University of Virginia Library

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!

Enter Van Aeswyn.
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!
Oh curse of bad men's hire!

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
To any supplicant. Be they advised
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;
And could I without ruin of my fortunes
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.