious friends—
In dusk to walk through endless ambuscades—
[A pause.
Still for myself, I fear not but that I,
Taking what comes, leaving what leave I must,
Could make a sturdy struggle through the world.
But for the maid, the choice were better far
To win her dear heart back again if lost,
And stake it upon some less dangerous throw.
Re-enter Waiting-Woman.
Waiting-Woman.
My Mistress, Sir, so please you, takes her walk
Along the garden terrace, and desires
That you'll go forth to meet her.
Artevelde.
For if Fate
Had done its best to single out a soul
Whose very birthright should ensure her—Ah!
The garden say you, and the terrace? So.
[Exit.
Waiting-Woman.
Now there's a man might make my Lady happy if he would but waken up. That's the
44
Scene X.
—A Garden.Artevelde and Adriana.
Artevelde.
I have some little overstayed my time.
First pardon me that trespass.
Adriana.
Yes, indeed;
I said to Clara when the sun went down,
Now if,—though truly 'tis impossible—
He come not ere yon blushing cloud grows gray,
His word itself is but a tinted cloud;
And look how gray it is!
Artevelde.
A hectic change.
The smiling dawn, the laughing blue-eyed day,
The graybeard eve incessantly pass on,
Fast fleeting generations, born of time
And buried in eternity—they pass,
And not a day resigns its little life
And enters into darkness, that can say,
“Lo! I was fair, and such as I have been
My issue shall be; Lo! I cast abroad
45
That what had been but goodly to the sight
Was made magnificent, what had been bare
Show'd forth a naked beauty—in all this
Was I thus rich, and that which I possess'd
To-morrow shall inherit.” False as hope!
To-morrow's heritage is cloud and storm.
Adriana.
Oh! what a moody moralist you grow!
Yet in the even-down letter you are right;
For Gerard, who is weather-wise, says true,
That when the sun sets red with the wind south
The morrow shall be stormy. What of that?
Oh! now I know; the fish won't take the bait.
'Tis marvellous the delight you take in fishing!
Were I to hang upon a river's edge
So tediously, angling, angling still,
The fiend that watches our impatient fits
Would sometime tempt me to jump headlong in.
And you—you cannot quit it for a day!
Have I not read your sadness?
Artevelde.
Have you so?
Oh! you are cunning to divine men's thoughts.
But come what may to-morrow, we have now
A tranquil hour, which let us entertain
As though it were the latest of its kind.
Adriana.
Why should we think it so?
Artevelde.
My gentle friend,
I trust that many such may come to you;
46
Were shooting o'er some verge, to make a short,
An angry and precipitate descent,
Thenceforward much tormented.
Adriana.
Why is this?
What can have fill'd you with such sad surmise?
You were not wont to speak despondently.
Artevelde.
Nor do I now despond. All my life long
I most have prized the man who knew himself,
And knew the ways before him, rough or smooth,
And from amongst them chose, not blindly brave,
But with considerate courage and calm will;
And, having chosen, with a steadfast mind
Pursued his purposes. I train'd myself
To take my place in high or low estate
As one of that scant order of mankind.
Wherefore, though I indulge no more the dream
Of living as I hoped I might have lived,
An inward life of temperate content,
Yet I repine not, and from this time forth
Will cast no look behind.
Adriana.
Oh, Artevelde!
What change has come since morning! Oh! how soon
The words and looks which spoke of joy and peace,
To me at least—how soon are they revoked!
But let them be—it matters not: I, too,
Will cast no look behind—Oh, if I should . . .
Artevelde.
Now see! ere aught is utter'd you run wild
47
If hitherto we have not said we loved,
Yet hath the heart of each declared its love
By all the tokens wherein love delights.
We heretofore have trusted in each other,
Too wholly have we trusted to have need
Of word or vow or pledge or plighted faith.
Where is it gone, that trust?
Adriana.
I trusted not;
I hoped and feared, doubted and hoped again,
Till this day, when I first breathed freelier,
Daring to trust—and now—O God, my heart!
It was not made to bear this agony—
Tell me you love me or you love me not!
Artevelde.
I love thee, dearest, with as large a love
As e'er was compass'd in the breast of man.
Hide then those tears, beloved, where thou wilt,
And find a resting-place for that so tost
And troubled heart of thine; sustain it here,
And be its flood of passion wept away.
Adriana.
What was it that you said then? If you love,
Why do you terrify me thus?
Artevelde.
Be calm;
And let me warn thee, ere thy choice be fix'd,
What fate thou mayst be wedded to with me.
Thou hast beheld me living heretofore
In staid tranquillity as one retired:
The dweller in the mountains, on whose ear
48
The seaman who sleeps sound upon the deck
Nor hears the loud lamenting of the blast
Nor heeds the weltering of the restless wave,—
These have not lived more undisturb'd than I:
But build not upon this; the swollen stream
May shake the cottage of the mountaineer
And drive him forth; the seaman roused at length
Leaps from his slumber on the wave-wash'd deck;
And now the time comes fast when here in Ghent
He who would live exempt from injuries
Of armed men, must be himself in arms.
This time is near for all,—nearer for me:
I will not wait upon necessity
And leave myself no choice of vantage ground,
But rather meet the times where best I may
And mould and fashion them as best I can.
Be warned then of the hazard and the cost,
The threatenings of the hour, the frowns of Fate,—
Yes, weigh them well, and in your own free choice
Take or reject me.
Adriana.
Say you my free choice?
Oh, Artevelde! my choice is free no more.
Be mine, all mine, let good or ill betide;
In war or peace, in sickness or in health,
In trouble and in danger and in distress,
Through time and through eternity, I'll love thee:
In youth and age, in life and death, I'll love thee,
49
So God accept me, as I never cease
From loving and adoring thee next Him;
And oh, may He pardon me if so betray'd
By mortal frailty as to love thee more.
Artevelde.
I fear, my Adriana, 'tis a rash
And passionate resolve that thou hast made:
But how should I admonish thee, myself
So great a winner by thy desperate play.
Heaven is o'er all, and unto Heaven I leave it;
That which has made me weak shall make me strong,
Weak to resist, strong to requite thy love;
And if some tax thou payest for that love,
Thou shalt receive it from Love's exchequer.
Farewell; I'm waited for ere this.
Adriana.
Farewell.
But take my signet-ring and give me thine,
That I may know when I have slept and waked
This was no false enchantment of a dream.
Artevelde.
My signet-ring? I have it not to-day:
But in its stead wear this around thy neck.
And now, my Adriana, my betroth'd,
Give Love a good night's rest within thy heart,
And bid him wake to-morrow calm and strong.
50
Scene XI.
—Bruges.—An Apartment in the Palace of the Earl of Flanders.The Earl and Sir Walter D'Arlon.
D'Arlon.
I marvel, my good Lord, you take that knave
So freely to your counsels.
Earl.
Treason done
Against my enemies secures him mine.
Ghent never can forgive him what is past,
Which knowing, he will therefore cleave to me.
Besides, he learns the minds of men; how each,
Here and in Ghent, is leaning, off or on.
For this and other serviceable arts
I show him favour, not for better gifts.
Have you not seen a jackdaw take his stand
On a sheep's back, permitted there to perch
Less out of kindness to so foul a bird
Than for commodious uses of his beak?
As to the sheep the jackdaw, so to me
Is Gilbert Matthew; from my fleece he picks
The vermin that molest me.—Here he comes!
Enter Gilbert Matthew.
Well, honest Gilbert, are the Knights not gone?
Gilbert.
Not yet, my Lord: they urge in lieu of lives
51
To fill your coffers. I denied them.
Earl.
Why?
I bade thee not!
Gilbert.
Lives, lives, my Lord, take freely,
But spare the lands and burgages and moneys.
The father dead, shall sleep and be forgotten;
The patrimony gone,—that makes a wound
That's slow to heal; heirs are above-ground ever.
Earl.
Well, be it so.
Gilbert.
The Knights wait here without.
They ask an audience of leave, and more,
They bring a new adherent.
Earl.
Bid them come.
Gilbert Matthew goes out, and returns with Sir Simon Bette and Sir Guisebert Grutt.
Sir Simon.
This audience we made bold to crave, my Lord,
To notify your Highness that our friend
The Lord of Occo, hazarding his life,
Hath ventured hither in disguise, to tell
How matters stand in Ghent.
Earl.
And does he wait?
Sir Simon.
He does; and with your leave I'll call him in
[Exit.
Earl.
But is he worth his pardon?
52
Past a doubt
He has his hand upon the balance now;
And free forgiveness for all past misdeeds
Will make him wholly yours.
Earl.
Well, we shall see.
'Tis no such urgent need we have of him;
But if he be so contrite, it is well. Re-enter Sir Simon Bette with Occo.
You're a bold man, my Lord of Occo, you
That have so long borne arms against your Liege,
Without safe-conduct to come hither.
Occo.
Sir,
My sole safe-conduct is the good intent
I bear to your affairs; nought else prevailed
To start me hither, and nought else, I trust,
Is needed for my safe return.
Earl.
Enough;
Thou shalt return in safety. Say, what news
Bring'st thou from Ghent?
Occo.
My Lord, peace, peace! is there
The only cry, except with desperate chiefs,
Who are so weak, that fair conditions now
Would draw their followers from them to a man.
Earl.
Our proffer of conditions is made known
Already to our good Sir Simon Bette
And Guisebert Grutt.
Sir Guisebert.
Indemnity to all
53
He names not now, but will hereafter.
Occo.
Well!
These terms are just and merciful indeed!
But then they must be promptly proffer'd; yes,
You know, my Lord, the humour we of Ghent
Have still indulged—we never cry for peace
But when we're out of breath; give breathing-time,
And ere the echo of our cry for peace
Have died away, we drown it with War! War!
Ev'n now the faction hopes to be redeem'd
By a new leader.
Earl.
What may be his name?
Occo.
Philip Van Artevelde.
Earl.
Thou say'st not so!
That is a name I like not; it means much.
Whenever sunshine has come near my house
An Artevelde has cast his shadow there.
I have not heard the name of Artevelde
Since that usurper Jacques died the death.
This Philip then, I think, was but a child.
What is he made of? Of his father's metal?
A dangerous man, in truth, Sirs, if he be.
Gilbert.
Oh, fear him not, my Lord; his father's name
Is all that from his father he derives.
He is a man of singular address
In catching river-fish. His life has been,
Till now, more like a peasant's or a monk's
54
Occo.
True;
Yet is his name so worshipp'd of the crafts,
That were the time permitted and the scope
To grow expert, some danger might ensue.
Wherefore 'twere well to note him on the list
Of those three hundred doomed.
Earl.
No doubt, no doubt.
Let him be noted. Think you, then, Sir Guy,
That they'll accept our terms, or still hold out?
Occo.
Let these good Knights make instant speed to Ghent
And call the burghers to the market-place;
Then let to-morrow at their bidding wear
The aspect of to-day, and all will thrive.
Take them whilst yet Nivelle is in their thoughts.
Earl.
You counsel well. Prepare, Sirs, to depart;
We'll have the terms engross'd and send them you.
Farewell, my Lord; farewell, Sir Simon Bette!
Sir Guisebert Grutt, farewell!
[Exeunt the Earl, Gilbert Matthew, Occo, and Sir Simon Bette. As Sir Guisebert Grutt is following he is detained by D'Arlon.
D'Arlon.
One word, fair Sir.
Sir Guisebert.
My good Lord, at your pleasure.
D'Arlon.
Only this:
I have a foolish errand in your town;
55
You will not heed me.
Sir Guisebert.
Pray proceed, my Lord;
I have not yet forgotten how in youth
A damsel's love, amongst the amorous,
Was more than bed of down or morning posset.
D'Arlon.
In brief, kind Sir, conveyance hence to Ghent
Is what I crave. Methinks amongst your train,
And habited like them, I well could pass
And no one mark me.
Sir Guisebert.
Sir, you're free to try;
And if our friends should still be uppermost
You will risk nothing. Should the faction reign,
You shall do well to keep your secret close
And make your best speed back.
D'Arlon.
Leave that to me.
56
ACT II.
Scene I.
—Ghent.—The House Van Artevelde.Artevelde and Van den Bosch.
Van den Bosch.
When they were brought together in the square,
I spake. I told them that they lack'd a chief;
For though they saw that dangers clipped them round,
Amongst their captains there was none could win
The love of all, but still some guild or craft
Would stone him if they might. I bade them think
How Jacques Artevelde from humblest state
Had borne this city up to sovereign sway,
And how his son had lived aloof from strife,
To none bore malice, and wish'd well to all.
With that they caught thy name and shouted much;
And some old men swore they remember'd well
In the good times of Jacques Artevelde,
When they were young, that all the world went right,
And after he was dead that they grew old;
And wenches who were there, said Artevelde
Was a sweet name and musical to hear.
In brief, for these and other grave regards
They were resolved to choose thee for their chief.
57
How he inclines to that you'd put upon him;
He hath no friends and favourites to reward;
He hath no adverse faction to repress;
Of what avail to him were power and place?
But nathless we'll entreat him.” “Bring him here!”
Was then the cry. “More meet it were, my friends,”
Quoth I, “that we go seek this noble youth;
On such high worth we humbly should attend,
And not expect such worth should wait on us.”
To this they gave assent, and they'll be here
So soon as all are muster'd.
Artevelde.
When they come
I'll tell them something of my mind.
Van den Bosch.
'Twere well.
Thou canst not miss to please them in this mood.
The trial will be after, when they flag
And want a long spur-rowel in their bellies.
Thou lack'st experience to deal with men;
Thou must take counsel.
Artevelde.
I will hear it. True;
It may be I have much to learn.
Van den Bosch.
Canst learn
To bear thee high amongst the Commons? Yea,
Canst thou be cruel? To be esteem'd of them,
Thou must not set more store by lives of men
Than lives of larks in season.
Artevelde.
Be it so.
58
Abide the messengers from Bruges?
Van den Bosch.
Last night
'Twas in the Clothiers' Square they lodged. Belike
They thought their houses not so safe.
Artevelde.
Why so?
Van den Bosch.
They enter'd by that side, and as they reach'd
Sir Simon's, a few sturdy knaves with pikes,
Whom I had planted there, with hasty zeal
Brake out before their time, and that with howls
That Bruges itself might hear.
Artevelde.
So they were warned.
Van den Bosch.
They gallop'd to the Square, the while their train
Stood fast and fought it out; and mark you this,—
One that was of them shouted in the fray
The D'Arlon's war-cry, whence he may be known
Of that Lord's following, and wherefore here
We well may guess.
Artevelde.
Had he been slain 'twere well;
Had others been 'twere not. If I rule Ghent,
No man shall charge me that his life or goods
Are less secure than mine, so he but keep
The laws that I have made. Believe me, friend,
Thy scheme of rule works wastefully, self-sapped.
To make the needy and the desperate thine
Thou gav'st them up the plunder of the rich;
59
Raise up a host against thee, whereupon,
No spoil remaining, thy good friends depart.
Van den Bosch.
God's curse go with them!
Artevelde.
Like enough it may;
They've carried it about these five long years;
They took it with them to the peasant's hut,
They took it with them to the burgher's stall;
A roving curse, it followed at their heels,
And with them it will like enough abide.
Van den Bosch.
Hark! here they come.
[Shouts of “Artevelde!” are heard from without.
Out, show thyself! Out, out!
Scene II.
—The Street in front of Artevelde's House.Enter a multitude, led by Frans Ackerman, and the Deans of sundry Crafts.
1st Dean.
Well said, Sirs! Shout again.
Frans Ackerman.
Silence! Enough. There is a time for shouting and bellowing, and there is a time for speaking with our tongues like men and Christians. He will be here anon; and know ye what ye shall say to him? Know ye what ye would have? Know ye your own minds?
A Burgher.
We know our own minds, Sir, indifferently; but you know them better.
60
We would have a man to rule us, and not to rob us.
3rd Burgher.
Right, right!
4th Burgher.
Rob thee, truly! Rob a scarecrow! What should he get by robbing thee?
2nd Burgher.
What thou shalt get in a minute, this dirk betwixt his ribs.
Frans Ackerman.
Silence! He's here.
Enter Van Artevelde and Van den Bosch.
Artevelde.
Well met, good Sirs: what brings you here? If aught
Wherein I can befriend you, speak your minds,
Or let one speak, and should he speak aright
Hold up your hands, that so I may receive
His words as yours.
Several Voices.
Frans Ackerman shall speak.
Frans Ackerman.
Sir, they are pleased to make a mouth of me;
And it behoves me first to bid you know
What manner of men they are. Sir, to say truth,
These men are honest; yea, and wise as honest;
And more, they're men of substance, pay their debts,
Live peaceably with all men, in good will
Like brothers. But this town is full of strife;
All men are not like these, who find it hard,
Though turning t'other cheek as is their wont,
61
And some of them remember, in time past,
When that your glorious father ruled the town,
The streets were like a church: no quarrels, brawls,
Nor no man dared so much as lay his hand
Upon his weapon. As the father is,
So is the son. They say that would you deign
To rule supreme in Ghent, the strife within
Would cease, and all our roisterers be thrown
Upon the foe without. If this their suit
You should be pleased to grant, most proud were they
To serve a chief so gracious and so good.
Artevelde.
If this be your desire, hold up your hands.
[They hold up their hands.
So—if my sight deceive me not, all hands
Are held aloft. To all, then, this reply:
I thank you for the trust and good respect
In which you hold me; Sirs, I thank you all.
You say that for the love my father bore
To you, and you to him, you'd fain have me
What he was once—your Captain. Verily,
I think ye do not well remember, Sirs,
The end of all the love 'twixt you and him.
He was the noblest and the wisest man
That ever ruled in Ghent; yet, Sirs, ye slew him;
By his own door, here where I stand, ye slew him.
What then am I to look for from your loves?
If the like trust ye should repose in me,
62
That were an ill reward.
Several Burgesses.
Nay, Master Philip!
Artevelde.
Oh, Sirs, ye look not to such end, I know;
Nor may it be yourselves that bring it round:
But he who rules must needs be grudged of some,
And safeguard from the many should he find
So long as he shall serve the many well.
Sirs, to that end his power must be maintain'd;
The power of peace and war, of life and death,
He must have absolute. How say ye, Sirs?
Will ye bestow this power on me? if so,
Shout “Artevelde!” and ye may add to that,
“Captain of Ghent!”—if not, go straightway home.
[All shout “Artevelde, Captain of Ghent!”
Artevelde.
So be it.
Now listen to your Captain's first command.
It has been heretofore the use of some
On each cross accident, within, without,
To cry aloud for peace. This may not be;
It much unsettles brave men's minds, disturbs
The counsels of the wise, and daunts the weak.
Wherefore my pleasure is, and I decree,
That whoso shall but talk of terms of peace
From this time forth, save in my private ear,
Be deem'd a traitor to the town of Ghent
And me its Captain; and a traitor's death
Shall that man die.
63
He shall, he shall, he shall!
We'll kill the slave outright.
Artevelde.
At my command,
Not otherwise; for mark me further thus:
If any citizen shall slay another
Without my warranty by word or sign,
Although that slayer be as true as steel,
This other treacherous as Iscariot's self,
The punishment is death.
[A pause.
Ye speak no word.
What do we fight for, friends? for liberty?
What is that liberty for which we fight?
Is it the liberty to slay each other?
Then better were it we had back again
Roger d'Auterne, the bailiff. No, my friends,
It is the liberty to choose our chief
And bow to none beside. Now ye choose me,
And in that choice let each man rest assured
That none but I shall dare to judge him: yes,
Whoso spills blood without my warranty,
High man or low, rich man or poor, shall die.
Burgesses.
The man shall die; he shall deserve to die!
We'll kill him on the spot, and that is law.
Artevelde.
Hold, hold, my friends! ye are too hasty here,
You shall not kill him; 'tis the headsman's part,
Who first must have my warrant for his death.
Burgesses.
Kill him who likes, the man shall die; that's law.
64
What further knowledge of my rules ye need
Ye peradventure may obtain, my friends,
More aptly from my practice than my speech.
Now to the Stadt-house—bring the litter—There
The deans of crafts shall do me homage.
Van den Bosch.
Ho!
Bring ye the litter. Stand apart, good Sirs!
And now, let's hear your voices as ye go.
Scene III.
The House Van Merestyn.Sir Walter D'Arlon and Clara Van Artevelde, she binding up his arm, which is wounded.
Clara.
Rude Knight, you come to see your ladye love,
And cannot stay your stomach for an hour
But you must fight i' the street. Your hungry sword—
Could it keep Lent no longer? By my faith,
You shall do penance at your lady's feet
The live-long night for this.
D'Arlon.
Nay, cry you mercy!
'Twere a sharp trial, one man to keep Lent
Whilst all around kept carnival; the sin
Was in the stomachs of your citizens:
But I will do the penance not the less.
Clara.
Come, come! confess yourself; make a clean breast;
65
To kill for her dear love a score of burghers.
Nay,—never cross yourself—'tis Gospel truth.
Hold up this arm—alas! there was a time
When Knights were true and constant to their loves
And had but one a-piece—an honest time;
Knights were Knights then: God mend the age, say I!
True as the steel upon their backs were they,
And their one lady's word was law. Ah, well!
Would I had lived a hundred years ago!
D'Arlon.
Could you live backward for a hundred years,
And then live on a hundred years to come,
You'd not find one to love you in more truth
Than I have loved.
Clara.
What, what! no truer Knight?
A seemly word, forsooth! Hast many more?
No truer knight!—'Tis thus you great Lords live
With flatterers round you all your golden youth,
And know yourselves as much as I know Puck—
Your heads so many bee-hives; honey'd words
Swarm in your ears, and others from your mouth
Go buzzing out to ply for sweets abroad;
And so your summer wastes, till some cold night
The cunning husbandman comes stealthily
And there is fire and brimstone for my Lords!
Hold up this arm—let go my hand, I say!
Am I to tie your bandage with my teeth?
66
Adriana.
My Lord—good heaven! Your arm—I fear you're hurt.
Clara.
Hold, hush! I'll answer for you. Just a scratch;
A scratch, fair lady,—that and nothing more.
It gives us no concern; we got it thus:
Riding along the streets of this good town,
A score of burghers met us, peaceful drones—
Saying their prayers, belike; howe'er that be,
The senseless sinners were so rapt and lost,
They heeded not our Lordship: whereat we,
Unused to such demeanour, shook ourselves,
And prick'd them with our lance; a fray ensued,
And lo! as we were slaying some fourteen
That stayed our passage, it pleased Providence,
Of whom the meanest may be instruments,
Thus gently to chastise us on the arm,
Doubtless for some good cause, tho' Heaven knows what.
Adriana.
My Lord, you know her; she is ever thus,—
Still driving things against you to your face,
And when you're gone, if I should chance let fall
A word, or but a hint of censure, as—
My Lord of Arlon is too rash, too hot,
Too anything—
Clara.
She sighs and says, too true.
67
No, verily. But why, my Lord, come here
At nothing less than peril of your life,
Only to hear her rail?
Clara.
Yes, tell us why.
D'Arlon.
Not only that to-day, though till to-day
That was enough. But here is one whose weal
Has charged me with an errand of less love
But graver import. Is't not? Yes, 'tis he!
Enter Artevelde.
Artevelde
(as he enters).
Let my guard wait without.
Clara.
His guard! What's this?
Artevelde.
My Lord of Arlon, God be with you ever,
And guide you upon less adventurous tracks
Than this you tread. I'll speak with you anon.
My Adriana! victim that thou art!
Thy lover should have been some gentle youth
In gay attire, with laughter on his lips,
Who'd nestle in thy bosom all night long,
And ne'er let harness clink upon thine ears
Save only in romaunt and roundelay.
Such is what should be, and behold what is!
A man of many cares new taken up,
To whom there's nothing more can come in life
But what is serious and solicitous:
One who betakes him to his nuptial bed,
His thoughts still busy with the watch and ward,
68
Starts and believes the bells ring backwards: yes,
A man begirt with eighty thousand swords,
Scarce knowing which are in the hands of friends
And which against him; such a sort of man
Thy lover is, his fate for life or death
Link'd to a cause which some deem doomed and lost.
Such is Van Artevelde, for he is now
Chief Captain of the White-Hoods and of Ghent.
Clara.
Nay! is it even so?
Artevelde.
Even so it is.
Adriana.
And you are Captain of these savages!
And you will trample with them through the blood
Of fellow-men,—alas it may be, too,
Of fellow-citizens—for what care they?
And you, the gentle-hearted and the good,
Must lead these monsters where they will!
Artevelde.
Not so;
I purpose but to lead them where I will.
Adriana.
Then they will turn upon you; never yet
Would they endure a Chief that cross'd their mood.
Artevelde.
That is the patience they've to learn from me.
The times have tamed them, and mischance of late
Has forced an iron bit between their teeth
By help whereof I hope to rein them round.
Clara.
Oh, they will murder you!
Artevelde.
It may be so,
69
That they shall murder me ere make me go
The way that is not my way for an inch.
Adriana.
Alas! and is it come to this!—Oh God!
Artevelde.
This I foresaw, and things have fallen out
No worse than I forewarn'd you that they might.
The course I follow is a course ordained;
For I feel that within me which accords
With what I have to do. The field is fair,
And I have no perplexity or cloud
Upon my vision. Everything is clear.
And take this with you for your comfort too—
That man is not the most in tribulation
Who, resolute of mind, walks his own way,
With answerable skill to plant his steps.
Men in their places are the men that stand,
And I am strong and stable on my legs;
For though full many a care from this time forth
Must harbour in my head, my heart is fresh,
And there is but one trouble touches it,
The fate foreshown for you.
Adriana.
For me? What fate
Could e'er be nobler? Vex not your heart for that,
Nor think of me so all unworthily,
Nor fancy for me fears I have not: no,
In either fortune to be with you still,
Still to be with you is the single joy
Can find henceforth a corner in my heart;
70
In weal or woe or danger or distress,
In all mishaps or mischiefs that befall you,
In all temptations when bad men beset you,
In all the tempests that must now rave round you,
And, should they wreck you, in the hour of death.
If your ambition, late aroused, was that
Which push'd you on this perilous attempt,
Then I will be ambitious too; if not,
And 'twas but your ill-fortune, be it so;
Then I will be unfortunate no less.
In that will I be like you, and all else
Wherein a woman may; what once I prized,
Serenity, contentment, heavenly peace,
God's blessings on my earlier years bestow'd
I fling them to the winds nor heed their loss,
So that your love outlast them.
Artevelde.
Bride in life,
And bride in death, if bridals then may be,
The last of love for thee were last of all
That through this passage of mortality
Lights on my soul to Heaven. All will be well;
Much happiness shall be thy portion yet;
Love will be with thee, breathing his native air,
And peace around thee through the power of love.
Bring me but through the business of this day—
My Lord, your pardon; we consume your time,
Which, I'm constrained to say, is short in Ghent.
71
And kept the secret of your sojourns here;
So doing, partly for respect to you,
And partly for her sake, this foolish girl's,
My pretty Clara's, who will let me say
I had not pleased her else; but now, my Lord,
As you have heard, I hold an office here
With duties appertaining, and must needs
(With sorrow for your sudden going hence)
Proffer my passport,—good till set of sun.
D'Arlon.
If no discourtesy is meant by this
I have but to depart.
Clara.
Depart! and why?
Artevelde.
There's nothing meant but honour, nothing else,
Howe'er to rude appearances enforced.
When there is peace between the Earl and Ghent
'Twill be a joy to me to see again
The gallant Lord of Arlon; till that time
We meet not, save in hostile ranks opposed,
Or captive, I in Bruges or he in Ghent.
D'Arlon.
Sir, it is not for me to say you nay
In a strange town, and all the town your own;
Nor would I willingly distrust your word
That all is honourably meant; for else
I scarce should miss to find a future time
For fair requital.
Artevelde.
On my faith, my Lord,
72
D'Arlon.
'Tis enough.
Then I depart in peace.
Clara.
Depart! what's this?
What's all the coil about? Say you, depart?
That's when I bid him, not an hour before.
Dismiss him thus, and ne'er to come again!
Then what becomes of me? Oh, I'm a child!
I'm to be whipp'd for crying after him?
But let me tell you, Philip, I'm the child
Of Jacques Artevelde—So look well to it.
An injury to myself I might forgive,
But one to D'Arlon—
[Bursting into tears.
Sir, think twice of that,
Lest you should lose a sister unawares.
D'Arlon.
Nay, Clara, nay, be not so troubled.
Artevelde.
There—
You see the humour she is of, my Lord;
But be my sins confess'd, the fault is mine.
An orphan sister and an only one,
What could I less but let her have her will
In all things possible? An easy man
She still has found me, and knows nothing yet
Of opposition to her high commands.
You, if you e'er should take her to yourself,
May teach her better doctrine. Dry these tears,
Clara, my love; nor let this Knight discern
His future trials thus presignified
73
Clara
(weeping).
When will he come again?
Artevelde.
When peace comes; yes,
We'll make him welcome then to bower and hall,
And thou shalt twine a garland for his brow
Of olive and of laurels won from me.
D'Arlon.
Be pacified, sweet Clara; dry your tears.
He but deals with me as he has the right
And deems himself in duty bound; such things
Shall jar no string between us.
Artevelde.
Nobly said.
I leave her in your hands, and hope your aid
For bringing her to reason.
D'Arlon.
I entreat
One word in private with you ere we part.
Artevelde.
Take in my sister, Adriana—go,
Impart to her a portion of that strength
Whereby your spirit, ruler of itself,
Rules what betides it: teach her to subdue
Her woman's wifulness.
[Exeunt Adriana and Clara.
D'Arlon.
My errand here
Is not so wholly idle as no doubt
You deem it. I would first have warned you off
The office which, with most unhappy haste,
Already you have clutch'd. Since that is vain
I next would bid you to beware false friends;
Look that there be no treason in your camp;
74
'Twill be your life you fight for.
Artevelde.
Gallant friend,
It is a grief to me that we should meet
In opposition thus. I'll look around
And profit by your warning if I may.
Trust me, 'twould irk my heart no less than yours
(And may this show in all my acts henceforth!)
To enter in alliance with foul play
For any earthly meed. Sir, fare you well.
D'Arlon.
Whenso' the choice and noblest of my friends
Are bid to memory's feast, then, Artevelde,
The place of honour shall be yours. Farewell.
[Exit.
Enter the Captain of Artevelde's Guard.
Captain.
Sir, there's a messenger from Van den Bosch
Who craves to see you instantly: another
Says the Lord Occo waits your leisure.
Artevelde
(after a pause).
Ha!
Lord Occo, saidst thou? Tell me, what of him?
Captain.
He waits your leisure, Sir.
Artevelde.
And when comes that?
He shall not wait my leisure. And what more?
Captain.
Sir, Van den Bosch would see you.
Artevelde.
So he shall:
I will attend the Lord of Occo first,
And Van den Bosch shall find me at my house
75
Captain.
The citizens are trooping to the Square.
'Tis said Sir Simon and Sir Guisebert pass
From door to door incessantly.
Artevelde.
To beg?
Captain.
To gain a strong attendance.
Artevelde.
Woe the while!
A bear, a fiddle, and a pair of apes
Had sped the service better. Well; what else?
Captain.
Both mean and notable and rich and poor
Have they solicited, assuring all
That when it shall be heard what terms of peace
Are offer'd, they will hug the messengers
That after painful travail for their love
Have brought them such good tidings.
Artevelde.
Hug them? Ay,
With such a hugging as shall stop their breath.
But what! Thou look'st not over cheerily;
Think'st thou the Knights have made some way then, ha?
Captain.
The deacons of eight crafts have ta'en their part,
And many of the aldermen.
Artevelde.
Is't so?
Captain.
And all the men of lineage.
Artevelde.
As thou hearest.
Captain.
The citizens pass'd by me in the street
By scores and hundreds, and of them I saw
The most were plainly not for us.
76
Build up,
And then pull down, and then again build up,—
And always in the ruins some are—Well?
Captain.
And I'm afeared, though loth to think it, some
Amongst your guard have fallen from their faith
At seeing us outnumbered thus.
Artevelde.
Is't so?
Why, wherefore should I wish that it were not?
The more faint hearts fall off the better; so
Sick fear shall purge us to a sounder health.
Now to the Lord of Occo. Follow thou
With such as follow me; the rest discard.
Scene IV.
—The Dwelling-house of the Lord of Occo.Occo and Van Aeswyn.
Occo.
The mariners, then, are for us?
Aeswyn.
They are ours.
Occo.
And these are of the curriers that thou bring'st?
Aeswyn.
The deacons of that craft—they're backward still:
They're ever harping upon Artevelde,
Who told their worships when they took the oath
If his poor humour govern'd, nothing else
But leathern jerkins should be worn in Ghent.
Occo.
We'll deal with them as with the fullers; go
And bring them in.
[Exit Van Aeswyn.
77
These precious moments must be given to you!
The Devil curry you for senseless boors!
Re-enter Van Aeswyn with the two Craftsmen.
Good morrow, Masters—Ha! my valued friend,
Jacob Van Ryk; and if mine eyes see true,
Master—
Aeswyn.
Van Muck.
Occo.
Tush, tush, Sir! tell not me;
Have I forgotten my old friend Van Muck,
Or any of my friends?—though time is short
And we must scant our greetings. Worthy Sirs,
We're in a perilous predicament,
And I should take no step without advice.
Rash were it, and a tempting Providence,
Should I proceed without consulting you.
We see, Sirs, we must see, we can't but own,
That we have no choice left us but of peace
Or else destruction. It is come to that.
Then if we must be subject to the Earl,
I will confess I'm not so subtle-witted
To see much difference 'twixt this hour and that,
The going over to him now at once
With flesh upon our bones, or holding back
Till famine wastes it or steel hacks it off:
I see no difference.
Van Muck.
Truly, Sir, nor I.
78
Ay, but there is a difference, my friends,
Which I forgot. For, hark you in your ear!
Those who go over but when all go over,
If they escape from pains and penalties,
Can scarcely claim much merit with the Earl;
But they who find a guidance for themselves,
Who take a step or two before the herd,
Whilst the will's free. who lead, not follow,—these
Have rightful claims; yes, boldly these may say
Reward us, for the first and foremost we;
Nor will they be unanswer'd, that I know:
“First serve the first,” is what they say at Bruges.
Van Ryk.
'Tis a good proverb, Sir, for early men;
And we have ne'er been slack in things of credit;
But we have scruples here. We see it thus:
If we should but shout peace with half the town
The Earl would scarce take count of us; again,
Should we make haste in raising of our hands
Against our friends, they'd call us renegades,
And blacken us for false and treacherous knaves.
Occo.
Why, look ye now; too surely, should ye shout,
And fail in action, 'twere no singular service;
There's no great guerdon were deserved by that;
The clerkships of the wards (which after peace
Must be new fill'd) would not be won by shouts:
But where's the treachery? My worthy friends,
Look at the matter simply as it is:
Here is a town beleaguer'd in such wise
79
Then come a lot of desperate-minded men,
Who, deeming the rendition gives up them
To punishment, make head against the rest:
These think no shame to say that all must die
To save their one—two—three—half-dozen heads
From certain hazards. Why if fall they must,
And they would rather 'twere by steel than cord,
Let them assail us and let us be men!
Are we not free to choose 'twixt peace and war?
They—they it is that are so treacherous—they,
Who would betray a city to its doom
For private and particular ends of theirs.
Then let us rally round the public weal
And link our names with that.
Van Ryk.
The city's weal
Doth one way beckon us, it must be own'd;
But some of us there are that but last night
Swore fealty to Artevelde.
Occo.
What then?
That was but for the war—not knowing then
That it was ended by your deputies
And peace concluded: answer not so idly.
Swore ye not fealty to the Earl before?
Come, come, my friends—we're all as one, I see;
And let me tell you that the whole of Ghent,
Almost the whole, is minded like yourselves.
Strange is it men shall meditate and muse
80
Till a blow's struck, and then they speak it out,
And each man finds in each his counterpart,
And, as a sluice were opened, all shall rush
To find the self-same level and pour on
To the same end. But I forgot, my friends;
We have to think of what particular mark
Should first be aim'd at when the blow is struck.
Van Ryk.
So please you, Sir, a cast at Van den Bosch
Were not amiss, methinks.
Occo.
Well shot, Van Ryk;
But yet not quite the bull's eye.
Van Muck.
By the mass,
He's shot the bull he had his horns of—Ha!
What will Dame Oda say to thee?
Van Ryk.
Come, come!
If that's our archery, Frans Fleisch for thee.
Occo.
My friends, we'll settle all such scores at will.
But is not Ghent more precious than our wives?
And who debauches her? When she was fain
To creep into her long-left Lord's embrace,
Who came at night and whistled her away?
This is the aggravation that most stirs
The choler of the Earl. The other Chiefs,
Men that by accidents and long degrees
Became entangled in rebellion,—them
He can forgive; but he that plunged plump in
And so new troubled what was settling down,
81
Whoso brings down that head has hit a mark
That's worth five hundred crowns. What say you, friends?
Who strikes a good stroke with his sword for this?
[A pause.
To speak it with no mincing of the sense,
Van Artevelde, you understand, must die;
His life the Earl must have. Who hath the guerdon
Is not of moment save to them that get it;
But truly were the money on my head,
And I as sure to die as Artevelde,
I'd rather men like you should win the prize
Than see it snatch'd by luck; when die we must,
'Tis better that thereby good men should thrive
Than snatchers.
Van Ryk.
Saving your displeasure, Sir,
'Tis said good men ne'er thrive but by good deeds.
Now, were it but the slaying Van den Bosch,
Or Peter Nuitre, or Frans Ackerman,
There's husbands, widows, orphans, all through Ghent
Would say the deed was good: but Artevelde
Has, as it were, a creditable name,
And men would say we struck not for revenge
But only lucre, which were scandalous;
And also, Sir—
Occo
(to a Serving-man who enters).
What, sirrah?—Speak—what now?
[The Serving-man whispers him.
82
Not now—not now?
Serving-man.
Now, instantly, my Lord.
Occo.
Masters, I wish you both good-day—good-day,
God prosper thee, Van Ryk—Van Muck, farewell.
Why op'st thou not the door, thou villain groom?
Think'st thou the burgesses have time to lose?
Farewell at once, Sirs—not to keep you here
When things are all so stirring in the town;
You're needed at your posts, I know; farewell.
Van Ryk.
My Lord, as touching these five hundred crowns—
Occo.
Just as ye will, Sirs—any way ye please;
I bid God speed you, and so fare ye well.
Van Ryk.
If you would take four hundred from the five,
And set the residue on Van den Bosch,
His head I'd bring you in for that much coin,
And Ackerman's for love and pure good-will.
Van Muck.
And Sir, as touching Artevelde—
Occo.
Nay, nay,
I will not press it further.
Van Muck.
If the crowns—
Occo.
Peace, on your lives, he's here!
Enter Artevelde.
Artevelde.
My Lord of Occo, at your pleasure. Ha!
Attended, too, as I could wish. God's love!
83
Better accompanied,—no, nor a foe
Better encounter'd, than by men like these.
Jacob Van Ryk, my father loved you much;
No man knew better, Jacob, none than he,
Who were the worthiest of his love and trust,
And I, thou seest, have mounted to his seat.
How the old times come back upon me now!
I was a very little prating child
When thou wert of his escort to and fro
From post to pillar: it was always thou
Whom he would choose from them that brought him home
To ask thy company; and in thine arms
He oft would put me for his more repose,
For I was stillest there. Times change, Van Ryk;
Years shift us up and down; but something sticks;
And for myself, there's nothing as a man
That I love more than what my childhood loved.
Honest Van Muck, thy hand—thou look'st abash'd—
Ah, thou bethink'st thee of thy little debt,
The money that I lent thee for the close.
Why, what of that, man? Didst thou ever hear
An Artevelde would hurt his friend for gold?
Thy debt is cancell'd—think of it no more;
Thou shalt look boldly upward in the world
And care for no man. I will settle that
This instant with a writing.
Occo.
By your leave,
84
They are incontinently going hence;
You will forgive their haste, they cannot stay;
Open the doors. Good-day, Sirs, once again.
Van Muck.
Master Van Artevelde, I'm your debtor more
Than ever I was yet. God guard you, Sir,
And specially in your perils near at hand!
Van Ryk.
Master Van Artevelde, God grant you grace
To read men's hearts,—the gift your father had.
Look for your friends amongst the Commons ever;
An 'twere not for Lord Occo standing here,
I'd bid you trust in ne'er a Lord of Ghent.
[Exeunt the Craftsmen.
Artevelde
(after a pause).
These are ambiguous knaves.
Occo.
True craftsmen both!
Ever suspicious of nobility.
Artevelde.
That am not I. You had some news to tell,
So your Lieutenant said.
Occo.
Intelligence
Has reach'd me of the terms the Earl will grant;
A guarantee of franchises and rights
Conditional on some three hundred souls
Being surrender'd to his mercy.
Artevelde.
Ay;
Of whom then is this number?
Occo.
Whom the Earl
May please to name hereafter; but meanwhile
85
And what is worthiest note, upon the file
Your name appears not.
Artevelde.
By my faith, that's strange!
But are the tidings sure?
Occo.
Beyond all doubt.
Artevelde.
How came you by them, if they be so sure?
Occo.
They're rumour'd—confidently rumour'd—Nay,
I had them also from my spies at Bruges;
A most sagacious spy—he saw the lists;
He never vet deceived me—there's no doubt.
Artevelde.
And what do you advise, if this be truth?
Occo.
Why, if the town be obstinately bent
On making peace, my counsel to yourself,
Whose life peace places not in jeopardy,
Would be to leave the forward part to us
Whose only safety lies in holding out;
So that, if we should fall, you still may stand,
Whatever turn things take. And bear in mind,
If there be danger and the crafts revolt,
To throw yourself among the mariners:
There's none of all the crafts so wholly with us?
Artevelde.
With which of us, my Lord?
Occo.
With one and all.
Artevelde.
Ay, say you so? And my part, as you think,
Is to stand back and see you play the game.
I have a notion of a leader's part
That looks another way. Your counsel asked
86
Now I will give you mine; and be you pleased
To profit in like sort lest worse befall you
I too have had my spies upon the watch,
And what they brought me sounded in my ears
A note of warning link'd with names well known,
Now known for traitors' names. I hereupon
Took order for a numerous company
Selected for their hardihood and faith
To be for ever close upon the heels
Of these same traitors at all guild-assemblies,
And use their weapons on a sign from me.
Which matters recommending to your care
I counsel you to stay at home. Farewell.
[Exit.
Enter Van Aeswyn.
Aeswyn.
My Lord, Sir Guisebert is impatient much,
And sends one message on another's heels
To ask why tarry you?
Occo.
I am not well.
Aeswyn.
But they must needs set forth at once; ere this
The market-place is full; they cannot wait.
Occo.
Hark you! he knows it all.
Aeswyn.
Van Artevelde?
Occo.
Knows everything.
Aeswyn.
And what is to be done?
Occo.
I'm ill at ease; I know not; what think'st thou?
87
If he but knew it half-an-hour too soon,
His knowledge is of small account.
Occo.
God's death!
But who can tell how long he's known it—nay,
How many he have practised with and gain'd—
How many may have falsely seem'd to swerve
By his direction, only to delude
And so embolden me to my defeat.
I would this hour were over!
Aeswyn.
Choose your course;
Take one part or the other, lest it pass,
And leave you ruined both ways.
Occo.
Ruin'd! Ruin'd!
He told me if I ventured to the Square
His followers should slay me.
Aeswyn.
Yours may him;
'Tis a fair challenge, let us fight it out.
Occo.
Why, that is bravely said. Then be it so;
Thou shalt have warranty to fight it out;
And if we're beaten, I shall stand prepared
To fly to Bruges with any that way bent.
And hark you, friend! not empty-handed, no,
We'll take what's worth our ransom ten times told,—
A damsel whom thou wot'st of. Pick me out
Ten of the sturdiest of my body-guard,
Van Truckler and Van Linden at their head;
Bid them have horses and a litter near.
Shouldst thou be worsted in the market-place
88
Till thou mayst reach the gates. God speed thee well!
[Exit.
Aeswyn.
The dastard! when the service touches life
The follower must lead, and venture all
For him that ventures nothing. Are we fools?
Scene V.
—The House Van Artevelde.—Artevelde and the Page.Artevelde.
Not to be fear'd—Give me my sword! Go forth,
And see what folk be these that throng the street.
[Exit Page.
Not to be fear'd is to be nothing here:
And wherefore have I taken up this charge
If I be nothing in it? There they go.
[Shouts are heard.
Of them that pass my house some shout my name,
But the most part pass silently; and once
I heard the cry of “Flanders and the Lion.”
Re-enter Page.
Page.
The Knights that newly have arrived from Bruges
Pass down the street, my Lord, with many more.
Artevelde.
Give me my cloak and dagger! There, enough—
Thy service is perform'd. Go to thy sports,
But come not near the market-place to-day.
[Exit Page.
To be the chief of honourable men
89
Still binds them faster as the danger grows.
To be the head of villains,—what is that
But to be mind to an unwholesome body—
To render up God's gift a human soul
In sad metempsychosis to the brutes,
Whose carrion, else exanimate, but gains
A moment's life from this, then so infects
That all together die the death of beasts.
[A pause.
These hands are spotless yet—
Yea, white as when in infancy they strayed
Unconscious o'er my mother's face, or closed
With that small grasp which mothers love to feel.
No stain has come upon them since that time—
They have done nothing violent—first and last
Of a calm will untroubled servants they,
And went about their offices, if here
I must not say in purity, in peace.
But he they served,—he is not what he was.
[A party pass the window, and a voice cries, “The Lion for Flanders!”
That cry again! Then be it as ye will!
Sir Knights, ye drive me close upon the rocks,
And of my cargo you're the vilest bales,
So overboard with you! What, men of blood!
Can the son better auspicate his arms
Than by the slaying of who slew the father?
90
But yours by choice—I'll slay you and thank God.
Enter Van den Bosch.
Van den Bosch.
The common bell hath rung! the Knights are there;
Thou must come instantly.
Artevelde.
I come—I come.
Van den Bosch.
Now, Master Philip, if thou miss thy way
Through this affair, we're lost. 'Tis blood for blood—
Be counsell'd now by me; have thou in mind—
Artevelde.
Enough; I need not counsel; I'm resolved.
Take thou thy stand beside Sir Simon Bette,
As I by Grutt! take note of all I do,
And do thyself accordingly. All's said.
Scene VI
—The exterior of the Stadt-House. Two external flights of stone stairs meet in a landing-place or platform midway in the front of the building. On this platform appear Sir Guisebert Grutt, with the aldermen of sundry guilds and the deans of the several crafts of butchers, fishermen, glaziers, and cordwainers. Also Frans Ackerman, Van Nuitre, and others of the White-Hood party.A Weaver.
Speak up, Sir Guisebert; speak, Sir Guisebert Grutt.
A Fuller.
Sir Simon Bette,—we'll hear Sir Simon first.
91
Not to waste time, let's hear them both at once;
For bawling as we do, one word in ten
Were much to reach us.
A Glazier.
It is you that bawl,
You villain White-Hoods—And there come the men
That teach it you; but we've a muster here
Shall choke your bawling with a churchyard sod.
Enter Van Artevelde and Van Den Bosch.
Artevelde.
Well met, my friends, if friends you be; if not,
Why then, well met, my foes.
Sir Guisebert
(descending some steps to meet Sir Simon Bette, who comes up from the street).
I' the name of God! Where is the Lord of Occo?
Sir Simon.
Sick, Sir, sick.
He has sent word he's sick and cannot come.
Sir Guisebert.
Pray God his sickness be his death!
Sir Simon.
Amen!
But his Lieutenant and his troop are here.
Van den Bosch
(aside to Artevelde)
There's something that has staggered them: Up, up,
And push them to the point. [Aloud.]
Make way there, Ho!
Artevelde
(coming forward).
Some citizen hath brought this concourse here;
Who is the man, and what hath he to say?
92
The noble Earl of Flanders of his grace
Commisions me to speak.
[Some White-Hoods interrupt him with cries of “Ghent!” which are presently lost in the cry of “Flanders!”
Artevelde.
What, silence! peace!
Silence, and hear this noble Earl's behests,
Deliver'd by this thrice puissant Knight.
Sir Guisebert.
First will I speak—not what I'm bid to say,
But what it most imports yourselves to hear.
For though ye cannot choose but know it well,
Yet by these cries I deem that some there are
Would, much like madmen, cast their knowledge off,
And both of that and of their reason reft
Run naked on the sword—which to forefend,
Let me remind you of the things ye know.
Sirs, when this month began ye had four Chiefs
Of great renown and valour,—Jan de Bol,
Arnoul le Clerc, and Launoy and Van Ranst:
Where are they now? and what be ye without them?
Sirs, when the month began ye had good aid
From Brabant, Liege, Dinant, St. Tron, and Huy:
How shall they serve you now? The Earl sits fast
Upon the Quatre-metiers and the Bridge:
What aid of theirs can reach you? What supplies?
I tell you, Sirs, that thirty thousand men
Could barely bring a bullock to your gates.
93
Ask of your Chatelain, the Lord of Occo;
Which worthy Knight will tell you—
Artevelde.
(aside to Van den Bosch)
Mark you that? [Then aloud to Sir Guisebert.]
Where is this sponsor of your speech—where is he?
Sir Guisebert.
He's sick in bed; but were he here, he'd say,
There's not provision in the public stores
To keep you for a week. Such is your plight.
Now hear the offer of your natural Liege.
Moved to compassion by our prayers and tears,
By good Duke Aubert aided, and with him
My Lady of Brabant and Lord Compelant—
To whom our thanks are due,—the Earl says thus:
He will have peace, and take you to his love,
And be your good Lord as in former days;
And all the injuries, hatreds, and ill-will
He had against you he will now forget,
And he will pardon you your past misdeeds,
And he will keep you in your ancient rights;
And for his love and graces thus vouchsafed
He doth demand of you three hundred men,
Such citizens of Ghent as he shall name,
To be surrendered and abide his will.
Van den Bosch.
Three hundred citizens!
Artevelde.
Peace, Van den Bosch.
Hear we this other Knight. Well, worthy Sir,
94
That thus thou gaspest like a droughty pump?
Van den Bosch.
Nay, 'tis black bile that chokes him.
Come, up with it!
Be it but a gallon it shall ease thy stomach.
Several Citizens.
Silence! Sir Simon Bette's about to speak.
Sir Simon.
Right worthy Burgesses, good men and rich!
Much trouble ye may guess, and strife had we
To win his Highness to this loving humour;
For if ye rightly think, Sirs, and remember,
You've done him much offence—not of yourselves,
But through ill guidance of ungracious men.
For first ye slew his Bailiff at the cross,
And with the Earl's own banner in his hand,
Which falling down was trampled under foot
Through heedlessness of them that stood about.
Also ye burn'd the castle he loved best
And ravaged all his parks at Andrehen,
All those delightful gardens on the plain:
And ye beat down two gates at Oudenarde
And in the dike ye cast them upside down:
Also ye slew five Knights of his, and worse
Ye brake the font wherein he was baptized.
Wherefore it must be own'd, Sirs, that much cause
He had of quarrel with the town of Ghent.
For what, Sirs, had ye suffered from the Earl
95
At Erclo once a Burgess was detain'd
Through misbehaviour of the Bailiff; still
He hath deliver'd many a time and oft
Out of his prisons Burgesses of yours
Only to do you pleasure; and when late
By kinsmen of the Bailiff whom ye slew
Some mariners of yours were sorely maim'd,
(Which was an inconvenience to this town,)
What did the Earl? To prove it not his act
He banish'd out of Flanders them that did it.
Moreover, Sirs, the taxes of the Earl
Were not so heavy, but that, being rich,
Ye might have borne them; they were not the half
Of what ye since have paid to wage this war;
And yet had these been double that were half,
The double would have grieved you less in peace
Than but the half in war. Bethink ye, Sirs,
What were the fowage and the subsidies
When bread was but four mites that's now a groat?
All which consider'd, Sirs, I counsel you
That ye accept this honourable peace,
For mercifully is the Earl inclined,
And ye may surely deem of them he takes
A large and liberal number will be spared,
And many here who least expect his love
May find him-free and gracious. Sirs, what say ye?
Artevelde.
First, if it be your pleasure, hear me speak.
[Great tumult and cries of “Flanders!”
96
Ye made me your chief Captain yesternight,—
To snare me in a trust, whereof I bear
The name aud danger only, not the power?
[The tumult increases.
Sirs, if we needs must come to blows, so be it;
For I have friends can deal them.
Sir Simon
(aside to Sir Guisebert).
Mercy! No—
Had Occo now been here! but lacking him
It must not come to that.
Sir Guisebert.
My loving friends,
Let us behave like brethren as we are,
And not like listed combatants. Ho, peace!
Hear this young bachelor of high renown,
Who writes himself your Captain since last night,
When a few score of varlets, being drunk,
In mirth and sport so dubbed him. Peace, Sirs, peace!
Artevelde.
Peace let it be, if so ye will; if not,
We are as ready as yourselves for blows.
One of the Citizens.
Speak, Master Philip, speak, and you'll be heard.
Artevelde.
I thank you, Sirs; I knew it could not be
But men like you must listen to the truth.
Sirs, ye have heard these Knights discourse to you
Of your ill fortunes, numbering in their glee
The worthy leaders ye have lately lost:
True, they were worthy men, most gallant chiefs,
And ill would it become us to make light
97
They died like heroes; for no recreant step
Had e'er dishonour'd them,—no stain of fear,
No base despair, no cowardly recoil:
They had the hearts of freemen to the last,
And the free blood that bounded in their veins
Was shed for freedom with a liberal joy.
But had they guess'd, or could they but have dream'd,
The great examples which they died to show
Should fall so flat, should shine so fruitless here,
That men should say, “For liberty these died,
Wherefore let us be slaves,”—had they thought this,
Oh then with what an agony of shame
Their blushing faces buried in the dust
Had their great spirits parted hence for heaven!
What! shall we teach our chroniclers henceforth
To write that in five bodies were contain'd
The sole brave hearts of Ghent! which five defunct,
The heartless town by brainless counsel led
Deliver'd up her keys, stript off her robes,
And so with all humility besought
Her haughty Lord to scourge her lightly! No,
It shall not be—no verily! for now,
Thus looking on you as ye gather round,
Mine eye can single out full many a man
Who lacks but opportunity to shine
As great and glorious as the chiefs that fell.
But lo! the Earl is mercifully moved!
98
The slaughter of our bravest, cry them shame,
And fall upon our knees, and say we've sinn'd,
Then will the Earl take pity on his thralls
And pardon us our letch for liberty!
What pardon it shall be, if we know not,
Yet Ypres, Courtray, Grammont, Bruges, they know;
For never can those towns forget the day
When by the hangman's hands five hundred men,
The bravest of each guild, were done to death
In those base butcheries that he call'd pardons.
And did it seal their pardons, all this blood?
Had they the Earl's good love from that time forth?
Oh, Sirs! look round you lest ye be deceived;
Forgiveness may be spoken with the tongue,
Forgiveness may be written with the pen,
But think not that the parchment and mouth pardon
Will e'er eject old hatreds from the heart.
There's that betwixt you been men ne'er forget
Till they forget themselves, till all's forgot,
Till the deep sleep falls on them in that bed
From which no morrow's mischief knocks them up.
There's that betwixt you been which you yourselves,
Should ye forget, would then not be yourselves;
For must it not be thought some base men's souls
Have ta'en the seats of yours and turn'd you out
If in the coldness of a craven heart
Ye should forgive this bloody-minded man
99
Think of your mariners, three hundred men,
After long absence in the Indian seas,
Upon their peaceful homeward voyage bound,
And now, all dangers conquer'd as they thought,
Warping the vessels up their native stream,
Their wives and children waiting them at home
In joy, with festal preparation made,—
Think of these mariners, their eyes torn out,
Their hands chopp'd off, turn'd staggering into Ghent
To meet the blasted eye-sight of their friends!
And was not this the Earl? 'Twas none but he!
No Hauterive of them all had dared to do it
Save at the express instance of the Earl.
And now what asks he? Pardon me, Sir Knights,
[To Grutt and Bette.
I had forgotten, looking back and back
From felony to felony foregoing,
This present civil message which ye bring:
Three hundred citizens to be surrender'd
Up to that mercy which I tell you of—
That mercy which your mariners proved—which steep'd
Courtray and Ypres, Grammont, Bruges, in blood!
Three hundred citizens,—a secret list—
No man knows who—not one can say he's safe—
Not one of you so humble but that still
The malice of some secret enemy
May whisper him to death—and hark—look to it!
100
Their courage is their surest condemnation;
They are marked men—and not a man stands here
But may be so.—Your pardon, Sirs, again!
[To Grutt and Bette.
You are the pickers and the choosers here,
And doubtless you're all safe, ye think—ha! ha!
But we have pick'd and chosen, too, Sir Knights—
What was the law for I made yesterday—
What! is it you that would deliver up
Three hundred citizens to certain death?
Ho! Van den Bosch! have at these traitors—there—
[Stabs Grutt, who falls.
Van den Bosch.
Die, treasonable dog—is that enough?
Down, felon, and plot treacheries in Hell.
[stabs Bette.
[The White-Hoods draw their swords, with loud cries of “Treason!” “Artevelde!” and “Ghent!” A citizen of the other party, who in the former part of the scene had unfurled the Earl's banner, now throws it down and flies; several others are following him, and the Aldermen and Deans, some of whom had been dropping off towards the end of Artevelde's speech, now quit the platform in haste. Van Aeswyn is crossed by Van Den Bosch.
Van den Bosch.
Die, thou, too, traitor.
[Aiming a blow at him.
101
(warding it off).
Van den Bosch, forbear.
Up with your weapons, White-Hoods; no more blood.
These only are the guilty who lie here.
Let no more blood be spilt on pain of death.
Sirs, ye have nought to fear; I say, stand fast;
No man shall harm you; if he does, he dies.
Stand fast, or if ye go, take with you this,—
Philip Van Artevelde is friend with all;
There's no man lives within the walls of Ghent
But Artevelde will look to him and his
And suffer none to touch his goods or him.
Haste, Van den Bosch! by Heav'n they run like hares!
Take they not heart the sooner, by St. Paul
They'll fly the city, and that cripples us.
Haste with thy company to the west wards
And see thou that no violence be done
Amongst the weavers and the fullers—stay—
And any that betake themselves to spoil
Hang without stint—and hark—begone—yet stay;
Shut the west gate, postern and wicket too,
And catch my Lord of Occo where thou canst,—
Stay—on thy life let no man's house be forced.
Van den Bosch.
That is not to my mind; but have thy way.
Thou'st play'd the game right boldly, and for me,
I've sworn to stead thee,—and what's more, I will.
Artevelde.
Thou to thine errand, then, and I myself
Will go from street to street through all the town
102
I'll meet thee here again. Form, White-Hoods, form:
Range ten abreast; I'm coming down; but stay—
You Floris, Leefdale, Spanghen, mount ye here,
And bear me down these bodies. Now, set forth.
103
ACT III.
Scene I.
—Night. A Wood near Bruges.The Lord of Occo and Followers.
Occo.
No more than half a league to Bruges? then halt,
And let the men-at-arms be drawn together
Where the ground's open. Berckel, ride thou on
And hail the warders on the walls; make known
That for the love which we have shown the Earl
We're driven forth of Ghent, and humbly crave
His hospitality.
[To Van Aeswyn, who enters.
Van Aeswyn! What?
Where is the litter?
Van Aeswyn.
Dropped some mile behind
To rest the bearers.
Occo.
Lazy, loitering rogues!
What of the Lady?
Van Aeswyn.
Still much moved.
Occo.
Go back;
Keep thou beside her, lest she should prevail
To make the varlets speak. Let none approach
After we pass the gates but men of mine,
Nor ever let the litter be unclosed.
Now, if we're all in order, march we on.
104
Scene II.
—A Banqueting Hall in the Stadt-House at Bruges. Tables are spread, and the Earl of Flanders, the Hase of Flanders, with several Lords, Knights, and followers of the Earl, are entertained by the Mayor of Bruges and the Aldermen.Earl.
Sir Mayor, we thank you; 'tis a royal feast.
Mayor.
My gracious Lord, the supper is but poor;
Very exceeding poor the supper is;
And yet the most we can; your humble hosts,
Being but meagre citizens God wot,
Can but purvey your Highness what they have,
A very sorry supper.
Alderman.
True indeed.
Yet if your Highness please to cast it up,
A hundred florins—
Mayor.
Hold thy peace, Van Holst;
The minstrels twang their cat-gut.
Earl .
(aside to the Hase)
In good time;
If aught could make me cast my supper up
'Twere to taste further of their courtesies.
Soho, Sir Minstrel! what hast got to sing?
Van Holst.
That has been cared for, please your Highness; yes,
We knew your Highness had a skilful ear,
And 'twas not every poesy would please.
This is a ditty craftily conceited,
105
He was no tavern cantabank that made it,
But a Squire Minstrel of your Highness's court.
So—sing, Sir Minstrel—there you have it—ah!
Fal-lal—the very thing—the tune's “Green Sleeves.”
THE MINSTREL SINGS.
The little bird sat on the greenwood tree,
And the sun was as bright as bright could be;
The leaf was broad, the shade was deep,
The Lion of Flanders lay fast asleep.
And the sun was as bright as bright could be;
The leaf was broad, the shade was deep,
The Lion of Flanders lay fast asleep.
The little bird sang, “Sir Lion, arise,
For I hear with my ears and I see with my eyes,
And I know what I know, and I tell thee this,
That the men of Ghent have done something amiss.”
For I hear with my ears and I see with my eyes,
And I know what I know, and I tell thee this,
That the men of Ghent have done something amiss.”
From his lair the Lion of Flanders rose,
And he shook his mane and toss'd up his nose;
“Ere a leaf be fallen or summer be spent,”
Quoth he, “if God spare me, I'll go to Ghent.
And he shook his mane and toss'd up his nose;
“Ere a leaf be fallen or summer be spent,”
Quoth he, “if God spare me, I'll go to Ghent.
“For a little bird sang and I dream'd beside
That the people of Ghent were puff'd up with pride;
And I had been far over hill and dale
And was fast asleep, and they trod on my tail.”
That the people of Ghent were puff'd up with pride;
And I had been far over hill and dale
And was fast asleep, and they trod on my tail.”
Ere a leaf was fallen the Lion he went
And growl'd a growl at the gates of Ghent:
But they bended low when they saw him awake,
And said that they trod on his tail by mistake.
And growl'd a growl at the gates of Ghent:
But they bended low when they saw him awake,
And said that they trod on his tail by mistake.
The little bird sat on the bush so bare
And the leaf fell brown on the Lion's lair;
The little bird pick'd a berry so red
And dropp'd it down on the Lion's head.
And the leaf fell brown on the Lion's lair;
The little bird pick'd a berry so red
And dropp'd it down on the Lion's head.
106
“Sir Lion, awake, and put out your claws,
And lift your chin from your tawny paws;
My ears are smaller than yours, but more
I hear than you, and worse than before.”
And lift your chin from your tawny paws;
My ears are smaller than yours, but more
I hear than you, and worse than before.”
The Lion stirr'd and awoke with a snort,
And swelled with rage till his breath came short;
“Ere the brown leaf meet with the flake of snow
On the roundabout stair, to Ghent I'll go.
And swelled with rage till his breath came short;
“Ere the brown leaf meet with the flake of snow
On the roundabout stair, to Ghent I'll go.
“For a little bird sang, and I dream'd as well,
That the people of Ghent were as false as Hell;
Coming by stealth when nought I fear'd,
They trod on my corns and pull'd my beard.”
That the people of Ghent were as false as Hell;
Coming by stealth when nought I fear'd,
They trod on my corns and pull'd my beard.”
Ere a snow-flake fell the Lion he went
And roar'd a roar at the gates of Ghent;
The gates they shook though they were fast barr'd,
And the warders heard it at Oudenarde.
And roar'd a roar at the gates of Ghent;
The gates they shook though they were fast barr'd,
And the warders heard it at Oudenarde.
At the first roar ten thousand men
Fell sick to death—he roar'd again,
And the blood of twenty thousand flow'd
On the bridge of Roone, as broad as the road.
Fell sick to death—he roar'd again,
And the blood of twenty thousand flow'd
On the bridge of Roone, as broad as the road.
Woe worth thee, Ghent! if, having heard
The first and second, thou bidest the third!
Flat stones and awry, grass, potsherd and shard,
Thy place shall be like an old churchyard.
Earl.
The first and second, thou bidest the third!
Flat stones and awry, grass, potsherd and shard,
Thy place shall be like an old churchyard.
A singular good song and daintily accompanied with the music. Give him three florins and a denier for the lad withal.
Van Holst.
Your Highness is too bountiful. He made it not himself. 'Twas your Highness's Serjeant-Minstrel that made it. The making and mending of it together
107
Earl.
It is good poesy—marry and good prophecy too. Hark you, Master Mayor; I have somewhat repented me that I was wrought upon by those old Knights of Ghent to proffer terms of such easy acquittance.
Mayor.
When your Highness is graciously pleased to give away your advantages, it is not for such as I to say you do wrong; but every man in Bruges that is well affected to your Highness said that three hundred heads was too little.
Earl.
By my faith they said true; and Gilbert Matthew told me no less; but I was persuaded by the old Knights; I was too easy with them. Where is Gilbert Matthew?
Gilbert.
Here, my Lord.
Earl.
Come hither, Gilbert. I have bethought me, Gilbert,
I almost sinn'd against true chivalry
To let yon rabble off.
Gilbert.
Your Highness says it.
Earl.
Thou'dst tell me 'twas not by thy counsels.
108
Sir,
As many heads of each insurgent craft
Would not have been denied. A hundred nail'd
Like weasels to the gates of each wall'd town
Thorough the States of Flanders—that had been
A warning wholesome and significant
To the good towns.
Earl.
A salutary sign.
I would the bargain were to make again.
Why so now! who comes here? Sir Walter? Yes.
Enter Sir Walter D'Arlon.
D'Arlon, I never see thee but with joy.
What new adventure hast thou been upon?
We miss thee oft at Court, but thy return
Is ever with new honours at thy heels.
What captives follow thee to Bruges to-night?
Or hast thou turn'd base metal into gold
And bring'st their ransoms?—either way is well.
D'Arlon.
My Lord, I come alone.
Earl.
Why, welcome still!
D'Arlon.
Yet there is something following at my heels
Which hardly shall your Highness in like sort
Make welcome here.
Earl.
Why, say'st thou? what is that?
D'Arlon.
Ill rumours, my good Lord.
Earl.
Ill rumours? how?
109
The rebels are alive again and fresh.
The messengers of peace lie stabb'd to death
Upon the steps i' the market-place.
Earl.
Not so!
It cannot be;—D'Arlon, it must be false.
D'Arlon.
I fear, my Lord, it will not so be found.
Earl.
Nay, nay,—so stripp'd of everything—so bare
As we had made them—scarce a leader left,
And those that were, so wild and scant of skill!
D'Arlon.
That were an ugly breach if not repair'd.
They've made young Artevelde their chief.
Earl.
God help them!
A man that as much knowledge has of war
As I of brewing mead! God help their souls!
A bookish nursling of the monks—a meacock!
D'Arlon.
My Lord, I'm fearful you mistake the man.
If my accounts be true, the life he's led
Served rather in its transit to eclipse
Than to show forth his nature; and, that pass'd,
You'll now behold him as he truly is,
One of a cold and of a constant mind,
Not quicken'd into ardent action soon,
Nor prompt for petty enterprise, yet bold,
Fierce when need is, and capable.
Earl.
Thou sayst?
And hath he slain the Knights!
D'Arlon.
With his own hand.
Earl.
I tell thee it is false; it cannot be.
110
Gilbert.
My Lord,
It may be there's some skirmishing at Ghent,
Which rumour, floating like a mist before,
Augments to this.
Earl.
Thou deem'st there's nought to fear?
Gilbert.
I deem of Ghent as of a winter fly
That in a gleam of sunshine creeping forth
Kicks with stiff legs a feeble stroke or two
And falls upon its back.
Earl.
Then all is well.
Gilbert, thy wisdom never was at fault.
A comfortable councillor art thou.
Sirrah, what news?
[To an Attendant who enters.
Attendant.
The Lord of Occo, Sir,
Came with his men-at-arms before the walls,
And being that he was driven forth of Ghent,
The warders have admitted him, and here
He waits your pleasure.
Earl.
Bid him in at once.
He comes like confirmation. Oh Ghent! Ghent!
Oh ye ungracious people!
Enter the Lord of Occo.
Speak, Sir Guy;
Out with the worst, for I have guessed it all.
Fame was here first as breathless as you are.
111
'Tis the worst fortune e'er befell me yet
To be the bearer of this heavy news.
Our friends are slain, the White-Hoods hold the town,
And he, the homicide whose bloody hand
Despatch'd the peaceful Knights, is Lord of all.
Earl.
Oh that unhappy people! hear me, God!
Hear me, ye Host of Heaven and all good men!
If e'er I lift the wine-cup to my lips,
If ever other than a soldier's bed
Contain me, or if any pleasant sport
Inveigle off my heart while that town stands,
May I be driven from my royalties
To dwell with beasts like him that sinn'd of old!
Rise, Sirs; no more of feasting here. Sir Guy,
Such entertainment as such times afford
We'll give you. Bid my chamberlain see to it.
Adieu, Sirs; when the walls of Ghent lie flat
Our revel we resume.
D'Arlon.
Leave me, my Lord,
The entertainment of your friends from Ghent;
My house will hold them.— [Aside.]
Grant me this, my Lord;
They need a supervisor.
Earl.
Good;—Sir Guy,
Sir Walter D'Arlon is your host at Bruges.
At noon to-morrow come to Council, Sirs,
You that are of it. Minstrel, stand aside—
What! are you blind? Good night, good night, adieu.
112
Scene III.
—A Chamber in the Lord of Arlon's House. Adriana Van Merestyn and three Attendants in the Lord of Occo's livery.Adriana.
Whither have you brought me, Sirs? What house is this?
Nay, must I ask for ever? Wilt not speak?
Nor thou, nor thou? If ye are bid be dumb,
But say ye are so, and I'll ask no more.
First Attendant.
Madam, we are.
Adriana.
Who bid you?—not a word?
If you're afraid to tell me, make a sign.
Was it the Lord of Occo? 'Twas not he?
Then whosoe'er enjoin'd it, send him here.
Entreat him were it but for courtesy
To come to me. He that hath tied your tongues
May loose them or be free to use his own.
I pray thee send him; thou art not so rude,
To guess thee by thy mien, as this so slight,
So slender service to deny me—no—
Or else thou wear'st a mask.
[The first Attendant goes out. She turns aside from the others.
Befriend me now,
Heart, head, and tongue, if life is left them still.
Oh for some potion that for one hour's space
Should make me twice myself!
113
Aeswyn
(to the Attendants.)
Depart the chamber.
[Exeunt Attendants.
Adriana.
Master Van Aeswyn!
Aeswyn.
Madam!
Adriana.
It is thou
That thus abusest me!
Aeswyn.
I, Madam! No;
I have done nothing; if a wrong there be,
It lies with others; I have but obey'd
Whom I am bound to serve.
Adriana.
Alas! thy guilt
Is but more abject, being ministrant
Unto another's, and thyself no less
Accountable to Heaven. His lust and greed
Whom thou abettest thou dost make thine own
And nothing gett'st but wages of thy work
To pay thy sin. What! is't not shame on shame?
Thou puttest thine immortal soul to sale
For profit of another, thy reward
Being the sorry guerdon of a Squire
With blot and stain of such addition vile
Of countenance and favour, bred of guilt,
As he that uses thee may please to show thee.
Oh soil of bad men's service! Thou to stamp
A gentle name with stigma of such deeds!
114
Aeswyn.
Nay, Madam, nay,
'Tis not for countenance, still less for hire:
But I have taken service with this Lord,
And by the law of arms—
Adriana.
What law is that?
'Tis not the law of God, nor yet above it.
Aeswyn.
An honest Squire is bound by plighted faith
And by the law of arms, to execute
His Lord's behests.
Adriana.
Though they be base and foul
And cowardly and craven? Law of arms!
Grant 'twere that law supernal it is not,
Yet dost thou break it, for all wrongs to women
Stand in its code denounced.
Aeswyn.
By all that's just
The deed misliked me from the first; three times
I pray'd his Lordship to bethink himself
What quittance he should hazard and what blame
In wronging of so rich and good a lady;
But still he said the Earl should bring him through
Let come what might; insisting that by law
You were in wardship, and his Grace might grant
Your hand to whom was fittest.
Adriana.
Oh blind craft
And ignorance of covetous knaves! They err.
Me shall no earthly Prince nor Potentate
Toss like a morsel of his broken meat
115
I am in wardship to the King of Kings;
God and my heart alone dispose of me.
Aeswyn.
Madam, I would it were so.
Adriana.
Say besides
The Earl should cast the mantle of his power
Over thy master, what shall cover thee,
That canst not borrow greatness for the cloak
Of evil deeds, from naked, manifest shame?
Lo, here I stand in jeopardy and fear,
Weak, trembling, sick at heart, and wearied so
With perturbation and with pain so rack'd
That I have lost my patience and for hours
Have pray'd for God's deliverance through death;
Yet rather would I, yea, far rather, live
A dateless life of anguish such as this,
Rather live out my reason thus and twist
For restless years upon a bed-rid couch
With the sole sense of dotage and distress,
Than change with thee and take upon my soul
Thy forfeiture and lodge within my breast
That worm of memory which to-day shall breed.
And which upon thy death-bed shall not die,
But being of the soul shall be immortal.
Go—God forgive thee! for not mine the heart
That would invoke a curse.
Aeswyn.
Lady, I swear
I bore a part not willingly in this;
116
Do aught that should redeem it—
Adriana.
For thy fortunes,
Trust them to me.
Enter one of the Attendants.
Attendant.
My Lord is at the gate
And asks for you.
[Exit.
Adriana.
I say, trust them to me.
Do to thyself the justice to renounce
This false Knight's service, and to me one act
Of loyalty: seek out with instant haste
The Lord of Arlon; tell him I am here
In tribulation and beseech his aid,
And bid him by the love he bears his lady
To grant it me with speed. Wilt thou do this?
Aeswyn.
Madam, I will.
Adriana.
Go now then to thy Lord,
Lest he suspect thy tarriance. I within
Will wait the issue. Make all speed thou canst.
Scene IV.
—An Ante-chamber in the Earl's Palace.Sir Walter D'Arlon and Gilbert Matthew.
Gilbert.
No sooner had his Highness reach'd his door
Than he sends back for me.
D'Arlon.
And me the same.
117
His Highness is not happy.
D'Arlon.
That may be;
But have you private cause to think it?
Gilbert.
Well,
I've taken note that when he is not happy
He sends for me.
D'Arlon.
And do you mend his mood?
Gilbert.
Nay, what I can. His Highness at such times
Would fain be counsell'd to shed blood.
D'Arlon.
To that
'Tis said that he is counsell'd oft.
Gilbert.
Oh, ho!
I tender my advice as duty bids
With neither fear nor favour. As I came
The bodies of three citizens lay stretch'd
Upon the causeway.
D'Arlon.
How had they been kill'd?
Gilbert.
By knocking on the head.
D'Arlon.
Yes; and by whom?
Gilbert.
The officers that walk'd before the Earl
To make him room to pass. The streets were full,
And many of the mean-crafts roam'd about
Discoursing of the news they heard from Ghent;
And as his Highness pass'd they misbehaved
And three were knock'd upon the head with staves.
I knew by that his Highness was not happy;
I knew I should be sent for.
118
Usher.
Ho! Master Gilbert Matthew, pass within.
[Re-enters the chamber, followed by Gilbert Matthew.
D'Arlon.
There's some men of their bloody counsels boast,
As though it were heroic to be hard.
Enter an Attendant.
Attendant.
My Lord, there's some one of the flight from Ghent
Who seeks you. I inform'd him you were here
In waiting on his Highness, but he still
Insisted you would see him, did you know
The matter and its urgency.
D' Arlon.
His name?
Attendant.
Van Aeswyn.
D' Arlon.
What! Sir Guy of Occo's Squire?
Attendant.
The same, my Lord.
D'Arlon.
Yes, yes, the man I know,
But not the matter that he hath with me;—
Unless it be some difference with my steward
About his quarters. Bring me where he waits.
119
Scene V.
—A Chamber in the Earl's Palace.The Earl and Gilbert Matthew.
Earl.
And thus, if all that we have heard be true,
Last night's ill news this morning somewhat mends.
There's reason to surmise these granaries
Were not destroy'd by chance, and that the hand
Which did us this good service may do more.
Meantime we'll pray the Bishop and the Duke
To let no victuals pass their lands.
Gilbert.
In that
You shall do well, my Lord. I know that folk;
No poison works so wastingly amongst them
As a low diet—yea, it brings them down.
There'll be a hundred thousand mouths in Ghent
Gaping like callow jackdaws. Ah! I know them;
The men of battle are full feeders all;
By the strong hand they live and help themselves
With griping of the rest; when famine comes,
'Tis worse to those, seeing that theretofore
They were too gross of body; worse to these,
For they were pinched already.
Earl.
That is true.
Gilbert.
Yea, Sir, I know the White-Hoods. Wait awhile,
And when they feel the vulture in their gut
They shall be busy whetting of their beaks.
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Shall be of one opinion.
Earl.
In God's time
Distress shall breed dissensions as thou say'st.
We'll trust to that, and therefore have great heed
To block them out from access of provision.
The country is well wasted thereabouts
And what they get must travel far: ere long
We'll cut them off from Brabant and from Liege.
Enter the Lord of Arlon.
D'Arlon.
My Lord, I do beseech you make me quit
Of Occo for my guest, and give us leave
For instant combat.
Earl.
Walter, art thou mad?
The Lord of Occo! What's thy breach with him?
He is since yesterday, with thy good leave,
Our very worthy friend.
D'Arlon.
My Lord, my Lord,
He is since yesterday, if not before,
The very lewdest villain that was e'er
A blur and stain to knighthood.
Earl.
Say'st thou so?
What are thy reasons?
D'Arlon.
With a violent hand
And treacherous he carried off from Ghent
The noblest of her ladies and the best,
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Beneath my roof: and here on her behalf
And on my own, your Highness I entreat
That you give order to have lists prepared
Where I may meet the miscreant spear to spear
And do God's will upon him.
Earl.
Soft, my son;
I'll have no fighting for a private cause
Till Ghent be down. I cannot spare a spear;
And this were but a childish cause at best
For breaking one. The honest dames of Ghent
Have scarce deserved protection at our hands;
And when the time shall come, as come it will,
That Ghent is storm'd and sack'd, they'll have no more
Than their deserts: free quarters shall they give
To lusty knight, hot squire, and man-at-arms.
Shall they not, Gilbert?
Gilbert.
Sir, the dames of Ghent
Must take what comes.
Earl.
Then Occo sinn'd not much
To seize occasion by the forelock,—ha?
Gilbert.
My Lord, he did but what was just and right.
D'Arlon.
Peace, Master Gilbert Matthew—stand apart;
I seek an audience direct and free,
No craft of juggling renegade betwixt
To interpose and toss me to and fro
The words that please him or that please him not.
My Lord, you know what service I have done,
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By duty or allegiance to bear arms,
For in my native land the while was peace.
I scarce am call'd a man, and service yet
I count by years, nor leave a winter out.
I was the nursling of your camp, my Lord,
And played with weapons ere my hands had strength
To lift an iron basnet to my head;
The war-horse neigh'd to see me when my legs
His breadth of back bestrided scarce aslope,
And rarely hath it been from that time forth
That I have housed when men-at-arms took horse.
This it befits not me to say, my Lord,
Save for the just conclusion: I entreat
That if it square not with your ways and will
To grant the combat I am bound to claim,
I then have leave to fold my banner up
And quit your camp.
Earl.
Come, Walter, come, you're idle;
When cause and opportunity are rife
For reasonable fighting, we might well
Dispense with all knight-errantry. Enough;
See the moon out, and if thy humour hold
It shall have way; the next that shines, I trust,
Shall cast upon the battered walls of Ghent
A thorough light.
D'Arlon.
Which if I live to see
I'll claim the combat. Fare you well, my Lord.
[Exit.
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Was ever man, with denizens for foes
And foreigners for friends, so plagued as I!
My bravest Knight would cast away his life
To do me a disservice, with more zeal
Than he was used to serve me with: denied,
Straight he shall tell me he was born elsewhere
And owes me no allegiance.
Gilbert.
By your leave,
I could not wish your Highness better luck
Than that the fools you count amongst your friends
Were number'd with your foes,—or with the dead.
Enter Attendant.
Attendant.
According to the summons, please your Grace,
The Lords are met in Council.
Earl.
I shall come.
Attend me, Gilbert, when the board breaks up,
And thou shalt know the issue. Come to dine.
And Sirrah, tell the butler that to-day
I shall drink brandy. From all use of wine
I'm interdicted by a sacred vow
Till Ghent's submission free me. Be it soon!
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ACT IV.
Scene I.
—Ghent.—The platform at the top of the steeple of St. Nicholas' Church.—Time daybreak.Artevelde.
There lies a sleeping city. God of dreams!
What an unreal and fantastic world
Is going on below!
Within the sweep of yon encircling wall
How many a large creation of the night,
Wide wilderness and mountain, rock and sea,
Peopled with busy transitory groups,
Finds room to rise, and never feels the crowd!
If when the shows had left the dreamers' eyes
They should float upward visibly to mine,
How thick with apparitions were that void!
But now the blank and blind profundity
Turns my brain giddy with a sick recoil.
—I have not slept. I am to blame for that.
Long vigils join'd with scant and meagre food
Must needs impair that promptitude of mind
And cheerfulness of spirit which, in him
Who leads a multitude, is past all price.
I think I could redeem an hour's repose
Out of the night that I have squander'd, yet.
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Play with a pleasing freshness on my face.
Lie there, my cloak, not seldom now my bed,
And lying on thee I shall front them—so—
[He lies down.
If this were over—blessed be the calm
That comes to me at last! A friend in need
Is Nature to us, that when all is spent,
Brings slumber—bountifully—whereupon
We give her sleepy welcome—if all this
Were honourably over—Adriana—
[Falls asleep, but starts up almost instantly.
I heard a hoof—I hear it now, I swear,
Upon the road from Bruges,—or did I dream?
No! 'tis the gallop of a horse at speed.
Van den Bosch
(without).
What ho! Van Artevelde!
Artevelde.
Who calls?
Van den Bosch.
(entering)
'Tis I.
Thou art an early riser like myself;
Or is it that thou hast not been to bed?
Artevelde.
What are thy tidings?
Van den Bosch.
Nay, what can they be?
A page from pestilence and famine's day-book;
So many to the pest-house carried in,
So many to the dead-house carried out.
The same dull, dismal, damnable old story.
Artevelde.
Be quiet; listen to the westerly wind,
And tell me if it bring thee nothing new.
126
Nought to my ear, save howl of hungry dog
That hears the house is stirring—nothing else.
Artevelde.
No,—now—I hear it not myself—no—nothing.
The city's hum is up—but ere you came
'Twas audible enough.
Van den Bosch.
In God's name, what?
Artevelde.
A horseman's tramp upon the road from Bruges.
Van den Bosch.
Why then be certain 'tis a flag of truce!
If once he reach the city we are lost.
Nay, if he be but seen our danger's great.
What terms so bad but they would gulp them now?
Let's send some trusty varlets forth at once
To cross his way.
Artevelde.
And send him back to Bruges?
Van den Bosch.
Send him to Hell—and that's a better place.
Artevelde.
Nay, softly, Van den Bosch; let war be war,
But let us keep its ordinances.
Van den Bosch.
Tush!
I say, but let them see him from afar
And in an hour shall we, bound hand and foot,
Be on our way to Bruges.
Artevelde.
Not so, not so.
My rule of governance hath not been such
127
Van den Bosch.
Cockadoodle!
Think'st thou a hundred thousand citizens
Shall stay the fury of their empty maws
Because thou'st ruled them justly?
Artevelde.
It may be
That such a hope is mine.
Van den Bosch.
(going).
Then thou art mad,
And I must take this matter on myself.
Artevelde.
Hold, Van den Bosch! I say this shall not be.
I must be madder than I think I am
Ere I shall yield up my authority,
Which I abuse not to be used by thee.
Van den Bosch.
This comes of lifting dreamers into power.
I tell thee, in this strait and stress of dearth,
The people, but to pave the way for peace,
Would send our noddles in a bag to Bruges.
Once and again I warn thee that thy life
Hangs by a thread.
Artevedle.
Why, know I not it does?
What hath it hung by else since Utas'eve?
Did I not by mine own advised choice
Place it in jeopardy for certain ends?
And what think'st thou were these? To prop thy state?
To float thee o'er a reef, and, that performed,
See to our joint security? Indeed?
128
I bent my thoughts on yonder city's weal;
I look'd to give it victory and freedom;
And working to that end, by consequence
From one great peril did deliver thee—
Not for the love of thee or of thy life,
Which I regard not, but the city's service;
And if for that same service it seem good,
I will expose thy life to equal hazard.
Van den Bosch.
Thou wilt?
Artevelde.
I will.
Van den Bosch.
Oh, Lord! to hear him talk!
What a most mighty emperor of puppets
Is this that I have brought upon the board!
But how if he that made it should unmake?
Artevelde.
Unto His sovereignty who truly made me
With infinite humility I bow.
Both, both of us are puppets, Van den Bosch;
Part of the curious clock-work of this world
We scold and squeak and crack each other's crowns,
And if by twitches moved from wires not seen
I were to toss thee from this steeple's top,
I should be but the instrument, no more,
The tool of that chastising Power above
Which still exalts the lowly to abase
The violent and proud. But let me hope
There's no such task appointed me to-day.
129
Then, seeing each with each must sink or swim,
What can it profit thee in this extreme
Of our distress to wrangle with me thus
For my supremacy and rule? Thy fate,
As of necessity bound up with mine,
Must needs partake my cares: let that suffice
To put thy pride to rest till better days:
Contest—more reasonably wrong—a prize
More precious than the ordering of a wreck.
Van den Bosch.
Tush, tush! Van Artevelde, thou talk'st and talk'st,
And honest burghers think it wondrous fine;
But thou might'st easilier with that tongue of thine
Persuade yon smoke to fly i' the face o' the wind
Than talk away my wit and understanding.
I say, yon herald shall not enter here.
Artevelde.
I know, Sir, no man better, where my talk
Is serviceable singly, where it needs
To be by acts enforced. I say, beware,
And brave not mine authority too far.
Van den Bosch.
Hast thou authority to take my life?
What is it else to let yon herald in
To bargain for our blood?
Artevelde.
Thy life again!
Why, what a very slave of life art thou!
Look round about on this once populous town;
Not one of these innumerous house-tops
130
Some peevish pining child and moaning mother,
Some aged man that in his do tage scolds
Not knowing why he hungers, some cold corse
That lies unstraightened where the spirit left it.
Look round and answer what thy life can be
To tell for more than dust upon the scales.
I too would live—I have a love for life—
But rather than to live to charge my soul
With one hour's lengthening out of ills like these,
I'd leap this parapet with as free a bound
As e'er was schoolboy's o'er a garden wall.
Van den Bosch.
I'd like to see thee do it.
Artevelde.
I know thou would'st;
But for the present be content to see
My less precipitate descent; for lo!
[Exit.
There comes the herald o'er the hill.
Van den Bosch.
Beshrew thee!
Thou shalt not have the start of me in this.
Scene II.
—The House Van Artevelde.Ursel, Van Ryk, and Van Muck.
Ursel.
He will be here for his breakfast anon.
Van Ryk.
And call you this his breakfast?
Ursel.
An ounce of horseflesh and half an oaten cake. It is his only meal; and if I were to make it larger he would ne'er look at it.
131
Why we ourselves fare better.
Van Ryk.
I fare somewhat better, and for thee, thou wouldst make a famine where there was none. No more than this morsel of meat in four-and-twenty hours.
Ursel.
No more; and if he has been abroad 'tis more than likely that he shall bring home some little child or some sick woman to share it with him.
Van Ryk.
It is wonderful how stout he is withal. Some men shall but bite their nails and their belly 's full.
Van Muck.
There is a difference in men; I might eat the four hoofs of an ox and my stomach should droop you look you and flap you look you, like an empty sail.
Enter Artevelde.
Artevelde.
A herald, Sirs, is coming here from Bruges.
To horse, Van Muck, to horse with Swink and Kloos
And any other of thy readiest men,
And bring him safely in. What ails thee, man?
Van Muck.
Sir, saving your displeasure, Swink and Kloos,
Against your express orders and despite
Of much I said myself, have ate their horses.
Artevelde.
Thou say'st not so? God's vengeance on their maws!
Next horse they kill, my cook shall serve it up,
And melt the shoes for sauce. Why, then, to horse
With any that are mounted; and beware!
132
Who would do outrage to the city's honour
And harm the herald. Look thou keep him safe.
Van Muck.
Sir, safe he shall be, let who will gainsay.
[Exit.
Clara enters, but remains behind.
Artevelde.
And now, Van Ryk, I have a charge for thee.
Thou in the porch of Old St. Nicholas' Church
Art to mount guard beside the postern-gate
Which leads upon the stair that climbs the tower.
Betake thee thither, and until I come,
Inward or outward let none pass. What cheer? [Turning to Clara.]
Come hither, Clara.
Clara.
Philip, not too close.
Artevelde.
What, com'st thou from the hospital?
Clara.
Straight thence,
Breathing infection with my every breath.
God help me for a pestilent little fool!
I tend the sick from weary day to day,
Though Heaven has set its face against a cure,
And they that should have thank'd me for my pains
Will never more speak word.
Artevelde.
Thou heed'st not that;
No, I am certain 'tis for no man's thanks
That thou hast toil'd; and let them live or die,
Thou hast thine own reward. Much hath thy soul
Enriched her chambers with the spoils of war
133
In easier hours it may be I had cause,
This time or that, to wish thy boldness less,
Though trusting still that time, which tempers all,
Would bring thee soberer thoughts and tame thy heart.
What time to tardy consummation brings,
Calamity, like to a frosty night
That ripeneth the grain, completes at once.
But now that we're alone,—not gone, Van Ryk?
Van Ryk.
Sir, to speak freely, had it been your will
To put me to a service of more action
I had not shamed the choice; for though I'm old,—
Artevelde.
Tut, tut, Van Ryk! 'twill come—the time will come,
And action to thy heart's content thou'lt have.
This service is of special trust. Begone!
[Exit Van Ryk.
Now render me account of what befell
Where thou hast been to-day.
Clara.
Not much is that.
I paid a visit first to Ukenheim,
The man who whilome saved our father's life
When certain Clementists and ribald folk
Assail'd him at Malines. He came last night,
And said he knew not if we owed him aught,
But if we did, a peck of oatmeal now
Would pay the debt and save more lives than one.
I went. It seem'd a wealthy man's abode;
134
Had, in an ordinary time, made known
'That with the occupant the world went well.
By a low couch, curtain'd with cloth of frieze,
Sat Ukenheim, a famine-stricken man,
With either bony fist upon his knees
And his long back upright. His eyes were fix'd
And moved not, though some gentle words I spake:
Until a little urchin of a child
That call'd him father, crept to where he sat
And pluck'd him by the sleeve, and with its small
And skinny finger pointed: then he rose
And with a low obeisance, and a smile
That look'd like watery moonlight on his face,
So pale and weak a smile, he bade me welcome.
I told him that a lading of wheat-flour
Was on its way, whereat, to my surprise,
His countenance fell and he had almost wept.
Artevelde.
Poor soul! and wherefore?
Clara.
That I saw too soon.
He pluck'd aside the curtain of the couch,
And there two children's bodies lay composed.
They seem'd like twins of some ten years of age,
And they had died so nearly both at once
He scarce could say which first: and being dead,
He put them, for some fanciful affection,
Each with its arm about the other's neck,
So that a fairer sight I had not seen
135
So thin and wan, so calm and sad and sweet.
I look'd upon them long, and for a while
I wished myself their sister, and to lie
With them in death as with each other they;
I thought that there was nothing in the world
I could have loved so much; and then I wept;
And when he saw I wept, his own tears fell,
And he was sorely shaken and convulsed
Through weakness of his frame and his great grief.
Artevelde.
Much pity was it he so long deferred
To come to us for aid.
Clara.
It was indeed;
But whatsoe'er had been his former pride,
He seem'd a humbled and heart-broken man.
He thank'd me much for what I said was sent,
But I knew well his thanks were for my tears.
He look'd again upon the children's couch,
And said, low down, they wanted nothing now.
So, to turn off his eyes and change his mood,
I drew the small survivor of the three
Before him, and he snatch'd it up, and soon
Seem'd lost and quite forgetful; and with that
I stole away.
Artevelde.
There is a man by fate
Fitted for any enterprise. Alas!
Alas! Of many such I have the choice. And next,
The hospital?
136
I paid my visit there
With Father John. But here he comes himself.
Enter Father John of Heda.
Artevelde.
What cheer, good Father?
Father John.
Heavy is my cheer;
What else but heavy, when from day to day
I see still more of suffering sinking men
Pass to the choked churchyard?
Artevelde.
Truly, the sight
Must needs bring on a heaviness of cheer.
How came I not to think of that before!
Who waits? Too many things conspire—who waits? Enter Steward.
Repair thee to the captains of the guards,
And give my orders that from this time forth
No funerals be allow'd till after dark.
[Exit Steward.
And so the sickness spreads?
Father John.
It spreads apace.
Since Egypt's plagues did never rage disease
So sore and so invincible by art,
So varied in its forms, and in its signs
So unintelligibly strange: in some
The fever keeps its course from first to last;
In others intermits: here suddenly
137
Then shift they to his chest with change as quick,
Then to his loins, and strangury succeeds,
With clammy sweat, hard breathing and hot thirst.
The intervals of pain, if such there be,
Afford him no repose, but he is still
Dejected, restless, of a hopeless mind,
Indifferent to all incidents and objects,
Or in his understanding too confused
To see or apprehend them: first the face
Is red and flush'd, with large and fiery eyes;
Then is it dropsical and deadly pale:
Sometimes such shudderings seize upon the frame
That the bed shakes beneath it, and with that
The breath is check'd with sobbings as from cold;
Then comes a thick dark crust upon the lips
And tongue and teeth; the fatal hiccough next.
Some die in struggles and strong agonies;
Some in a lethargy; whilst others wake
As from a dream, shake off the fit, look round,
And with collected senses and calm speech
Tell the by-standers that their hour is come.
Artevelde.
It is a dismal malady, and this,
Like all our thousand miseries beside,
Demands a remedy that kills or cures.
What wild beasts' yells are these?
[Tumult and shouting without. The Page enters.
Henry, what news?
138
The man from Bruges, escorted by Van Muck,
Is coming here, with crowds of people, wild
To hear what message he may bring. Van Muck
Forbids that any words should pass his lips
Till he have speech of you.
Artevelde.
Van Muck is right.
Page.
But oh! you never saw such wrathful men!
They'll tear them both to pieces.
Artevelde.
Have no fear;
Van Muck will make his way. Ay, here they come. Enter Van Muck and Van Aeswyn.
What! this the messenger? Death of my soul!
Either mine eyes are treacherous as himself
Or else I see a follower of that false
Dishonour'd knight and perjured knave Van Occo.
How is it, if he dares to send thee here,
That thou hast dared to come?
Aeswyn.
So please you, Sir,
The Lord of Occo—
Artevelde.
Grant me but a day
After the siege—Furies and Fates!—one day,—
One day to hunt that reptile to his hole
And stamp my heel upon his recreant neck!
What dost thou here?
Aeswyn.
I come not here from him,
For since he made his war upon a maid,
I have renounced his service; more than that,
139
Which wrought to her deliverance.
Artevelde.
Aha!
I crave thy pardon. I had heard 'twas thou,
Though it escaped me. Tell thy tale; but first,
What tidings of that lady?
Aeswyn.
She remains,
By her own will, Sir, in the knightly hands
Of my good Lord of Arlon.
Artevelde.
Say no more:
Elsewhere I would not wish her.
[The tumult increases without and Artevelde's name is called repeatedly.
Let me now
Dismiss this noisy and impatient herd
That throng my doors, and then—ho! hark you, Steward,
Conduct Van Aeswyn to my cabinet.
[Exeunt all but Artevelde and Clara.
My Clara, we have here a bustling day;
Perhaps I shall not see thee, love, again
Till after night-fall; but I will not lose
Thy good-night kiss, so give it to me now.
Clara.
Philip, there's something in your thoughts—but no—
I will not tease you—there—good-night—Adieu!
[Exit Clara. More clamour without. Artevelde passes into an external gallery which overlooks the street and is heard addressing the people.
140
Hence to the Stadt-house, friends! I'll meet you there,
And either bring the messenger himself
Or tell you of his tidings: hence—begone!
[The people disperse.
Van Occo, thou art in thine own despite
The mainstay of my hope. I have within
Assurance strong as destiny, that I,
And I alone, a mission have from Heaven
To execute God's justice upon thee.
'Tis strange! there's here a city to be saved,
And there (what none but I take thought upon)
A maid to be recovered and revenged,
And which in this tough heart is uppermost
I would not that my subject-citizens knew.
Scene III.
—Before the Stadt-House, as in the last Scene of the Second Act.—The people assemble. Frans Ackerman and Peter Van Nuitre in front.
Ackerman.
'Tis certain something has befallen him.
Van Nuitre.
But where? He might be found, if so it were.
Ackerman.
Hast sought him at Jozyne's estaminet?
Van Nuitre.
There and at every lodgment in the town.
Old mother Van den Bosch will take her oath
He went forth early to Van Artevelde's.
141
Sure nothing can have happen'd to him there.
Van Nuitre.
That's what I doubt. The best will sometimes trip.
They were not in such unison of mind
As we could wish.
Ackerman.
I cannot think it—No—
But this day's business shall no farther fare
Until the truth appear. Soft! now he comes.
Artevelde enters. There is dead silence. He walks slowly up the steps of the platform.
Artevelde.
Are we all here?
One from the Crowd.
What's left of us is here,
Our bones.
Artevelde.
We're wasted in the flesh, 'tis true;
But we have spirits left. We all are here.
Ackerman.
I will say nay to that. Where's Van den Bosch?
Artevelde.
Silence, Frans Ackerman! we want not him.
Ackerman.
Then I demand if he be dead or living?
Artevelde.
He lives.
Ackerman.
Where is he, then?
Artevelde.
Where all shall be
Who seek, by mutiny against their Chief,
To do unlawful deeds. What ask ye more?
He is arrested and confined.
142
What cause
For this proceeding hath that brave man given?
Artevelde.
If, as his friend, thou ask wherein he err'd,
I'll tell it to this people and to thee,—
Not, mark you me, as rendering account,
For that were needless,—but of free good-will.
Sirs, Van den Bosch insisted, in despite
Of all dissuasion, all authority,
The messenger from Bruges should be waylaid
And put to death—yea, nothing less would serve,—
That so the tidings which I'm here to tell
Might never reach your ears. To place restraint
Upon this obstinate humour and give scope
To your deliberations, for a while
He is in duress. Are ye well content?
Many Voices.
Content, content! The tidings, what are They?
Artevelde.
Frans Ackerman, thou hear'st what cause constrain'd
Me, much reluctant, thus to use thy friend.
Art thou content?
Ackerman.
I am.
Artevelde.
So far is well;
And we set forth unanimous, to end
I trust no otherwise. Fair Sirs of Ghent!
Van Aeswyn, the Ambassador from Bruges,
Comes with credentials from the Earl, to show
What mind he bears toward you. Bitterer words
143
But we are fallen, my friends, and vain it were
For us to quarrel with the proud man's scorn.
Then to the matter take ye heed alone
And trouble not your hearts for aught beside.
He will admit you to no terms but these,—
That every man and woman born in Ghent
Shall meet him on the road, half way to Bruges,
Bare-footed and bare-headed, in their shirts,
With halters on their necks, and there kneel down
And put their lives and chattels at his feet.
This if ye do not now, he's sworn an oath
That he will never hearken to you more,
But famine shall consume you utterly,
And in your desolate town he'll light a flame
That shall not be extinguish'd. Speak your minds.
Will ye accept the proffer'd terms or no?
Burghers.
Give us your counsel. Tell us what is best.
Artevelde.
What can I say? Ye know that as ye are
Ye cannot live. Death opens every door
And sits in every chamber by himself.
If what might feed a sparrow should suffice
For soldiers' meals, ye have not wherewithal
To linger out three days. For corn, there's none;
A mouse imprison'd in your granaries
Were starved to death. And what then should I say?
Why truly this: that whatsoe'er men's plight,
There is a better choosing and a worse,
144
By force of their calamities. Three things
Ye have to choose of. Ye may take his terms
And go with halters round your necks to Loo.
Ye will be then his servants and his wealth,
The labourers of his vineyard; and I deem,
Although a haughty Lord he be and cruel,
That he will have the sense to spare his own
When vengeance hath been fed. I say I deem
That when the blood of those that led you on
And of their foremost followers hath flow'd,
He will be satiate and stay his hand.
If this to try be your deliberate choice,
I will not say that ye be ill-advised.
How are ye minded? Let your Deacons speak.
[The people speak in consultation with each other and with the Deacons.
Deacon of the Mariners.
We of the mariners deem that this were best.
Deacon of the Cordwainers.
There's nothing better can be done.
Deacon of the Fullers.
Agreed.
Our craft was never forward in the war.
Deacon of the Weavers.
But, Master Philip, said you not three ways
There were to choose of? Tell us what remains.
Artevelde.
Ye may have patience and expect the close
If nothing else seem fit, betake yourselves
145
Kneel down and pray and make a Christian end,
And God will then have mercy on your souls.
This is the second way.
Deacon of the Weavers.
And what the third?
Artevelde.
If there be found amongst you men whose blood
Runs not so chilly yet as thus to die,
Then there's this third way open—but not else:—
That they whose plight is best and hearts are stout
Be muster'd suddenly, equipp'd and arm'd;
That with our little left of food and wine
The sumpter beasts be laden for their use;
That then they follow me: to-morrow's eve
Should find us knocking at the gates of Bruges,
And then we'd strike a stroke for life or death.
This is the third and sole remaining course.
Choose of the three.
Many voices.
Choose for us, Master Philip:
You are more wise than we.
Artevelde.
If by my choice
Ye will abide, a soldier's death for me.
Many voices.
To Bruges! to Bruges! a venture forth to Bruges!
Artevelde.
Why yet, then, in our embers there is life.
Let whosoe'er would follow me, repair
To the West Port. From them that come I'll choose
Five thousand, if so many there should be,
146
Many citizens again.
For Bruges! for Bruges! 'tis gallantly resolved.
Artevelde.
Then fare ye well, ye citizens of Ghent!
This is the last time ye will see me here
Unless God prosper me past human hope.
I thank you for the dutiful demeanour
Which never—never—verily no, not once,
Have I found wanting, though severely tried
When discipline might seem without reward.
Fortune has not been kind to me, good friends;
But let not that deprive me of your loves,
Or of your good report. Be this the word:
“His rule was brief, calamitous—but just.”
No glory which a prosperous fortune gilds,
If shorn of this addition, could suffice
To lift my heart so high as it is now.
This is that joy in which my soul is strong,
That there is not a man amongst you all
Who can reproach me that I used my power
To do him an injustice. If there be,
It is not to my knowledge; yet I pray
That he will now forgive me, taking note
That I had not to deal with easy times.
First citizen.
Oh, Master Philip, there is none-not one.
Second citizen.
Most justly and most wisely you have ruled.
147
I thank you, Sirs; farewell to you once more;
Once more, farewell. If I return to Ghent
A glory and dominion will be yours
Such as no city since the olden time
Hath been so bold to conquer or to claim.
If I return no more, God's will be done!
To Him and to His providence I leave you.
[He descends. The people come round him, seizing his hands and crying confusedly, “God bless you, Master Philip! God be with you!”
Nay, press not on me, friends; I see ye weep,
Which ye did never for your past mishaps.
But ye shall be disburthen'd of your griefs
The rather than dishearten'd by these tears,
Or else should I reprove them—so—farewell!
Scene IV.
—The Vestibule of the Church of St. Nicholas. —At the further end of it Van Ryk is seen keeping guard over the door which gives access to the church tower.—In front, Clara appears, followed at a little distance by Van Aeswyn.Clara.
Still he pursues me; but this must not be.
How now, good Sir? whom seek you?
Aeswyn.
With your leave,
I have an errand for your private ear.
Clara.
My private ear! I have no private ear.
My ears will not be private.
148
I beseech you
To pardon my presumption.
Clara.
Well, what then?
It is not past forgiveness; no, no, no;
I freely pardon you.
Aeswyn.
I thank you, madam;
And were I but permitted to speak out
All that he bade me say—
Clara.
That he!—what he?
Aeswyn.
The Lord of Arlon, madam.
Clara.
Lord of what?
Aeswyn.
Sir Walter, Lord of Arlon.
Clara.
Oh! Sir Walter,—
Sir Walter D'Arlon—a good Knight, they say:
He sent his service, did he?—a good Knight.
I knew him once—he came to Ghent—O God!
I'm sick—the air is hot, I think—yes, hot!
I pray you pardon me—we get no rest
In this beleaguer'd town—no anything—
This is the time of day I use to faint;
But I shall miss to do it for this once;
So please you to proceed.
Aeswyn.
There's here a bench;
If you'll be seated: for you look so pale. . . .
Clara.
No, I can stand—I think—Well then, I'll sit.
So now, your errand?
Aeswyn.
The Lord of Arlon, madam,
Imparted to me that of all the griefs
149
So broke his spirit as the cruel thought
That you in some sort must partake the woes
Of this so suffering city: he could ne'er
Lay lance in rest or do a feat of arms
But thoughts arose that stung him to the heart,
And each success that should have brought him joy
Was turn'd to bitterness, seeming nought else
But injury to his love. Thus is he now
A man whose heart resents his handiwork,
And all his pleasure in the war is poison'd.
Clara.
Poor D'Arlon! but I cannot help him.
Aeswyn.
Well,
Himself thinks otherwise; he bade me say
That he implores you to fly hence to him.
Clara.
No; never, never!
Aeswyn.
And his aunt at Bruges,
The Prioress, will have you in her care
Till it shall please you to permit his suit.
Clara.
I tell thee, never! I a fugitive! No;
Whilst Philip lives and holds the city out,
Nor pestilence nor famine, fire nor sword,
Shall part us, though an Angel called me hence.
Much may he lose, and much that's far more worth,
But never this reliance.
Aeswyn.
With your leave,
I would make bold to ask you if your flight
In these extremities might not rejoice
150
Clara.
No, Sir, you mistake,
Knowing nor him nor me: we two have grown
From birth on my side, boyhood upon his,
Inseparably together, as two grafts
Out of the self-same stock; we've shared alike
The sun and shower and all that Heaven has sent;
I've loved him much and quarrell'd with him oft,
And all our loves and quarrels past are links
No adverse Fates can sever. We are one.
And I am useful, too; he'll tell you that;
We Arteveldes were made for times like these;
The Deacon of the Mariners said well
That we are of such canvas as they use
To make storm-stay-sails. I have much in charge,
And here I stay.
Aeswyn.
Then must I say you never—
Clara.
Alas, poor D'Arlon! said I never? No;
That is a sharp, unkindly-sounding word.
Tell him to ask me when the siege is raised.
But then he shall not need: he can come hither;
But tell him—of your knowledge—not from me—
The woman could not be of Nature's making
Whom, being kind, her misery made not kinder.
Aeswyn.
The thought of that may solace him. Farewell.
Clara.
Farewell. I mount the tower to look abroad.
After your conference at noon, they say,
151
Be ready harness'd in his mail complete;
And though you keep his secret, I surmise
That were I mounted on the church-tower top,
There's something I might see.
Aeswyn.
To come from Bruges?
No, nothing, Lady, thence.
Clara.
But yet I'll look.
[She approaches the door of the Tower and meets Van Ryk, who plants himself before her.
Van Ryk.
You cannot pass, my Lady.
Clara.
How! not pass?
Van Ryk.
The door is lock'd; your brother keeps the key.
My orders are of rigour, come what may,
To suffer none to pass.
Clara.
How could they pass,
If what thou say'st be true? Thou hast the key.
Van Ryk.
Upon my faith I have it not.
Clara.
So, so!
A courteous usage for a lady this!
But hither comes my prince of spies, the Page,
To tell what's doing.
Enter Page.
Page.
Here's a feat indeed!
A glorious enterprise afoot!
152
Nay; what?
What is it? tell us true.
Page.
Illustrious Lady!
The name of Artevelde shall live for ever!
For Master Philip leads five thousand men
This very night to storm the gates of Bruges.
Clara.
Thou dost not say it?
Page.
True as written book.
Clara.
There's that then shall make Flanders hold her breath,
There's that shall startle Ghent with fearful hope,
And though 'tis shame in such an hour as this
To think of aught so idle, yet 'tis true
There's liberty for me: if Philip goes,
What bondage bids me stay?
Aeswyn.
Most surely none;
And therefore hence to Bruges whilst yet time serves.
Clara.
Nay, nay, Sir, not so fast; gain Philip first,
And then come back to me and take your chance.
[Exeunt Clara, Van Aeswyn, and Page.
Enter Artevelde,who advances to the door of the Tower where Van Ryk is stationed.
Artevelde.
How fares our friend within? set ope the door.
Van Ryk.
Oh, Sir! you must not enter; he is mad.
I would not give a denier for the life
Of any that should enter now; he's arm'd,
153
Artevelde.
Whence tak'st thou that conclusion?
Van Ryk.
For three hours
He strove and shouted as though fifty fiends
Did battle on the narrow stair; and once
He flung his body with such desperate force
Against the door, that I was much in doubt
Whether the triple bars could hold their own.
Then—God be merciful! the oaths and curses!
Faster they came than I could tell my beads.
Artevelde.
But all is silent now.
Van Ryk.
The last half-hour
I have not heard him.
Artevelde.
Open me the door.
Van Ryk.
Surely you will not enter?
Artevelde.
Nay, I must.
We must be friends again. I want his aid.
Van Ryk.
He will assault you ere a word be said.
Artevelde.
He is a hasty man; but we must meet.
Van. Ryk.
Then I will enter with you.
Artevelde.
No, Van Ryk;
I seek his confidence; a show of force
Were sure to baffle me. I go alone.
Van Ryk.
For mercy's sake, forbear. Should you go in,
Or you or he will ne'er come out alive.
Artevelde.
Nay, nay, thou know'st not with what winning ways
154
I charge thee, and let no intrusive step
Trouble my conference with Van den Bosch.
[Exit.
Van Ryk.
It shall not trouble him to creep up behind
And hearken on the stair. No sin in that.
Scene V.
—The Platform at the top of the Steeple—as in the First Scene in this Act.Artevelde and Van den Bosch.
Artevelde.
He has been drunk with anger and he sleeps.
Lest he be not the soberer for his doze
'Twere well to strip him of his weapons. Come,
Come, courtier, from thy house—come from thy case,
Thou smooth and shining dangler by the side
Of them that put thee to a deadly use:
Thou art dismiss'd.
[He lays aside the dagger.
And come thou likewise forth,
Thou flashing flourisher in the battle-field;
Gaudy and senseless tool of sovereignty,
Up to thy shoulders thou shalt reek in blood,
And 'tis but wiping thee to make thee clean,
So poor a thing art thou!—there—get thee gone—
[He lays aside the sword.
Now that he's stingless I may stir him up.
Ho! Van den Bosch! arouse thee. What, thou sleep'st!
155
Get thee afoot; is this a time to sleep?
Up, ere I prod thee with my sword—up, slug!
Up, drowsy clod—why, now I think thou wak'st.
Van den Bosch.
What noisy villain's this?—Van Artevelde!
Artevelde.
Nay, never grope and fumble for thy weapons;
They are conveyed away.
Van den Bosch.
Oh! villain! slave!
And wilt thou murder me unarm'd?
Artevelde.
Out! out!
More like to whip thee for thy fond conceit.
I tell thee, man, a better friend than I
Thou'st not been bless'd with for this many a year;
When all is known to thee, thyself shalt say
That a more friendly deed was never done
That this of mine—the shutting of thee up.
Van den Bosch.
Philip Van Artevelde, I say thou liest—
Give me my sword again. I say thou liest—
Give me my dagger and my sword—thou liest—
Thou art a caitiff and a lying knave
And thou hast stolen my dagger and my sword.
Artevelde.
Nay, softly, friend.
Van den Bosch.
I'm plunder'd, plunder'd, robb'd—
I'm plunder'd of my weapons—of my sword.
Give me my sword again, thou liar thou!
156
My sword, thou robber, or I'll kill thee.
Artevelde.
Nay,
Do that and thou no longer needst thy sword.
Van den Bosch.
Thou coward, wilt thou give me back my sword?
Artevelde.
There—take it, and the Devil give thee good on't!
Now that thou hast it, mayhap thou'lt be brought
To leave thy bellowing and listen. Hark!
Van den Bosch.
I have thee now, Van Artevelde, I have thee.
Ha, ha! I have my sword—I have thee now!
Artevelde.
And if thou had'st thy senses and thine ears
It were a better having for thy weal.
Wilt thou be still and listen to me?
Van den Bosch.
No.
Thou art a liar. Draw thy sword and fight.
Artevelde.
I give thee back thy lie and take thy challenge;
To mortal proof we'll put it, if thou wilt,
But not by instant combat. Three days hence
I pledge my word to answer thy demand,
And I will show thee reasons why not now.
Van den Bosch.
To the pit of Hell with reasons! draw thy sword.
Artevelde.
(draws his sword and flings it from him).—
I'll fight thee when I please and not before.
157
Art thou a coward? wherefore wilt not fight?
Artevelde.
There is a time for all things. Here I stand
Unarm'd before thee, and I will be heard.
That which so much thou tak'st to heart, was done
Purely to save thy credit, much indeed
Endanger'd by thy wilfulness and haste.
I would have done myself no less offence
To do thee so much service. Say thine arm
Had cut me off the messenger from Bruges;
Ghent hears the rumour—magnifies at once
The untold terms to unconditional peace,
And mad with rage for comfort thus repell'd
Had turn'd upon thee to thine overthrow.
But list to what instead I've brought to pass:
The terms were told,—such sanguinary terms
As we had cause to look for; on that ground
I moved the people to a last attempt
Of desperate daring, and we go to-night,
Five thousand men, to seek the Earl at Bruges.
Now, Peter Van den Bosch, give ear to me:
Thy mouth has been this many a day stuff'd full
Of vengeance dire denounced against this Earl.
The blood of Heins, of Launoy and Van Ranst,
(True friends of thine if truth and friendship be!)
Sinks in the ground, nor honour'd nor avenged
Save by the mouthing of an idle threat.
158
In hot succession to the throne of Heaven,
Deep ravage done amongst thy native fields,
Strange tortures suffer'd by thy countrymen,
Call thee with common voice to turn thy wrath
To just account;—and is it come to this,
That for the matter of but one day's feud
With one tried friend that never did thee hurt,
Thou canst forget all else and put thy cause
To imminent hazard at the utmost verge
Of all its fortunes and its ultimate hope!
If so, I cry thee mercy; I mistook;
For I had counted on thine aid to-day
To do the thing that thou so oft hast threaten'd.
Van den Bosch.
Van Artevelde, I never yet forgave
So deep an injury as thou hast done me;
But seeing how things bear, I'll pass it by
Until this last adventure have an end.
Then shalt thou reckon with me for the past.
Artevelde.
For that I stand prepared. Meanwhile I pray,
Let needful concord join us in one yoke,
Nor let the common welfare feel this feud.
Take thou thy charge in this day's work; come down
And I will give it thee. From me thou'lt find
All fit observance.
Van den Bosch.
I will take my charge.
159
ACT V.
Scene I.
—The field of Merle, in the environs of Bruges.Artevelde, Van den Bosch, Van Ryk, Van Muck, and others.
Artevelde.
Not a step farther; give the word to halt,
And bring the waggons up; we can't be better.
God grant that they come hither in their haste!
Here is the fighting-ground, and there the slough
In which they needs must perish should they yield.
We can't be better.
Van den Bosch.
Let it then be here.
I've probed the slough.
Artevelde.
That I did too; 'tis deep.
Van den Bosch.
He is a taller man than you or I
That finds the bottom with his head above.
Artevelde.
It is an hour to sunset.
Van Ryk.
Nay, 'tis more.
Artevelde.
A little more, Van Ryk. I would to God
The sun might not go down upon us here
Without a battle fought!
Van den Bosch.
If so it should
We pass a perilous night.
160
A nipping night,
And wake a wasted few the morrow morn.
Van Muck.
We have a supper left.
Artevelde.
My Lady's page
If he got ne'er a better should be wroth
And burn in effigy my Lady's steward.
For us and for one supper 'twill suffice;
But he's a skilful man at splitting hairs
That can make two on't.
Van Ryk.
Ay, or leave behind
A breakfast in his dish.
Artevelde.
We break our fast
Elsewhere to-morrow. I pray God the Saint
Whose feast they celebrate to-night at Bruges
May steep them well in wine. If Ukenheim
Get undiscover'd in, we shall not miss
To profit by his skill.
Van den Bosch.
We'll hope the best;
But if there be a knave in power unhang'd,
And in his head a grain of sense undrown'd,
He'll be their caution not to—
Artevelde.
Van den Bosch,
Talk we of battle and survey the field,
For I will fight. Let stakes be driven in
Amongst the rushes at the nether end
Of this morass. Van Ryk, look thou to that.
And thou, Van Muck, unload the victual here;
Then tilt the waggons up behind the stakes
161
That I may know the ground. And now, friends all,
Let's to our charges. Ere the red sun sink
Beyond yon city, Ghent is lost or saved!
Scene II.
—An open Tent erected for public entertainment in the Market-place of Bruges.—Boisterous songs and other sounds of riot and jollity are heard on all sides. Within the tent a miscellaneous company are drinking, and amongst them is Ukenheim in the dress of a Mariner of Bruges.Ukenheim.
I pray you pledge me in this, to our better acquaintance.
Lunyz.
At your service, Sir. What say'st thou, Jan Trickle? Is not this the right way? Is not this the narrow road? Knew'st thou ever a Saint's day more seemly celebrated? Dost see what a devotion there is to it?
Trickle.
I see very many righteous gentlemen very drunk. But my wife says, were they at church it should be more seemly.
Kroolkhuys.
Bah! didst ever know a man's wife that liked him to be drinking without her to help?
Gulpus.
Mine is a rare helpmate.
Lunyz.
Let the Church speak. Father Swillen, is not this as it should be?
Father Swillen.
My son, and worthy burgesses, and beloved brethren! Of the present solemnity I will
162
[Drinks.
Tackenham
(advancing from the farther end of the tent.)
Father Swillen—friend, if I knocked you down I ask your pardon—Father Swillen—Sirs, give me place, for I must see the Father—Father Swillen, I look upon you to be one man of a thousand—I will go on my knees to you—I look upon you to be the oracle of God—I look upon you to be the invisible oracle of God—for there you are and I see you not.—I can stand,—I say I can stand—but here I kneel down, and I will not rise unless you stretch forth your hand to me and raise me up— and this is the view I take of our duties as Christian men —all which is submitted to your better judgment, and I would that all men paid their dues to the Church.
Father Swillen.
God requite you, my son! For their salvation—for their salvation—nothing else.
Lunyz
(looking out into the Market-place).
Here is a minstrel twiddles with the strings of his cithern. Now we shall hear a song.
163
Who mounts the merry-go-round with me,
Who mounts the merry-go-round?
'Tis I, I, I,—and who be ye
That would mount the merry-go-round?
Who mounts the merry-go-round?
'Tis I, I, I,—and who be ye
That would mount the merry-go-round?
A blacksmith I,—spearheads as good
As e'er from Bordeaux came
I've made, and would in Ghentsmen's blood
Be bold to dip the same.
As e'er from Bordeaux came
I've made, and would in Ghentsmen's blood
Be bold to dip the same.
Who mounts the merry-go-round with me,
Who mounts the merry-go-round?
'Tis I, I, I,—and who may'st be
That would mount the merry-go-round?
Who mounts the merry-go-round?
'Tis I, I, I,—and who may'st be
That would mount the merry-go-round?
A cutler I,—as true a blade
As ever Ebro steel'd
Is this I've made, nor will't be stayed
By any Ghentsman's shield.
As ever Ebro steel'd
Is this I've made, nor will't be stayed
By any Ghentsman's shield.
Who mounts the merry-go-round with me,
Who mounts the merry-go-round?
'Tis I, I, I,—and now let us see
Who mounts the merry-go-round.
Who mounts the merry-go-round?
'Tis I, I, I,—and now let us see
Who mounts the merry-go-round.
A barber I,—and well appear'd
My handicraft, for when
A Ghentsman's beard I shortly shear'd
It never grew again.
My handicraft, for when
A Ghentsman's beard I shortly shear'd
It never grew again.
Who mounts the merry-go-round with me,
Who mounts the merry-go-round?
'Tis I, I, I,—and a priest was he
That would mount the merry-go-round.
Who mounts the merry-go-round?
'Tis I, I, I,—and a priest was he
That would mount the merry-go-round.
164
A Ghentsman of his wounds lay sick,
And shall I be saved? he cried;
I gave him a kick, bade him ask Old Nick
And he should be satisfied.
Kroolkhuys.
And shall I be saved? he cried;
I gave him a kick, bade him ask Old Nick
And he should be satisfied.
I' faith he sings like a nightingale. No
more, thank you,—I cannot—cannot . . . well, if I
must . . .
[drinks.]
'Tis a charming lullaby, and the
sentiment very tender and soothing. Let us all do as
we would be done by, God bless us!
[Falls asleep.
[Suddenly is heard from the Market-place a loud cry of “To arms! To arms!”
Ukenheim
(starting up and drawing his sword.)
To arms? What! the men of Ghent come to us? What! the scarecrows from Ghent! To arms! to arms! Out and down with them! To arms! to arms!
Kroolkhuys
(waking).
Why how is this? the men of Ghent! What ho! give me my coat of proof!
Ukenheim.
Let cowards stay behind. To arms! to arms!
[They rush out confusedly. Tackenham creeps from under the table where he had remained in a reclining posture.
Takenham.
To arms! I look upon Father Swillen to be an oracle, and it were to be wished that all men paid the Church her dues.
165
Scene III.
—The Palace.The Lord of Occo and Gilbert Matthew.
Gilbert.
His Highness will be here anon. Sir Guy,
Freely accept the combat for the morrow.
Count on my speed. There's not a man in Bruges
Who has outlived the day I wish'd him dead.
The threads of many destinies I hold
Unknown to them they bind for life or death,
And I am punctual as the planet stars.
A winter's night, as long as nights are now,
Is worth an age.
Occo.
One doubt detains me still.
The Earl, if ever it were known, would—
Gilbert.
Hark!
'Tis over, that. He loves him now no more.
For every philtre that can make men love
I know the secret of an antidote.
I've warn'd him of those private ties in Ghent.
Enough. I've dosed him.
Occo.
Well, it shall be done.
Gilbert.
I will provide the hands.
Occo.
You shall not need.
I have already sent for two tried men,—
Italians; they are practised hands and fit.
Gilbert.
I have you then; 'tis Erclo and Romero.
Occo.
The same.
166
Earl.
What shouting's this I hear abroad?
Occo.
The revellers, my good Lord; they pitch the bar,
And shoot with cross-bows for a prize. My Lord,
At noon to-morrow, if his heart but hold,
I'll meet Sir Walter D'Arlon.
Gilbert.
In good truth
But are these shouts of revel? Hark, again!
They cry “To arms!”
Earl.
By Heaven! I think 'tis that!
And hear ye not the bells? They're ringing backwards.
Occo.
'Tis an alarm.
Enter the Lord of Arlon, Sir Robert Mareschault, and others.
Earl.
Well, D'Arlon, what is this?
D'Arlon.
The men of Ghent, my Lord, the men of Ghent.
Earl.
What, here?
D'Arlon.
Two miles aloof they make a stand.
Earl.
What, are they mad?
D'Arlon.
I think not mad, my Lord,
But desperate.
Earl.
My friends, 'tis all as one.
Now shall this war be gloriously closed,
And famine, that was tedious, be o'erta'en.
Bring out my banner, summon all to arms,
167
Gilbert.
Please you, Sir, to say
How many they may number.
Sir Robert.
At a guess,
About five thousand.
Gilbert.
May they move or stand?
Sir Robert.
Since they were first descried they have not stirr'd.
Earl.
Forth with my banner; out with horse and foot.
Sir Knights, we muster in the Market-place.
Bring me my armour, ho!
Gilbert.
My Lord, one word,
Ere yet the Knights depart. These men are few,
But they are desperate; famine-bitten are they,
But alway are the leanest wolves most brave
To break the fold. Sir, let us not be rash;
Our men at-arms are somewhat flush'd with drink
And may be ill to guide. Sir, think upon it.
Fight them to-morrow. Let them sleep to-night
In winter's lap, beneath the ragged tent
Of a December's sky. When morning breaks
You'll see them lying upon yon hill-side
As dead and sapless as the last month's leaves.
Give them this night.
The Hase of Flanders.
They'll think we stay through fear.
Gilbert.
Think they their will; whate'er they think of that
168
Earl.
By my faith,
I know not, Gilbert, but thou mayst be right.
The winter's night is sure to thin their ranks
Of fighting men; and if they're scantly stored
With victual, which is probable to think,
They shall endure it worse.
Enter the Mayor in haste.
Mayor.
My Lord, my Lord,
The crafts fly forth by thousands from the gates
Unorder'd and unled.
Earl.
Who kept the gates?
How came they open? Walter, haste thee, haste!
And bring the madmen back.
[Exit D'Arlon.
How came they so?
Mayor.
A simple mariner avouch'd, my Lord,
That he had heard your Highness's own mouth
Give out the order.
Earl.
Hang the slave! 'twas false.
Mayor.
So thought the warders; nor had they complied
But that the people, being much inflamed,
Menaced their lives.
Enter a Squire.
Squire.
Sir Walter, Sir, sends word
The town is almost emptied. He entreats
169
Which is past hope, but sound at once to arms
And send them leaders.
Earl.
Gilbert, we must forth.
Gilbert.
Ay, go we forth, and fear not for the end.
Fifty to five, we surely must do well,
Though peradventure for the sparing lives
We might have done more wisely.
Earl.
Sirs, be sudden;
And when you're mounted in the Market-place,
I'll give you there your charges. Sound to horse.
Scene IV.
—The Field of Merle, as in the First Scene. Artevelde, Van Ryk, Van Muck, and others.Artevelde.
See'st thou yon sweeping section of the road
That leads by Ecdorf to the eastern gate?
My eyes are strain'd, but yet I thought I saw
A moving mass of men.
Van Ryk.
I thought so too.
When I had held mine eyes a minute fix'd
As in a morsel of dry moulder'd cheese
I thought I could descry a tumbling movement.
Artevelde.
Who hath the longest and the clearest sight
Of all our men? go bring him. Nay, stop, stop!
I think we shall not need him: now, look there.
By Heaven, they come! they come! Ha! Van den Bosch!
170
I give you joy! by Heaven we have our wish.
Van den Bosch.
Yea, Sir, they come, and now, betide what may,
We'll mix the Evil One a mess for supper
In yonder darksome pool.
Artevelde.
A ruddier tinge
Than ever evening cast shall warm its waters
Ere evening colours fade. What ho! Van Serl,
Serve out the victual all. But first, to prayers;
We will be shriven first, and then we'll sup,
And after that we'll cut a road to bed,
Be it in Bruges or in a better place.
Van Ryk, abide thou here and bring me word
If any shall approach by other ways;
And when the foremost of the troop we see
Have past yon broken wall, then sound thy horn,
And I will send thee forces wherewithal
To keep thy post. There's food behind the carts,
Whereof partake with them I'll send thee.
Van Ryk.
Nay,
I shall want nothing, Sir,
Artevelde.
I tell thee eat,
Eat and be fresh. Anon I'll send a Priest.
Van Muck, thou tak'st small comfort in thy prayers;
Put thou thy muzzle in yon tub of wine.
Now, Van den Bosch, or ere the sun go down
171
Van den Bosch.
Have with thee, Artevelde!
Thou art a man of mettle and my friend,
And I would have thee know that should we fall,
Either or both, I bear thee now no grudge;
And so may Heaven forgive my many sins
As I do thee.
Artevelde.
Why, thou art now thyself.
With heart and hand we'll fall upon the foe,
And do the work like brothers. Come thy ways.
[Exeunt all but Van Ryk and Van Muck.
Van Ryk.
Van Muck, I prithee step along the path
That rounds the hill, and mark if on that side
Aught may be stirring.
Van Muck.
Ay, and if there be
I'll shout and hail thee.
[Exit.
Enter Artevelde's Page.
Van Ryk.
Why, my little man,
How cam'st thou hither? 'tis no place for thee.
What, cam'st thou with the army?
Page.
No, from Bruges.
Van Ryk.
What took thee there?
Page.
'Twas I that took myself.
But Mistress Clara wished that I should go.
She sojourns with the Prioress of St. Anne
Till all be over.
172
And with her, my boy,
Thou shouldst have stay'd.
Page.
What! in a convent? No,
I think not when a battle is toward.
Besides, the Prioress was all on edge
To hear of what befalls, her sister's son,
Sir Walter D'Arlon, being forth; so me
They charged to keep good watch and bring them word
How he shall fare; but by my halidom
I will not run of errands now; I'll fight.
Van Ryk.
God's mercy on the Knight thou fall'st upon!
Nay, nay, content thee; couch thee by yon carts,
And dream not thou of fighting.
Page.
Is it true
That some half-hour will bring the battle on?
Van Ryk.
Less time than that. Thou see'st how fast they come.
But now we scarce distinguish'd if they moved,
And see,—upon the skirts of yonder mass
We may discern them, single man by man.
Page.
Can you descry the pennons of the Knights
That lead them?
Van Ryk.
Truly, I perceive not one;
A multitude—a mass of heads—nought else—
No banner, pennon, nor a mounted man.
If any Knight be there he comes afoot.
Page.
The Lord of Arlon surely must be there;
He's always with the foremost.
173
If he be
His pennon is not.
Page.
Nay, but look again;
I see some Knights that gallop up behind,
And pennons now come streaming on the road
Betwixt the town and them.
Van Ryk.
Good faith, 'tis true.
Thou hast sharp eyes.
Page.
And there—upon the bridge—
Whose is that pennon?
Van Ryk.
I shall know anon,
If but yon clump will let me. Come this way
And we shall see them better. Through the gap.
Scene V.
—Another part of the Field.Artevelde and others.
Artevelde.
Their cross-bow shafts have touch'd us on that side,
And ours fly large. We're dazzled by the sun.
Bid Van den Bosch give gently back and back
And wind them round the slough; I'll hover here;
And soon as he have turn'd his back o' the sun
Let him stand fast and shoot. Thou hast thine errand;
Let it not cool. And you, Sirs, follow me.
174
Scene VI.
—Another part of the Field.The Lord of Arlon and Gilbert Matthew.
Gilbert.
How came they thus? My Lord, I needs must say
A soldier's courage, not a leader's skill,
Has placed them here.
D'Arlon.
Skill! what can skill avail?
Could skill have made men sober that were drunk?
The meanest archer with his senses whole
Would not have rush'd to stare the sun i' the face
As these have done; nothing could stop them, sots!
Gilbert.
They will not long hold out.
D'Arlon.
I prithee fly,
And tell the Earl to send us succours up.
I'll keep them steady, if I can, till then.
Scene VII.
—Another part of the Field.Artevelde's Page following an Archer.
Page.
Stay, hearken.
Archer.
Od's my body! what is here?
A mannikin at arms? Why clutch me, friend?
Art thou afraid?
Page.
Take that for asking.
175
Slain
With buffet of a mighty man of war!
Well, thou hast mettle; what's hy will with me?
Page.
I am thy Captain's page; he sends to know
Where D'Arlon fights.
Archer.
So; stop, then; with thine eye
If thou canst follow forth yon grey stone wall
Down to the hollow, and where farther on
Again it rises, thou shalt see a crowd
Of fighting men, and in their thickest front
The pennon of the Lord of Arlon flies—
By Heaven! But I think no—a minute since
It there was flying, but I think 'tis down.
[Exit Page.
Enter Artevelde, with Followers from the one side, and Van Ryk with Followers from the other.
Artevelde.
How is't with you? On our side all is well.
One half their host is founder'd in the swamp,
The other full in flight.
Van Ryk.
On our side too
They all have fled; but farther down the field
The D'Arlon still stands fast.
Artevelde.
Set on,—set on—
Make for the spot. But hurt ye not that Knight.
176
Scene VIII.
—A Street in Bruges.—It is Night.—The Earl of Flanders and Sir Robert Mareschault enter, preceded by Attendants bearing torches.Earl.
What succours we can find I'll lead myself.
Was ever such disaster! Madmen first,
And cowards after!
Enter a Soldier in haste.
Soldier.
Fly, my Lord! fly, fly!
The gates are lost; they're now within the walls.
Earl.
Why say they are, and must I therefore fly?
Make for the Market-place; we'll rally there
Whoever will be rallied.—Pass we on—
Lights to the Market-place.
Enter another Soldier.
Soldier.
Is't you, my Lord?
Oh! not that way! the men of Ghent are there.
Fly, fly, my Lord!
Earl.
The men of Ghent are where?
Soldier.
I' the Market-place, my Lord.
Earl.
Already there!
Sir Robert.
Put out your lights.
Earl.
Ay, truly, now all's lost.
Put out your lights, good fellows all, and fly.
Save me ye cannot, and ye may yourselves.
[The lights are extinguished.
177
Sir Robert.
Down the street
I see the flash of cressets that come hither;
Hence, in God's name! Here, varlet, doff thy cloak,
And give it to my Lord.
Earl.
Throw mine away,
Or it might else betray thy life; get hence;
But if thou fallest in the enemy's hands,
Have a good tongue; say not thou saw'st me here.
Adieu, Sir Robert; each the other hazards
By holding thus together.
Sir Robert
Sir, Farewell. [Exit.
[The Earl, left alone, knocks at the door of a house; a window is opened above and a woman looks out.
Woman.
Who's he that knocks?
Earl.
A much endanger'd man.
Woman.
We're all endanger'd on such nights as these.
I cannot let thee in.
Earl.
I pray thee, do.
Woman.
Art thou a man-at-arms?
Earl.
Yea, truly.
Woman.
Ah!
Then get thee gone; they'll ransack every house
To hunt out men-at-arms. Go, get thee gone.
Earl.
I have no arms upon me.
Woman.
Get thee gone!
Earl.
I am the Earl of Flanders.
178
Good my Lord!
O mercy! my good Lord, and is it you?
Woe's me! I'll ope the door. The many times
That alms were given me at your Lordship's gate
And I to hold you haggling here! Woe's me!
[She descends and opens the door.
Come in, my gracious Lord; up yonder steps
You'll find a cock-loft and a couch of straw;
Betwixt the mattress and the boards lie flat,
And you may well be hidden. Here are lights!
Come in, come in.
[They enter the house.
Enter Van Muck, followed by several Men of Ghent.
He knocks at the door.
Van Muck.
No answer? Nay then, knock me in this door.
[The woman opens it.
Woman.
Why, valiant Sirs, you would not sure molest
A widow and her children.
Van Muck.
Who's within?
Woman.
Three helpless orphans; as I hope for grace;
No soul beside.
Van Muck.
Wilt take thy oath of that?
Woman.
I pray God strike me dead upon the threshold
If any be within but my three babes,
Myk, Lodowyk, and Jan.
Van Muck.
Why, as we came
We saw a man go in.
179
Good Sir, good Sir,
You are deceived; there was no man at all;
'Twas I look'd out and emptied down a bucket!
A man! God help us; no.
Van Muck.
Go in and see.
[Some of the men enter the house.
Woman.
Walk in, your worships; pray walk in—walk in.
You see my humble house: one room below,
And one above. Sir, will you not walk in?
Van Muck.
No, no; I'll keep the door.
Woman.
These times, sweet Sir,
Are hard for widow'd women and their babes.
[The men come out again.
One of the Men.
'Tis as she says: three children are asleep;
Three in the cock-loft; there is none beside.
Van Muck.
Good even to you, Dame. Friends, follow me.
[Exeunt Van Muck and his Men.
Woman.
Beshrew your hearts, ye filthy dogs of Ghent!
The Devil catch you by the throat! for once
You've miss'd your game. Ah, gracious Lord, away!
180
Scene IX.
—The Market-place of Bruges.—In front, Artevelde with Clara and D'Arlon. Next, Ukenheim, Frans Ackerman, Van Nuitre,and other Leaders. Behind them are crowds of armed Followers and Attendants bearing torches, of whom some companies march off from time to time under orders from their Captains and others remain keeping guard over prisoners and spoil.Artevelde.
War hath dealt hardly with the noble D'Arlon;
Him gold not ransoms, and to stricter bonds
A captive Knight was never yet consign'd.
[Turning to his Followers.
Van Muck returns not. Who amongst you all
Hath eye of lynx and leveret's foot to speed
Through all the town with inquisition sure
And leave no corner of a house unsearch'd?
Where is Van Ryk?
Ukenheim.
He left us at the gates.
Artevelde.
True, true, upon a mission sent by me.
He will be here anon. Then Ukenheim,
Go thou, with such assistance as thou wilt,
Upon the quest, through every lane and street.
Take him, if possibly ye can, alive.
Evil and folly hath he wrought against us,
But never treason; he had wrong'd us less
181
Bring forth the Lord of Occo.
[Occo is brought forward bound.
So, my Lord!
Enter Van Muck and his party.
Another?
Van Muck.
Gilbert Matthew, Sir, we bring.
Artevelde.
And not the Earl?
Van Muck.
No; he, they say, escaped,
And took the road to Lisle. He lay some space
Hid in a hovel till the search went by,
And then he slunk away.
Artevelde.
Long must thou wait,
Earl, ere thou see thy heritage again!
Bring Gilbert Matthew forth.
[He is brought in bound.
So, Gilbert Matthew!
Gilbert.
Young upstart, what wouldst thou with Gilbert Matthew?
Artevelde.
Be patient, Sir; you'll know it. Where art thou,
Frans Ackerman? Despatch ere break of day
A hundred waggons on the road to Ghent
Laden with corn and wine. That done, send forth
To Damme and Sluys and empty out their stores
For a fresh convoy. Have me men prepared
To ride to Ypres, Courtray, Cassel, Bergues,
182
And bid the Mayor and Burghers of each town
Send me its keys. Well met, bold Van den Bosch!
Enter Van den Bosch, with Followers.
Well met at Bruges, my brethren in arms!
As ye were brave, so be ye temperate now.
Let not the small-crafts suffer. Spare their blood,
For they but follow'd in the train of power
And many wished us in their hearts no ill.
To all shall plunder plentifully flow
Out of the coffers of the rich; but him
That spills a foreigner's or craftsman's blood
I mulct of all his share, and, this night past,
The price (not willingly so long postponed,
But needfully for this tumultuous night)
Of all blood-guiltiness is paid in blood.
Take heed of what I say; ye ought to know
For good or ill my promises are kept.
The debt of vengeance justly due to Ghent
Ye shall behold acquitted where ye stand.
[Turning to Occo and Gilbert Matthew.
Look, Van den Bosch, upon your former friends,
And say what they deserve.
Van den Bosch.
In this world death,
And after that let Satan tend his own.
I should commend their bodies to the rack
But that I'm loth so long to keep their souls
183
Occo.
Thy heart was ever hard;
But, Artevelde, thou wilt not stain thy hands
By killing in cold blood two helpless men!
If thou'rt a soldier, do not such a deed.
Soldiers by soldiers in the field are slain,
Not murder'd in the market-place.
Artevelde.
Agreed;
And if the name of soldier can be claim'd
By both or one of you, ye shall not die.
Bring forth the Friar.
[A Friar is brought forward.
Save you, holy Sir!
Say in the face of these two that stand here
That which thou said'st to me.
Friar.
Sir, it was this:
Here in the hospital expired but now
Of many wounds a Florentine, by name
Romero, who, repentant ere his death,
Confessed an impious contract, for a bribe
From Gilbert Matthew and Sir Guy of Occo,
To kill the Lord of Arlon, for some spite
That each had to him.
Occo.
Miscreant, he lied!
Whoe'er procured him, it was never I.
Master Van Artevelde, and you, my Lord,
Believe not I would sin in such a sort.
Have mercy on a miserable man!
[Falls on his knees.
Oh God! there's some mistake, or else he lied.
184
How say'st thou that he lied? Sirs, it is true,
I with this craven beggarly companion—
Of whose accompliceship to do the deed
And not the deed itself I speak with shame—
I with this caitiff truly did conspire
For good and ample reasons to remove
Sir Walter D'Arlon from this troublesome world.
Such chances as no prudence could forefend
Have baulk'd my purpose and I go myself.
Wherefore, Sirs, God be with you! To the block!
What are ye dreaming of, ye sluggish hinds?
Artevelde
(signing to the men-at-arms who lead out Gilbert Matthew).
Ay, Gilbert, God forgive thee for thy sins!
Thou steppest statelily the only walk
Thou hast to take on earth. Full many a man
That lives a godlier life less bravely dies.
Take forth Sir Guy of Occo.
Occo.
Hear me yet.
If through pretext of justice I am doomed,
What justice is it that believes not me
And yet believes such villains as Romero
And Gilbert Matthew? Find a credible tongue
To testify against me ere you strike.
Enter Van Ryk, conducting Adriana.
Artevelde.
Behold the witness! Look upon this face
And bid death welcome. Lead him to the block.
185
Oh, spare him; speak not now of shedding blood,
Now, in the hour that Heaven has rescued us;
Vengeance is God's, whose function take not thou;
Spare him, Van Artevelde, oh! spare his life!
Artevelde.
Not though an Angel plead. Vengeance is God's;
But God doth oftentimes dispense it here
By human ministration. To my hands
He render'd victory this eventful day
For uses of His own, and this is one.
Let Flanders judge me from my deeds to-night,
That I from this time forth will do His will;
Justice with mercy tempering where I may,
But executing always. Take him hence.
[Occo is led out.
Now, Adriana, I am wholly thine.
The curtain falls upon the fancied stage,
The tale half told: here rest thee, reader sage;
Pause here and trim thine intellectual light,
Which, more than mine, shall make my meanings bright.
That ancient writer whose romantic heart
Loved war in every shape,—its pride, its art,
Its shows, appurtenance,—whose page is still
The theatre of war turn where we will,—
That old historian of whose truthful text
I dog the heels,—me whither leads he next?
To dark descents he guides me; sad and stern,
Him following forth, the lesson that I learn:
That in the shocks of powers so wild and rude
Success but signifies vicissitude;
That of that man who seeks a sovran sphere
The triumph is the trial most severe.
And yet in times so stormy, in a land
Where Virtue's self held forth a bloody hand
To greet arm'd Justice,—in such times as these
Still woman's love could find the way to please.
Thus in the tissue of my tale, herein
By records not unvouch'd, again I spin,
As heretofore, an interwoven thread
Of feminine affection fancy-fed.
The tale half told: here rest thee, reader sage;
Pause here and trim thine intellectual light,
Which, more than mine, shall make my meanings bright.
186
Loved war in every shape,—its pride, its art,
Its shows, appurtenance,—whose page is still
The theatre of war turn where we will,—
That old historian of whose truthful text
I dog the heels,—me whither leads he next?
To dark descents he guides me; sad and stern,
Him following forth, the lesson that I learn:
That in the shocks of powers so wild and rude
Success but signifies vicissitude;
That of that man who seeks a sovran sphere
The triumph is the trial most severe.
And yet in times so stormy, in a land
Where Virtue's self held forth a bloody hand
To greet arm'd Justice,—in such times as these
Still woman's love could find the way to please.
Thus in the tissue of my tale, herein
By records not unvouch'd, again I spin,
As heretofore, an interwoven thread
Of feminine affection fancy-fed.
—Rest thee a space: or if thou lov'st to hear
A soft pulsation in thine easy ear,
Turn thou the page and let thy senses drink
A lay that shall not trouble thee to think.
Quitting the heroine of the past, thou'lt see
In this prefigured her that is to be,
And find what life was hers before the date
That with the Fleming's fortunes link'd her fate.
This sang she to herself one summer's eve
A recreant from festivities that grieve
The heart not festive; stealing to her bower
With this she wiled away the lonely evening hour.
A soft pulsation in thine easy ear,
Turn thou the page and let thy senses drink
A lay that shall not trouble thee to think.
Quitting the heroine of the past, thou'lt see
In this prefigured her that is to be,
And find what life was hers before the date
That with the Fleming's fortunes link'd her fate.
This sang she to herself one summer's eve
A recreant from festivities that grieve
The heart not festive; stealing to her bower
With this she wiled away the lonely evening hour.
187
THE LAY OF ELENA.
He ask'd me had I yet forgot
The mountains of my native land?
I sought an answer, but had not
The words at my command.
They would not come, and it was better so,
For had I utter'd aught, my tears I know
Had started at the word as free to flow.
The mountains of my native land?
I sought an answer, but had not
The words at my command.
They would not come, and it was better so,
For had I utter'd aught, my tears I know
Had started at the word as free to flow.
But I can answer when there's none that hears;
And now if I should weep, none sees my tears;
And in my soul the voice is rising strong
That speaks in solitude,—the voice of song.
And now if I should weep, none sees my tears;
And in my soul the voice is rising strong
That speaks in solitude,—the voice of song.
Yes, I remember well
The land of many hues,
Whose charms what praise can tell,
Whose praise what heart refuse?
Sublime, but neither bleak nor bare
Nor misty, are the mountains there,—
Softly sublime, profusely fair!
Up to their summits clothed in green
And fruitful as the vales between
They lightly rise
And scale the skies,
And groves and gardens still abound,
For where no shoot
Could else take root
The peaks are shelved and terraced round;
Earthward appear in mingled growth
The mulberry and maize,—above,
The trellised vine extends to both
The leafy shade they love.
Looks out the white-wall'd cottage here;
The lowly chapel rises near;
Far down the foot must roam to reach
The lovely lake and bending beach;
Whilst chestnut green and olive gray
Chequer the steep and winding way.
The land of many hues,
Whose charms what praise can tell,
Whose praise what heart refuse?
Sublime, but neither bleak nor bare
Nor misty, are the mountains there,—
Softly sublime, profusely fair!
188
And fruitful as the vales between
They lightly rise
And scale the skies,
And groves and gardens still abound,
For where no shoot
Could else take root
The peaks are shelved and terraced round;
Earthward appear in mingled growth
The mulberry and maize,—above,
The trellised vine extends to both
The leafy shade they love.
Looks out the white-wall'd cottage here;
The lowly chapel rises near;
Far down the foot must roam to reach
The lovely lake and bending beach;
Whilst chestnut green and olive gray
Chequer the steep and winding way.
A bark is launch'd on Como's lake,
A maiden sits abaft;
A little sail is loosed to take
The night wind's breath and waft
The maiden and her bark away
Across the lake and up the bay.
And what doth there that lady fair
Upon the wavelet toss'd?
Before her shines the evening star,
Behind her in the woods afar
The castle lights are lost.
What doth she there? The evening air
Lifts her locks and her neck is bare,
And the dews that now are falling fast
May work her harm, or a rougher blast
May come from yonder cloud,
And that her bark might scarce sustain,
So slightly built, and why remain,
And would she be allow'd
To brave the wind and sit in the dew
At night on the lake if her mother knew?
A maiden sits abaft;
A little sail is loosed to take
The night wind's breath and waft
The maiden and her bark away
Across the lake and up the bay.
And what doth there that lady fair
Upon the wavelet toss'd?
Before her shines the evening star,
189
The castle lights are lost.
What doth she there? The evening air
Lifts her locks and her neck is bare,
And the dews that now are falling fast
May work her harm, or a rougher blast
May come from yonder cloud,
And that her bark might scarce sustain,
So slightly built, and why remain,
And would she be allow'd
To brave the wind and sit in the dew
At night on the lake if her mother knew?
Her mother sixteen years before
The burthen of the baby bore;
And though brought forth in joy, the day
So joyful, she was wont to say,
In taking count of after years,
Gave birth to fewer hopes than fears.
For seldom smiled
The serious child,
And as she pass'd from childhood, grew
More far-between those smiles and few,
More sad and wild.
And though she loved her father well
And though she loved her mother more,
Upon her heart a sorrow fell
And sapp'd it to the core.
And in her father's castle nought
She ever found of what she sought,
And all her pleasure was to roam
Among the mountains far from home,
And through thick woods, and wheresoe'er
She saddest felt to sojourn there;
And much she loved to linger afloat
On the lonely lake in the little boat.
The burthen of the baby bore;
And though brought forth in joy, the day
So joyful, she was wont to say,
In taking count of after years,
Gave birth to fewer hopes than fears.
For seldom smiled
The serious child,
And as she pass'd from childhood, grew
More far-between those smiles and few,
More sad and wild.
And though she loved her father well
And though she loved her mother more,
Upon her heart a sorrow fell
And sapp'd it to the core.
190
She ever found of what she sought,
And all her pleasure was to roam
Among the mountains far from home,
And through thick woods, and wheresoe'er
She saddest felt to sojourn there;
And much she loved to linger afloat
On the lonely lake in the little boat.
It was not for the forms,—though fair,
Though grand they were beyond compare,—
It was not only for the forms
Of hills in sunshine or in storms,
Or only unrestrain'd to look
On wood and lake, that she forsook
By day or night
Her home, and far
Wander'd by light
Of sun or star.
It was to feel her fancy free,
Free in a world without an end,
With ears to hear and eyes to see
And heart to apprehend.
It was to leave the earth behind
And rove with liberated mind,
As fancy led or choice or chance,
Through wildered regions of romance.
And many a castle would she build
And all around the woods were fill'd
With Knights and Squires that rode amain,
With ladies saved and giants slain;
And as some contest waver'd, came,
With eye of fire and breath of flame,
A dragon that in cave profound
Had had his dwelling under-ground;
And he had closed the dubious fight,
But that, behold! there came in sight
A hippogriff, that wheel'd his flight
Far in the sky, then swooping low
Brings to the field a fresher foe;
Dismay'd by this diversion, fly
The dragon and his dear ally;
And now the victor Knight unties
The prisoner, his unhoped-for prize,
And lo! a beauteous maid is she,
Whom they, in their unrighteous guise,
Had fasten'd naked to a tree!
Though grand they were beyond compare,—
It was not only for the forms
Of hills in sunshine or in storms,
Or only unrestrain'd to look
On wood and lake, that she forsook
By day or night
Her home, and far
Wander'd by light
Of sun or star.
It was to feel her fancy free,
Free in a world without an end,
With ears to hear and eyes to see
And heart to apprehend.
It was to leave the earth behind
And rove with liberated mind,
As fancy led or choice or chance,
Through wildered regions of romance.
And many a castle would she build
191
With Knights and Squires that rode amain,
With ladies saved and giants slain;
And as some contest waver'd, came,
With eye of fire and breath of flame,
A dragon that in cave profound
Had had his dwelling under-ground;
And he had closed the dubious fight,
But that, behold! there came in sight
A hippogriff, that wheel'd his flight
Far in the sky, then swooping low
Brings to the field a fresher foe;
Dismay'd by this diversion, fly
The dragon and his dear ally;
And now the victor Knight unties
The prisoner, his unhoped-for prize,
And lo! a beauteous maid is she,
Whom they, in their unrighteous guise,
Had fasten'd naked to a tree!
Much dreaming these, yet was she much awake
To portions of things earthly, for the sake
Whereof, as with a charm, away would flit
The phantoms, and the fever intermit.
Whatso' of earthly things presents a face
Of outward beauty or a form of grace
Might not escape her, hidden though it were
From courtly recognition; for with her
Nature's high heraldry in a peasant's face
Awarded him pre-eminence of place;
Give but a handmaid majesty of mien,
The handmaid rose in station to a Queen.
Devoted thus to what was fair to sight
She loved too little else, nor this aright;
And many disappointments could not cure
This born obliquity, or break the lure
Which this strong passion spread: she grew not wise,
Nor grows: experience with a world of sighs
Purchased, and tears and heart-break, have been hers,
And taught her nothing: where she err'd she errs.
To portions of things earthly, for the sake
Whereof, as with a charm, away would flit
The phantoms, and the fever intermit.
Whatso' of earthly things presents a face
Of outward beauty or a form of grace
Might not escape her, hidden though it were
From courtly recognition; for with her
192
Awarded him pre-eminence of place;
Give but a handmaid majesty of mien,
The handmaid rose in station to a Queen.
Devoted thus to what was fair to sight
She loved too little else, nor this aright;
And many disappointments could not cure
This born obliquity, or break the lure
Which this strong passion spread: she grew not wise,
Nor grows: experience with a world of sighs
Purchased, and tears and heart-break, have been hers,
And taught her nothing: where she err'd she errs.
Be it avow'd, when all is said,
She trod the path the many tread;—
She loved too soon in life; her dawn
Was bright with sunbeams, whence is drawn
A sure prognostic that the day
Will not unclouded pass away.
Too young she loved, and he on whom
Her first love lighted, in the bloom
Of boyhood was, and so was graced
With all that earliest runs to waste.
Intelligent, loquacious, mild,
Yet gay and sportive as a child,
With feelings light and quick, that came
And went, like flickerings of flame;
A soft demeanour, and a mind
Bright and abundant in its kind,
That, playing on the surface, made
A rapid change of light and shade,
Or if a darker hour perforce
At times o'ertook him in his course,
Still sparkling thick like glow-worms, show'd
Life was to him a summer's road;—
Such was the youth to whom a love
For grace and beauty far above
Their due deserts, betray'd a heart
Which might have else perform'd a loftier part.
She trod the path the many tread;—
She loved too soon in life; her dawn
Was bright with sunbeams, whence is drawn
A sure prognostic that the day
Will not unclouded pass away.
Too young she loved, and he on whom
Her first love lighted, in the bloom
Of boyhood was, and so was graced
With all that earliest runs to waste.
Intelligent, loquacious, mild,
Yet gay and sportive as a child,
With feelings light and quick, that came
And went, like flickerings of flame;
A soft demeanour, and a mind
193
That, playing on the surface, made
A rapid change of light and shade,
Or if a darker hour perforce
At times o'ertook him in his course,
Still sparkling thick like glow-worms, show'd
Life was to him a summer's road;—
Such was the youth to whom a love
For grace and beauty far above
Their due deserts, betray'd a heart
Which might have else perform'd a loftier part.
First love the world is wont to call
The passion which was now her all.
So be it call'd; but be it known
The feeling which possess'd her now
Was novel in degree alone;
Love early mark'd her for his own;
Soon as the winds of heaven had blown
Upon her, had the seed been sown
In soil which needed not the plough;
And passion with her growth had grown
And strengthen'd with her strength, and how
Could love be new, unless in name,
Degree, and singleness of aim?
A tenderness had fill'd her mind
Pervasive, viewless, undefined;—
As keeps the subtle fluid oft
Its secret, gathering in the soft
And sultry air, till felt at length
In all its desolating strength,
So silent, so devoid of dread,
Her objectless affections spread:
Not wholly unemploy'd, but squander'd
At large where'er her fancy wander'd;
Till one attraction, one desire
Concentred all the scatter'd fire;
It broke, it burst, it blazed amain,
It flash'd its light o'er hill and plain,
O'er earth below and heaven above,—
And then it took the name of love.
The passion which was now her all.
So be it call'd; but be it known
The feeling which possess'd her now
Was novel in degree alone;
Love early mark'd her for his own;
Soon as the winds of heaven had blown
Upon her, had the seed been sown
In soil which needed not the plough;
And passion with her growth had grown
And strengthen'd with her strength, and how
Could love be new, unless in name,
Degree, and singleness of aim?
A tenderness had fill'd her mind
Pervasive, viewless, undefined;—
As keeps the subtle fluid oft
194
And sultry air, till felt at length
In all its desolating strength,
So silent, so devoid of dread,
Her objectless affections spread:
Not wholly unemploy'd, but squander'd
At large where'er her fancy wander'd;
Till one attraction, one desire
Concentred all the scatter'd fire;
It broke, it burst, it blazed amain,
It flash'd its light o'er hill and plain,
O'er earth below and heaven above,—
And then it took the name of love.
How fared that love? the tale so old,
So common, needs it to be told?
Bellagio's woods, ye saw it through
From first accost to last adieu;
Its changes, seasons, you can tell,—
At least you typify them well.
First came the genial, hopeful spring,
With bursting buds and birds that sing,
And fast though fitful progress made
To brighter suns and broader shade;
Those brighter suns, that broader shade,
They came, and richly then array'd
Was bough and sward, and all below
Gladden'd by summer's equal glow.
What next? a change is slowly seen,
And deepeneth day by day
The darker, soberer, sadder green
Prevenient to decay.
Yet still at times through that green gloom,
As sudden gusts might make them room
And lift the spray so light,
The berries of the mountain-ash,
Arching the torrent's foam and flash,
Waved gladly into sight.
But rare those short-lived gleamings grew
And wore the woods a sicklier hue;
Destruction now his phalanx forms
'Mid wailing winds and gathering storms;
And last comes Winter's withering breath,
Keen as desertion, cold-cold as the hand of death!
So common, needs it to be told?
Bellagio's woods, ye saw it through
From first accost to last adieu;
Its changes, seasons, you can tell,—
At least you typify them well.
First came the genial, hopeful spring,
With bursting buds and birds that sing,
And fast though fitful progress made
To brighter suns and broader shade;
Those brighter suns, that broader shade,
They came, and richly then array'd
Was bough and sward, and all below
Gladden'd by summer's equal glow.
195
And deepeneth day by day
The darker, soberer, sadder green
Prevenient to decay.
Yet still at times through that green gloom,
As sudden gusts might make them room
And lift the spray so light,
The berries of the mountain-ash,
Arching the torrent's foam and flash,
Waved gladly into sight.
But rare those short-lived gleamings grew
And wore the woods a sicklier hue;
Destruction now his phalanx forms
'Mid wailing winds and gathering storms;
And last comes Winter's withering breath,
Keen as desertion, cold-cold as the hand of death!
Is the tale told? Too well, alas!
Is pictured here what came to pass.
So long as light affections play'd
Around their path, he loved the maid;
Loved in half gay, half tender mood,
By passion touch'd but not subdued;
Laugh'd at the flame he felt or lit;
Replied to tenderness with wit;
Sometimes when passion brightlier burned
Its tokens eagerly return'd;
Then calm, supine, but pleased no less,
Softly sustain'd each soft caress.
She, watching with delight the while
His half-closed eyes and gradual smile,
(Slow pleasure's smile, how far more worth,
More beautiful than smiles of mirth!)
Seemed to herself when back she cast
A hurried glance upon the past,
As changed from what she then had been,
As was the moon, who, having run
Her orbit through since this begun,
Now shone apparent Queen.
How dim a world, how blank a waste,
A shadowy orb how faintly traced,
Her crescent fancy first embraced!
How fair an orb, a world how bright,
How fill'd with glory and with light,
Had now reveal'd itself to sight,—
A glory of her essence grown,
A light incorporate with her own!
Is pictured here what came to pass.
So long as light affections play'd
Around their path, he loved the maid;
Loved in half gay, half tender mood,
By passion touch'd but not subdued;
Laugh'd at the flame he felt or lit;
Replied to tenderness with wit;
Sometimes when passion brightlier burned
Its tokens eagerly return'd;
Then calm, supine, but pleased no less,
196
She, watching with delight the while
His half-closed eyes and gradual smile,
(Slow pleasure's smile, how far more worth,
More beautiful than smiles of mirth!)
Seemed to herself when back she cast
A hurried glance upon the past,
As changed from what she then had been,
As was the moon, who, having run
Her orbit through since this begun,
Now shone apparent Queen.
How dim a world, how blank a waste,
A shadowy orb how faintly traced,
Her crescent fancy first embraced!
How fair an orb, a world how bright,
How fill'd with glory and with light,
Had now reveal'd itself to sight,—
A glory of her essence grown,
A light incorporate with her own!
Forth from such paradise of bliss
Open the way and easy is,
Like that renown'd of old;
And easier than the most was this,
For they were sorted more amiss
Than outwards things foretold.
The Goddess that with cruel mirth
The daughters and the sons of earth
Mismatches, hath a cunning eye
In twisting of a treacherous tie;
Nor is she backward to perceive
That loftier minds to lower cleave
With ampler love (as that which flows
From a rich source) than these to those;
For still the source, not object, gives
The daily food whereon love lives.
The well-spring of his love was poor
Compared to hers: his gifts were fewer;
The total light that was in him
Before a spark of hers grew dim;
Too high, too grave, too large, too deep,
Her love could neither laugh nor sleep—
And thus it tired him; his desire
Was for a less consuming fire:
He wish'd that she should love him well,
Not wildly; wish'd her passion's spell
To charm her heart but leave her fancy free;
To quicken converse, not to quell;
He granted her to sigh, for so could he;
But when she wept, why should it be?
'Twas irksome, for it stole away
The joy of his love-holiday.
Bred of such uncongenial mood
At length would some dim doubt intrude
If what he felt, so far below
Her passion's pitch, were love or no.
With that the common daylight's beam
Broke in upon his morning dream,
And as that common day advanced
His heart was wholly unentranced.
Open the way and easy is,
Like that renown'd of old;
And easier than the most was this,
For they were sorted more amiss
Than outwards things foretold.
The Goddess that with cruel mirth
The daughters and the sons of earth
197
In twisting of a treacherous tie;
Nor is she backward to perceive
That loftier minds to lower cleave
With ampler love (as that which flows
From a rich source) than these to those;
For still the source, not object, gives
The daily food whereon love lives.
The well-spring of his love was poor
Compared to hers: his gifts were fewer;
The total light that was in him
Before a spark of hers grew dim;
Too high, too grave, too large, too deep,
Her love could neither laugh nor sleep—
And thus it tired him; his desire
Was for a less consuming fire:
He wish'd that she should love him well,
Not wildly; wish'd her passion's spell
To charm her heart but leave her fancy free;
To quicken converse, not to quell;
He granted her to sigh, for so could he;
But when she wept, why should it be?
'Twas irksome, for it stole away
The joy of his love-holiday.
Bred of such uncongenial mood
At length would some dim doubt intrude
If what he felt, so far below
Her passion's pitch, were love or no.
198
Broke in upon his morning dream,
And as that common day advanced
His heart was wholly unentranced.
What follow'd was not good to do,
Nor is it good to tell;
The anguish of that worst adieu
Which parts with love and honour too
Abides not,—so far well.
The human heart can not sustain
Prolong'd inalterable pain,
And not till reason cease to reign
Will nature want some moments brief
Of other moods to mix with grief;
Such and so hard to be destroyed
That vigour which abhors a void,
And in the midst of all distress,
Such nature's need for happiness!
And when she rallied thus, more high
Her spirits ran, she knew not why,
Than was their wont in times than these
Less troubled, with a heart at ease.
So meet extremes; so joy's rebound
Is highest from the hollowest ground;
So vessels with the storm that strive
Pitch higher as they deeplier dive.
Well had it been if she had curb'd
These transports of a mind disturb'd;
For grief is then the worst of foes
When, all intolerant of repose,
It sends the heart abroad to seek
From weak recoils exemptions weak;
After false gods to go astray,
Deck altars vile with garlands gay,
And place a painted form of stone
On Passion's abdicated throne.
Nor is it good to tell;
The anguish of that worst adieu
Which parts with love and honour too
Abides not,—so far well.
The human heart can not sustain
Prolong'd inalterable pain,
And not till reason cease to reign
Will nature want some moments brief
Of other moods to mix with grief;
Such and so hard to be destroyed
That vigour which abhors a void,
And in the midst of all distress,
Such nature's need for happiness!
And when she rallied thus, more high
Her spirits ran, she knew not why,
Than was their wont in times than these
Less troubled, with a heart at ease.
So meet extremes; so joy's rebound
Is highest from the hollowest ground;
So vessels with the storm that strive
Pitch higher as they deeplier dive.
199
These transports of a mind disturb'd;
For grief is then the worst of foes
When, all intolerant of repose,
It sends the heart abroad to seek
From weak recoils exemptions weak;
After false gods to go astray,
Deck altars vile with garlands gay,
And place a painted form of stone
On Passion's abdicated throne.
Till then her heart was as a mound
Or simple plot of garden-ground
Far in a forest wild,
Where many a seedling had been sown
And many a bright-eyed floweret grown
To please a favourite child.
Delighted was the child to call
The plot of garden-ground her own;
Delighted was she at the fall
Of evening mild, when shadows tall
Cross-barr'd the mound and cottage wall,
To linger there alone.
Nor seem'd the garden flowers less fair,
Nor loved she less to linger there,
When glisten'd in the morning dew
Each lip of red and eye of blue;
And when the sun too brightly burn'd
Towards the forest's verge she turn'd
Where stretch'd away from glade to glade
A green interminable shade;
And in the skirts thereof a bower
Was built with many a creeping flower
For shelter at the noon-tide hour;
And from the forest walks was heard
The voice of many a singing-bird,
With murmurs of the cushat-dove
That tell the secret of her love:
And pleasant therefore all day long
From earliest dawn to even-song,
Supremely pleasant was this wild
Sweet garden to the woodsman's child.
Or simple plot of garden-ground
Far in a forest wild,
Where many a seedling had been sown
And many a bright-eyed floweret grown
To please a favourite child.
Delighted was the child to call
The plot of garden-ground her own;
Delighted was she at the fall
Of evening mild, when shadows tall
Cross-barr'd the mound and cottage wall,
To linger there alone.
Nor seem'd the garden flowers less fair,
Nor loved she less to linger there,
When glisten'd in the morning dew
Each lip of red and eye of blue;
And when the sun too brightly burn'd
200
Where stretch'd away from glade to glade
A green interminable shade;
And in the skirts thereof a bower
Was built with many a creeping flower
For shelter at the noon-tide hour;
And from the forest walks was heard
The voice of many a singing-bird,
With murmurs of the cushat-dove
That tell the secret of her love:
And pleasant therefore all day long
From earliest dawn to even-song,
Supremely pleasant was this wild
Sweet garden to the woodsman's child.
The whirlwind came with fire and flood
And smote the garden in the wood;
All that was formed to give delight
Destruction levell'd in a night;
The morning broke, the child awoke,
And when she saw what sudden stroke
The garden which she loved had swept
To ruin, she sat down and wept.
Her grief was great, but it had vent;
Its force, not spared, was sooner spent;
And she bethought her to repair
The garden which had been so fair.
Then roam'd she through the forest walks
Cropping the wild-flowers by their stalks,
And divers full-blown blossoms gay
She gather'd, and in fair array
Disposed, and stuck them in the mound
Which once had been her garden-ground.
They seem'd to flourish for a while,
A moment's space she seem'd to smile;
But brief the bloom and vain the toil,
They were not native to the soil.
That other child, beneath whose zone
Were passions fearfully full-grown,—
She too essay'd to deck the waste
Where love had grown, which love had graced,
With false adornments, flowers not fruit,
Fast-fading flowers that strike not root,
With pleasures alien to her breast
That bloom but briefly at the best,
The world's sad substitutes for joys
To minds that lose their equipoise.
And smote the garden in the wood;
All that was formed to give delight
Destruction levell'd in a night;
The morning broke, the child awoke,
And when she saw what sudden stroke
The garden which she loved had swept
To ruin, she sat down and wept.
Her grief was great, but it had vent;
Its force, not spared, was sooner spent;
And she bethought her to repair
The garden which had been so fair.
Then roam'd she through the forest walks
201
And divers full-blown blossoms gay
She gather'd, and in fair array
Disposed, and stuck them in the mound
Which once had been her garden-ground.
They seem'd to flourish for a while,
A moment's space she seem'd to smile;
But brief the bloom and vain the toil,
They were not native to the soil.
That other child, beneath whose zone
Were passions fearfully full-grown,—
She too essay'd to deck the waste
Where love had grown, which love had graced,
With false adornments, flowers not fruit,
Fast-fading flowers that strike not root,
With pleasures alien to her breast
That bloom but briefly at the best,
The world's sad substitutes for joys
To minds that lose their equipoise.
On Como's lake the evening star
Is trembling as before;
An azure flood, a golden bar,
There as before they were they are,
But she that loved them—she is far,
Far from her native shore.
No more is seen her slender boat
Upon the star-lit lake afloat,
With oar or sail at large to rove,
Or tether'd in its wooded cove
'Mid gentle waves that sport around
And rock it with a gurgling sound.
Keel up, it rots upon the strand,
Its gunwale sunken in the sand,
Where suns and tempests warp'd and shrank
Each shatter'd rib and riven plank.
Never again that land-wreck'd craft
Shall feel the billow boom abaft;
Never when springs the freshening gale,
Take life again from oar or sail:
Nor shall the freight that once it bore
Again be seen on lake or shore.
Is trembling as before;
An azure flood, a golden bar,
There as before they were they are,
But she that loved them—she is far,
Far from her native shore.
No more is seen her slender boat
Upon the star-lit lake afloat,
202
Or tether'd in its wooded cove
'Mid gentle waves that sport around
And rock it with a gurgling sound.
Keel up, it rots upon the strand,
Its gunwale sunken in the sand,
Where suns and tempests warp'd and shrank
Each shatter'd rib and riven plank.
Never again that land-wreck'd craft
Shall feel the billow boom abaft;
Never when springs the freshening gale,
Take life again from oar or sail:
Nor shall the freight that once it bore
Again be seen on lake or shore.
A foreign land is now her choice,
A foreign sky above her,
And unfamiliar is each voice
Of those that say they love her.
A Prince's palace is her home,
And marble floor and gilded dome,
Where festive myriads nightly meet
Quick echoes of her steps repeat.
And she is gay at times, and light
From her makes many faces bright;
And circling flatterers hem her in,
Assiduous each a word to win,
And smooth as mirrors each the while
Reflects and multiplies her smile.
But fitful were her smiles, nor long
She cast them to that courtly throng;
And should the sound of music fall
Upon her ear in that high hall,
The smile was gone, the eye that shone
So brightly would be dimm'd anon,
And objectless would then appear
As stretched to check the starting tear;
The chords within responsive rung,
For music spoke her native tongue.
And then the gay and glittering crowd
Is heard not, laugh they ne'er so loud;
Nor then is seen the simpering row
Of flatterers, bend they ne'er so low;
For there before her where she stands
The mountains rise, the lake expands;
Around the terraced summit twines
The leafy coronal of vines;
Within the watery mirror deep
Nature's calm converse lies asleep;
Above she sees the sky's blue glow,
The forest's varied green below,
And far its vaulted vistas through
A distant grove of darker hue,
Where mounting high from clumps of oak
Curls lightly up the thin gray smoke;
And o'er the boughs that over-bower
The crag, a castle's turrets tower—
An eastern casement mantled o'er
With ivy, flashes back the gleam
Of sunrise—it was there of yore
She sate to see that sunrise pour
Its splendour round—she sees no more,
For tears disperse the dream.
A foreign sky above her,
And unfamiliar is each voice
Of those that say they love her.
A Prince's palace is her home,
And marble floor and gilded dome,
Where festive myriads nightly meet
Quick echoes of her steps repeat.
And she is gay at times, and light
From her makes many faces bright;
And circling flatterers hem her in,
Assiduous each a word to win,
And smooth as mirrors each the while
203
But fitful were her smiles, nor long
She cast them to that courtly throng;
And should the sound of music fall
Upon her ear in that high hall,
The smile was gone, the eye that shone
So brightly would be dimm'd anon,
And objectless would then appear
As stretched to check the starting tear;
The chords within responsive rung,
For music spoke her native tongue.
And then the gay and glittering crowd
Is heard not, laugh they ne'er so loud;
Nor then is seen the simpering row
Of flatterers, bend they ne'er so low;
For there before her where she stands
The mountains rise, the lake expands;
Around the terraced summit twines
The leafy coronal of vines;
Within the watery mirror deep
Nature's calm converse lies asleep;
Above she sees the sky's blue glow,
The forest's varied green below,
And far its vaulted vistas through
A distant grove of darker hue,
Where mounting high from clumps of oak
Curls lightly up the thin gray smoke;
And o'er the boughs that over-bower
204
An eastern casement mantled o'er
With ivy, flashes back the gleam
Of sunrise—it was there of yore
She sate to see that sunrise pour
Its splendour round—she sees no more,
For tears disperse the dream.
Thus seized and speechless had she stood,
Surveying mountain, lake, and wood,
When to her ear came that demand
Did she forget her native land?
'Twas but a voice within replied
She had forgotten all beside.
For words are weak and most to seek
When wanted fifty-fold,
And then if silence will not speak
Or trembling lip and changing cheek,
There's nothing told.
But could she have reveal'd to him
Who question'd thus, the vision bright
That ere his words were said grew dim
And vanish'd from her sight,
Easy the answer were to know
And plain to understand,—
That mind and memory both must fail,
And life itself must slacken sail,
And thought its functions must forego,
And fancy lose its latest glow,
Or ere that land
Could pictured be less bright and fair
To her whose home and heart are there!
That land, the loveliest that eye can see,
The stranger ne'er forgets, then how should she?
Surveying mountain, lake, and wood,
When to her ear came that demand
Did she forget her native land?
'Twas but a voice within replied
She had forgotten all beside.
For words are weak and most to seek
When wanted fifty-fold,
And then if silence will not speak
Or trembling lip and changing cheek,
There's nothing told.
But could she have reveal'd to him
Who question'd thus, the vision bright
That ere his words were said grew dim
And vanish'd from her sight,
Easy the answer were to know
And plain to understand,—
That mind and memory both must fail,
And life itself must slacken sail,
And thought its functions must forego,
205
Or ere that land
Could pictured be less bright and fair
To her whose home and heart are there!
That land, the loveliest that eye can see,
The stranger ne'er forgets, then how should she?
—Cease the soft sounds, the mellow voice is mute,
And quivers to a close that plaintive lady's lute.—
Pass we to matters masculine; to strains
Where weightier themes may pay the reader's pains.
Again disclose we counsels of the wise,
Deeds of the warlike: let the curtain rise.
And quivers to a close that plaintive lady's lute.—
Pass we to matters masculine; to strains
Where weightier themes may pay the reader's pains.
Again disclose we counsels of the wise,
Deeds of the warlike: let the curtain rise.
END OF THE FIRST PART.
207
II. PHILIP VAN ARTEVELDE.
PART THE SECOND.
“Oh Lord, what is thys worldys blysse,
That changeth as the mone!
My somer's day in lusty May
Is derked before the none.”
The Not-browne Mayd.
That changeth as the mone!
My somer's day in lusty May
Is derked before the none.”
The Not-browne Mayd.
“I say, ye Commoners, why were ye so stark mad,
What frantyk frensy fyll in youre brayne;
Where was youre wit and reason ye shuld have had?
What willfull foly made yow to ryse agayne
Yowre naturall lord?”
Skelton.
What frantyk frensy fyll in youre brayne;
Where was youre wit and reason ye shuld have had?
What willfull foly made yow to ryse agayne
Yowre naturall lord?”
Skelton.
208
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ,
(SECOND PART.)
- Philip Van Artevelde, Regent of Flanders.
- Peter Van den Bosch. man of Flanders.
- Van Ryk, man of Flanders.
- Van Muck, man of Flanders.
- Vauclaire, man of Flanders in command at Ypres.
- Roosdyk, man of Flanders in command at Ypres.
- Father John of Heda, man of Flanders.
- A Page of Van Artevelde's.
- A Friar of Flanders.
- Van Winkel, Citizen of Ypres.
- Van Whelk, Citizen of Ypres.
- The Burgomaster and divers Burgesses of Ypres, Officers, Messengers,&c.
- King Charles the Sixth of France.
- The Duke of Burgundy, his Uncle and Heir Presumptive to the Earl of Flanders.
- The Duke of Bourbon, also Uncle to the King.
- Sir Fleureant of Heurlée, a Follower of the Duke of Bourbon.
- Sir Oliver of Clisson, Constable of France.
- Sir John de Vien, Admiral of France.
- The Lords of Saimpi, Sanxere, and St. Just; Sir Raoul of Raneval; the Lord of Coucy, and other Lords and Knights belonging to the French King's Council.
- Tristram of Lestovet, Clerk of the Council.
- Elēna della Torre, an Italian Lady.
- Cecile, her Attendant.
- Dame Voorst, a Woman of Ypres.
209
ACT I.
Scene I.
—An Anteroom to the State Apartments of the Grand Justiciary in the Royal Palace at Senlis in France.—Several groups of Suitors holding Petitions in their hands. In front a Yeoman of Tournesis, and near him Sir Fleureant of Heurlée.Sir Fleureant.
If I may be so bold, friend, whence art thou?
The times are stirring, and come whence thou may'st
Thou must bring news.
Yeoman.
So please your worship's grace
I come from this side Tournay; I am French,
And though I say it, Sir, an honest yeoman.
Sir Fleureant.
And, honest yeoman, what's thine errand here?
210
I have a suit, Sir, to my noble Lord
The Duke of Burgundy?
Sir Fleureant.
Why, what?—what suit?
Yeoman.
'Tis but for justice, Sir; I crave but that.
Sir Fleureant.
Hast thou the price of justice in thy pocket?
Yeoman.
The price of justice? Nay, Sir, I am poor.
Sir Fleureant.
Poor and want justice!—where was thy mother's thrift
To bring thee up in such a poor estate
And yet to lack such dainties? Say wherein
Wouldst thou be justified? Who is't hath wrong'd thee?
Yeoman.
Last Wednesday, Sir, a troop of Flemings, led
By fierce Frans Ackerman, the frontier pass'd
And burn'd my homestead, ravaged all my fields,
And did sore havoc in the realm of France.
Sir Fleureant.
What say'st thou? is it so? Ha, ha! my friend,
This is high matter; thou'lt be heard on this.
Enter Usher.
Usher.
Depart ye, Sirs; his Grace is with the King;
He bids you all depart and come to-morrow;
To-day his Grace hath business with the King
And will not be molested; go at once;
Their Graces and the King are coming hither
211
[To the Yeoman, who lingers.
Sir Fleureant.
Take thou thy grievance to the outer hall,
But go no further hence. Soft, Master Usher;
My friend shall have an audience of the Duke.
Look he be carefully bestow'd without
Till he be call'd. He is an injured man;
An injured man, and welcome not the less.
The grief he hath is worth its weight in gold.
Bestow him carefully without.
Usher.
This way.
[Exit, with the Yeoman.
Enter the Dukes of Burgundy and Bourbon.
Burgundy.
Good morrow, Flurry. Not on us, good brother;
I grant you were we rashly to make war,
No Council summon'd, no Estates convened,
Then aught that should unhappily ensue
Might chance be charged on us, as natural guides,
And so reputed, of the youthful King.
But back'd by all the Council,—yea, by all,
For I'll be warranty no voice dissents,—
Back'd by the Council, wherein weighty reasons
Shall be well urged—
Bourbon.
Ay, brother, there it is!
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And Jacques Bonhomme will be bold to say
That reasons which are rank in Burgundy
Have been transplanted to the soil of France
That fits them not.
Burgundy.
In Jacques Bonhomme's throat
I'll tell him that he slanders me and lies.
No soil in Christendom but fits my reasons;
No soil where virtue, chivalry, and faith
Are fed and flourish, but shall fit them well.
When honour and nobility fall prone
In Flanders, think you they stand fast in France?
Or losing ground in France, have hope elsewhere?
This by no narrow bound is circumscribed:
It is the cause of chivalry at large.
Though heir to Flanders I am Frenchman born,
And nearer have at heart the weal of France
Than my far-off inheritance. Come, come;
Lay we before the Council the sad truth
Of these distractions that so rock the realm,—
Paris possess'd by Nicholas le Flamand,
Where law's a nothing and the King a name;
Armies with mallets but beginning there,
And gathering like the snow-wreaths in a storm
Before a man hath time to get him housed,
At Chalons on the Marne, Champagne, Beauvoisin,
At Orleans, at Rheims, at Blois, and Rouen,
And every reach of road from Paris south:
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Wields at his single will the Flemish force,
A hundred thousand swords; and ask what fate
Awaits our France, if those with these unite,
Bold villans both, and ripe for riving down
All royalty,—thereafter or therewith
Nobility!—Then strike whiles yet apart
Each single foe.
Bourbon.
But Philip speaks us fair.
Burgundy.
If fair, then false.
Sir Fleureant.
My Lords, there's proof of that
Here close at hand; a yeoman from Tournesis
But now arrived with news of ravage done
On the French frontier.
Burgundy.
There, good brother, there!
There's Flemish friendship, Flemish love of peace!
Shall we make nought of this?
Bourbon.
We'll sift the tale,
And find if it be true.
Burgundy.
Where is the man?
Sir Fleureant.
I'll bring him in, my Lord; he's here at hand.
[Exit.
Enter the King with a Hawk on his hand.
Burgundy.
How now, my royal cousin, have you done?
Can you repeat the speech?
King.
O yes, good uncle.
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We have required your—”
Burgundy.
Presence here this day.
King.
“We have required your presence here this day
On matters of high import, which surcharge
Our royal mind, that still affects the weal
Of our beloved lieges. Much to peace
Our tender years incline us, but—but—but—”
I'll fly my hawk, good uncle, now; to-morrow
I'll say the rest. Come, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!
He is a Marzarolt, uncle, just reclaim'd;
The best in France for flying at the fur.
Whew! Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!
Burgundy.
Cousin, stay.
Enter Sir Fleureant with the Yeoman.
Here is a worthy yeoman from Tournesis
Who hath a tale to tell of ravage done
Upon the realm of France.
King.
A yeoman, uncle?
Here, worthy yeoman, you shall kiss our hand.
Get off there, Jerry.
[The Yeoman kneels and kisses his hand.
Bourbon.
Now, Sir, from what place,
In France or Flanders, com'st thou?
Yeoman.
Please you, Sir,
'Twas a small holding from my lord of Vergues,
215
Bourbon.
This side the Bourn?
Yeoman.
Three miles, my Lord, no less.
Burgundy.
Three miles in France.
Bourbon.
And what befell thee there?
Yeoman.
My Lord, my wife and I, on Wednesday night,
Saw fires to the north and westward, up by Orcq
And round to Beau-Renard, and knew by that
The Flemish Commons had been there, that late
Have roam'd through Flanders, burning where they came
The houses of the Gentlemen and Knights.
Then said my wife (Pierilla, if it please you),
“'Tis well we're yeomen and of poor estate,
And that we're lieges of a mightier Lord
Than was the Count of Flanders: praised be God!
Or else might they that look from Beau-Renard
To south and eastward, see this house on fire
To-morrow night, as we this night see theirs!”
But hardly had she said it, when due south
The sky was all on fire; and then we knew
The Flemings were in France, and Auzain burn'd.
We fled at once, and looking back, beheld
Our humble dwelling flaming like a torch.
So then, quoth I, we'll to my Lord the King,
And tell what's come to pass.
Burgundy.
Thou hast done well;
Retire: His Grace will shortly bring thy wrongs
216
To tell thy story there.
[Exit Yeoman.
Wild work! wild work!
I think my royal cousin, though he's young,
Bears yet a mind too mettlesome to brook
Such injuries as these. Your Grace has heard:
The Flemish hordes lift plunder in your realm,
Driving your subjects from their peaceful homes,
Burning, destroying, wheresoe'er they reach,
And ever on nobility they fall
With sharpest tooth; let this have leave to grow,
And French insurgents shall from Flemish learn
The tricks of treason, German boors from both,
Till Kings and Princes, Potentates and Peers,
Landgraves, Electors, Palatines, and Prelates,
Dukes, Earls, and Knights, shall be no more esteemed
Than as the noblest and the loftiest trees
Which the woodwarden as he walks the forest
Marks for the axe. Our warlike cousin King
When once he takes the field shall give short shrift
To the base Flemings, and with one sharp blow
Cut off some twenty thousand treasons, hatched,
Accursed, pernicious brood! beneath the wings
Of this Van Artevelde, that chipp'd the shell
Two months agone when Paris grew too hot
To hold us, and that now are fledged and enter'd.
I would your Grace were even now in arms,
217
King.
To-morrow, uncle!
We will be arm'd and lead our troops to-morrow.
We'll ride the chestnut with the bells at his heels.
Bourbon.
Nay, softly! Should the Council when it meets
Declare for war, your force can not so soon
Be drawn together as your Highness thinks,
Though lying mainly hereabouts.
Burgundy.
Well, well!
Speak boldly to the Council as to us,
And if you'd presently be in the field
Be diligent to learn your speech—come in—
Both that you have and something I shall add
Touching this yeoman's grief—come in with me—
Ho! take away this hawk—and you shall have it.
[Exeunt Duke of Burgundy and the King.
Bourbon.
My brother, Fleureant, is all too hot
In this affair; he's ever taking starts
And leaving them that he should hold in hand.
He'll fright the Council from their calmer sense
And drive them to some rash resolve.
Sir Fleureant.
My Lord,
You shall perceive to-morrow at the board
How vast and voluble a thing is wit,
And what a sway a little of it hath
With Councillors of State. My Lord your brother
Will blaze and thunder through a three hours' speech,
218
Whilst casements rattling and a fall of soot
Shall threaten direful war.
Bourbon.
The Constable,
The Earls of Ewe and Blois, St. Poule and Laval,
Guesclin, St. Just, the Seneschal of Rieux,
Raoul of Raneval,—all these and more
Look, to my knowledge, clean the other way.
They deem a mission should be set on foot
Before the sword be drawn; and with my will
Nought else shall come to pass.
Sir Fleureant.
Van Artevelde,
Though obstinate at times, is politic too,
And lacks not understanding; he'll not brave
The wrath of France if he be well approached.
Bourbon.
I spake with one last night who came from Bruges
And on his way had sojourn'd in the camp
At Oudenarde, where, when the turbulent towns
Behind his back can spare him from their broils,
Van Artevelde o'ersees the leaguering force.
There was a market in the camp, he said,
And all things plentiful,—fruit, cheese, and wine,
All kinds of mercery, cloth, furs, and silks,
With trinketry, the plunder daily brought
By Van den Bosch's marauders. Went and came
All men that chose from Brabant, Hainault, Liege,
And Germany; but Frenchmen were forbidden.
219
The state and bearing of a Sovereign Prince;
Has bailiffs, masters of the horse, receivers,
A chamber of accompt, an audience hall,
Off gold and silver eats, is clad in robes
Of scarlet furr'd with minever, gives feasts
With minstrelsy and dancing night and day
To damsels and to ladies,—whom amongst
Pre-eminent is that Italian minx
The girl Elēna, late a toy of mine.
To Bruges in company with me she came,
Where waiting till on my return from Liege
I could rejoin her, to the conqueror's hands
She fell when Bruges was taken.
Sir Fleureant.
Soh, my Lord!
That lady hath a hook that twitches still.
If what I heard in Gascony be true
In vain you claim'd her from Van Artevelde,
Who answer'd not your missives.
Bourbon.
True it is;
And he shall answer for so answering not,
If any voice of potency be mine
Touching this war. But he may yet take thought
And make amends; I'll send him once again
A message, and I know not who's so fit
To take it as thyself.
Sir Fleureant.
My Lord, my tongue
Can utter nought with so much grace by half
220
Bourbon.
Then thou shalt go.
Not that for foolishness and woman's love
I would do this or that, but thou shalt note
My honour is impawn'd. Some half-hour hence
Come to my chamber, where in privacy
We'll further speak of this; and bring thou there
The yeoman of Tournesis; he must learn
How to demean himself before the Board.
He has been tamper'd with, I nothing doubt,
And what he's tutor'd to must we unteach.
Things run too fast to seed.
[Exit.
Sir Fleureant.
What soldier's heart
By dotage such as his was e'er possess'd
Upon a paramour! To win her back
Peace, war, or anything to him were good,
Nought evil but what works contrariwise.
And still his love goes muffled up for shame,
And masks itself with show of careless slights
And giving her ill names of jade and minx,
Gipsy and slut.—The world's a masquerade,
And he whose wisdom is to pay it court
Should mask his own unpopular penetration
And seem to think its several seemings real.
221
Scene II.
—The Flemish Camp before Oudenarde. A Platform in front of Artevelde's Tent.Enter Artevelde and Van Ryk.
Van Ryk.
You seem fatigued, my Lord.
Artevelde.
Look to that horse; he coughs. I think I am;
The sun was hot for such a long day's ride.
What is the hour?
Van Ryk.
The moon has not yet risen,
It cannot yet be nine.
Artevelde.
Not nine? well, well;
“Be the day never so long
At length cometh evensong”—
At length cometh evensong”—
So saith the ancient rhyme. At eight o'clock
We crossed the bridge at Rosebecque; eight o'clock,
Or thereabouts.
We crossed the bridge at Rosebecque; eight o'clock,
Or thereabouts.
Van Ryk.
'Twas thereabouts, my Lord.
Artevelde.
Was anything of moment in your thoughts
As we were crossing?
Van Ryk.
In my thoughts, my Lord?
Nothing to speak of.
Artevelde.
Well now, it is strange!
I never knew myself to sleep o'horseback,
And yet I must have slept. The evening's heat
222
Of naked moorland, and the long flat road
And slow straight stream, for ever side by side
Like poverty and crime—I'm sure I slept.
Van Ryk.
I saw not that you did, my Lord.
Artevelde.
I did;
Ay, and dream'd too. 'Twas an unwholesome dream,
If dream it was—a nightmare rather: first
A stifling pressure compass'd in my heart;
On my dull ears with thick and muffled peal
Came many a sound of battle and of flight,
Of tumult and distracted cries; my own,
That would have been the loudest, was unheard,
And seem'd to swell the chambers of my brain
With volume vast of sound I could not utter.
The screams of wounded horses, and the crash
Of broken planks, and then the heavy plunge
Of bodies in the water—they were loud,
But yet the sound that was confined in me,
Had it got utterance, would have drown'd them all!
But still it grew and swell'd, and therewithal
The burthen thickened on my heart; my blood,
That had been flowing freshly from my wounds,
Trickled, then clotted, and then flow'd no more:
My horse upon the barrier of the bridge
Stumbled; I started; and was wide awake.
'Twas an unpleasant dream.
Van Ryk.
It was, my Lord.
223
Artevelde.
I must be wakeful now. Who waits? who's there?
[To an Attendant, who enters.
The man I sent to Ypres with a letter—
Has he return'd?
Attendant.
But now, my Lord, arrived.
And with him Father John.
Artevelde.
Already he!
With more alacrity he meets my wish
Than I deserve. I'll see him now, at once.
Attendant.
He comes, my Lord.
Artevelde.
Then leave us—No, Van Ryk,
Not you; or if you will, lie down within
And rest you till I call.
[Exeunt Van Ryk and the Attendant.
Dreams are but dreams;
And if they falsify the past, why think
That they foreshow less falsely what's to come! Enter Father John.
My honour'd friend, if welcomes ten times told
Could carry more than one, I'd say the word
As oft as you your Ave and your Creed.
But welcome is enough.
Father John.
God's love, my son,
Be with you alway. We have lately been
224
But inwardly, I fain would hope, unchanged.
Artevelde.
Unchanged, upon my soul! The storms of State
From time to time heave up some monstrous ridge
Which each from other hides two friendly barks;
Nought else divides us, and we steer, I trust,
One course, are guided by one steadfast star,
That so one anchorage we may reach at last.
The cares and mighty troubles of the times
Have kept me company and shut yours out.
Father John.
It is your place; the twitch of personal ties
Ought not to move you; 'tis no blame of yours.
But whence the present call?
Artevelde.
To that then straight.
France is in arms; yon exile, once an Earl,
From Hedin went by Arras to Bapaume
On Wednesday se'nnight, if my scouts say true;
And there my Lord of Burgundy he met,
And with him made a covenant; from thence
They came to Senlis, where the young King lies,
And there the Dukes his uncles in his name
Had gather'd from all parts a mighty force,
Some eighty or a hundred thousand men.
May that not startle me?
Father John.
'Tis a large levy;
But yet you muster more.
225
Of men at arms
Not half the tale; and those for Senlis bound
Would double—so says fame—these now arrived.
It were a vain and profitless attempt
To disbelieve my danger, howsoe'er
I show a careless countenance to the crowd.
If Nicholas le Flamand call not back
The French King's force, wherein I fear he'll fail,
There's one sufficiency of aid can reach
The measure of my need; one, only one;
And that is aid from England. This not sent,
Or else belated,—coming in the dusk
And sunset of my fortunes,—where am I?
Father John.
At England's Council-board in Edward's days
Sloth and delay had never seats; no missive
Lay gathering dust and losing its fresh looks,
No business lodged: would that it were so now!
Yet surely if King Richard deem it meet
And useful to his realm to send you aid
'Twill come with speed.
Artevelde.
He knows not that despatch
Is now so all-important; nor from those
I sent him will he learn it. I myself
Thought not King Charles had sidled up so close,
Else had I put your kindness then to proofs
Which I intend it now,—else had I ask'd
Your presence then in England.
226
Nay, my son,
Six have you sent already—on their way
Our humble hospitality they shared
At Ypres.
Artevelde.
Then their quality you saw.
They were the best, methought, that I could spare
For foreign service while thus press'd at home.
The first for state and dignity was named;
He whom Pope Urbayne, after Ghent rebell'd,
Appointed Bishop to receive the dues
Which else had fallen to Tournay's traitorous See,
Where Clement is acknowledged; for this end
Was he a Bishop made, and to say truth
He's equal to his function. Next in rank
Comes our sagacious friend John Sercolacke;
None better and none safer in affairs,
Were it but given to ponder and devise
Beforehand what at every need to say;
But should King Richard on the sudden ask
What brought him there, confounded will he stand
Till livelier tongues from emptier heads ring out,
Then on the morrow to a tittle know
What should have been his answer.
Father John.
Lois de Vaux
And master Blondel-Vatre have glib tongues.
Artevelde.
Than Lois de Vaux there's no man sooner sees
Whatever at a glance is visible;
227
Quick-witted is he, versatile, seizing points,
But never solving questions; vain he is—
It is his pride to see things on all sides,
Which best to do he sets them on their corners.
Present before him arguments by scores
Bearing diversely on the affair in hand,
He'll see them all, successively, distinctly,
Yet never two of them can see together,
Or gather, blend, and balance what he sees
To make up one account: a mind it is
Accessible to reason's subtlest rays,
And many enter there but none converge;
It is an army with no general,
An arch without a key-stone. Then the next,
Good Martin Blondel-Vatre—he is rich
In nothing else but difficulties and doubts:
You shall be told the evil of your scheme,
But not the scheme that's better; he forgets
That policy, expecting not clear gain,
Deals ever in alternatives; he's wise
In negatives, is skilful to erase,
Expert in stepping backwards, an adept
At auguring eclipses; but admit
His apprehensions and demand, what then?
And you shall find you've turned the blank leaf over.
Father John.
Still three are left.
Artevelde.
Three names and nothing more.
228
Not for their merits. Verily, Father John,
I should not willingly disturb your peace,
Or launch you on my fortune's troubled tide,
But I am as a debtor against whom
The writs are out—I'm driven upon my friends;
Say, will you stead me?
Father John.
With my best of aid,
Such as it may be. To King Richard's Court
I will set forth to-morrow.
Artevelde.
Ever kind!
Of all my friends the faithfullest as the first.
Early to-morrow then we'll treat in full
The matter of your mission. Now, good night.
Father John.
God's peace be with your slumbers.
[Exit.
Artevelde.
In good time;
Their hour is yet to come. What ho! Van Ryk! Enter Van Ryk.
You're sure, Van Ryk, it has not yet transpired
That I am in the camp?
Van Ryk.
Certain, my Lord.
Artevelde.
Then come with me; we'll cast a casual eye
On them that keep the watch;—though, sooth to say,
I wish my day's work over,—to forget
This restless world and slumber like a babe;
229
Van Ryk.
Your spirits were wont to bear you freshlier up.
If I might speak, my Lord, my humble mind,
You have not, since your honour'd lady's death,
In such a sovereignty possess'd yourself
As you were wont to say that all men should.
Your thoughts have been more inwardly let loose
And led by fancies: should I be too bold
And let my duty lag behind my love
To put you thus in mind, forgive my fault.
Artevelde.
That was a loss, Van Ryk, that was a loss.
The love betwixt us was not as the flush
And momentary kindling in warm youth,
But marriage and what term of time was given
Brought it an hourly increase, stored for Heaven.
Well—I am now the sport of circumstance,
Driven from my anchorage;—yet deem not thou
That I my soul surrender to the past
In chains and bondage;—that it is not so,
Bear witness for me long and busy days
Which jostling and importunate affairs
So push and elbow, they but seldom leave
Shy midnight uninvaded. No, Van Ryk;
At eve returning wearied to my tent,
If sometimes I may seem to stray in thought,
Seeking what is not there, the mood is brief,
The operative function within call;
230
The weal of Flanders (if I may presume
To hook it on my hours) is yielded up
To vacant retrospect or idle thought.
But now this body, exigent of rest,
Will needs put in a claim. One round we'll take,
And then to bed.
Van Ryk.
My Lord, you must be tired.
I am too bold to trouble you so late
With my unprofitable talk.
Artevelde.
Not so:
Your talk is always welcome. There within
You'll find a wardrobe, with some varlets' cloaks
For use at need; take one about yourself
And meet me with another at the gate.
[Exit Van Ryk.
A serviceable, faithful, thoughtful friend
Is old Van Ryk,—a man of humble heart,
And yet with faculties and gifts of sense
Which place him justly on no lowly level—
Why should I say a lowlier than mine own,
Or otherwise than as an equal use him?
That with familiarity respect
Doth slacken, is a word of common use.
I never found it so.
231
ACT II.
Scene I.
—The interior of the State Pavilion.— Artevelde seated at the head of his Council, with Attendants. The French Herald and Sir Fleureant of Heurlée. Artevelde rises to receive the Herald and reseats himself.Artevelde.
France, I perceive, Sir Herald, owns at length
The laws of polity and civil use,
A recognition which I hardly hoped;
For when the messenger that late I sent
In amity, with friendly missives charged,
Was sent to prison, I deem'd some barbarous tribe
That knew no usages of Christian lands
Had dispossess'd you and usurp'd the realm.
Sir Fleureant.
My Lord, you have your messenger again.
Artevelde.
Ay, Sir, but not through courtesy, I think,
Nor yet through love.
[To the Herald.
Sir, you have leave to speak.
Herald.
My Lord, I humbly thank you. I entreat
That in my speech should aught offend your ears
You from the utterer will remove the fault.
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Nor is a word that I'm to speak mine own.
Artevelde.
Sir, nothing you can say shall be so gross,
Offensive, or unmannerly conceived,
As that it shall not credibly appear
To come from them that sent you; speak it out.
Herald.
Philip of Artevelde, sole son of Jacques,
Maltster and brewer in the town of Ghent,
The realm of France this unto thee delivers:
That forasmuch as thou, a liegeman born
To the Earl of Flanders, hast rebelled against him,
And with thy manifold treasons and contempts
Of duty and allegiance, hast drawn in
By twenties and by forties his good towns
To rise in fury and forget themselves,—
Thus saith the puissant and mighty Lord,
The Earl's affectionate kinsman, Charles of France:
Thou from before this town of Oudenarde
With all thy host shalt vanish like a mist;
Thou shalt surrender to their rightful Lord
The towns of Ghent, and Ypres, Cassel, Bruges,
Of Harlebeque, Poperinguen, Dendermonde,
Alost and Grammont; and with them all towns
Of lesser name, all castles and strong houses,
Shalt thou deliver up before the Feast
Of Corpus Christi coming, which undone,
He the said puissant King, Sir Charles of France,
With all attendance of his chivalry,
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And scattering that vile people which thou lead'st,
Will hang thee on a tree, and nail thy head
Over the gates of Ghent, the mother of ill
That spawn'd thee;—and for these and sundry more
Just reasons and sufficient, thou art warn'd
To make thy peace betimes, and so God keep thee!
Artevelde.
Sir Herald, thou hast well discharged thyself
Of an ill function. Take these links of gold,
And with the company of words I give thee
Back to the braggart King from whom thou cam'st.
First of my father:—had he lived to know
His glories, deeds, and dignities postponed
To names of Barons, Earls, and Counts (that here
Are to men's ears importunately common
As chimes to dwellers in the market-place),
He with a silent and a bitter mirth
Had listen'd to the boast: may he his son
Pardon for in comparison setting forth
With his the name of this disconsolate Earl.
How stand they in the title-deeds of fame?
What hold and heritage in distant times
Doth each enjoy—what posthumous possession?
The dusty chronicler with painful search,
Long fingering forgotten scrolls, indites
That Louis Mâle was sometime Earl of Flanders,
That Louis Mâle his sometime earldom lost
Through wrongs by him committed, that he lived
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And died dependent: there the history ends,
And who of them that hear it wastes a thought
On the unfriended fate of Louis Mâle?
But turn the page and look we for the tale
Of Artevelde's renown. What man was this?
He humbly born, he highly gifted, rose,
By steps of various enterprise, by skill,
By native vigour, to wide sway, and took
What his vain rival having could not keep.
His glory shall not cease though cloth of gold
Wrap him no more; for not of golden cloth
Nor fur nor minever his greatness came,
Whose fortunes were inborn: strip me the two,
This were the humblest, that the noblest, beggar
That ever braved a storm!
Sir Fleureant.
Your pardon, Sir:
Nothing was utter'd in disparagement
Of your famed father; though a longer life
And better would he assuredly have lived
Had it seem'd good to him to follow forth
His former craft, nor turn aside to brew
These frothy insurrections.
Artevelde.
Sir, your back
Shows me no tabard nor a sign beside
Denoting what your office is that asks
A hearing in this presence; nor know I yet
By what so friendly fortune I am graced
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But we are here no niggards of respect
To merit's unauthenticated forms,
And therefore do I answer you, and thus:—
You speak of insurrections: bear in mind
Against what rule my father and myself
Have been insurgent: whom did we supplant?—
There was a time, so ancient records tell,
There were communities, scarce known by name
In these degenerate days, but once far-famed,
Where liberty and justice hand in hand
Order'd the common weal; where great men grew
Up to their natural eminence, and none
Saving the wise, just, eloquent, were great;
Where power was of God's gift to whom he gave
Supremacy of merit, the sole means
And broad highway to power, that ever then
Was meritoriously administer'd,
Whilst all its instruments from first to last,
The tools of State for service high or low,
Were chosen for their aptness to those ends
Which virtue meditates. To shake the ground
Deep-founded whereupon this structure stood,
Was verily a crime; a treason it was
Conspiracies to hatch against this State
And its free innocence. But now, I ask,
Where is there on God's earth that polity
Which it is not, by consequence converse,
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Whom may we now call free? whom great? whom wise?
Whom innocent?—the free are only they
Whom power makes free to execute all ills
Their hearts imagine; they alone are great
Whose passions nurse them from their cradles up
In luxury and lewdness,—whom to see
Is to despise, whose aspects put to scorn
Their station's eminence; the wise are they
Who wait obscurely till the bolts of Heaven
Shall break upon the land and give them light
Whereby to walk; the innocent,—alas!
Poor Innocency lies where four roads meet,
A stone upon her head, a stake driven through her,
For who is innocent that cares to live?
The hand of Power doth press the very life
Of Innocency out! What then remains
But in the cause of Nature to stand forth
And turn this frame of things the right side up?
For this the hour is come, the sword is drawn,
And tell your masters vainly they resist.
Nature, that slept beneath their poisonous drugs,
Is up and stirring, and from north and south,
From east and west, from England and from France.
From Germany, and Flanders, and Navarre,
Shall stand against them like a beast at bay.
The blood that they have shed will hide no longer
In the blood-sloken soil, but cries to Heaven.
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Shall quicken into swarms of venomous snakes
And hiss through all the earth, till o'er the earth,
That ceases then from hissings and from groans,
Rises the song—How are the mighty fallen!
And by the peasant's hand! Low lie the proud!
And smitten with the weapons of the poor—
The blacksmith's hammer and the woodsman's axe:
Their tale is told; and for that they were rich
And robb'd the poor, and for that they were strong
And scourged the weak, and for that they made laws
Which turn'd the sweat of labour's brow to blood,—
For these their sins the nations cast them out,
The dunghills are their death-beds, and the stench
From their uncover'd carrion steaming wide
Turns in the nostrils of enfranchised man
To a sweet savour. These things come to pass
From small beginnings, because God is just.
Sir Fleureant.
Sir, you are bold in prophecy, but words
Will not demolish kingdoms. This alone
Is clear, that we are charged to carry back
A warlike answer.
Artevelde.
You have caught my sense.
Let no more words be wasted. What I said
Shall be engross'd and render'd to your hands
To spare your memories. And so, farewell
Unto your functions. For yourselves, I pray you
To grace our table with your company
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Rest you meantime. And you, my honour'd friends
And Councillors, I bid you to the board.
Adieu till then. Good Father, by your leave
I will detain you.
[The Council breaks up. The Herald and Sir Fleureant are conducted out, and only Artevelde and Father John remain.
Did I say too much?
What think you? Was I rash?
Father John.
My son, my son!
You've spoken some irrevocable words,
And more, in my weak judgment, than were wise.
Till now might accident have open'd out
A way to concord. Casualties or care
Might yet have counsell'd peace; and was it well
To send this challenge?
Artevelde.
Judge me not unheard.
We have been too successful to be safe
In standing still. Things are too far afoot.
Being so high as this, to be no higher
Were presently to fall. France will not brook
To see me as I am, though I should bear
My honours ne'er so meekly. With bold words
I magnify my strength,—perhaps may dim
Their fire-new courage, their advance delay,
And raise the spirits of my friends.
Father John.
My son,
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To justify excess and pay the debts
Of passion's prodigality.
Artevelde.
Nay, nay!
Something of passion may have mix'd with this,
Good Father, but I lost not from my thoughts
The policy I speak of.
Father John.
Might I use
The liberty of former days to one
That's since so much exalted, I would tell
How it is said abroad that Artevelde
Is not unalter'd since he rose to power;
Is not unvisited of worldly pride
And its attendant passions.
Artevelde.
Say they so!
Well, if it be so, it is late to mend;
For self-amendment is a work of time,
And business will not wait. Such as I am
For better or for worse the world must take me,
For I must hasten on. Perhaps the state
And royal splendour I affect is deem'd
A proof of pride;—yet they that these contemn
Know little of the springs that move mankind.
'Tis but a juvenile philosophy
That strips itself and casts such things aside,
Which, be they in themselves or vile or precious,
Are means to govern. Or I'm deem'd morose,
Severe, impatient of what hinders me:
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What patience might have made of them, reflect.
If I be stern or fierce, 'tis from strong need
And strange provocatives. If (which I own not)
I have drunk deeper of ambition's cup,
Be it remembered that the cup of love
Was wrested from my hand. Enough of this.
Ambition has its uses in the scheme
Of Providence, whose instrument I am
To work some changes in the world or die.
This coming of the French distrubs me much,
And I could wish you gone.
Father John.
My horses wait
And I am ready. I will bear in mind,
With the best memory that my years permit,
Your charges; and if nothing more remains,
God's blessing on your enterprise and you!
I go my way.
Artevelde.
So long as lies the Lis
Between our hosts, I have the less to fear.
Say to King Richard I shall strive to keep
The passes of the Lis; and if his aid
Find them unforced, his way to France is straight
As that to Windsor. I shall guard the Lis
With watch as circumspect as seamen keep
When in the night the leeward breakers flash
But if he linger and the Lis be forced,
Tell him our days are number'd, and that three
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On the same string; but you, my friend revered,
Will pardon my solicitudes, and deem
That they are for my cause and not myself.
I keep you now no longer; fare you well,
And may we meet again and meet in joy!
God grant it! fare you well.
Father John.
To horse at once.
Artevelde.
Let me attend you.
Scene II.
—A Platform near Artevelde's Pavilion.— Van Muck is seated at some distance in the background.Enter Sir Fleureant and the Herald.
Sir Fleureant.
Then be it as I said; the sun shall set
'Twixt seven and eight; ere then I'll know my course;
And if the Regent lend a willing ear
To the Duke's message and this lady send
Upon his summons, merrily we go
Together, and who meets us on the road
Shall say, “A goodly company, God bless them!
A man, a woman, and a pursuivant.”
But 'twill not be so.
Herald.
Let us hope it may.
Sir Fleureant.
Assure yourself 'twill otherwise befall.
He will retain her, or herself hold back.
Then shall it be your prudence to depart
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For lingering. I will not understand,
But spin the matter of my mission out
Into such length as with that web to hide
My underworkings. Be you gone yourself
Fast as you may, and far, when this falls out;
And you shall tell the Duke with what good-will
I hazard in his service loss of all
I have to lose,—my life.
Herald.
Loth should I be
To leave you so; but rest assur'd the Duke
Shall hear, as through a trumpet, of your zeal.
Sir Fleureant.
(discovering Van Muck)
Whom have we here? a listener? God forbid!
And yet he seems attentive, and his ears
Are easy of approach; the cover'd way,
Scarp, counterscarp, and parapet, is razed.
Halloa, Sir, are you there! Give you good-day!
What think you we were saying? Troubled times!
Van Muck.
Your pardon, Sir; I'm hard of hearing.
Sir Fleureant.
Oh!
We well can pardon that. What, deaf—stone-deaf?
Van Muck.
No, Sir, thank God! no deafer than yourself,
But slowish, Sir, of hearing.
Sir Fleureant.
What, snail-slow?
Van Muck.
No, Sir, no slower than another man,
But not so quick of hearing, Sir, as some,
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Sir Fleureant.
Content thee, friend;
Thine ears are sharper than thine apprehension.
But wherefore want they flaps? Who dock'd them thus?
Van Muck.
It is no trouble nor no loss to you,
Whoever did it.
Sir Fleureant.
Pardon me, my friend,
It troubles me and doth offend mine eyes
To see thee lack those handles to thy head.
Tell me who snipp'd them?
Van Muck.
'Twas the Regent.
Sir Fleureant.
Ho!
The Regent? [To the Herald.]
Upon this I go to work.
The Regent? and you wait upon him here?
Van Muck.
I wait to ask him for my company:
I was the Captain of a company.
Herald.
What, took he thy command away besides?
Van Muck.
Yes, Sir.
Herald.
And wherefore? what was thine offence?
Van Muck.
I was a little master'd, Sir, with drink,
The night we carried Yerken, and a maid
That ran upon me, Sir, I know not how,
Forswore herself and said I did her wrong.
Sir Fleureant.
Well?
Van Muck.
And 'twas this that lost me my command.
Sir Fleureant.
Impossible! I've done as much myself
A thousand times.
Van Muck.
'Twas nothing, Sir, but this.
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Oh, monstrous! And what askest thou?
Van Muck.
What ask?
I ask him to replace me, as I said.
Sir Fleureant.
And wilt thou ask him to replace thine ears?
Van Muck.
No, Sir.
Sir Fleureant.
Why not? for thou'lt succeed as soon.
I've heard that never did he change his mind
But once, since he was Regent; once he did;
'Twas when he kindly pardon'd Peter Shultz:
He changed his mind and hung him.
Van Muck.
By St. Giles!
I would not ask him if I knew for certain
He would deny me.
Sir Fleureant.
What! deny thee? hang thee!
Take service with another Lord—leave him;
Thou hast been foully dealt with! Never hope
To conquer pride with humbleness, but turn
To them that will be proud to use thee well.
I'll show thee many such; and to begin,
Here is myself. What lack'st thou? Money? See—
I am provided: hold me forth thy hand;
The Regent left thee hands: was that his skill?
The injury that disables is more wise
Than that which stings: a hand he left to take—
And here's to fill it; and a hand to strike—
Look not amazed, I bid thee not do that;
I ask thee but to take a missive hence
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Van Muck.
Sir, I'll be bound to take it.
Sir Fleureant.
And are there many men besides thyself
That have lost rank and service in the camp?
Van Muck.
It was but yesterday two constables
Had their discharge.
Sir Fleureant.
And why were they dismiss'd?
Van Muck.
'Twas by the Regent's order; 'twas, he said,
Because they made more riots in the camp
Than they prevented.
Sir Fleureant.
He is hard to please.
What are they call'd?
Van Muck.
Jock Bulsen and Carl Kortz.
[Trumpets are heard at a little distance.
Herald.
Hark to the Regent's trumpets.
Sir Fleureant.
Thou must go.
But name a place of meeting.
Van Muck.
The west dyke
Behind the sutler Merlick's tent.
Sir Fleureant.
Do thou,
And Kortz, and Bulsen, at the hour of nine,
Be there to take my orders. Get thee gone,
And be not seen till then. Go this way out,
That so the Regent meet thee not.
[Exit Van Muck.
That seed
Is sown, but whether I shall reap the fruits
Is yet in Artevelde's arbitrement;
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To hatch an addle egg.
Herald.
'Tis more than time
That I were fairly on the road to France.
You're pushing on apace.
Sir Fleureant.
Our thrift lies there.
Spare time, spend gold, and so you win the day!
“For strongest castle, tower and town,
The golden bullet beateth down!”
Trumpets again.
The golden bullet beateth down!”
Enter Artevelde.
Artevelde.
You are equipp'd, I see, for taking horse:
I pray you have Sir Charles of France inform'd
It was your diligence despatch'd you thus,
And not my lack of hospitality.
Herald.
My Lord, we surely shall report in France
We were entreated bounteously and well.
Thankfully now, my Lord, I take my leave:
Sir Fleureant follows, and ere night will reach
The hostel where we rest.
[Exit Herald.
Artevelde.
What! in such haste?
Sir Fleureant.
My Lord, not many hours I stay behind,
And not for idleness. My Lord, I'm charged
With a strange mission, as to you 'twill seem,
But to his Grace of Bourbon full of pith.
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Sir, I attend; his Grace has all my ears.
What would he?
Sir Fleureant.
He has voices more than ten
In the King's Council, and as they may speak
Touching this war, 'twill likely be resolved.
Now he is not implacably, as some,
Envenom'd, and if justice were but done him
He might be pacified and turn the course
Of these precipitate counsels.
Artevelde.
On my soul,
If there be justice I can render him
He should receive it from my ready hands
Although his voice in Council were as small
As a dog-whistle. What may be his grief?
Sir Fleureant.
My Lord, he sent you letters that portray'd
His grief in all its blackness. To be short,
He wants his paramour; the damsel fair
Whom you surprised, sojourning at the Court
Of Louis Mâle, the day that Bruges was lost.
Artevelde.
Sir, he's thrice welcome to his paramour.
I never have withheld her.
Sir Fleureant.
Then to me,
A servant of the Prince, 'tis his desire
She be consign'd to take her to the palace
At Senlis.
Artevelde.
To the hands of whom she will
I yield the lady, to go where she will,
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But at the lady's bidding it must be,
Not at the Prince's.
Sir Fleureant.
Do I learn from this
The lady is reluctant?
Artevelde.
By no means.
The dangers of the journey kept her back
From taking my safe-conduct heretofore,
When, at the instance of the Duke your friend,
I offer'd it; but having come thus far
Toward the frontier, she may travel hence
In your protection safely.
Sir Fleureant.
May I learn
Her pleasure from herself?
Artevelde.
'Twere best you did;
And I will be your usher if I may.
Attendance here! Enter an Attendant.
Apprise the foreign lady
That with her leave, and when her leisure serves,
I will entreat admittance for some words
Of brief discourse.
[Exit Attendant.
We'll walk towards her tent,
If that's your pleasure.
Sir Fleureant.
Still at your command.
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Scene III.
—A Pavilion richly hung and furnished. Elena and her Attendant Cecile.Elena.
Art thou not weary of the camp, Cecile?
Cecile.
Oh no, my Lady, 'tis a stirring life;
There is good sport upon the market-days
And women are much made of.
Elena.
Well, I am.
Or rather, I am weary of myself,
And carry dulness with me as the wind
Carries the cloud, and whereso'er I go
An atmosphere of darkness and of storm
Girdles me round. I wish that I were dead.
Cecile.
For shame, my Lady! you that are so young
And beautiful, with all the world your own:
It is a sin to be so discontent.
Elena.
Give me my lute, and I will answer that.
(She sings.)
Down lay in a nook my Lady's brach
And said, “My feet are sore,
I cannot follow with the pack
A-hunting of the boar.
And said, “My feet are sore,
I cannot follow with the pack
A-hunting of the boar.
“And though the horn sounds never so clear
With the hounds in loud uproar,
Yet I must stop and lie down here
Because my feet are sore.”
With the hounds in loud uproar,
Yet I must stop and lie down here
Because my feet are sore.”
The huntsman when he heard the same,
What answer did he give?
“The dog that's lame is much to blame,
He is not fit to live.”
What answer did he give?
“The dog that's lame is much to blame,
He is not fit to live.”
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Attendant.
The Regent, Madam, would attend you here
For some few moments' conference apart,
If it might please you to admit him.
Elena.
Say,
I wait upon his pleasure.
[Exit Attendant.
How is this?
What can he want! he never ask'd before
To speak with me in private. It is strange;
But it will end in nothing. Go, Cecile.
Stop; I've forgotten how my hair was dress'd
This morning; put it right. Look, here he comes;
But there's one with him—said he not apart
He wish'd to see me? I will go within
And thou canst say that I expect him there.
[Exit.
Enter Artevelde and Sir Fleureant.
Cecile.
My Lady waits your pleasure, Sir, within.
[Artevelde passes into the inner apartment.
Your servant, Sir; would you too see my mistress?
Sir Fleureant.
If it so please your master.
Cecile.
Who is he?
Sir Fleureant.
Your pardon, is it not the Regent?
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No,
The Regent is no master, Sir, of mine.
Sir Fleureant.
No?
Cecile.
By no means.
Sir Fleureant.
But he is often here?
Cecile.
No oftener than it pleases him to come
And her to see him.
Sir Fleureant.
Which is twice a-day.
Cecile.
Who told you that?
Sir Fleureant.
A Cupid that brake loose
From the close service he was sent upon,
Which was to watch their meetings.
Cecile.
Said he so?
A runaway, then, told a fool a lie.
Sir Fleureant.
Nay, but he had it from yourself.
Cecile.
If so
He gave it out, this was the great horse-lie
Made for the other to mount.
Sir Fleureant.
Come, then, the truth?
Cecile.
The well is not so deep but you may see it.
The Regent sometimes at the close of day
Has fits of lowness and is wearied much
With galloping so long from post to post;
And then my Lady has the voice of a bird
Which entertains his ears.
Sir Fleureant.
The live-long night?
Cecile.
An hour or two, no more.
Sir Fleureant.
Which being past—
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Which being past, he wishes her good rest,
And so departs.
Sir Fleureant.
And all the while he's there
Are you there too?
Cecile.
Never an instant gone.
Sir Fleureant.
Will you swear that?
Cecile.
Assuredly I will.
Sir Fleureant.
Or anything beside.
Cecile.
Your pardon, Sir;
I would not swear that you had learnt good manners;
That you'd been whipp'd as often as need was
In breeding of you up, I would not swear;
I would not swear that what you wanted then
Has not been since made good; I would not swear—
Sir Fleureant.
Quarter, quarter!—truce to your would-not swearing!
Here is the Regent.
Enter Artevelde with Elena.
Artevelde.
Sir Fleureant, I have pled in your behalf
And gain'd you audience; for the rest your trust
Is in your eloquence.
Sir Fleureant.
Alas! my Lord,
In nothing better? I had placed my trust,
Not in the eloquence of rugged man,
But woman's fair fidelity.
Elena.
Sir Knight,
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Though it be ne'er so ready.
Artevelde.
I am here
But an intruder. I will say no more;
Save that the lady's choice, be what it may,
Commands my utmost means and best good-will.
[Exit.
Elena.
Stay, stay, Cecile; you will attend me here.
You come, Sir, from his Grace of Bourbon. Why,
And with what message, I can partly guess
From what the Regent spake. The Duke's desire
Is that I join him presently in France.
Sir Fleureant.
Such is his—what?—his madness had I said
Before I saw you,—but I call it now
Only his bitter fate, that nothing gay
In palaces or courts can win him off
From thoughts of you, that nothing high or great
In policy or war can move him more,
Nothing which fame awaits, ambition woos,
Whilst you are absent can so much as twitch
The hem or border of his soul.
Elena.
Indeed!
I'm sorry if my absence vex the Duke;
Sorry if it offend him.
Sir Fleureant.
Tis a grief
More cutting as anticipated less;
For though the tie had not the Church's stamp,
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Such faith was his in what he thought was faith
In her he lov'd, that all the world's traditions
Of woman's hollow words and treacherous wiles
Could not unfix him from his fast belief.
Moreover, he has proffer'd deeds of gift
As ample as the dowry of a duchess
Would you but meet his wishes and return
But for a day; and should you find thenceforth
Just cause of discontent, with this rich freight
Might you depart at will.
Elena.
The Duke, I own,
Has been most liberal of his proffer'd bribes,
And I have said I'm sorry to fall out
With what his Grace desires:—that is not all—
His Grace has been as liberal of reproaches;
But what, then, is his grief? Alas! alas!
The world's traditions may be true that speak
Of woman's infidelities and wiles,
But truer far that scripture is which saith
“Put not your trust in princes.”
Sir Fleureant.
This is strange
And would amaze him much. In what, I pray,
Has he deceived you?
Elena.
Men, Sir, think it little;
Tis less than little in a prince's judgment;
In woman's estimation it is much.
Sir Fleureant.
But say what is it? Let him know his fault.
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So I design:—this tell the Duke from me:—
I could have loved him once—not with the heat
Of that affection which himself conceived—
(For this poor heart had prodigally spent
Its fund of youthful passion ere we met)—
But with a reasonably warm regard.
This could I have bestow'd for many a year,
And did bestow at first, and all went well.
But soon the venomous world wherein we lived
Assail'd the Prince with jocular remark
And question keen, importing that his soul
Was yoked in soft subjection to a woman;
And were she of good life and conversation,
Insidious slanderers said, 'twere not so strange,
But he is vanquish'd by his paramour!
So the word went, and as it reach'd his ear
From time to time repeated, he grew cold,
Captious, suspicious, full of taunts and slights,
Asserting his supremacy in words
Of needless contradiction. This I bore,
Though not by such sad change unalienate;
But presently there came to me reports,
Authentic though malignant, of loose gibes
Let fall among his retinue, whereby
His Grace, to keep his wit in good repute
For shrewdness and to boast his liberty,
Had shamefully belied his own belief—
For firm belief he had—that I was chaste.
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Oh mischief! you gave credence to such tales?
Elena.
This which I speak of, carry to the Duke;
'Tis therefore I relate it—he well knows
If it be true or false. Say further this:
Finding his Grace thus pitiably weak,
Alternate slave of vanity and love,
I from that moment in my heart resolved
To break the link that bound us: to this end
I parted from his company at Bruges,
And by the same abiding, I have made
This free deliverance of my mind to you.
Which task fulfill'd (I'm sorry from my soul
If it offend), I wish you, Sir, farewell.
[Exit, Cecile following.
Sir Fleureant.
'Tis a magnanimous harlot! By my faith,
Of all the queans that on my humble head
Have pour'd the vials of their wrath and scorn
This is the prettiest, and, I think, the proudest.
If one might bolt the bran from her discourse
I should take leave to guess her firm resolve
Was not fast clench'd till Artevelde took Bruges.
Howe'er that be, my path, albeit self-sought,
Is slippery. Sir Fleureant, my good friend,
I bid thee, as thou lov'st thyself, take heed.
257
ACT III.
Scene I.
—Night. A Dingle in the outskirts of the Camp behind a Sutler's Tent.Van Kortz, to whom enter Van Muck.
Van Kortz.
Who's there—Van Muck? halloa, you, boy! what speed?
Van Muck.
Hush, hush! speak low; is no one here but you?
Van Kortz.
No jolly soul beside.
Van Muck.
Has the watch past?
Van Kortz.
By my permission, yes. I drew a shaft
Chock to the steel, and from behind this tree
Aim'd it at Serjeant Laubscher's black old heart
In quittance of a debt I've owed him long;
But, pooh! I let him pass.
Van Muck.
Why, were you mad?
It would have baulk'd our meeting.
Van Kortz.
What care I?
Van Muck.
It is a matter of five hundred marks,
White money down.
Van Kortz.
Ay, let me see it down
And I'll believe you.
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He will soon be here,
And then you'll—here he is——no, 'tis but Bulsen.
Enter Jock Bulsen.
Bulsen.
Well, is all right? 'tis close upon the hour.
Van Kortz.
Nothing is stirring. Forth from the trees —stand forth
That he may see us, lest he miss the spot.
Art certain that he'll bring the money?
Van Muck.
Yes,
I saw it in his hands.
Van Kortz.
Why, hark ye then—
What need to go elsewhere for gold that's here?
Van Muck.
He gives it us for taking letters hence
To Ghent and Bruges and Yypres.
Van Kortz.
Hold thy peace
Thou nick-ear'd lubber; what have we to do
With whys and wherefores? Here he brings the gold;
And hence he takes it not, if we be men.
What say ye?
Bulsen.
Cut his throat.
Van Muck.
How now! how now!
I would not for the world.
Van Kortz.
Pluck up thy heart.
Hast courage but for half a sin? As good
To eat the Devil as the broth he's boil'd in.
Van Muck.
What would ye do? for mercy's sake for bear!
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I did not go about to take his life.
Van Kortz.
Why, go thy way then; two like me and Jock
Are men enough.
Bulsen.
Enough to win the spoil,
And by that token, friend, to share it too.
Van Kortz.
Go to the Devil with thy dolorous cheer;
There is no manhood in thee. Get thee gone,
Or I shall try six inches of my knife
On thine own inmeats first.
Bulsen.
Thou'dst best begone;
Thou art but in the way.
Van Kortz.
Go, pudding-heart!
Take thy huge offal and white liver hence,
Or in a twinkling of this true-blue steel
I shall be butching thee from nape to rump.
Bulsen.
Go thou thy ways, and thank thy prosperous stars
Thou art let live.
Van Muck.
I am rewarded well
For bringing this about! but ye shall see
If it be better for you.
Bulsen.
Hold, come back—
What, fast and loose—is that your game?—soho!
I see him coming.
Sir Fleureant
(without).
Soft! was that the tent
He spoke of? surely then—or—nay, I know not—
260
Van Kortz.
Come along, Sir, come—
Where art thou going?—I will tell thee where—
Going to grass, Sir Fleureant of Heurlée,
With thy teeth upward—may that serve thy turn?
Holloa, then, come along!
Bulsen.
Beware, beware!
Thou art the noisiest cut-throat of them all;
Will nothing stop thy tongue? This way, Sir, here.
Enter Sir Fleureant of Heurlée.
Van Muck
(passing between Sir Fleureant and the others.)
Your sword, Sir Fleureant! stand upon your guard;
We are not safe—there oft are men about
At such dark hours as this that lie in wait—
Look to your guard—but we shall be a match
For more than one such!
Bulsen.
Never fear, Van Muck;
If any such should break upon us here
We'd parley with them first and see what good
Might come of fighting or of speaking fair.
Sir Fleureant.
Where is the danger? you are dreaming, friends!
Let me explain the matter I've in hand.
Van Kortz.
Come, come, Sir Hurly-Burly! where's your metal?
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No danger! but there shall be danger. Come,
Out with this money! What if the Regent knew!
Are men like us to be entrapp'd and sold
And see no money down, Sir Hurly-Burly?
We're vile crossbow-men and a knight are you,
But steel is steel and flesh is still but flesh,
So let us see your chinkers.
Sir Fleureant
(to Van Muck)
Sure he's drunk!
Why brought you me a drunken knave like this?
Van Muck.
He is not drunk, Sir; better that he were;
If they are for foul play, so am not I,
Nor did I mean it.
Sir Fleureant.
Ay, is that their game?
Sirs, ye mistook our honest friend Van Muck!
I could not in hard money bring you here
More than a moiety of the sums you'll earn
By carrying of my letters; it is thus
So much I'll pay you now, and as much more
You will receive in France from Hetz St. Croix,
King Charles's master of accompt. The King
Gave order for the payments.
Bulsen.
It is well;
We will convey your letters, Sir, with speed.
Van Kortz.
We'll trust to meet you afterward at Court
To see us justly paid.
Sir Fleureant.
Inquire for me
When you arrive at Senlis or at Lisle,
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Here are the letters and the skins of gold
I give with each. The word is now “Despatch!”
Speak not, nor eat nor drink with friend or foe,
But each man take his wallet on his back
And steal away. No lack of Frenchmen's friends
You'll find at Bruges or Ypres. Who they are
These letters will inform you: and at Ghent
Though France may find less favour with the herd,
Still are there some that will befriend you. Hence!
What noise is that?
Van Muck.
The second watch.
Sir Fleureant.
Away!
[Exeunt Van Muck, Kortz, and Bulsen.
Now if one miscreant of the three play false,
A potsherd squares the value of this head.
Speed is my best safe-conduct, then, to France.
Scene II.
—The Pavilion, as in Scene III. of Act II. Artevelde and Elena. Cecile attending in the background.Elena.
On your way hither, then, you passed through Ghent,
The city which you saved. How sweet a joy
Revisiting a place which owes to you
All that it hath of glory or of ease!
Artevelde.
Truly it should have overjoy'd me; yes;
263
I know not wherefore, but I scarce was pleased
To see that town now wallowing in wealth,
Which last I saw—and saw with hearty courage—
Pinch'd like a beggar wintering at death's door.
Now, both the mart was full and church; road, bridge,
River, and street, were populous and busy,
And money-bags were toss'd from hand to hand
Of men more thriftless than a miser's heir.
I liked it not; my task, it seem'd, was done;
The arrow sped, the bow unbent, the cord
Soundless and slack. I came away ill-pleased.
Elena.
Perhaps you suffer'd losses in the siege?
Artevelde.
Not in the siege; but I have suffer'd something.
There is a gate in Ghent—I pass'd beside it—
A threshold there, worn of my frequent feet,
Which I shall cross no more. But wherefore thus
Divert me from my drift? Look round; look on;
Think once again upon the proffer'd choice
Of French protection. Though my army wear
This hour an aspect of security
A battle must be fought ere long.
Elena.
My Lord,
You have been very kind to me. Oh, yes!
And in your nature's bounty and its wealth,
Despite those ineradicable stains
That streak my life, have used me with respect.
264
Artevelde.
Am I in life's embellishments so rich,
In pleasures so redundant, as to wish
The chiefest one away? No, fairest friend;
Mine eyes have travell'd this horizon round
Ending where they began, and they have roved
The boundless empyrean up and down,
And 'mid the undistinguish'd tumbling host
Of the black clouds, have lighted on a soft
And solitary spot of azure sky
Whereon they love to dwell. The clouds close in
And soon may shut it from my searching sight;
But let me still behold it whilst I may.
Elena.
You are so busy all day long, I fear'd
A woman's company and trifling talk
Would only importune you.
Artevelde.
Think not so;
The sweets of converse and society
Are sweetest when they're snatch'd; the often-comer,
The boon companion of a thousand feasts,
Whose eye has grown familiar with the fair,
Whose tutor'd tongue by practice perfect made
Is tamely talkative,—he never knows
That truest, rarest light of social joy
Which gleams upon the man of many cares.
Elena.
It is not every one could push aside
A country's weight so lightly.
Artevelde.
By your leave
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Continuously could ponder unrelieved.
The heart of man, walk it which way it will,
Sequester'd or frequented, smooth or rough,
Down the deep valley amongst tinkling flocks,
Or 'mid the clang of trumpets and the march
Of clattering ordnance, still must have its halt,
Its hour of truce, its instant of repose,
Its inn of rest; and craving still must seek
The food of its affections, still must slake
Its constant thirst of what is fresh and pure
And pleasant to behold.
Elena.
To you that thirst,
Despite inebriating draughts of glory,
Despite ambition, power and strife, remains;
But great men mostly lose the taste of joy
Save from such things as give their greatness growth:
Which, spreading still, o'ershadows more and more
Of less enjoyments, until all are sunk
In business of the State.
Artevelde.
'Tis otherwise,
And ever was with me. It was not meant
By Him who on the back the burthen bound
That cares, though public, critical and grave,
Should so encase us and encrust, as shuts
The gate on what is beautiful below
And clogs those entries of the soul of man
Which lead the way to what he hath of Heaven:
266
Whilst thou remind'st me of those heavenly joys
I once possess'd in peace. Life—life, my friend,
May hold a not unornamented course
Wherever it shall flow; be the bed rocky,
Yet are there flowers, and none of brighter hue,
That to the rock are native. War itself
Deals in adornments, and the blade it wields
Is curiously carved and gaily gilt.
For me, let what is left of life, if brief,
Be bright, and let me kindle all its fires;
For I am as a rocket hurl'd on high,
But a few moments seen of earthly eyes,
Which ended, all is dark.
Enter Cecile.
Cecile.
My Lady! oh!
My Lord, my humble duty—Might I speak?—
Artevelde.
What hinders you, Cecile?
Elena.
Nay, ask not that;
Nought ever did, my Lord, nor ever will;
When she has breath you'll hear her.
Cecile.
Oh, my Lady!
That frightful man I've told you of so oft
That comes for ever with his vows of love
And will not be denied,—I always said,
“Begone! How dare you! Get you gone forsooth!
To bring such tales to me!” But still he came,
267
Artevelde.
Who is it that she means?
Elena.
His name is—nay, God help my memory!
What is his name, Cecile?
Cecile.
Van Kortz, my Lady.
Artevelde.
Not he that once was marshalsman?
Cecile.
The same.
Artevelde.
I know him well—his quality at least
And his career I know. Right, right, Cecile;
Deny him stoutly, for he means no good.
Cecile.
I did, my Lord,—I heartily denied him;
I said I never would so much as touch him.
I told him if he'd hang himself for love
I'd love the rope that hang'd him,—nothing else.
Artevelde.
And yet he comes again?
Cecile.
Even now, my Lord,
He came as though it were to wreak his spite,
And show'd me bags of gold, and said that now
He was so rich that he could wed a dame,
Let pass a waiting wench, and from this time
He'd mend his fortune, nor e'er look so low.
I told him he might seek his fortune far
Ere he should find his match for pride and greed;
So with that word he set his spleen abroach
And cursing all the camp, and most yourself,
Swore he could buy and sell the best amongst you.
Artevelde.
What! said he so? and show'd you bags of gold?
268
Van Ryk is waiting, no?
Cecile.
He is, my Lord.
Enter Van Ryk.
Artevelde.
Van Ryk, a word:
Thou know'st Van Kortz, the marshalsman that was—
He parted hence but now, and I have cause
To wish his person seized without delay
And brought before me, with all scrips or scrolls
That may be found upon him. Take my guard
And see it done.
[Exit Van Ryk.
Elena.
What is it you suspect?
Artevelde.
The gold is French.
He has not lately had the means to thrive
By Flemish gold. He was a man disgraced.
Cecile.
You're right, my Lord; 'twas not of guilders; no,
'Twas still of crowns and francs he talk'd.
Elena.
But whence
Has he French gold?
Artevelde.
From him whom France sent here
Doubtless to bring it,—from Sir Fleureant.
Elena.
Oh, surely, surely not,—a man who came
With sacred mission charged, to seek for peace!
It were but common honesty—
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My friend,
Say in what time has honesty been common?
Soft! silence, I beseech you; here's Van Ryk
And he has found his man. Enter Van Ryk, with Van Kortz guarded.
Whom hast thou there, Van Ryk, thus manacled,
And what is his offence?
Van Ryk.
My Lord, Van Kortz.
Artevelde.
Van Kortz! The gudgeon whom Sir Fleureant hired
To do French service, then betray'd to save
His proper head! Down, Sir, upon thy knees,
And tell what wiles the crafty Frenchman used
To cheat thee of thy loyalty.
Van Kortz
(kneeling).
My Lord,
I tell the simple truth. Sir Fleureant sware
The paper which he charged me with for Ghent
Was for his private ends and nothing touch'd
The faith I owed your Highness, and—
Artevelde.
Van Ryk,
Bring me Sir Fleureant hither. Soft a while!
What found you on Van Kortz?
Van Ryk.
This scroll, my Lord.
Artevelde
(reading the paper).
“Worthy masters of Ghent,—this is to make it known unto you that we are hastily to come down into Flanders with a hundred
270
“Written and sealed with the broad seal of France, in our host before Senlis, the 2nd day of October, in the year of grace 1382, by the King in his Council.”
Stay, what is here? an afterthought of mischief:—
“You are to know that we have sent the like letters patent to the good towns of Bruges and Ypres, to which lest they reach not, we pray you to convey the contents hereof.”
Who are these other messengers?
Van Kortz.
My Lord
Bulsen to Ypres and Van Muck to Bruges.
They have set forth.
Artevelde.
Convey him hence to gaol.
Let fifty men be mounted—some pursue
Sir Fleureant of heurlée, some Van Muck,
And others Bulsen on the roads to France,
To Bruges, and Ypres;—for the head of each
271
[Exit Van Ryk, with Van Kortz guarded.
Cecile.
Oh Lord, the villain! and he came to me
So proud and saucy! Truly it is said
Give rope enough to rogues they'll hang themselves.
Elena.
And must he die, my Lord?
Artevelde.
What plea can save him?
Cecile.
That he should jeopardize his wilful head
Only for spite at me!
Elena.
'Tis strange!
Artevelde.
Not so;
That Providence which makes the good take heed
To safety and success, contrariwise
Makes villains mostly reckless. Look on life
And you shall see the crimes of blackest dye
So clumsily committed, by such sots,
So lost to thought, so scant of circumspection,
As shall constrain you to pronounce that guilt
Bedarkens and confounds the mind of man;
Human intelligence on murders bent
Becomes a midnight fumbler; human will,
Of God abandon'd, in its web of snares
Strangles its own intent.
Elena.
How fortunate
Was this man's malice thus conceived to thee,
My good Cecile! All woman as I am,
I can forgive thy beauty that hath bred
This love-engender'd hate.
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I thank you, Madam.
The scornful knave! to bring his gold to me
That never would have looked upon him twice
Though he'd been made of gold!
Elena.
How came you first
To give him that authority and rank
Which late you took away?
Artevelde.
Those are there here
That hardly will be govern'd save by men
Of fierce and forward natures. He was known
For daring deeds from childhood; in his youth,
Famed for his great desire of doing evil,
He was elected into Testenoire's troop
Of free companions: so in field or forest,
Or in wall'd town by stipend lured, or vill
Surprised and sack'd, by turns he lived at large,
And learn'd the vice indigenous to each.
Nought in dark corners of great cities done
Of lewdness or of outrage, was unknown
By him or unpartaken, nor the woods
Lodged in their loneliest caves a beast so wild.
Clashings of swords, groans, cries of murder, all
Were to his ears indifferently common.
Thus grown at length more reckless than was safe
For his fraternity, they cast him off,
And hanging loose upon the world what time
My name was noised abroad, he join'd my camp.
273
Sir Fleureant.
So, my Lord Regent! what is this I hear
Blown through the camp with trumpets? what's my head
That you should price it higher than the sum
Of good repute for honour's laws observed
Which you must part withal to take it? Much
I've heard of dangers in the Holy Land
Amongst the heathen, Jew or Turk or Moor,
But never thought in Christendom to find
Such bloody breach of hospitable laws!
Artevelde.
This is well spoken.
Cecile.
Oh, my Lord, for that,
He's free enough. . . . .
Elena.
Cecile, be silent: peace.
Artevelde.
What you have here deliver'd, Sir, I say
Hath been well spoken: it remains to ask
If that which you have perpetrated here
Hath been well done. Know you this writing?
Sir Fleureant.
Yes;
I know it well; 'twas by the King my Liege
Writ to the Mayor and citizens of Ghent.
Artevelde.
By you brought here; by you to one Van Kortz
Deliver'd for despatch; by him to me,
Upon his apprehension, yielded up.
Such is the story of these scrolls and scrawls
274
Of three good towns, to undermine the faith
Of my best friends; and having fouled and blurred
The record of my glory in the page
Of history past, blot it from that to come!
This was a worthy business.
Sir Fleureant.
Ay, my Lord;
Who shall gainsay the King of France his right
To send what letters or what words he will
To the good towns of Flanders?
Artevelde.
Let him try;
And gainsay those that can my privilege
To hang the bearers. Thou, Sir Fleureant,
Hast by thy treachery betray'd thyself
And unavoidably must suffer death.
Thou cam'st a sharer in a herald's charge
Ensuing peace; and, cloak'd in that disguise,
With money for thy purposes provided,
Thou hast bought treason. This may never pass;
Else what security is mine that faith
Is not put up to auction in my camp,
Till each man sell his brother? Who provokes
Treason in others, to a traitor's death
Justly condemns himself. Such is thy lot:
Yet do I rue the judgment I pronounce
And wish it undeserved; for thou hast lit
The darkness of thy indirect attempts
With a more lively cheer and gallant mien
275
Sir, I am sorry for thee.
Sir Fleureant.
Spare your pity,
And use your power. You see before you one
Who would more willingly confront the worst
Unpitying power inflicts than cry for mercy!
I have been used to deem the loss of life
But as a dead man's loss, that feels it not.
Artevelde.
Thou shalt do well of mortal life to think
Thus lightly, and with serious thoughts prepare
For that which is celestial and to come.
'Twixt this and daylight is thy leisure time
For such purgation as thou need'st. Cecile,
Send to St. Hubert's for some barefoot friar
And bid him come so stored and with such speed
As on a death-bed summons.
[He steps to a door of the tent and calls some Soldiers of his guard.
Cecile.
Yes, my Lord,
I'll go myself and say what duty calls him.
Sir Fleureant.
And prithee, wench, find me a merry friar,
Who shall beguile the time.
Cecile.
A merry friar!
Sir Fleureant.
Ay, wench; if any in the camp there be
They will be known to thee; a hearty man;
For I have ever look'd on life and death,
The world which is and that which is to be,
276
And I would have Death's usher wear a smile
As through to-night's rough road he shows the way.
So send a merry friar.
Elena.
Oh, Sir Knight!
If die you must so soon, for God's dear love
Take thought for your immortal soul's behoof!
Confess yourself and pass the night in prayer.
Sir Fleureant.
Confession will not hold us long; I'm young
And have not yet had time enough to act
Sins that are long in telling:
[Then to Artevelde, who returns with two Soldiers of the Guard.
You, my Lord,
Cut short the catalogue betimes, I thank you.
To you, sweet Lady, for your counsel kind
And monitory speech, my last poor prayers
I give,—more worth than thanks from dying men;
And in your supplications of to-night
When you lie down to rest, I humbly crave
To be remember'd in return.
Elena.
Alas!
Would I could stead you more than with the prayers
Of such a sinful creature!
Sir Fleureant.
Lady, soon
You'll need them for yourself. This fair array
Of warlike multitudes you see around
277
Pelted and riddled with the rains in March.
Then should my Lord of Bourbon find you here,
'Twill be a rude rencounter; if at Bruges
You found a lover in an enemy,
The tables will be turned at Oudenarde,
And in a lover shall you find a foe.
I pray you think upon it.
Artevelde.
Fare thee well.
These will conduct thee to thy place of rest,
And all thy needs or wishes may require
To make the night pass easily, supply.
Again, Sir, fare thee well.
Sir Fleureant.
My Lord, farewell.
I hardly know what words should thank your bounty
That grants me everything—except my life.
[Exit, guarded.
Elena.
O would, my Lord, that you could grant him that!
He is a gallant gentleman.
Artevelde.
He's stricken;
Which makes the meanest hold his courage high
In presence of his Lady: not the less
He is a brave and very noble knight,
And nothing moves me in his favour more
Than what he spake to you. I'm grieved, in truth,
That stern necessity demands his death.
No more of that. Turn we another leaf.
278
Elena.
My Lord?
Artevelde.
The world, when men and women meet,
Is rich in sage remark, nor stints to strew
With roses and with myrtle fields of death.
Think you that they will grow?
Elena.
My Lord, your pardon;
You speak in such enigmas, I am lost
And cannot comprehend you.
Artevelde.
Do I so?
That was not wont to be my fault. In truth
There is a season when the plainest men
Will cease to be plain-spoken; for their thoughts
Plunge deep in labyrinths of flowers and thorns,
And hardly to the light of day break through,
Whilst much they wander darkling. Yet for once
Let love be marshall'd by the name of love,
To meet such entertainment as it may.
Elena.
I have been much unfortunate, my Lord;
I would not love again.
Artevelde.
And so have I;
Nor man nor woman more unfortunate
As none more blessed in what was taken from him.
Dearest Elena,—of the living dearest,—
Let my misfortunes plead, and know their weight
By knowing of the worth of what I lost.
She was a creature framed by love divine
For mortal love to muse a life away
279
Amidst the world's contentions if they touched
No vital chord nor troubled what she loved,
Philosophy might look her in the face,
And like a hermit stooping to the well
That yields him sweet refreshment, might therein
See but his own serenity reflected
With a more heavenly tenderness of hue!
Yet whilst the world's ambitious empty cares,
Its small disquietudes and insect stings,
Disturb'd her never, she was one made up
Of feminine affections, and her life
Was one full stream of love from fount to sea.
These are but words.
Elena.
They're full of meaning.
Artevelde.
No,
No, they mean nothing—that which they would speak
Sinks into silence—'tis what none can know
That knew not her—the silence of the grave—
Whence could I call her radiant beauty back
It could not come more savouring of Heaven
Than it went hence; the tomb received her charms
In their perfection, with nor trace of time
Nor stain of sin upon them; only death
Had turn'd them pale. Would you had seen her once,
Living or dead!
Elena.
I wish I had, my Lord;
I should have loved to look upon her much;
280
And think the all day long is but too short.
Artevelde.
She was so fair that in the angelic choir
She will not need put on another shape
Than that she bore on earth. Well, well, she's gone,
And I have tamed my sorrow. Pain and grief
Are transitory things no less than joy,
And though they leave us not the men we were,
Yet they do leave us. You behold me here
A man bereaved, with something of a blight
Upon the early blossoms of his life
And its first verdure, having not the less
A living root, and drawing from the earth
Its vital juices, from the air its powers:
And surely as man's health and strength are whole
His appetites regerminate, his heart
Re-opens, and his objects and desires
Shoot up renew'd. What blank before me lay
From what is said you partly may surmise;
How I have hoped to fill it, may I tell?
Elena.
I fear, my Lord, that cannot be.
Artevelde.
Indeed!
Then am I doubly hopeless. What is gone
Nor plaints nor prayers nor yearnings of the soul
Nor memory's tricks nor fancy's invocations—
Though tears went with them frequent as the rain
In dusk November, sighs more sadly breathed
Than winter's whispering of the fallen leaf,—
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That like a violet from the other's grave
Grew sweetly, in the tear-besprinkled soil
Finding moist nourishment—this seedling sprung
Where recent grief had like a ploughshare pass'd
Through the soft soul and loosen'd its affections—
Should this new-blossom'd hope be coldly nipp'd,
Then were I desolate indeed! a man
Whom heaven would wean from earth, and nothing leaves
But cares and quarrels, trouble and distraction,
The heavy burthens and the broils of life.
Is such my doom? Nay, speak it, if it be.
Elena.
I said I fear'd another could not fill
The place of her you lost, being so fair
And perfect as you pictured her.
Artevelde.
'Tis true;
A perfect woman is not as a coin,
Which being gone, its very duplicate
Is counted in its place. Nature on you
Hath stamped an impress—regal—but of hers
Rather the contrast than the counterpart.
Colour to wit—complexion; hers was light
And gladdening; a roseate tincture shone
Transparent in its place, her skin elsewhere
White as the foam from which in happy hour
Sprang the Thalassian Venus: yours is clear
But bloodless, and though beautiful as night
In cloudless ether clad, not frank as day:
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Serenely radiant she, you darkly fair.
Elena.
Dark still has been the colour of my doom,
And having not the brightness in my soul
How should I wear the aspect?
Artevelde.
Wear it not;
Wear only that of love.
Elena.
Of love? alas!
That were to scatter this so mournful mist
By calling up the hurricane. Time was,
'Tis true, that this foolhardy heart would brave,
Yea madly court, an enterprise of passion,
And like a witch would whistle for a whirlwind.
May time not tame it? Is it wild as ever?
And you too should have learnt what time and pain
Can teach of wisdom.
Artevelde.
Brightly upon me
Love breaks anew beneath the gathering clouds
That roll around; and brightly upon you
I see it break, but verily as you say,
'Tis with a stormy gleam; and looking forth,
I ask myself, too late, what lot is this,
What destiny that links you with a love
Whose sunset is at hand, whose midnight lamp
May chance be lighted at a funeral torch
And show the way to Fate?
Elena.
What destiny?
Think what you will, but think not that I fear
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Yes, or in death, should death be threaten'd; nay,
What loftier fortune could a wild-flower find
Than to be cast upon a noble corse?
Oh God! that I were worthier!—that the joy,
The greatness of the destiny, were deserved!
But speak not now of darkness, death and night:
Believe, as I believe, redeemed by you
From all that Nature clothed me with of gloom,
That many a sunrise shall be yours, and Hope,
Rising with every sun, irradiate
The long procession of the prosperous days,
Triumphal, crowned with glory.
Artevelde.
Crowned with love.
Give to this day, this sumptuous day, that crown;
Let others run their course; give me this heart
That beats itself to pieces. . . . .
Elena.
No, I cannot,—
I cannot give you what you've had so long,
Nor need I tell you what you know so well.
I must be gone.
Artevelde.
Nay, sweetest, why these tears?
Elena.
No, let me go—I cannot tell—no—no—
I want to be alone—
Oh! Artevelde, for God's love, let me go!
[Exit.
Artevelde
(after a pause).
The night is far advanced upon the morrow,
284
Of cloud with ragged edges, like a mound
Or black pine-forest on a mountain's top,
Wherein the light lies ambush'd, dawn were near.
Ay, truth to say, the night is sped and gone.
Was it well spent? Successfully it was.
And yet of springs and sources taking note
How little flattering is a woman's love!
Thrice gifted girl! The conqueror of the world
In winning thee might deem he won a prize
More precious far, yet count the prize he won
As portion of his treasure, not his pride;
For when was love the measure of desert?
The few hours left are precious—Who is there?
Ho! Nieuverkerchen!—when we think upon it
How little flattering is a woman's love!
Given commonly to whosoe'er is nearest
And propp'd with most advantage; outward grace
Nor inward light is needful; day by day
Men wanting both are mated with the best
And loftiest of God's feminine creation,
Whose love takes no distinction but of sex
And ridicules the very name of choice.
Ho! Nieuverkerchen!—what, then, do we sleep?
Are none of you awake?—and as for me,
The world says Philip is a famous man—
What is there women will not love, so taught?
Ho! Ellert! by your leave though, you must wake.
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Have me a gallows built upon the mount
And let Van Kortz be hung at break of day.
No news of Bulsen or Van Muck?
Officer.
My Lord,
Bulsen is taken; but Van Muck, we fear,
Has got clear off.
Artevelde.
Let Bulsen, too, be hung
At break of day. Let there be priests to shrive them.
Who guards the Knight, Sir Fleureant of Heurlée?
Officer.
Sasbout, my Lord, and Tuning.
Artevelde.
Very well.
Mount me a messenger; I shall have letters
To send to Van den Bosch upon the Lis.
Let Grebber wait upon me here. Go thou
Upon thine errands.
[Exit Officer.]
—So,Van Muck escaped!
And Ypres will receive its invitation.
I think, then, Van den Bosch must spare a force
To strengthen us at Ypres for a season.
I'll send him orders. And Van Muck the traitor!
Stupidity is seldom soundly honest;
I should have known him better. Live and learn!
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Scene III.
—The interior of a tent.—Sir Fleureant of Heurlée is seated at a table on which wine and refreshments are placed. Guards are seen without, walking backwards and forwards before the doors of the tent.Sir Fleureant.
I oft before have clomb by rotten boughs
To frail tree-tops; but this will be the last.
Were it to do again, ten thousand Dukes
With all their wealth of folly and want of wit
Should tempt me not to such fool-hardihood.
Here is the end of Fleureant of Heurlée!
I know it; for my heart is dead already—
An omen that did cross me ne'er before
In any jeopardy of life.
Cecile enters with a Friar.
This wind
Is cold, methinks, that comes through yonder door.
I thought I had a cloak.
Cecile.
The Friar, Sir.
Sir Fleureant.
Well, this is strange; I surely had a cloak.
Cecile.
Sir, would you see the Friar?
Sir Fleureant.
Eh? what? who?
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The Friar, Sir.
Sir Fleureant.
What Friar?—oh, your pardon!
What? is it time?
Friar.
This wench, my son, brought word
That you would fain confess yourself o'ernight
And then make merry like a noble heart
Till break of day that brings your latter end.
Sir Fleureant.
What is't o'clock?
Cecile.
I have not told the chimes
Since midnight.
Sir Fleureant.
Yes, I wish'd myself confess'd;
But, by your leave, not now!—my eyes are heavy
And I was fain to wrap me in my cloak
And lay me down to sleep as you came in.
I think I had a cloak.
Cecile.
'Tis here, Sir, here.
Sir Fleureant.
Ah, there it is. The air, I think, is sharp.
Friar.
'Tis a cold air, my son, a cold and dry;
But here's an element that's hot and moist
To keep the other out. I drink your health.
Sir Fleureant.
My health! ha! ha! I'll lay me down and sleep,
For I've a mortal weariness upon me.
My body's or my soul's health do you drink?
Friar.
I drink, Sir, to your good repose.
Sir Fleureant.
I thank you;
I shall sleep sound to-morrow.
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Put this cushion
Under your head.
Sir Fleureant.
Ah, you are kind, wench, now;
You're not so saucy as you were. So,—there.
Friar.
And this I drink to your dear soul's salvation.
Cecile.
I'd tend you all night long with all my heart
If it might do you good.
Sir Fleureant.
Good night, good night.
Friar.
What, does he sleep? Then sit you down, my maid,
And quaff me off this flask of Malvoisie.
Come sunrise and he'll lay his curly head
Upon a harder pillow—So it is!
And quaff me off this flask of Malvoisie.
Come sunrise and he'll lay his curly head
Upon a harder pillow—So it is!
“As a man lives so shall he die;
As a tree falls so shall it lie.”
As a tree falls so shall it lie.”
Take off thy glass, my merry wench of all;
Thou know'st the song that Jack the headsman sings—
Thou know'st the song that Jack the headsman sings—
“'Tis never to snivel and grovel
When a friend wants a turn of poor Jack's,
But put him to bed with a shovel,
Having cut off his head with an axe—
Having
Cut off his head with an axe.”
When a friend wants a turn of poor Jack's,
But put him to bed with a shovel,
Having cut off his head with an axe—
Having
Cut off his head with an axe.”
Cecile.
Be not so loud, good Friar, let him sleep.
He'll pass the time more easy.
Friar.
Let him sleep!
What hinders him to sleep?—not I, my lass;
289
There's nothing wakes them but a lusty tug.
I'd rather he should sleep than you, sweet wench;
What, are you wakeful? Ah, you fat ribs! Ah!
Cecile.
Begone, you filthy Friar! At your tricks
With here a dead man lying, one may say,
Amongst one's feet!
Friar.
Who's dead, my merry soul?
Not I, nor near it yet.
Cecile.
Out! ancient blotch!
Enter Artevelde.
Artevelde
(stumbling against Sir Fleureant, who wakes and sits up).
So, what is this? what wrangle ye about?
What mak'st thou, Friar, with the wench?
Friar.
Who, I?
Cecile.
Ay, tell his Highness how you'd use a maid.
Friar.
Alack! we Churchmen, Sir, have much ado!
We are but men, and women will be women.
Fie, they are naughty jades!—sluts all! sluts all!
Fie, how they steal upon our idle hours!
Cecile.
Thou liest, thou scandalous Friar—
Artevelde.
Soft, Cecile!
Friar.
Oh, she's a light-skirts!—yea, and at this present
A little, as you see, concern'd with liquor.
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A light-skirts! If it were not for thy cowl
I have that lesson at my fingers' ends
Should teach thee how to lay thy carrion's sins
Upon a wholesome maid.
Artevelde.
Peace, peace, I say!
I would discourse some matters with this Knight.
Leave us together. Friar, go thy ways;
Thy hands are not too clean. I know the wench;
She would not tempt thee. Get thee gone, I say.
Friar.
My Lord, the peace of God be with your Grace,
And with this Knight, and with that sinful woman.
[Exit.
Cecile.
I thank your Highness—Oh the mouldy knave!
I thank you, Sir. Good-even to your Grace.
[Exit.
Artevelde.
Good-night, Cecile.—Sir, I disturb'd your rest;
I saw not that you lay there.
Sir Fleureant.
Oh, my Lord,
It matters not; to-morrow I shall lie
Where you will not disturb me.
Artevelde.
So you think.
Sir Fleureant.
So you, my Lord, have said.
Artevelde.
You stand condemn'd;
Yet 'tis a word that I would fain unsay.
Sir Fleureant.
You are most kind; the word was ever rife
You were a merciful man and fearing God,
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And if my life it please you now to spare
You may find mercy for yourself in straits
According as you show it.
Artevelde.
Nay, thy life
Is justly forfeited: which if I spare
It is not that I look for God's reward
In sparing crime; since justice is God's due.
Thou hast an intercessor, to whose prayers
I grant thy life, absolving thee not freely,
But on conditions.
Sir Fleureant.
Whatsoe'er they be
I will be bound by oath and honour's pledge
Most faithfully to fulfil them.
Artevelde.
Well thou may'st.
'Tis but to pay thy debt of grateful care
To her whose charity redeems thy life
That I would bind thee. At the prayer much press'd
Of thy Lord's sometime Lady thou art spared.
Sir Fleureant.
I'm bound to her for ever.
Artevelde.
Sometime hence
Mischances may befall her. Though I trust,
And with good reason, that my arms are proof,
Yet is the tide of war unsteady still;
And should my hope be wreck'd upon some reef
Of adverse fortune, there is cause to fear
Her former Lord, thy master, who suspects
Uneasily her faith, in victory's pride
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Free way to her destruction. In such hour,
Should it arrive, thou might'st befriend the Lady
As in thy present peril she doth thee.
Sir Fleureaint.
I were ungrateful past all reach of words
That speak of baseness and ingratitude
Should I not hold my life and hand and heart
Purely at her behest from this time forth.
And truly in conjunctures such as those
Your Highness hath foreseen, to aid her flight
Were service which no Fleming could perform
How true soe'er his heart, and yet to me
It were an easy task.
Artevelde.
I trust the day
Will never come that puts thy pledge to proof;
But should it come, I charge thee on thy faith
And duty as a Knight, be stout and true.
Prudence, meantime, demands that thou remain
In close confinement.
Sir Fleureant.
As you please, my Lord.
Artevelde.
(after a pause)
What, watch there, ho!
Enter two Guards.
You will give passage to Sir Fleureant
To go at large. My mind you see is changed;
It ever was my way, and shall be still,
When I do trust a man to trust him wholly.
293
Thou art at large within it.
Sir Fleureant.
Sir, your trust
Shall not appear misplaced.
Artevelde.
Give thee good rest!
And better dreams than those I woke thee from.
Sir Fleureant.
With grateful heart I say, my Lord, God keep you!
294
ACT IV.
Scene I.
—Ypres.—The Burgomaster of Ypres, with several Burghers of the French Faction, and Van Muck.Burgomaster.
Well, well, God bless us! have a care—oh me!
Be careful how thou speak'st; wear a white hat;
And ever, mind'st thou, when thou see'st Vauclaire,
Uncover and stand back.
Van Muck.
I will, your worship.
Burgomaster.
Nay, but thou must. And Roosdyk—speak him fair:
For, give him but a saucy word, he's out,
And twinkling me his dagger in the sun,
Says, “take you that,” and thou art dead for good.
Van Muck.
I'll speak him fair.
Burgomaster.
Nay, but I say thou shalt.
Tis a good rule to be more civil-spoken
Than wantonly be cut and stabb'd for nothing.
Van Muck.
'Tis so, your worship.
Burgomaster.
Cast not away thy life.
Van Muck.
'Tis as your worship pleases.
1st Burgher.
But if Vauclaire, or Roosdyk, on their rounds,
295
Being strange-looking for a citizen,
What should he answer?
Burgomaster.
Say thou com'st from Dinand—
From Dinand, say, to sell Dinandery,
Pots, pitchers, mugs and beakers, and the like.
Van Muck.
Suppose I'm question'd where they are?
Burgomaster.
Thou'st sold 'em.
Say thou thank'st God. Say thou'rt a thriving man.
1st Burgher.
(aside to 2nd)
This matter will be out.
2nd Burgher.
Why so?
1st Burgher.
Good friend,
Did'st ever know a secret to lie close
Under a goose's wing?
2nd Burgher.
I think 'twill out.
'Twill surely out.
1st Burgher.
The frighten'd fox sits fast;
Folly with fear will flutter still and cackle. [Aloud.]
This will be known. I am for rising now,
Slaying Vauclaire and Roosdyk in their beds
Before they nose it, sounding through the streets
King Charles's pardon and the town's submission,
And so to present issue with it all.
Burgomaster.
Mercy! what foolishness will young men talk!
1st Burgher.
Under your favour—old men too at times.
3rd Burgher.
De Vry, a word. I marvel at thy rashness;
296
Perchance a day,—nay, it may be this hour,
Or Van den Bosch will conquer at Commines,
Or the French force the passage. If the first,
In vain were this revolt, for Van den Bosch
Would quell us in a trice; and if the second,
Then were the time to rise, for all the town
Would then rise with us.
2nd Burgher.
In good time, Verstolken;
The axe's edge is turned toward us now,
And what shall save us if this mooncalf here
Should let his errand out?
Van Muck.
A mooncalf, I?
I am an honest man; I dare you, Sir,
To signify me other.
2nd Burgher.
Hold thy peace.
Whilst the French King is looked for at Commines
Too wise is Van den Bosch to break his strength
With sending soldiers hither. He but counts
Nine thousand men.
4th Burgher.
The double were too few
To be divided.
5th Burgher.
More than some two thousand
Would hardly march on Ypres should we thrive,
And if they did, what then? We'd bowl them down
Like ninepins.
2nd Burgher.
Nay, no fear of Van den Bosch;
He'll never waste his forces upon us
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Of Ypres fallen off will cheer the French,
Sicken the White-Hoods, and make sure the loss
Of that famed passage, which shall magnify
Our merits with King Charles.
Enter a Sixth Burgher.
6th Burgher.
Away, away!
Vauclaire has word of all you do; a troop
Despatch'd by Van den Bosch to give him aid
Is riding into town; Van Muck's commission
Is whisper'd of, and loudly.
Burgomaster.
There now, there!
I told you so—I told you this would come;
But still you talk'd of rising. Run, Van Muck,
Thou villain, run, and be not seen abroad
With honest citizens.
2nd Burgher.
Ay, get thee hence;
Best quit the town and make thy way to France.
Van Muck.
I will, your worships.
[Exit, but returns immediately.
Please you, Sir, they come;
The street is full of men-at-arms.
Burgomaster.
There—there!
I said so; there! and still you hearken'd not!
Oh Time and Tide! Oh wala-wa! Oh me!
3rd Burgher.
What shall we do?
2nd Burgher.
Van Muck, stand fast; they come:
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Burgomaster.
Say you sell pots.
Enter Vauclaire and Roosdyk, followed by a troop of Men-at-Arms.
Vauclaire.
Ah, Master Burgomaster, here thou art!
Roosdyk.
Make fast the doors.
Vauclaire.
And thou, Verstolken—nay!
Here's Goswin Hex, and Drimmelen, and Breero!
And thou, De Vry—Van Rosendaal, and thou!
How rare a thing is faith! Alas, my masters!
Here is a work you put me to!
Roosdyk.
Stand forth,
Master Van Muck! where art thou?—which is he?
3rd Burgher.
What is it, Sirs, you charge us with?
Roosdyk.
What think ye?
Say treason and I'll call you conjurors.
Vauclaire.
I have my orders—stand thou forth, Van Muck—
Which I must needs obey. What art thou, say?
Roosdyk.
A villain.
Van Muck.
No, Sirs, I am not a villain;
I am a travelling trader; I sell pots.
Roosdyk.
Thyself—a precious vessel!—that thou sell'st.
Where is the Provost Marshal? Hark you, Sir!
Put irons on them all, and give Van Muck
A taste of what you have.
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Hold off! what's this?
I am your master.
Roosdyk.
Knock him on the head;
Bid him be patient.
Vauclaire.
I am amazed at this!
So sweetly as you all demean'd yourselves!
A guileful world we live in! God forgive us!
Make fast the gyves and take them off to gaol.
Burgomaster.
Sirs, hear me, oh!
Roosdyk.
Gag me this grey-beard!
Burgomaster.
Oh!
1st Burgher.
Thank God!
Vauclaire.
The Stadt-house. You shall all be heard
Except Van Muck, whose treason is too rank
To be excused. My orders I obey;
First to the rack they doom him, then to the block.
Van Muck.
Oh! mercy, Sirs; I'm not a traitor; no,
I'll tell it all.
Roosdyk.
That shalt thou, or the rack
Is not so good a singing-master now
As it was wont to be.
Van Muck.
Oh Lord! oh Lord!
[He is taken out.
Vauclaire.
Bring them away: the Stadt-house—hear them there,
Each by himself. Bring them away at once;
Keep them apart and let them not have speech
One of another.
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If any man make signs,
Despatch him on the spot. Master Vauclaire,
We follow you.
Scene II.
—The French Court at Arras.—An Antechamber in the Maison de Ville. Tristram of Lestovet, Clerk of the Council, and Sir Fleureant of Heurlée.Sir Fleureant.
When I forgive him, may the stars rain down
And pierce me with ten thousand points of fire!
His whore! his leman!
Lestovet.
Had she been his wife
A small transgression might have pass'd. Learn thou
To keep thy hands from meddling with men's whores;
For dubious rights are jealously enforced,
And what men keep for pleasure is more precious
Than what need is they keep.
Sir Fleureant.
He'll be the worse,
And knows it. When I fled I left behind
A notion of my purpose. There's none here
Can know like me his weakness and his strength.
Let but the Council hear me, I shall tell
What shall be worth to them ten thousand spears.
Lestovet.
'Tis now their time; but youth lies long a-bed;
The King is always tardy. Who comes here!
My Lord of Burgundy, I think—yes, he.
301
Burgundy.
Good-morrow, Sirs, good-morrow! So, your stars,
They tell me, are your good friends still, good Flurry;
You always come clear off;—well, I'm glad on't.
Sir Fleureant.
I give your Highness thanks.
Burgundy.
Well, Lestovet,
My brother of Bourbon keeps his mind, they say;
He is for Tournay still! 'tis wonderful,
A man of sense to be so far astray!
Lestovet.
His Grace of Bourbon is misguided much;
He is deluded by a sort of men
That should know better.
Burgundy.
They shall rue it: Lo!
To turn aside ten leagues, ten Flemish leagues,
With sixty thousand men!—mad, plainly mad.
Lestovet.
Sir Fleureant here, who left the rebel camp
No longer past than Wednesday, says their strength
Lies wholly eastward of the Scheldt.
Sir Fleureant.
The towns
Betwixt the Scheldt and Lis, your Grace should know,
Are shaking to their steeple-tops with fear
Of the French force; and westward of the Lis
You need but blow a trumpet and the gates
Of Ypres, Poperinguen, Rousselaere,
And Ingelmunster, gape to take you in.
302
They are my words, they are my very words;
Twenty times over have I told him so.
But he's as stubborn as a mule; and oh!
That Constable! Oh, Oliver of Clisson!
That such a man as thou, at such a time,
Should hold the staff of Constable of France!
Well! such men are!
Lestovet.
My Lord, forgive my zeal
For so exorbitantly shooting past
The line of duty as to tender words
Of counsel to your Highness; but my thoughts
Will out, and I have deem'd that with his Grace,
Your royal brother, you have dealt too shortly;
The noble frankness of your nature breaks
Too suddenly upon the minds of men
That love themselves and with a jealous love
Are wedded to their will: not he alone,
But others of the Council at his back
Would on a gentler provocation yield
That stiffen with a rougher.
Burgundy.
That may be;
But, Lestovet, to sue to them to yield!
I cannot do it.
Lestovet.
May it please your Grace
To leave it in my hands. With easier ear
They listen to a man of low condition;
And under forms that in your Grace to use
303
And with a current that themselves scarce see
Can turn the tenour of their counsels.
Burgundy.
Nay;
But how can I be absent from the board
At such a time as this?
Lestovet.
A seizure, say,
Of sudden illness. They'll be here anon;—
I think I hear them now.
Sir Fleureant.
A sound, I think,
Of horses' feet.
Burgundy.
Then try it, Lestovet;
You are a wise and wary man; this day
I leave the field to you; say that the gout
Confines me to my chamber.
Lestovet.
Hark, my Lord,
They come.
Burgundy.
Farewell to you; improve your time.
[Exit.
Lestovet.
Ha! ha! the Council! they are mettlesome men.
Arouse their passions, and they'll have opinions;
Leave them but cool, they know not what to think.
Sir Fleureant.
You'll tell them I am here.
Lestovet.
Before they rise
You shall be heard at large; but leave to me
To choose the fitting moment. Hide without
Until the Usher have a sign: the mace
304
Then come at once as one that from his horse
Leaps down, and, reeking, hurries in to tell
A tale that will not wait.
Scene III.
—The Council Chamber.The Chaplain to the Council and an Usher.
Chaplain.
Beasts of the People called in Holy Writ;
Beasts of the People proved in France to-day.
And such as we are leaving them in France
In Flanders shall we find them. Is't not so?
Usher.
Yea, Sir; but not now first, or here or there.
In France,—I think 'tis twenty years foregone,—
When I was but a boy,—twenty and more,—
That ramping to a Demon's trumpet-call
The beasts of burthen changed to beasts of prey.
Our Aubriot of to-day was Claremont then,
And then in Flanders Philip's father ruled,
As now the son.
Chaplain.
Worse villain of the two.
And how comes he, not skilled nor bred to war,
To deal such deadly strokes? I'll tell thee how:
The father, knowing to what wicked work
The babe was destined, at the Font of Grace
Took order with a catamountain priest,
A hungry priest whose mouth he filled, to leave
305
The right hand unbaptized.
[A flourish of trumpets.
Usher.
Ho! there they come.
Here is thy book—this door—just show thyself
Before we go—if they but see thy back
They are content and take their prayers as read.
[Exeunt Chaplain and Usher.
Enter the King, who is brought in by the Duke of Bourbon and seated on a Chair of State at the head of the Board; three seats are placed below, on two of which the Dukes of Bourbon and Berry place themselves. The other Councillors take their seats in succession to the number of twelve; to wit, Sir Oliver of Clisson, Constable of France; Sir John of Vien, Admiral of France; the Lord of Coucy, Sir William of Poictiers, Sir Aymenon of Pumiers, the Bastard of Langres, Sir Raoul of Raneval, and the Begue of Villaine. A desk is placed opposite the lower end of the Board, at which is seated Tristram of Lestovet, Clerk of the Council.
Bourbon.
My brother of Burgundy is sick to-day;
And keeps his chamber, which the King permits,
The King.
We do.
Bourbon.
Save him, our number is complete.
306
By virtue of thine office, appertains,
More than to any here, to point the course
Of the King's armies: wherefore he desires
Thou open this day's business.
The King.
'Tis our will.
The Constable.
May it please your Highness; and my good Lords, you!
So much was said on Friday of the choice
'Twixt Lille and Tournay—that the more direct,
And this, 'tis justly held, the safer road—
That I should waste your patience and your time
Did I detain you long. To Lille, my Lords,
Were two days' journey; thence to Warneston
Were one day, let or hindrance coming none;
But should the rains continue and the Deule—
The King.
What ails my Lord of Burgundy, good uncle?
Bourbon.
The gout, sweet cousin. May it please your Grace
To hearken to the Constable.
The Constable.
My Lords,
If with these luckless rains the Deule be flooded
As there is cause to think it is, at least
From Armentières to Quesnoy, and the Marque
Be also fuller than its wont, what days
Should bring us to the Lis were hard to tell.
But grant we reach so far, all over-pass'd
307
The bridges on the upper Lis, we know,
Are broken down, and on the further shore
Lies Van den Bosch—and where are we to pass?
I put it to you, where are we to pass?
How do we cross the Lis?
Saimpi.
May it please your Grace,
I would be bold to ask the Constable
Hath not the Lis a source?
Sanxere.
Yea, one or more.
Saimpi.
Why then it may be cross'd.
The Constable.
My Lord of Saimpi,
Surely it may be cross'd, if other ways
Present no better hope. My Lords, ye all
Have voices in the Council; speak your minds,
And God forefend that any words of mine
Should blind your better judgments.
Pumiers.
Higher up,
A few leagues south, by Venay and St. Venant,
The Lis is fordable and is not kept.
Raneval.
Not kept, my Lords! why should it? Van den Bosch
Were doubtless overjoy'd to see us strike,
Amidst the drenching of these torrents, deep
Into the lands of Cassel and Vertus;
An English force, for aught we know, the while
Borne like a flock of wild geese o'er the seas
And dropp'd at Dunkirk. On the left are they,
308
And so we plunge from clammy slough to slough
With fog and flood around us.
Sanxere.
Yea, wet-footed.
Raneval.
What say you?
Sanxere.
For the love of God, my Lords,
Keep we dry feet. Rheumatic pains, catarrhs,
And knotty squeezings of the inward man
Thus may we fly the taste of.
Raneval.
Soft, Sir Lois;
Spare us thy gibes; I've stood more winters' nights
Above my knees in mire than thou hast hairs
Upon the furnish'd outside of thy skull.
Sanxere.
I say, my Lords, take heed of mists and swamps;
Eschew rain-water; think on winter nights;
Beware the Flemish on the Lis; beware
The English, that are in much strength—at London.
You've brought the King to Arras in November,
And now you find that in November, rain
Is wont to fall; you find that fallen rain
Swells rivers and makes floods; whereof advised,
Take the King back with all convenient speed
And shut him up at Senlis.
The King.
Hold, Sir Lois;
I will not go.
Sanxere.
I crave your Grace's pardon;
I little dream'd you would; you are a man.
309
Lois of Sanxere, I ask thee in this presence,
Fling'st thou these girds at me?
The Constable.
My Lords, my Lords!
I do beseech you to bethink yourselves.
Remember where ye are.
Raneval
(drawing off his glove).
Lois of Sanxere—
[Here Tristram of Lestovet, in arranging some parchments, touches the mace, which rolls heavily from the table and falls close to the feet of Sir Raoul of Raneval. He starts up.
Lestovet.
Not hurt, my Lord, I hope? Thank God! thank God!
Most humbly do I sue to you, my Lord,
To grant me your forgiveness.
Raneval.
Nay, 'tis nought;
It might have been a bruise, but——
Enter an Usher, followed by Sir Fleureant of Heurlée.
Usher.
Please your Grace,
Sir Fleureant of Heurlée waits without,
Hot from the Flemish camp, which he but left
Two days agone, and he can tell your Grace
How all things stand in Flanders.
Bourbon.
Now we'll see;
This is an apt arrival. Welcome, Sir!
What is the news you bring us?
Sir Fleureant.
Please your Grace,
310
To Ghent and Bruges and Ypres; to the last
Alone they found their way, although from thence
Doubtless the terms have spread. The Regent, warn'd
Of what was machinated, as I hear,
Sent orders to the Lis for Van den Bosch
To split his power, and throw a third to Ypres
To fortify Vauclaire: whilst he stood fast,
But held himself prepared, if Bruges should rise
Or Ghent, to drop adown the Lis to Heule,
Or Disselghem, or Rosebecque, there to join
The Regent's force, that then should raise the siege
Of Oudenarde, and gather on the Lis.
Bourbon.
These are good tidings; yet I deem the Lis
Is still too strongly guarded for our force
There to make way.
The Constable.
Your Grace is ever just
In all your views.
Villaine.
Sir Constable, some thought
Let us bestow on tidings whence we learn
The fears o' the adverse and the slide this way
Of Ypres, Ghent, and Bruges.
Raneval.
Should these towns turn,
The Regent were constrain'd to keep i' the west
A larger force and passing down the Scheldt
By Tournay, we are less opposed.
Sanxere.
Not so.
Raneval.
I say we meet with opposition less
311
Sanxere.
I say, no.
Turning our faces from these doubting towns,
What can they but fall back?
Raneval.
Wilt have it so?
Methinks, my Lords, if turning and backsliding
And lack of loyalty——
Lestovet
(to Sir Fleureant).
Hilloa, Sir, ho!
You cannot go, you must not quit the board;
My Lords will further question you anon.
Spake you not of the Scheldt? doubtless my Lords
Would hear you upon that.
Bourbon.
Ay, ay, the Scheldt;
What say'st thou of the Scheldt?
Sir Fleureant.
My Lords, 'tis true
With mine own eyes I have not view'd the Scheldt
Higher than Oudenarde, yet what I know
More sure than common rumour I may tell,—
That reach by reach from Elsegem to Kam,
At sundry stations, say Kerckhoven first,
'Twixt Berkhem and Avelghem, where the Ronne
Its tide contributes elbowing Escanaffe,
At Pontespiers and Pecq and divers points
Betwixt them interposed, strong piles are driven
Deep in the belly of the stream athwart.
Thus neither up nor down can make their way
Boat, raft, nor caravel.
Langres.
We see, my Lords,
312
Should we proceed by Tournay.
Saimpi.
I surmise
We shall find spears as thick upon the banks
As stakes within the stream.
Raneval.
Then let us—Ha!
Who is it now that flinches and postpones?
I say, once pass'd the Scheldt, and better far
We should confront the Flemish spears; so be it!
We'd give the villains such a taste of France
That thence for evermore “Mon Joye St. Denis”
Should be a cry to make their life-blood freeze
And teach rebellion duty.
Sanxere.
Fee, faw, fum!
Lestovet.
The Admiral would speak; the Admiral
Hath not yet spoken.
The Admiral.
Here we lie, my Lords,
At Arras still, disputing. I am a man
Of little fruitfulness in words; the days
That we lie here, my Lords, I deem ill spent.
Once and again the time of year is told,
That we are in November: whiles we vex
This theme, what follow?—why, December? True,
The time of year is late, my Lords; yea, truly,
The fall of the year, I say, my Lords, November,
Is a late season, when it rains, my Lords.
I have not, as you know, the gift of speech,
But thus much may a plain man say,—time flies;
313
And sudden in the crossing of the seas;
And should we linger here with winter coming
We were not call'd good men of war, forsooth.
So truly, Sirs, my voice, with humbleness,
Is for short counsel; in good truth, my Lords—
The King.
Dear uncle, what's o'clock?
Bourbon.
'Tis noon, sweet cousin.
The King.
I want my dinner.
Bourbon.
Presently, fair cousin.
Sanxere.
Your Grace, I see, is of the Admiral's mind;
You love short counsel; marry, and of mine;
I love it too; more specially I love it
With mallets at our backs and winter near.
We talk so long that what is said at first
What follows sponges from our memories.
Pass to the vote, my Lords, nor waste your breath
In further talk.
Bourbon.
Then pass we to the vote.
The Constable.
So be it; to the vote.
Others.
Agreed: to the vote.
Lestovet.
My Lords, may it please you, ere I take your votes,
That briefly I rehearse what each hath said
As noted with a hasty pen, or writ
In a weak memory?
Bourbon.
So do, so do.
Lestovet.
First, my Lord Constable: he bade you think
314
Ere you could reach the Lis; where when you come
You find no bridge, and on the further bank
The Flemish power: my Lord of Saimpi then
Told of a passage nearer to the springs
By Venay and St. Venant; whereunto
My Lord of Raneval made answer meet
That though the Lis were fordable above,
Yet in the lands of Cassel and Vertus
There dwelt a dangerous people, sulking boors,
Who, when we straggled, as perforce we must,
Through bye-ways sunder'd by the branching waters,
Should fall upon us, founder'd in the sloughs,
And raise the country round:—thus far, my Lords,
Had you proceeded, when the tiding came
Of Ypres, Ghent, and Bruges upon the turn,
Repentant of their sins and looking back
For their allegiance; with the sequel fair
Of much diminish'd squadrons at Commines.
Then though my Lord of Raneval spake well
Of clearance on the Scheldt, through direful need
That now must westward suck the Flemish force,
Yet in abatement came the shrewd account
Of how the Scheldt was grated, gagg'd, jaw-lock'd,
With here a turnpike and with there a turnpike,
And Friesland horses. Said the Knight of Langres,
How shall our victual reach us? To which adds
Sir Hugh of Saimpi, that the banks are kept;
315
That he, as best became him, took no heed,
So it were soon, to whereabouts he faced
The Flemish scum in arms, or on the Scheldt
Or on the Lis—
Raneval.
Permit me, Sir, the Lis
I spake not of.
Lestovet.
I humbly crave your pardon;
My memory is but crazy, good my Lords:
It oft betrays me vilely. Sir Raoul,
I do beseech you pardon me; I deemed
(Misled perchance by that so rife renown
Which plants you ever foremost) that your voice
Was mainly raised for speed.
Raneval.
I grant you that:
No man is more for speed, my Lords, than I,
So we outrun not wisdom.
Bourbon.
Next—proceed.
Lestovet.
My Lord the Admiral was next, and last
The Souldich of Sanxere; the English fleet
Expected shortly; winter distant now
But few days' journey; mallets at your backs,—
These were their fruitful topics: on the last,
An't please your Lordships to vouchsafe me audience,
Some tidings have I gather'd, here and there,
Which haply not unworthy of your ears
You might, when heard, pronounce.
Bourbon.
Say on, Sir; well?
316
At Paris, when the commons, serfs, and boors,
Beat in the prison doors, ye know, my Lords,
That Aubriot their friend, the sometime Provost,
Who lay in prison then, made good his flight
To Arc in Burgundy; and thence, I learn,
He look'd abroad, and journeying up and down,
He practised with the towns upon the Marne,
With Rheims and Chalons, Toul and Bar-le-duc,
With sundry villages in Vermandois,
And Brieche and Laon; so he moved the poor
(Through help, as I believe, of something evil,
From which God shield good men!) that straight they slew
The chatelains and farmers of the aids.
They next would march to Paris in hot haste;
But Nicholas le Flamand bade them wait
Until the Scheldt were 'twixt the King and them,
Which shelter found, he trusted with their aid
To bring the castle of the Louvre low,
And not of Paris only, but of France
And Burgundy to make the mean folk Lords.
This have I gather'd from the last that left
Champagne and Beauvoisin.
Bourbon.
Something of this
Reach'd me last night.
The Constable.
I had some tidings too.
The Admiral.
And I.
317
I think, my Lords, this matter asks
A further inquest. If the whole be true,
We were not wise to overlook it. No,
Let us take order so to sift the truth
That we may meet to-morrow clear of sight;
Till when I deem it prudent we should hang
In a free judgment.
St. Just.
Till to-morrow, then.
The Constable.
One day's delay will hurt us not.
Sanxere.
To-morrow.
Saimpi.
To-morrow be it, then.
The Admiral.
At noon, my Lords?
Bourbon.
To-morrow noon. Sir Oliver of Clisson,
Wilt please you ride?
The Constable.
Your Highness does me honour.
The King.
Dear uncle, is the Council up?
Bourbon.
It is.
The King.
Take that, old Tristram.
Bourbon.
Soberly, fair cousin;
You do not well to toss about the parchments.
Ho! tell my serving-men we ride to Vis,
The Constable and I. Adieu, fair Sirs.
[Exeunt the King and the Lords of the Council. Manent Tristram of Lestovet and Sir Fleureant of Heurlée.
Lestovet.
Go to the Duke; tell him his end is gained.
Sir Fleureant.
But is it so?
Lestovet.
It is as good.
318
They seek
Some further knowledge.
Lestovet.
Tut! they know it all;
They knew it ere I told them; but my mind
As touching it they knew not of till now.
Run to the Duke; pray him to keep his chamber;
Let him but stand aloof another day,
And come the next, we march upon Commines.
[Exit.
Sir Fleureant.
Run to the Duke? Run to the Devil. Yea,
Tis thither Lestovet would have me run,
With him to lead the way. And, to say truth,
I for a small consideration now
Would sell myself to Satan—or the Duke.
Scene IV.
—The Market-place at Ypres. In front, Van Whelk, a Householder, driving the last nails into a Scaffolding erected against his House. Van Winkel, another, looking on. A Woman is scouring the doorstead of the next house. At some little distance six Gallows-trees are seen, opposite the Stadt-House.Whelk.
Room for five ducats at a groat a head.
Winkel.
'Twill be a piteous spectacle! Good-day,
How do you, Mistress?
Woman.
Thank you, how's yourself?
Winkel.
'Twill be a sight most piteous to behold!
319
Woman.
Alack a day!
Whelk.
'Twill be a sight that never yet was seen
Since Ypres was a town. A groat is cheap;
A groat is very reasonable cheap.
Winkel.
The Burgomaster was confess'd at seven;
He is the first.
Whelk.
Van Rosendael the next,
And then comes Drimmelen, Verstolken then,
And Goswin Hex, and Breero, and De Vry.
Winkel.
This ancient corporation!
Woman.
Wo's the day!
Poor gentlemen; alas, they did not think,
Nor no man else, the Regent would take life
So hastily.
Whelk.
The like was never seen,
Nor ever will be after.
Winkel.
Hold you there;
Come the French King and we shall see this square
More thick with gallows than with butchers' stalls
Upon a market day.
Woman.
Nay, God forbid!
Master Van Winkel, sure you say not so?
Winkel.
It is not saying it that hangs them, dame:
I tell you it is true.
Woman.
There's some have said
King Charles was tender-hearted as a lamb;
The Dukes his uncles likewise; and that none
320
Winkel.
Those burghers said it
Whom yonder gallows wait for; and if lies
Were worthy hanging they deserved their doom.
Woman.
Well, Sirs, I know not.
Winkel.
Tut! King Charles, I say,
The Dukes his uncles and his Councillors all
Are of one flesh and follow after kind.
There are humane amongst them! how humane?
Humane to Lords and Ladies, Kings and Counts.
Humane to such as we? Believe it not.
Whelk.
The Earl of Flanders is the French King's cousin.
Winkel.
To show his cousin kindness, good King Charles
Would canter over acres of our dead.
His cousin is in what he calls distress;
To succour the distress'd is kind and good;
So with an army comes the good King Charles
And kindly to his cousin cuts our throats.
And that is their humanity, and such
Is Man's humanity the wide world through.
Men's hearts you'll find on one side soft as wax,
Hard as the nether mill-stone on the other.
Whelk.
How is it with your own, Dame Voorst?
Woman.
God's love!
I would not hurt a hair upon the head
Of any man alive.
Winkel.
Look you—the Earl—
321
Ah, Mistress Voorst! years, years, they steal upon us!
But what! you're comely yet,—well, in my youth
Occasion was that I should wend my way
From Reninghelst to Ronques, to gather there
Some moneys that were owing me; the road
Went wavering like jagged lightning through the moors,—
For mind, Van Whelk, in those days Rening Fell
Was not so sluiced as now;—the night was near
And wore an ugly likeness to a storm,
When, weary and misdoubting of my way,
I spied the flickering of a cottage fire
Thorough the casements; thither sped my feet:
The door was open'd by a buxom dame
Who smiled and bade me welcome, and great cheer
She made me, with a jocund, stirring mien
Of kindly entertainment, whilst with logs
Crackled the fire, and seem'd the very pot
To bubble in a hospitable hurry
That I might sup betimes. Now say, Dame Voorst,
Was not the mistress of this cottage lone
A kind good soul?
Woman.
Yea, truly was she, Sir.
Winkel.
Master Van Whelk, what think you?
Whelk.
Let me see;
Did she take nothing from you?
Winkel.
Not a groat.
322
Why, that was charitable; that was kind;
That was a woman of the good old times.
Winkel.
Now mark, Van Whelk; now listen, Mistress Voorst.
The seething-pan upon the fire contain'd
Six craw-fish for my supper; as I stood
Upon the ruddy hearth, my addle head
As empty as my stomach but more at rest,
My eyes chanced fix upon the bubbling pot:
Unconsciously a while I gazed, as one
Seeing that sees not; but ere long appear'd
A tumbling and a labouring in the pot
More than of boiling water; whereupon,
Looking with eyes inquisitive, I saw
The craw-fish rolling one upon another,
Bouncing, and tossing all their legs abroad
That writhed and twisted as mix'd each with each
They whirl'd about the pan. God's grace! quoth I,
These craw-fish are alive! Yea, Sir, she answered,
They are not good but when they're sodden quick.
I said no more, but turn'd me from the hearth
Feeling a sickness here; and inwardly
I cried Heigh-ho! that for one man's one meal
Six of God's creatures should be boil'd alive!
Woman.
Lord help us, Sir! you wail about the fish
As they were Christians.
Winkle.
Look you, Mistress Voorst;
The King will be as kind to Louis Mâle
323
We are but craw-fish; in his noble zeal
To serve his cousin 'twere to him no sin
To boil us in a pot.—Back, back, Van Whelk!
Here be the Captains!
[They retire.
Enter Vauclaire, Roosdyk, and Van Den Bosch's Lieutenant.
Vauclaire.
Shrewd news! whence cams't thou last?
Lieutenant.
From St. Eloy.
Roosdyk.
On Monday did they cross?
Lieutenant.
On Monday night,
And all night long; they crossed by nines and tens;
The boat would hold no more.
Roosdyk.
And seen of none?
Were there none watching of those jobbernowls
That follow Van den Bosch?
Lieutenant.
The night was dark;
The most part of our men were sent to sleep
In quarters at Commines, that they might rise
Fresh on the morrow, when the French, 'twas thought,
Would try the passage by the bridge. The rest
Kept guard upon the causeway. Two miles down
The river crankles round an alder grove;
'Twas there they brought the boats; strong stakes were driven
In either bank, and ropes were pass'd betwixt,
324
Hand over hand they tugged themselves across
And hid within the thicket; when day dawn'd
They still were crossing, but the Constable,
Who always kept his ground, made show to force
The passage of the bridge, and brought us there
To handy-strokes, which so misled our eyes
That nothing else was seen.
Roosdyk.
Ha, ha! I love you!
Set you to watch the cat!
Lieutenant.
When first we knew
Their stratagem, six banners could we count,
And thirty pennons on the hither bank,
The Lord of Saimpi leading them: were there
Sir Herbeaux of Bellperche, Sir John of Roy,
The Lords of Chaudronne, Malestroit, Sanxere,
All Bretons, with Sir Oliver of Guesclin,
Sir Tristram de la Jaille, and, to be short,
The flower of all their host, from Poictou, Troyes,
Artois and Hainault, Burgundy and France,
That had their station marshall'd in the van.
Vauclaire.
And there they stood?
Lieutenant.
As yet they had not fought
When I was order'd thence: for Van den Bosch
Upon the eminence beside the bridge
Awaited them as on a vantage ground,
Whilst they abode below to gather force
From them continually that cross'd the stream.
325
Then went you to the good towns near?
Lieutenant.
To Bergues,
To Poperinguen, Rolers, Warneston,
To Mesiers and Vertain, with strict command
From Van den Bosch to muster all their men
And send him succour; thence I hasten'd here
To pray you do the like.
Roosdyk.
Oh rare! What next?
Didst ever see one beggar dropping alms
Into another's hat?
Lieutenant.
My master sware
If he should lose the day the cause should lie
In that misfortunate wasting of his strength
By sending aid to Ypres.
Vauclaire.
Send it back
And he shall lose the battle, we the town,
Ere it shall reach him; from the nearer posts
He may get aid more opportune; meanwhile,
Lest evil hap betide him, which when known
Would bring a wild destruction upon us,
Behoves us send the Regent instant news
Of our predicament. Christoffel Waal,
Mount thee thy horse and hie to Oudenarde,
And bid the Regent know the Lis is pass'd.
That said is all said: he shall know by that
We shall have much ado with this good town
Ere many days be gone, or many hours.
If he can help us, so.
326
Ay, mount thy nag
And make his heels strike fire: away, begone!
Vauclaire.
Know'st thou thy message?
Waal.
Sirs, from point to point.
[Exit.
[A bell tolls. Muffled drums are heard, and the head of a Procession appears entering the Marketplace. The Procession is formed chiefly by Friars and Guards; and lastly appear the Burgomaster and Aldermen of several Guilds as Malefactors, with their arms pinioned. They form a line between the Gallows and the Stadt-house. The Market-place suddenly fills with the Populace.
Vauclaire.
This folk looks strangely! guess you what's toward?
Is the news known?
Roosdyk.
I see no women here;
There is a mischievous intent.
Vauclaire.
Go you
And get our men of battle under arms;
This means a rescue; we shall have to fight.
Roosdyk.
Let the clerks hold the culprits unconfessed
Some fifteen minutes, and I'll bring you here
The most I can; and till I come again
Let no knave swing, for that should be their sign
Doubtless for rising. I'll be here anon.
[Exit.
327
Vauclaire.
Thy spurs are bloody—what, from Commines, ha!
A battle lost?
Pricker.
'Tis so, Sir. Van den Bosch
With what remains of us is flying hither
And wills you arm.
Vauclaire.
We shall be arm'd anon:
And some of us you see.
[He beckons to the Captain of the Guard who has charge of the prisoners.
Sir, draw your men
More close upon their charge and look about,
For here's foul weather.
[Cries begin to be heard and stones are thrown, one of which hits the steel cap of Vauclaire.
Said I not? look here!
These drops forerun the storm.
[A cry is heard at the opposite corner of the Marketplace, and Van den Bosch's Page is seen approaching.
Lo,—stand aside;
There is a face I'll swear I've sometimes seen
Attending Van den Bosch.
Pricker.
His page, I think.
Page.
My master, Sir, is near—
Vauclaire.
Say'st thou!—how near?
328
Close on the town; he enters now.
Vauclaire.
What force
Comes with him?
Page.
It is hard to say; they ride
So scatter'd and so broken, wounded most,
And mile by mile, now one and now another,
They tumble from their horses. He himself
Is sorely piked and gash'd, and of his hurts
One, the leech deems, is mortal.
Vauclaire.
Christ forbid!
Page.
They bear him in a litter, and each jog
They give him, when the bearers change their hands,
Makes him to bleed afresh.
Pricker.
See, there he comes!
[The tumult, which had been increasing, is in some measure stilled as Van den Bosch is borne across the Market-place to the front of the scene.
Van den Bosch
(raising himself in the litter).
Who's that? Vauclaire? We're ruin'd, Sir, we're lost!
How stand ye here?
Vauclaire.
The worst is what I see.
Yet hath the town an evil inclination,
And we shall feel it suddenly.
Van den Bosch.
Send forth—
Be still, thou jumping villain, with thy jolts!
Thou grind'st my bones to powder. Oh! oh! oh!
I would thou hadst my shoulder.—Send abroad,
And bid the Commons to the Market-place.
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Nay, here they are, as thick as they can stand.
Van den Bosch.
Are they? My eyesight fails me. And is this
The Market-place? Oh, ho! then lift me up
Upon some cart or tumbril or the like
To make a preachment to the people.
Vauclaire.
Nay,
Leave that to me: betake thee to thy bed;
Roosdyk is making muster of our force,
And what is instant to be cared for here
We will perform.
Van den Bosch.
Not whilst I live, Vauclaire.
The leech, I think, has patch'd me up this body
To last a season. Hoist me—have a care—
Mount me upon this scaffolding: up, up—
Smoothly and all together—there we go—
Oh! oh! that's thou again, uneasy whelp!
Hast the string-halt? Now set me down;—so—so.
Let silence be commanded.
[The soldiery fall back so as to admit the people to the space immediately in front of the scaffolding. Sundry officers pass to and fro, vociferating “Silence!” which is obtained.
Friends, Sirs of Ypres!
Dear friends of Ypres! we have lost a battle.
This once, by evil hap, the day is theirs:
Which is no fault of mine; for, Sirs, I'll tell you
330
By the Black Art (which Frenchmen dare to use
For lack of godlier courage)—by this art
They brought a cloudy film upon the eyes
Of half our host, the half that should have watch'd;
Which was on Monday night: and thus ere dawn
They cross'd the Lis. Then, Sirs, what force had I
Without advantage to affront the flower
Of the French van? Solely twelve thousand spears!
Yet like a hedge-pig tuck'd I up my power
The softer parts within, and when Sanxere
Came nuzzling like a dog to find some flesh
Whereon to fix and turn me inside out,
I'll warrant you I prick'd his snout a little!
Well, Sirs, we might have conquer'd but that then
The Commons of Commines—bell, book, and candle
Curse them that pass for Flemings and are none!—
They of Commines, that call'd themselves so stout,
Show'd such a fear and faintness of their hearts
As makes me sweat with shame to think upon;
And, traitors in their flight, they fired the town
To stay the following French. From that time forth,
Seeing we had no holding-place behind,
The best began to falter; and in brief
Ye see us here.—Fellow, some wine! I tire;
I've lost some blood.
Vauclaire.
Prithee go in-a-doors,
And let thy hurts be tended.
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(a cup of wine having been brought, which he drinks off).
Softly, Sirs:
There's more to say.
[An arrow, shot from the crowd, strikes the scaffolding close to Van den Bosch, whereupon loud cries are heard from both parties and some blows pass between them, followed by great uproar and confusion.
Who hinders my discourse
With shooting croos-bow shafts? Oh, there you are!
See you you villain there that gapes and shouts?
Send me an arrow down his throat.—I say
This battle lost is nothing lost at all.
For thus the French are wiled across the Lis,
Which ne'er shall they repass. Inveigled on
By wheedling fortune, they shall thus be snared:
For hither come the Regent from the Scheldt,
And hither come the English, that are now
Landed at Dunkirk—landed now, I tell you;
The news was brought me yesterday; which heard,
Verily I was glad I lost this battle,
Although it cost me something—(for ye see
How I am troubled in my head and shoulder)—
Yea truly I rejoiced that thus the French
Should run upon a pit-fall, whilst we sweep
A circle round them, so that none—more wine—
Sinks suddenly back in the litter.
Here is a bandage loose—stanch me this blood—
332
Oh treacherous chirurgeon!—endless fire
Crumble his bones in hell!—I die! I die!
Vauclaire.
(helping to re-adjust the bandage).
Another ply; how draw it tight; anon
Roosdyk will come and give us escort hence;
Meanwhile defend yourselves and shoot again
If ye be shot at.
Van den Bosch.
Now the trumpets sound!
Chains for the King! The trumpets sound again!
Chains for the Knights and Nobles! Victory!
Thou gaoler, shut the doors. 'Tis very dark!
Whose hand is this?—Van Artevelde's?—I thank you:
'Twas fortune favour'd me. Chains, chains and death!
Chains for the King of France!—You've shut me in.
It is all over with me now, good mother.
Let the bells toll.
Vauclaire.
Bring him behind these boards;
The arrows now come quickly. Send a flight—
They've loosed the prisoners. See, they bear this way.
Shoot well together once and then fall back
And force a road to Ghent with Van den Bosch
Alive or dead. I follow if I can.
Incomparably shot!—they're flutter'd; aye,
And well they may; there-steadily, my friends;
Take forth the litter first; now close your ranks;
Show a back front; so—off ye go—well done!
333
ACT V.
Scene I.
—Van Artevelde's Tent in the Flemish Camp before Oudenarde.Elena and Cecile.
Elena.
(singing).
Quoth tongue of neither maid nor wife
To heart of neither wife nor maid,
Lead we not here a jolly life
Betwixt the shine and shade?
To heart of neither wife nor maid,
Lead we not here a jolly life
Betwixt the shine and shade?
Quoth heart of neither maid nor wife
To tongue of neither wife nor maid,
Thou wagg'st, but I am worn with strife,
And feel like flowers that fade.
To tongue of neither wife nor maid,
Thou wagg'st, but I am worn with strife,
And feel like flowers that fade.
There was truth in that, Cecile.
Cecile.
Fie on such truth!
Rather than that my heart spoke truth in dumps
I'd have it what it is, a merry liar.
Elena.
Yes, you are right; I would that I were merry!
Not for my own particular, God knows;
But for his cheer; he needs to be enliven'd;
334
That often he must think me dull and dry,
I am so heavy-hearted, and at times
Outright incapable of speech. Oh me!
I was not made to please.
Cecile.
Yourself, my Lady;
'Tis true to please yourself you were not made,
Being truly by yourself most hard to please;
But speak for none beside; for you were made,
Come gleam or gloom, all others to enchant,
Wherein you never fail.
Elena.
Yes, but I do;
How can I please him when I cannot speak?
When he is absent I am full of thought,
And fruitful in expression inwardly,
And fresh and free and cordial is the flow
Of my ideal and unheard discourse,
Calling him in my heart endearing names,
Familiarly fearless. But alas!
No sooner is he present than my thoughts
Are breathless and bewitch'd, and stunted so
In force and freedom, that I ask myself
Whether I think at all, or feel, or live,
So senseless am I!
Cecile.
Heed not that, my Lady;
Men heed it not; I never heard of one
That quarrell'd with his lady for not talking.
I have had lovers more than I can count,
335
Would make them hang themselves if you'd believe them;
But for my slackness in the matter of speech
They ne'er reproach'd me: no, the testiest of them
Ne'er fish'd a quarrel out of that.
Elena.
Thy swains
Might bear their provocations in that kind,
Yet not of silence prove themselves enamour'd.
But mark you this, Cecile: your grave and wise
And melancholy men, if they have souls,
As commonly they have, susceptible
Of all impressions, lavish most their love
Upon the blithe and sportive, and on such
As yield their want and chase their sad excess
With jocund salutations, nimble talk,
And buoyant bearing. Would that I were merry!
Mirth have I valued not before; but now
What would I give to be the laughing fount
Of gay imagination's ever bright
And sparkling phantasies! Oh, all I have,
(Which is not nothing though I prize it not,)
My understanding soul, my brooding sense,
My passionate fancy, and the gift of gifts
Dearest to woman which deflowering Time,
Slow ravisher, from clenched'st fingers wrings—
My corporal beauty, would I barter now
For such an antic and exulting spirit
As lives in lively women. Who comes hither?
336
'Tis the old Friar; he they sent abroad;
That ancient man so yellow! Od's my life!
He's yellower than he went. Note but his look;
His rind's the colour of a mouldy walnut.
Troth! his complexion is no wholesomer
Than a sick frog's.
Elena.
Be silent; he will hear.
Cecile.
It makes me ill to look at him.
Elena.
Hush! hush!
Cecile.
It makes me very ill.
Enter Father John of Heda.
Father John.
Your pardon, Lady;
I seek the Regent.
Elena.
Please you, sit a while;
He comes anon.
Father John.
This tent is his?
Elena.
It is.
Father John.
And likewise yours.— (Aside.)
Yea, this is as I heard;
A wily woman hither sent from France.
Alas! alas! how frail the state of man!
How weak the strongest! This is such a fall
As Samson suffer'd.
Cecile
(aside to Elena).
How the friar croaks!
What gibbering is this?
Elena.
May we not deem
337
A prosperous mission?
Father John.
What I see and hear
Of sinful courses and of nets and snares
Encompassing the feet of them that once
Were steadfast deem'd, speaks only to my heart
Of coming judgments.
Cecile.
What I see and hear
Of naughty Friars and of—
Elena.
Peace, Cecile!
Go to your chamber; you forget yourself.
Father, your words afflict me.
[Exit Cecile.
Enter Artevelde.
Artevelde
(as he enters).
Who is it says
That Father John is come? Ah! here he is.
Give me your hand, good Father! For your news,
Philosophy befriend me that I show
No strange impatience; for your every word
Must touch me in the quick.
Father John.
To you alone
Would I address myself.
Artevelde.
Nay, heed not her;
She is my Privy Councillor.
Father John.
My Lord,
Such Councillors I abjure. My function speaks,
And through me speaks the Master whom I serve;
338
God never prosper'd in the olden time,
Nor will He bless them now. An angry eye
That sleeps not follows thee till from thy camp
Thou shalt have put away the evil thing.
This in her presence will I say—
Elena.
Oh God!
Father John.
That whilst a foreign leman—
Artevelde.
Nay, spare her;
To me say what thou wilt.
Father John.
Thus then it is:
This foreign tie is not to Heaven alone
Displeasing, but to those on whose firm faith
Rests under Heaven your all; 'tis good you know
It is offensive to your army—nay,
And justly, for they deem themselves betray'd
When circumvented thus by foreign wiles
They see their chief.
Elena.
Oh! let me quit the camp.
Misfortune follows wheresoe'er I come;
My destiny on whomsoe'er I love
Alights: it shall not, Artevelde, on thee;
For I will leave thee to thy better star
And pray for thee aloof.
Father John.
Thou shalt do well
For him and for thyself; the camp is now
A post of danger.
Elena.
Artevelde! Oh God!
339
How can I quit thee?
Father John.
Dost thou ask? I say,
As thou wouldst make his danger less or more
Depart or stay. The universal camp,
Nay more, the towns of Flanders are agape
With tales of sorceries, witcheries and spells,
That blind their chief and yield him up a prey
To treasons foul. How much is true or false
I know not and I say not: but this truth
I sorrowfully declare,—that ill repute
And sin and shame grow up with every hour
That sees you link'd together in these bonds
Of spurious love.
Elena.
Father, enough is said.
Clerk's eyes nor soldier's will I more molest
By tarrying here. Seek other food to feed
Your pious scorn and pertinent suspicions.
Alien from grace and sinful though I be,
Yet is there room to wrong me. I will go
Lest this injustice done to me work harm
Unto my Lord the Regent.
Artevelde.
Hold, I say;
Give me a voice in this. You, Father John,
I blame not, nor myself will justify:
But call my weakness what you will, the time
Is past for reparation. Now to cast off
The partner of my sin were further sin;
340
And for the army, if their trust in me
Be sliding, let it go; I know my course;
And be it armies, cities, people, priests,
That quarrel with my love, wise men or fools,
Friends, foes, or factions, they may swear their oaths,
And make their murmur—rave, and fret, and fear,
Suspect, admonish—they but waste their rage,
Their wits, their words, their counsel: Here I stand
Upon the deep foundations of my faith
To this fair outcast plighted, and the storm
That Princes from their palaces shakes out,
Though it should turn and head me, should not strain
The seeming silken texture of this tie.—
To business next:—Nay, leave us not, Beloved;
I will not have thee go as one suspect;
Stay and hear all. Father, forgive my heat,
And do not deem me stubborn. Now at once
The English news?
Father John.
Your deeds upon your head!
Be silent my surprise—be told my tale.
No open answer from the English King
Could we procure, no honest yea or nay,
But only grave denotements of good-will,
With mention of the perils of the seas,
The much tempestuous season, and the loss
Unspeakable that England suffer'd late
In her sea strengths; but not the less, they said,
341
The King should order reckonings to be made
By two sufficient scholars of the charge
Of what we sought; his Parliament then called
He would take counsel of, and send you word
What might be done.
Artevelde.
A leisurely resolve.
The King took counsel of his own desires,
Ere of his Lords and Commons. Had he wish'd
To do this thing, he had not ask'd advice.
In the pure polity of a Monarch's mind
The will is Privy Councillor to the judgment.
When shall his answer reach us?
Father John.
In my wake
Sir Richard Farrington, I found, came fast,
And sped by favourabler winds than mine
Reach'd Dunkirk with me. Letters seal'd he brought;
But hearing how far forth the French had fared,
He halted, and would neither bring nor send
His letters, nor their purport would disclose.
Artevelde.
But you, I think, can guess it.
Father John.
Surely yes:
They promised, doubtless, largely; but were meant
To be deliver'd should you thrive—not else.
The English nobles, though they'd use your arms
If victory crown'd them, to encumber France,
Much in their secret minds mislike your cause.
Jack Straw, Wat Tyler, Lister, Walker, Ball,
342
Were deem'd the spawn of your success: last year
Has taught the Nobles that their foes at home
Are worthier notice than the French. In truth
They should not be displeased at any ill
That might befall you.
Artevelde.
Father, so I think.
Lo! with the chivalry of Christendom
I wage my war—no nation for my friend,
Yet in each nation having hosts of friends.
The bondsmen of the world, that to their Lords
Are bound with chains of iron, unto me
Are knit by their affections. Be it so.
From Kings and Nobles will I seek no more
Aid, friendship, nor alliance. With the poor
I make my treaty, and the heart of man
Sets the broad seal of its allegiance there
And ratifies the compact. Vassals, serfs,
Ye that are bent with unrequited toil,
Ye that have whiten'd in the dungeon dark
Through years that knew not change of night and day—
Tatterdemalions, lodgers in the hedge,
Lean beggars with raw backs and rumbling maws
Whose poverty was whipp'd for starving you,—
I hail you my auxiliars and allies,
The only potentates whose help I crave.
Richard of England, thou hast slain Jack Straw,
But thou hast left unquench'd the vital spark
343
And as when he of Canterbury fell
His seat was filled by some no better clerk,
So shall John Ball that slew him be replaced;
And if I live and thrive, these English Lords
Double requital shall be served withal
For this their double-dealing.—Pardon me;
You are but just dismounted, and the soil
Of travel is upon you; food and rest
You must require. Attendance there! what ho!
Enter two Serving-ment.
These will supply your wants. To-morrow morn
We will speak more together. Father John,
Though peradventure fallen in your esteem,
I humbly ask your blessing, as a man
That having pass'd for more in your repute
That he had warrant for, should be content,
Not with his state, but with the judgment true
That to the lowly level of his state
Brings down his reputation.
Father John.
Oh, my son!
High as you stand, I will not strain mine eyes
To see how higher still you stood before.
God's blessing be upon you! Fare you well.
[Exit.
Artevelde.
The old man weeps. Let England play me false,
344
Is won without her aid. I stand alone;
And standing so against the mingled might
Of Burgundy and France, to hold mine own
Is special commendation; to prevail
So far as victory were high renown;
To be foredone no singular disgrace. Enter an Attendant, followed by a Man-at-arms.
Whom have we here,—Rovarden?
Attendant.
Please your Grace,
A scout from Van den Bosch.
Artevelde.
And with ill news
Thy face would say. What is it?
Scout.
With your leave,
My master bids you know that yesterday
Some cunning Frenchmen stole across the Lis
In boats and rafts, a league below Commines,
And now they press him hard upon his rear;
Wherefore he warns you that you look to Ypres,
Which he can do no longer.
Artevelde.
The Lis pass'd!
Mischief, be welcome, if thou com'st alone!
Is that the worst?
Scout.
'Tis all, my Lord, I know.
Elena.
Is it so very bad?
Artevelde.
No, no, 'tis not.
345
And lacks refreshment. Go, repair thy looks,
And make me no such signals in my camp
Of losses and mishap. Speak cheerily
To whomsoe'er thou seest.
[Exeunt Attendant and Scout.
No, 'tis untoward,
Luckless, unfortunate; but that is all.
If Ypres bear as stoutly up against it
As I can do, we're not so much the worse.
Enter Van Ryk,followed by a Messenger.
Van Ryk.
A messenger, my Lord, from Ypres.
Artevelde.
Ha!
Here is another ugly face of news!
What now?
Messenger.
My Lord, sure tidings came last night
That Van den Bosch was worsted on the Lis,
And with a broken force was falling back
On Ypres for protection.
Artevelde.
Is that all?
Messenger.
It is, my Lord.
Artevelde.
It is enough. What news
Had ye of Menin, Werwick, and Messines?
Messenger.
The bells were rung in each and they were bid
To send all aid that they could muster straight
346
Artevelde.
And doubtless now the Frenchman has them all?
Messenger.
I know not that, my Lord.
Artevelde.
But I do. Go;
Thou art a wofuller fellow than the last,
Yet cheerfuller than what is like to follow.
Get thee to dinner and be spare of speech.
Messenger.
My master bade me to entreat your Grace
To send him instant aid.
Artevelde.
To Ypres? What!
He's mad to think it! How should aid get there,
With all the Upper Lis, as past a doubt
It must be now, from Warneston to Courtray,
O'errun with French? I will not send a man.
It were but to lose more.
Messenger.
My master, Sir,
Was fearful of the burghers.
Artevelde.
So he might,
And I am troubled at his jeopardy;
Far liefer would I part with this right hand
Than with Vauclaire, his service and his love.
I think the burghers will hold off a while
To see the issue of my personal arms.
If not, I cannot help him. If they do,
That which is best for all is best for him.
Go: keep thy counsel; talk not in the camp.
[Exit Messenger.
347
Rumour goes further in the camp, my Lord,
Than where his story stops.
Artevelde.
Ay, does it? How?
Van Ryk.
Ypres revolted; Van den Bosch, Vauclaire,
And Roosdyk slain or taken; so it runs
Since noon.
Elena.
Oh! this is worse than all.
Artevelde.
If true;
But be not hasty of belief. Go in.
No matters for a feminine Council these.
Elena.
Oh, let me stay with you!
Artevelde.
Not now, my love.
[Exit Elena.
Worst rumours now will still be likest truth,
And yet if Ypres truly had been lost,
Undoubted news of such a deadly blow
Had surely reach'd us.
Van Ryk.
If you mark, my Lord,
Mostly a rumour of such things precedes
The certain tidings.
Artevelde.
It is strange, yet true,
That doubtful knowledge travels with a speed
Miraculous, which certain cannot match.
I know not why, when this or that has chanced,
The smoke outruns the flash, but so it is.
Why who comes here? Vauclaire himself!
348
Vauclaire,
Thy coming speaks; it tells of Ypres lost;
Perhaps of worse; and thou art welcome still!
Can friendship speak thee fairer?
Vauclaire.
Thanks, my Lord,
You have lost Ypres; 'tis no worse nor better.
Artevelde.
I can spare Ypres so I keep Vauclaire.
Let the town go. How came you off alive?
Vauclaire.
The rascal burghers tied me hand and foot
And on a hurdle trailed me like a thief
Toward King Charles's camp upon the mount;
Half way to which some twenty of my guard,
With Roosdyk at their head, brake boldly in,
Crying a rescue, and ere aid could come
We were safe mounted upon chosen nags
That distanced all pursuit.
Artevelde.
Why that is well.
Where's Roosdyk?
Vauclaire.
Eating, I'll be sworn, and drinking.
Artevelde.
And Van den Bosch?
Vauclaire.
That is a sadder tale;
I fear he lives no longer.
Artevelde.
Ay, Vauclaire!
Vauclaire.
Much wounded from Commines he came to Ypres,
349
Upon the road to Ghent. I hardly think
That he can live the journey through.
Artevelde.
Farewell,
Brave Van den Bosch! and God assoil thy soul!
Vauclaire, we must be stirring; to the dead
An after time will give the meed of mourning;
Our present days are due to them that live.
Let us to Council with my officers:
And sit by me; for in my host henceforth
Thou shalt be next me in authority.
Vauclaire.
Deep are my debts to your good-will, my Lord;
More than my life can pay.
Artevelde.
Nay, say no more;
You owe me nothing; what I have to give
Is held in trust and parted with for service;
Value received is writ on my commissions,
Nor would I thank the man that should thank me
For aught as given him gratis. Let's to Council.
I'll lie no longer here at Oudenarde
To hear of towns betraying me. Our camp
We must break up to-morrow and push on
Boldly to Courtray and the Lower Lis.
The towns to the North and West will falter else
And Frenchify their faith. It is God's mercy
That some seven thousand citizens of Bruges
Are in my host, whose heads will pledges be
350
From Dendermonde, the Quatre-Metiers, Ghent,
From Ardenburg and Grammont and Alost,
We'll bring the rear-guard up. The Lis, the Lis!
Let me but reach the Lis before King Charles!
Vauclaire.
The Upper Lis were easily regain'd
Could we but keep the Lower.
Artevelde.
We shall see.
Enter Van Ryk.
Van Ryk.
A countryman, my Lord, arrived from Heule
Says that King Charles is on his march to Rosebecque.
Artevelde.
To Rosebecque let him come! With God's good-speed.
I shall be there before him. Sirs, to Council.
Scene II.
—The French Camp at Winkel St. Eloy. Enter from opposite sides the Duke of Burgundy and Tristram of Lestovet.Burgundy.
Another town come in, I hear; that's ten.
Now, Lestovet, they'll own I knew my way.
Ypres and Dunkirk, Cassel, Thorout, Bergues,
Make five wall'd towns, and Popperinguen six;
And then there's Werwick, Vailant, and Messines,
351
Anon they'll say that I had reason, ha?
Lestovet.
They will, my Lord. Success will couch the blind.
The wise by speculation know to trade,
And give their wits long credit and they thrive;
A scrambling wit must live from hand to mouth
On issues and events. Prosperity
Is warranty of wisdom with the world;
Failure is foolishness. Now all will prize
Your Grace's judgment at its worth.
[A cry within, “Place ho!”
Enter the King, with the Constable, the Lords of Saimpi and Sanxere and others; and lastly, some-what apart from the rest, Sir Fleureant of Heurlée.
The King.
Well, uncle, here we are! Get supper ready.
How fast you rode! I gallop'd half a mile—
But then St. Poule, he blew—oh, he's too fat!
Is not the Bastard of St. Poule too fat?
Saimpi.
May't please your Highness, he is grossly fat.
The King.
I gallop'd—uncle, what is this? Lo me!
A span-new sword—by God, of Spanish steel
352
A King's sword should be longer than a Duke's;
I must have this; this is a royal sword.
Burgundy.
Cousin, you are not tall enough to wear it.
The King.
Not tall enough indeed! Is supper ready?
When shall we get to Rosebecque? Here's St. Poule.
Enter St. Poule.
So, here you come, you broken-winded bastard,
You're always left behind. How long to Rosebecque?
Tell me, my Lords, to-morrow will it be?
Constable.
Your Highness, having weather to your wish,
Might lodge at Rosebecque with your vanguard force
To-morrow night.
The King.
And when shall come the rear?
Constable.
On Wednesday morning.
The King.
And on Thursday night
The Bastard of St. Poule. For Rosebecque, ho!
Remember, uncle, when the armies meet,
I am to make the knights; four hundred Knights;
The Constable himself will tell you so;
Four hundred fire-new Knights there should be made
Before the battle joins; and I'm to make them.
My Lord of Clisson, am I not? Thwack, thwack,
Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, will go my sword, thwack, thwack.
You, Lestovet, you, Tristram, kneel you down
And I will—thwack—I'll try my hand—thwack, thwack.
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Come, cousin, come, you're wanton. Go within
And eat your supper.
The King.
What, is supper there?
Lights, lights here, ho! Come, bastard, come along.
Lights, lights here, ho! Come, bastard, come along.
The first of a feast and the last of a fray
Has been a wise word for this many a day!
Has been a wise word for this many a day!
[Exit, followed by all but the Duke of Burgundy and Lestovet.
Burgundy.
You southern sky is black; were rain to fall
Our van could hardly, in but one day's march,
Arrive at Rosebecque; or if press'd so far,
'Twould tell against their strength the morrow morn
And stop them there.
Lestovet.
My Lord, that there they'll stop
I doubt not; for I'm inmostly assured
That we shall find upon the Lower Lis
The total Flemish host: the Lower Lis
They to the utmost will dispute, for there
Their Chief, who lacks not capability,
Will justly deem their all to be impledged.
'Twere not amiss to slack the vanguard's pace
And quicken up the rear, that like a worm
The army's tail should gather to its head
Before it move again.
Burgundy.
It may be well.
Your thought is mine touching the Flemish host;
354
It shall be left to feed the vultures there.
Where'er 'tis met, that such will be its fate
I am as sure as that this glove is steel
And I am Duke of Burgundy.
Lestovet.
My Lord,
That yonder Flemish scum, with coats of mail
Not worth three folds of cloth, should hold at bay
The spear-heads of Bourdeaux, were doubtless strange;
And yet such things have happen'd. In their Chief
Resides the spell which makes this herd so mad
To brave the chivalry of France in arms.
Their Chief is either leagued with Hell himself
Or hath some potent necromancer's aid;
If he be not the Devil's feudatory
He holds in soccage of a Fiend that is.
You'll see a hundred thousand spell-bound hearts
By art of witchcraft so affatuate
That for his love they'd dress themselves in dowlas
And fight with men of steel.
Burgundy.
At Bruges, 'tis true,
They dared but little less.
Lestovet.
Methinks, my Lord,
The Knight of Heurlée is of late much changed.
Burgundy.
It may be so; what, since he joined us last?
Lestovet.
He hath a dirty, wild, neglected mien;
Is careless of his garb, gets drunk alone,
Lies late a-bed as skulking from the day,
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Is quarrelsome and very meagre-witted
To what he was, save only in his gibes,
And them less savoury season'd; what was once
An ounce of venom to a pound of mirth
Apportion'd t'other way. In truth he's changed;
A moody, heavy, sad-condition'd man,
That had from nature a most mounting heart,
And revell'd formerly in joys to him
As native and as unsolicited
As to the lark her song.
Burgundy.
Whence comes this change?
Lestovet.
In truth, my Lord, I know not.
Burgundy.
Hear'st thou nought?
Is nothing said, surmised? what think'st thou, ha?
Some secret discontent?
Lestovet.
Not that, my Lord.
More likely that he finds his knightly name
Something bedimm'd and held in less esteem
By reason of his flight from Oudenarde:
For though he will not own it, 'tis believed
He was at large upon his honour's pawn
To keep within the Flemish camp, and fled,
Leaving the pledge behind him.
Burgundy.
Nothing more?
Lestovet.
That is one wound; but there's another yet;
Whether by word or blow or both 'twas dealt
I know not, for he's reticent and shy
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That in the sleeping-chamber of a maid
(So called for courtesy) he was caught at night,
Concealed for no good purpose, whereupon
The Regent (so by courtesy again—
As much a Regent he as she a maid)
Who entertain'd the damsel for himself,
Moved by his anger, offer'd to the Knight,
In act or threat, some dire indignity,
That ever since hath poison'd all the springs
At which his spirit drank, and is the cause,
If my conjecture err not, that he stands
The wither'd, blacken'd, and disfigur'd stump
We see him now.
Burgundy.
If that be all, his grief
Touches not us.
Lestovet.
The contrary, my Lord;
It touches more the enemy. Your Grace
Has possibly had read to you the tale,
Long chronicled, of an Earl of Conversana,
Who in the day of battle met his death,
Not from his opposites in the field, though brave,
But one who rode beside him. An old hate,
An ancient grudge, was hoarded up till then
When death was doubly bitter, bringing down
Defeat and overthrow and loss of lands
And ruin to his friends. 'Twere strange, my Lord,
If such a fate befell Van Artevelde.
357
Yes, it were very strange.
Lestovet.
Your Grace was right;
We shall have rain: the sky looks wondrous thick.
I know not if your Grace gave heed to it,
But yesterday at noon or thereabouts
I heard some grumblings up amongst the clouds
That much resembled thunder: Pish! quoth I,
The year is too far wearing from its prime
To speak in thunder now.
Burgundy.
Who was that Earl?
The Earl of Conversana?
Lestovet.
He, my Lord.
But yet again I heard it, and more plain;
And then, quoth I, if this be aught but thunder
The God of thunder keeps a mocking-bird,
And it is that we hear.
Burgundy.
Upon what ground
Deem'd you the Earl of Conversana's fate
Should figure forth Van Artevelde's?
Lestovet.
My Lord?
Burgundy.
What mean you by this history of that Earl?
How doth it typify Van Artevelde's?
How lights the one the other?
Lestovet.
Nay, my Lord,
'Twas but a stumbling comment of my thought.
When we have strained our foresight past its power
Fantastic flashes oft will come across it,
And whence we nothing know.
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Come, Lestovet,
Let us be open and direct. Thy drift?
What did thy thought contain that, being stirred,
Sent to the top this story from the past?
Lestovet.
The honest truth to tell, my Lord, a dream,
Whether by good or evil spirit drawn
Upon the vacant canvas of my sleep
Your Grace shall be the judge,—a dream it was
Show'd me Van Artevelde upon his horse—
Though whether mounted to survey the ground,
Or to array his host, or lead the charge,
I saw not,—but there sitting as he gazed
Upon an undistinguishable blank
Of anything or nothing—what, I know not—
Struck from behind he fell—and with his fall
Vanish'd his host.
Burgundy.
This was a waking dream.
Lestovet.
I mused upon it waking.
Burgundy.
And this dream
Thou think'st will peradventure come to pass?
Lestovet.
If fate so orders it, my Lord.
Burgundy.
And fate
Will find some human furtherance; is it so?
Lestovet.
Were it a thing well warranted, my Lord,
It might be well attended.
Burgundy.
Truly fate
Should do the King a singular good service
If this should happen.
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Destiny, my Lord,
Is oft-times worked upon by mighty names
Of Dukes and regal potentates, whose power
May currently avouch her doubtful deeds
If haply called in question.
Burgundy.
Six o'clock
Were not too soon to be afoot to-morrow,
If, as is likely, there be waters out
Upon our lines of march.
Lestovet.
There's light at six.
Two words, my Lord, were warranty enough.
Burgundy.
Why, very well then; six is late enough.
Tell my Lord Constable before he sleeps
To let the trumpets sound us a reveillée
Some half an hour to six.
Exit.
Lestovet.
Well said, my Lord.
Your Grace's scruples master not your heart,
But serve your reputation. This is conscience;
A herald marshalling each act its place
By its emblazonry and cognizance.
My Lord of Burgundy, your Grace is wary;
So, by your leave, is humble Lestovet.
If policy stick fast, be tried revenge;
And where's revenge more sharp, my Lord of Bourbon,
Than what is sprung of jealousy. That bites.
My Lord, I'll pluck your jealousy by the ear,
And if it wake not, why your Grace's bosom
Is not the serpent's nest I take it for.
360
Scene III.
—The Flemish Camp on the Eastern Bank of the Lis, between Disselghem and Rosebecque.— Artevelde's Pavilion.Artevelde and Elena.
Elena.
What is it that disturbs you?
Artevelde.
Nothing, nothing;
I am not disturb'd.
Elena.
You are not like yourself.
What took you from your bed ere break of day?
Where have you been? I know there's something wrong.
Tell me now, what has happen'd?
Artevelde.
Be at rest.
No accident, save of the world within;
Occurrences of thought; 'tis nothing more.
Elena.
It is of such that love most needs to know.
The loud transactions of the outlying world
Tell to your masculine friends; tell me your thoughts.
Artevelde.
They stumbled in the dusk 'twixt night and day.
I dream'd distressfully, and waking knew
How an old sorrow had stolen upon my sleep,
Molesting midnight and that short repose
Which industry had earn'd, so to stir up
About my heart remembrances of pain
Least sleeping when I sleep, least sleeping then
When reason and the voluntary powers
That turn and govern thought are laid to rest.
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Surprised and broken, vainly I essay'd
To rally, and the mind unsubjugate
Took its direction from a driftless dream.
Then pass'd I forth.
Elena.
You stole away so softly
I knew it not, and wonder'd when I woke.
Artevelde.
The gibbous moon was in a wan decline,
And all was silent as a sick man's chamber.
Mixing its small beginnings with the dregs
Of the pale moonshine and a few faint stars
The cold uncomfortable daylight dawned,
And the white tents, topping a low ground-fog,
Show'd like a fleet becalmed. I wander'd far,
Till reaching to the bridge I sate me down
Upon the parapet. Much mused I there,
Revolving many a passage of my life
And the strange destiny that lifted me
To be the leader of a mighty host
And terrible to Kings. What follow'd then
I hardly may relate; for you would smile,
And say I might have dreamed as well a-bed
As gone abroad to dream.
Elena.
I shall not smile;
And if I did, you would not grudge my lips
So rare a visitation. But the cause,
Whate'er it be, that casts a shadow here,
[Kissing his brow.
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After your meditations on the bridge?
Artevelde.
I'll tell it, but I bid you not believe it;
For I am scarce so credulous myself
As to believe that was, which mine eyes saw—
A visual not an actual existence.
Elena.
What was it like? Wore it a human form?
Artevelde.
That such existences there are, I know;
For whether by the corporal organ framed
Or painted by a brainish fantasy
Upon the inner sense, not once nor twice,
But sundry times have I beheld such things
Since my tenth year, and most in this the last.
Elena.
What was it you beheld?
Artevelde.
To-day?
Elena.
Last night—This morning—when you sate upon the bridge?
Artevelde.
Twas a fantastic sight.
Elena.
What sort of sight?
Artevelde
(after a pause).
Once in my sad and philosophic youth—
For very philosophic in my dawn
And twilight of intelligence was I—
Once at this cock-crow of philosophy,
Much tired with rest and with the stable earth,
I launch'd my little bark and put to sea
Errant for geste and enterprise of wit
Through all this circumnavigable globe.
363
A vast congestion of unmethodised matter
With but a skin of life—a solid huge,
Which Nature, prodigal of space, provides
For superficial uses: and what air?
A motion and a pressure: fire, a change;
And light the language of the things call'd dumb.
Elena.
I have been told the studies of your youth
Were strangely thought of, but I'm well assured
They never were unlawful.
Artevelde.
You are right:
My meditations in their outset wore
The braveries of ignorance and youth,
But cast them, and were innocent thenceforth,
For they were follow'd with a humble heart,
Though an inquisitive, and humbler still
In spirit wax'd they as they further went.
The elements I left to contemplate.
Then I considered life in all its forms,
From sentient to percipient—small advance—
Next to intelligent, to rational next,
So to half-spiritual human kind,
And what is more, is more than man may know.
Last came the troublesome question—what am I?
A blade, a seedling of this growth of life
Wherewith the outside of the earth is cover'd:
A comprehensive atom, all the world
In act of thought embracing, in the world
364
Thus travell'd I the region up and down
Wherein the soul is circumscribed below;
And unto what conclusion?
Elena.
Nay, your promise;
Tell what you saw; I must not be denied
After a promise given; tell me of that?
Artevelde.
I say to what conclusion came I then
These winding links to fasten?
Elena.
I surmise
To none; such ramblings end where they begin.
Artevelde.
Conclusions inconclusive, that I own;
Yet, I would say, not vain, not nothing worth.
This circulating principle of life
That vivifies the outside of the earth
And permeates the sea; that here and there
Awakening up a particle of matter,
Informs it, organizes, gives it power
To gather and associate to itself,
Transmute, incorporate other, for a term
Sustains the congruous fabric and then quits it;
This vagrant principle so multiform,
Ebullient here and undetected there,
Is not unauthorized nor increate,
Though indestructible; life never dies:
Matter dies off it and it lives elsewhere
Or elsehow circumstanced and shaped; it goes;
At every instant we may say 'tis gone,
365
Is ever in transition; for life's law
To its eternal essence hath prescribed
Eternal mutability: and thus
To say I live—says, I partake of that
Which never dies; but here begins, not ends,
The spiritual Unit's quest of what concerns
Its integral self: and here doth reason meet
Her more than match.
Elena.
Philosophy, I know,
Darkened your dawn of youth; but surely day
Divulged the light divine.
Artevelde.
I saw it soon:
Philosophy's shortcomings I discerned,
And in man's instinct knew the voice of God.
Man's immortality that voice declared
Even from the first; but what of him should die
Was for God's other and his after voice
Left to be told; and then but told in part,
Lest faith should sicken by satiety
And lose its titles to reward. Much dies,
More lives, is all we know.
Elena.
Love is immortal;
Whatever dies, that lives in Death's despite.
But, Artevelde, you shall not lead me off
Through by-ways. Tell me of this sight you saw,
Or dreamt you saw.
Artevelde.
This eye-creation;—yes,
366
Engender'd out of nothing cognizable.
If this be not a wonder, nothing is;
If this be wonderful, then all is so.
Man's grosser attributes can generate
What is not and has never been at all;
What should forbid his fancy to restore
A being passed away? The wonder lies
In the mind merely of the wondering man.
As for this creature of mine eyes—
Elena.
What was it?
The semblance of a human creature?
Artevelde.
Yes.
Elena.
Like any you had known in life?
Artevelde.
Most like;
Or more than like; it was the very same.
It was the image of my wife.
Elena.
Of her!
The Lady Adriana!
Artevelde.
My dead wife.
Elena.
Oh God! how strange!
Artevelde.
And wherefore?—wherefore strange?
Why should not fancy summon to its presence
This shape as soon as any?
Elena.
Artevelde!
Felt you no fear at such a sight?
Artevelde.
No, none.
367
Inspired a deeper sadness but no fear.
Nor had it struck that sadness to my soul
But for the dismal cheer the thing put on
And the unsightly points of circumstance
That sullied its appearance and departure.
Elena.
For how long saw you it?
Artevelde.
I cannot tell.
I did not mark.
Elena.
And what was that you saw
So saddening and unsightly?
Artevelde.
She appear'd
In white, as when I saw her last, laid out
After her death; suspended in the air
She seemed, and o'er her breast her arms were crossed;
Her feet were drawn together pointing down,
And rigid was her form and motionless.
From near her heart, as if the source were there,
A stain of blood went wavering to her feet.
So she remain'd inflexible as stone
And I as fixedly regarding her.
Then suddenly, and in a line oblique,
Thy figure darted past her, whereupon,
Though rigid still and straight, she downward moved,
And as she pierced the river with her feet
Descending steadily, the streak of blood
Peel'd off upon the water, which, as she vanish'd,
Appear'd all blood, and swell'd and welter'd sore,
368
My own face saw I, which was pale and calm
As death could make it:—then the vision pass'd,
And I perceived the river and the bridge,
The mottled sky and horizontal moon,
The distant camp, and all things as they were.
Elena.
If you are not afraid to see such things,
I am to hear them. Go not near that bridge;—
You said that something happened there before—
Oh, cross it not again.
Artevelde.
Not cross the bridge?
The river cannot otherwise be passed.
Elena.
Oh, cross it not!
Artevelde.
A strange resolve were that,
And to the French most acceptable: yes,
You will be held of counsel with King Charles,
Opposing thus my passage. Enter Vauclaire and Van Ryk.
Sirs, good day!
You're soon astir for men that watch'd so late.
Vauclaire.
And you, my Lord.
Artevelde.
For me, these eyes of mine
Almost forget they once could close in sleep.
Have any scouts come in?
Van Ryk.
Yes, two, my Lord.
Artevelde.
Ah! and with tidings? Nothing good I know,
369
Vauclaire.
In truth it is not good.
They say that Popperinguen, Rousselaere,
And Thorout have declared for France.
Artevelde.
Three more!
That is a heavy falling-off, my friends,
And arrantly ill-timed. Despatch! despatch!
The cure for these defections must be found
At any hazard. Forward must we press
And try our fortune ere another town
Can find occasion to play foul.
Vauclaire.
To-night,
If I mistake not, they would reach us here;
And better were it, in my mind, the stream
Should be betwixt us than as much dry land.
Artevelde.
We will to Council, and consider there
What may be best. If they be here to-night,
We may abide them. Whither away, Vauclaire?
Vauclaire.
You'll wish, my Lord, to have the scouts and spies
Before you in the Council.
Artevelde.
It were well.
[Exit Vauclaire.
And thou, Van Ryk, go round, and gather in
The Captains of the host.
[Exit Van Ryk.
This troubles me.
Three towns, and two before!—Two leaks and three—
370
Elena.
Oh, say not so; when once they know you're near
The towns will all hold out—all will be well;
Your presence ever righted your affairs
Whatever was amiss.
Artevelde.
Two months ago
My presence was a spell omnipotent
That seem'd of power to win me all the world.
But fortune wears a faded beauty now;
And as some dame, her hour of conquest past,
Repairs her ravaged charms, and here a tooth
Replaces where the flesh had else fallen in
Making a wrinkle in the rounded cheek,
And there the nevermore redundant locks
Replenishes, so do I waste my pains
In patching fortunes which are past their prime.
All, all is vain endeavour, labour lost.
So soon as my advance made Courtray sure,
Thence sent I with all speed to Rousselaere
My best of Chatelains, Walraven. Nay!
Toiling and striving, watching and warding, all
Null, fruitless, fond!
Elena.
Too anxious, Artevelde,
And too impatient are you grown of late.
You used to be so even and so calm
That nothing ruffled you.
Artevelde.
I stand reproved.
371
And they that temperately take their start
And keep their souls indifferently sedate
Through much of good and evil, at the last
May find the weakness of their hearts thus tried.
My cause appears more precious than it did
In its triumphant days.
Elena.
You prize it more
The more it is endanger'd.
Artevelde.
Even so.
A mother dotes upon the reckling child
More than the strong: solicitous cares, sad watchings,
Rallies, reverses, all vicissitudes,
Give the affection exercise and growth.
So is it in the nursing a sick hope.
Enter Vauclaire's Lieutenant.
Lieutenant.
The Captains are in Council met, my Lord,
And wait upon your leisure.
Artevelde.
So; I come.
Lieutenant.
My master, Sir, has heard, he bade me say,
That Cassel has revolted.
Artevelde.
What of that?
Lieutenant.
He wish'd that you should know it first, my Lord,
And judge if it were fit to be disclosed
Before the Council.
Artevelde.
Fit to be disclosed!
372
I'll have no secrets. And for this, forsooth,
What is it but that we are in the moult
And here's a feather fallen? Say I come.
[Exit Lieutenant.
Another stab, and in a vital part!
For Cassel's defalcation is no less.
'Twere hard to keep a secret that is shared
By yonder ape; my nose took note of that,
Admonish'd by the musk upon his beard
As up and down his salutations tost it,
Like a hen drinking. Well, it matters not.
The battle now is all, and that to win
Were to win back my losses; that to lose
Were to make all that I had lost before
Into one sum of loss.
Elena.
I feel assured
That you will win the day.
Artevelde.
You choose to say so.
Elena, think not that I stand in need
Of false encouragement. I have my strength,
Which, though it lie not in the sanguine mood,
Will answer my occasions. To yourself,
Though to none other, I at times present
The gloomiest thoughts that gloomy truths inspire,
Because I love you. But I need no prop;
Nor could I find it in a tinsel show
Of prosperous surmise. Before the world
373
As for my solace you would fain put on;
Nor in my closet does the oil run low
Or the light flicker.
Elena.
Lo now! you are angry
Because I try to cheer you.
Artevelde.
Angry? no—
Not angry; that I never was with you;
But as I deal not falsely with my own,
So would I wish the heart of her I love
To be both true and brave; nor self-beguiled,
Nor putting on disguises for my sake,
As though I falter'd. I have anxious hours,
As who in like extremities hath not?
But I have something stable here within
Which bears their strain.
Enter Van Ryk.
I make the Council wait;
Here comes Van Ryk to tell me so.
Elena.
'Twas I,
Master Van Ryk, that stay'd him; 'tis my fault,
And lest I make it more, I'll take me hence.
[Exit.
Van Ryk.
The Council can abide your time, my Lord.
There waits without a stranger just arrived
Whom it were well you speak with ere you go.
He will not lift his beaver save to you,
374
That left the French last night, and seeks your camp
To tell you what he knows.
Artevelde.
Desert to me!
I thought desertion look'd the other way.
What is he like?
Van Ryk.
I think he is of rank;
In his deportment knightly eyes might see
What they would gladly imitate.
Artevelde.
Of rank!
The very madness of desertion this!
Go, fetch him in.
[Exit Van Ryk.
Thorout and Popperinguen!
Cassel and Rousselaere! And who, I wist,
Can keep a town's allegiance on its legs
If not Walraven?
Re-enter Van Ryk, conducting Sir Fleureant of Heurlée, in armour, with his vizor closed.
Give us leave, Van Ryk.
[Exit Van Ryk.
Well, Sir! your pleasure? and say first by whom
My camp is honour'd thus.
Sir Fleureant.
By one, my Lord,
Known to your host by all reproachful names
Of miscreant, perfidious traitor, knave,
Caitiff and cur.
Artevelde.
These, Sir, are shrewd additions,
375
Sir Fleureant.
They have been so:
Had not contrition wash'd desert with tears,
They were so still. I am that perjured Knight
Fleureant of Heurlée.
Artevelde.
Art thou he indeed?
What brings thee hither?
Sir Fleureant.
That which brings the proud
To crave a low equality with dust;
Which arms the lover lorn, the suitor cast, the sinner caught,
The courtier supplanted, with the knife,
Or bowl or halter—for their several griefs
The sovereign cures. My Lord, what brings me here
Is of that grain—a loathing of my life;
And, to come closer, such a sort of grief
As wrung Iscariot's heart when forth he went
And hung himself upon the field of blood
Has made me thus (in my Aceldama
The sin of self-destruction partly spared)
To run upon your sword.
Artevelde.
I am not bound
To find thee in a hangman. Go thy ways!
Thou art a slight, inconstant, violent man.
Sir Fleureant.
My Lord, I come prepared for your disdain,
And slender were I in my penitence
If I should not confess it well bestow'd.
376
To one fix'd purpose am I wedded now
For better and for worse—'tis to repair
The wrong that I have done you, and to die.
Artevelde.
Sir, you may live or die as likes you best;
It is your own affair; to me all's one.
The hurt your treachery has done to me
Can neither be repeated nor repair'd.
No further harm can follow from your life
Save in the sundering of my time and thoughts
From matters of more moment.
Sir Fleureant.
Pause, my Lord,
Ere you pronounce me as inept for good
As I am harmless. Slight me as you may,
You cannot cast me in mine own esteem
More low than where I lie; I scorn myself
With such a bitterness as bars all taste
Of other's scorn. But from this bitter tree
Good fruitage, if so please you, you may pluck.
I have been well esteem'd for soldiership,
And none can better know your enemy's host,
Where soft, where hard, where rotten, and where sound,
Their hopes and fears, the order of their march,
Their councils and intents. If all I know,
With what small service I by deeds might render,
May be accepted as a sacrifice
My conscience to appease, I die content.
Artevelde.
Methinks I barely comprehend your conscience;
377
'Twould seem to seek another for a cure.
What says your conscience on your King's behalf?
Sir Fleureant.
It says that there all claims are cancell'd; yea,
All ties dissolved; for never was a Knight
Of prowess known, more thanklessly repaid,
More scurvily entreated, than by him
And by his ingrate uncles and his court
Was Fleureant of Heurlée.
Artevelde.
Are you there!
Ah! now I understand you. Come this way.
My Council is awaiting me. Ere night
I will speak further with you. Until when—
Scene IV.
—The Royal Pavilion in the French Camp at Mount Dorre, on the western bank of the Lis, at the distance of a league from Rosebecque. The King is discovered rising from supper and bidding adieu to his Uncles, the Admiral of France, the Lord of Coucy, and a number of other guests who are leaving the Pavilion. Sir Guy of Baveux is in attendance, and the Duke of Burgundy remains behind the others.The King.
My Lords, we wish you all a sweet good-night.
Sir Constable—he's gone—Sir Constable—
378
[Exit Sir Guy of Baveux.
Uncle of Burgundy, what says your Grace?
Shall it be now?
Burgundy.
Fair cousin, now or never.
[Exit.
The King.
He will be mightily displeased! I swear
I have no heart to speak it! Me! I quake.
Re-enter Sir Guy of Baveux with the Constable of France.
We call'd you back, Sir Oliver; you heard not.
Constable.
Your Grace shall pardon me; my ears are dull;
A blow was dealt upon my head at Nantes
That something stunn'd my hearing.
The King.
Sir, the love
We bear you is well-known; and for this night
And for the morrow, out of love and grace,
We would that you should tarry by our person
And give your baton to my Lord of Coucy.
Constable.
Most gracious Sir! I am amazed at this!
I do beseech you hear me. Well I know
No greater honour can your servant share
Than to help guard your person; but, dear Sir,
Think how the van should marvel, were I missed
At such a time! Sir, do not shake them so:
Nor do not, I entreat you on my knees,
Unsettle what advisedly was fix'd
379
(I say it with all deference to such counsel
As may have moved your Highness unto this)
The parting from your purposes thus late
Will put you in much peril. For myself
I have perform'd my function with such zeal
As doth not, I am bold to say, deserve
That I should be degraded.
The King.
Constable,
Your office you have well discharged, I know,
In my time and my father's; 'tis the great trust
And sure affiance that both he and I
Have ever placed in you, which makes me speak
To have you in this business at my side.
Constable,
Most noble Sir, you are so well begirt
With valiant men, and all is so well sped
That nought can be amended. Wherefore, Sir,
You and your Council ought to be content.
I pray you, Sir, maintain me in mine office,
And if I err not, you will find no cause
To-morrow to repent it.
The King.
By St. Denis,
Good Constable, your pleasure shall be mine;
So exercise your office at your will
And I will say no more: for by St. Denis,
You have seen further into this than I,
Or they that moved me in the matter first.
To-morrow come to me at mass.
380
Kind Sir,
Most willingly I will. God keep your Grace!
All has been well disposed. The rear is up,
Save only skeletons of squadrons dropp'd
Upon our line of march: with tents and fires
They make a show of forces left behind,
So to beguile the Fleming, who will deem
We are not whole. God give your Grace good rest!
The King.
Good-night, good Constable. To bed, to bed!
Scene V.
—Artevelde's Pavilion in his Camp on the eastern side of the Lis, as in the last Scene but one. It is night. Artevelde is discovered sleeping upon a low couch beside the embers of a fire.Elena enters.Elena.
My Lord—Van Artevelde—up, up, my Lord!
I never knew him to sleep sound before!
Awake, my Lord, awake!
Artevelde.
Charge once again!
Elena.
Awake, Van Artevelde!
Artevelde.
Fall back! all's lost!
Not by the bridge—no, no, no, no, no, no.
Elena.
Arouse yourself, Van Artevelde, awake!
Artevelde
(awaking).
Elena, love, fly fly—Eh! what's the matter?
Elena.
Nay, start not—it is only my surmise,
But I could deem the Frenchman was afoot.
Artevelde.
Why think you so? Van Ryk! what ho! Van Ryk!
381
I could not sleep, and sate without the tent,
And sudden from the river seem'd to rise
A din of battle, mix'd with lengthen'd shouts
That sounded hollow like a windy thaw.
I look'd, and in the cloudy western sky
There was a glow of fire, and then the cries
Were less confused, and I believed I heard
“Mount Joye, St. Denis!” “Flanders and the Lion!”
With that I came to waken you.
Artevelde.
Van Ryk!—
I'll go myself and hearken. Where's my page?
Send for Van Ryk, I say.
[He passes to the door of the tent.
Elena.
Courage, my soul!
Play thou the heroine's part for one half-hour
And ever after take thy woman's way.
Artevelde.
(returning).
Who is within?
Enter an Attendant.
Bid them to sound my trumpet.
[Exit the Attendant, and soon after a reveillée is sounded without. Then Van Ryk enters.
Artevelde.
What watch is this we keep? Here's battle join'd
And none of us astir!
Van Ryk.
Not so, my Lord.
Artevelde.
Heard you not war-cries coming from the river?
382
'Tis true, my Lord, both they that had the watch,
And I myself, believed we heard a fight
With shouts and hootings on the river's marge;
But sending there, nought was there to be seen,
Nought to be heard, nor was a Frenchman found.
This thus made sure, we deem'd to rouse yourself
Or waken up the host, should bring us blame;
Wherefore we let it pass.
Artevelde.
'Tis very strange.
Van Ryk.
It was as much a battle to the ear
As sound could make it.
Elena.
Saw you not besides
A redness in the sky?
Van Ryk.
Yes, a red light;
But that was cast from fires beneath the hedge
Upon Mount Dorre.
Artevelde.
This is a phantom fight.
The ghosts of them that are to fall to-morrow
(Rather to-day, for day begins to break)
Rehearse their parts. Van Ryk, we'll sleep no more
My trumpet has been sounded, and by this
The host is half in arms. We'll sleep no more
Till we have tried our fortune. Bid Vauclaire
And Ukenheim and Roosdyk, when they're arm'd
Meet me below beside the willow-grove.
Bid silence to be kept through all the host.
What think'st thou of the day? Will it be bright?
383
A mist is spreading from the river up:
I think, my Lord, it shall not clear away
Till sunrise, or it may be not till noon.
Artevelde.
That is all well. Send me the Captains thither.
[Exit Van Ryk.
I go, my fairest! Should I not return,
There's nothing here that I shall leave with pain,
My beautiful Elena, save thyself.
What strange forgetfulness appears it now
So many mis-spent moments to have given
To anything but love! They're gone for ever
With all their wasted sunshine! Now is left
One moment but to spare, one word to speak;
Farewell, my best beloved!
Elena.
Farewell, my Lord.
Artevelde.
And if we meet no more, a heart thou hast,
Though heretofore misled, and like mine own
Bedarken'd in the gloom of devious ways,
Yet surely destined from the first by Heaven
To issue into light. My shade removed,
The radiance of redeeming love shall shine
Upon thine after-life and point the path
Through penitence to peace. Pray for me then,
And thou shalt then be heard.
Elena.
Farewell, my Lord.
Artevelde.
And is it thus we part? Enough, enough;
Full hearts, few words. But there is yet another
384
To seek for pardon of my sins from Heaven,
To thee and for my sins against thyself
I shall not in the shortest sue in vain.
For reparation of one fatal fault
I would that I might be preserved to-day;
If not, I know that I shall fall forgiven.
Elena.
Try me no further, Artevelde; go, go;
If I should speak to thee one word of love
I should not hold myself on this side reason.
Go whilst I have my senses, Artevelde;
Or stay and hear the passion of my heart
Break out,—and not in words; if throes and shrieks
Thou wouldst be fain to witness, stay; if not,
Content thee with one bitter word—adieu!
Artevelde.
Dearest, be brave; no Fate forbids us yet
To trust that we shall meet again. Take heart,
And with a God-speed send me on my way.
Oh! look, the Knight of Heurlée hither hastes
To chide my lingering.
Elena.
He! He! I hate him.
Why is he with thee wheresoe'er thou goest?
It sends a very horror to my heart
To see his fiendish face! Why is it he
That comes to bring thee?
Artevelde.
What imports it? Nay,
Elena, love, what ails thee? What is this?
She hears me not—What ho! Cecile!
385
There, take her.
Cecile.
She will be better soon, my Lord.
Artevelde.
Say worse.
'Tis better for her to be thus bereft.
Go, take her in—nay, stop—one kiss—the last—
One kiss—and not return'd—and not return'd—
And on a brow so cold! but colder still
Perchance may mine be when thy passionate lips
Shall press it once again. Unhappy girl!
The curse of beauty was upon thy birth,
Nor love bestow'd a blessing. Fare thee well!
Scene VI.
—The western side of the Lis.—A watch-fire in advance of the French Encampment. Two Soldiers of the Watch.1st Soldier.
(sings).
Four stakes and a mat
Make a very good house:
'Tis ill found, quoth the rat;
Not a whit, said the louse.
2nd Soldier.
The Devil catch thy breath and stop thy mouth!
The trumpets of the Flemish host may sound
And nothing but thy caterwauling heard.
1st Soldier
(still singing).
More happy are we than the Count and the Earl,
More happy are we than the gold-hatching churl,
386
Than he that is high who still sees something higher:
Your ear and I'll tell you
The why and the wherefore—
He that hath nothing,
Hath nothing to care for.
2nd Soldier.
Be still, I say; I hear a trumpet now.
Hark! hush! now—there—a trumpet clear as day!
Be brisk and handy; bundle up your blankets
And hie we to the Captain of the watch.
Scene VII.
—The eastern side of the Lis. Artevelde, his Page, Van Ryk, and Sir Fleureant of Heurlée.Artevelde.
The black flag hoisted! be it as they will.
On our side too up with it! But, Van Ryk,
Send Rutiler to the van with strict command
To spare the King; he's but a boy.
Van Ryk.
Look, look,
They gather on the left.
Artevelde.
Fly to Vauclaire
And bid him when he sees me pass the bridge
Drive on his force as though the Devil's self
Were at his heels.
[Exeunt Artevelde, Page, and Van Ryk.
Sir Fleureant.
He is at yours, my Lord.
387
Scene VIII.
—A rising ground, entrenched and strongly guarded in the rear of the French Host.—The King attended by the Lords of Coucy and Poictiers, the Bastard of St. Poule, &c. Messengers arriving and departing.The King.
Here comes another—well, Sir—tell me—what?
Messenger.
Sire, when Van Artevelde had cross'd the bridge—
Coucy.
What! cross'd the bridge alive?
The King.
Well, well; what then?
Messenger.
He poured himself upon the Breton flank,
Which stumbled back a step, but rallied soon,
Spurr'd by the Lords of Saimpi and St. Just
Who hasten'd to the spot; and there it is
That now the battle rages.
The King.
Ho! my horse!
My Lords, do you your pleasure; it is mine
To get upon my horse and take what's going.
Poictiers.
Your Grace should bear in mind—another! See!
Enter a second Messenger.
The King.
Whence com'st thou? speak.
Second Messenger.
Sire, I was sent to say
Van Artevelde was kill'd—so went the cry
388
The knight of Saimpi did I jump withal
Borne wounded to the rear, and learnt from him
That Artevelde was living, proof whereof
He bore upon his body, for his wounds
Were got in fighting with him hand to hand.
The King.
My horse! I'll fight him hand to hand myself!
Stay you, my Lords, or go; I mount my horse.
Coucy.
Have with your Grace! I cannot blame you much,
Though you shall fret your uncles.
The King.
By St. Denis
Rather than stay I'll fight my uncles too.
Scene IX.
—A part of the Field on the western side of the Lis.—Artevelde, attended by several Officers and Pages.Artevelde.
Who's here? Fly, Sibrand, to the further left;
Bid Eversdyk and Alphen wheel their force
To prop me on my flank. [Exit Sibrand.
Enter a Messenger.
Run thou, De Roo—
Messenger.
Vauclaire, my Lord, is slain.
Artevelde.
Is slain—hah—slain—
389
Keep open passage on the bridge. Thou, Paul—
Enter a second Messenger.
Second Messenger.
Roosdyk, my Lord, is dying of his wounds.
Artevelde.
I cannot help it. Keep the causeway clear,
And summon Reehorst to my aid. We shake.
The cry is still, Van Artevelde is slain.
Go make it known I live. Up with my cry!
Scene X.
—Another part of the Field still on the western side of the Lis.—The Duke of Burgundy, Sir Fleureant of Heurlée and Followers.Burgundy.
Another charge like that—ill sorted knaves!
They stumbled on each other, each by each
Pegg'd in and pinion'd. Now they're loose enough.
Another charge—they scurry to Mount Dorre.
We'll drive them up the hill, and from the top
Like a staved cask shall they be trundled down.
What wait we for?
Sir Fleureant.
The cask rings hollow: yea,
The wine is spilt that made their hearts so bold.
Lo! yonder goes the King.
Burgundy.
What! breaking bounds!
He must not be before us. Scale the hill.
390
Scene XI.
—Another part of the Field on the same side of the Lis, near the Bridge.Artevelde and Van Ryk.
Artevelde.
I bleed, Van Ryk. Can anything be done?
For if there can, my spirit's sight is dimm'd
And I discern it not.
Van Ryk.
To fly, my Lord,
Is what remains.
Artevelde.
To fly! Then mount my horse
And make away before the general flight
Chokes up the bridge.
Van Ryk.
Not I, my Lord. Your horse
Should bear his proper burthen: mount yourself.
Artevelde.
Never, Van Ryk. My errand upon earth
Ends in this overthrow. Bind up my wound;
Give me but strength again to reach the field
And I will carve myself a nobler death
Than they design'd me. God would not permit
That I should fall by any hand so base
As his who hurt me thus.
Van Ryk.
Whose hand was that?
Artevelde.
Sir Fleureant's: he stabb'd me on the bridge
And fled amongst the French.
Van Ryk.
Oh monstrous deed!
Artevelde.
I hid it whilst I could, which was not long:
And being seen so tottering in my seat
The rumour ran that I was hurt to death,
391
Mount, mount, old man; at least let one be saved!
Roosdyk! Vauclaire! the gallant and the kind!
Who shall inscribe your deeds upon your tombs?
May mine tell nothing to the world but this,—
That never did that Prince or Leader live
Who had more loyal or more loving friends!
Let it be written that fidelity
Could go no farther. Mount, old friend, and fly!
Van Ryk.
With you, my Lord, not else. A fear-struck throng
Comes rushing from Mount Dorre. Sir, cross the bridge.
Artevelde.
The bridge! my soul abhors; but cross it thou,
And take this token to my Love, Van Ryk.
Fly for my sake in hers, and take her hence;
It is my last command. See her convey'd
To Ghent by Olsen or what safer road
Thy prudence shall descry. This do, Van Ryk—
Lo! now they pour upon us like a flood!
Thou that didst never disobey me yet,
This last good office render me. Begone!
Fly whilst the way is free,
Van Ryk.
My Lord, alas!
You put my duty to the sternest test
It ever yet endured; but I obey.
I do beseech you come across the bridge;
This rush of runaways—
Artevelde.
Farewell, Van Ryk.
392
Fellows, stand back! What! see you not my Lord?
Stand back, I say!
Artevelde.
Ho! turn ye round once more!
Cry Artevelde! and charge them once again!
What! courage, friends! We yet can keep the bridge.
Three minutes but stand fast, and our reserves
Shall succour us. Heigh, heigh, Sir! who are you
That dares to touch me?
Van Ryk.
Nay, Sirs, nay, stand back.
[Van Ryk is forced off by the crowd.
Artevelde.
Shame on you, cowards! what! do you know me! back!
Back, villains! will you suffocate your Lord!
Back, or I'll stab you with my dagger. Oh!
Give me but space to breathe! Forgive me, God!
What have I done?—why such a death?—why thus?—
Oh! for a wound as wide as famine's mouth
To make a soldier's passage for my soul.
[He is borne along in the rout towards the bridge.
Scene XII.
—The same. Enter the Dukes of Burgundy and Bourbon with Followers on the one side, and Sir Lois of Sanxere with Followers on the other.Sanxere.
Halt ye a space, my Lords, ye cannot pass:
The bridge has broken down beneath the weight
Of them that fly.
393
A lath should bear up us,
We are so light of heart, so light of heel!
It was the leaden spirit of defeat
That brake the bridge. Shoot me a plank across
And see if I shall strain it!
Sanxere.
Stay, my Lord;
They're pushing beams athwart the shatter'd arch
And presently the passage shall be safe
For all the host; but farther down the stream
There are some boats, though but a few, for those
Who would be foremost.
Burgundy.
I am of them. Who else?
Scene XIII.
—A part of the Field on the eastern side of the Lis. It is strewn with the dead and wounded and other wreck of the battle. In front is the body of Van Artevelde. Elena is kneeling beside it. Van Ryk and one of Van Artevelde's Pages are standing near. Trumpets are heard from time to time at a distance.Van Ryk.
Bring her away. Hark! hark!
Page.
She will not stir.
Either she does not hear me when I speak,
Or will not seem to hear.
Van Ryk.
Leave her to me.
Fly, if thou lov'st thy life, and make for Ghent.
[Exit Page.
394
Arouse yourself, sweet Lady; fly with me.
I pray you hear: it was his last command
That I should take you hence to Ghent by Olsen.
Elena.
I cannot go on foot.
Van Ryk.
No, Lady, no,
You shall not need; horses are close at hand.
Let me but take you hence. I pray you come.
Elena.
Take him, then, too.
Van Ryk.
The enemy is near
In hot pursuit; we cannot take the body.
Elena.
The body!
Van Ryk.
Hush!
Enter Duke of Burgundy.
Burgundy.
What hideous cry was that?
What are ye? Flemings? Who art thou, old Sir?
Who she that flung that long funereal note
Into the upper sky? Speak.
Van Ryk.
What I am,
Yourself have spoken. I am, as you said,
Old and a Fleming. Younger by a day
I could have wish'd to die; but what of that?
For death to be behind-hand but a day
Is but a little grief.
Burgundy.
Well said, old man;
And who is this?
Van Ryk.
Sir, she is not a Fleming.
395
The King.
What is your parley, uncle, who are these?
Burgundy.
Your Grace shall please to ask them that yourself;
I cannot make them tell.
The King.
Come on, come on!
We've sent a hundred men to search the field
For Artevelde's dead body.
Sir Fleureant.
Sire, for that
You shall need seek no further; there he lies.
The King.
What, say you so? What! this Van Artevelde?
God's me! how sad a sight!
Burgundy.
But are you sure?
Lift up his head.
Constable.
Sir Fleureant, is it he?
Sir Fleureant.
Sirs, this is that habiliment of flesh
Which clothed the spirit of Van Artevelde
Some half an hour bygone. Between the ribs
You'll find a wound, whereof so much of this
[Drawing his dagger
As is imbrued with blood, denotes the depth.
The King.
Oh me! how sad and terrible he looks!
He hath a princely countenance. Alas!
396
Upon the better side!
Burgundy.
And who is she?
[Elena raises her head from the body.
Bourbon.
That I can answer: she's a traitress vile,
The villain's paramour.
Sir Fleureant.
Beseech you, Sir,
Believe it not; she was not what you think.
She did affect him, but in no such sort
As you impute, which she can promptly prove.
Elena
(springing upon her feet.)
'Tis false! thou liest! I was his paramour.
Bourbon.
Oh, shameless harlot! dost thou boast thy sin?
Ay, down upon the carrion once again!
Ho, guards! dispart her from the rebel's carcase
And hang it on a gibbet. Thus and thus
I spit upon and spurn it.
Elena
(snatching Artevelde's dagger from its sheath).
Miscreant foul!
Black-hearted felon!
[Aims a blow at the Duke of Bourbon, which Sir Fleureant intercepts.
Ay, dost baulk me! there—
As good for thee as him!
[Stabs Sir Fleureant, who falls dead.
Burgundy.
Seize her! Secure her! Bind her hand and foot!
397
Here to be slaughter'd by a crazy wench!
[The Guards rush upon Elena; Van Ryk interposes for her defence; after some struggle, both are struck down and slain.
Bourbon.
So! curst untoward vermin! are they dead?
His very corse breeds maggots of despite!
Burgundy.
I did not bid them to be kill'd.
Captain of the Guard.
My Lord,
They were so sturdy and so desperate
We could not else come near them.
The King.
Uncle, lo!
The Knight of Heurlée, too, stone dead.
Sanxere.
By Heaven,
This is the strangest battle I have known!
First we've to fight the foe, and then the captives.
Bourbon.
Take forth the bodies. For the woman's corse,
Let it have Christian burial. As for his,
The arch-insurgent's, hang it on a tree
Where all the host may see it.
Burgundy.
Brother, no;
It were not for our honour, nor the King's,
To use it so. Dire reble though he was,
Yet with a noble nature and great gifts
Was he endow'd,—courage, discretion, wit,
An equal temper and an ample soul,
Rock-bound and fortified against assaults
398
Built on a surging subterranean fire
That stirr'd and lifted him to high attempts.
So prompt and capable and yet so calm
He nothing lack'd in sovereignty but the right,
Nothing in soldiership except good fortune.
Wherefore with honour lay him in his grave,
And thereby shall increase of honour come
Unto their arms who vanquished one so wise,
So valiant, so renown'd. Sirs, pass we on,
And let the bodies follow us on biers.
Wolf of the weald and yellow-footed kite,
Enough is spread for you of meaner prey.
Other interment than your maws afford
Is due to these. At Courtray we shall sleep,
And there I'll see them buried side by side.
In the Middle Ages, the name was accentuated on the second syllable when derived from the Saint:“Meretrix Helĕna, sed sancta Helēna.
THE END
| The Works of Sir Henry Taylor | |