University of Virginia Library

Scene III.

—A Street. In front is the porch of a house, surmounted by an image of the Virgin. The Bastard of Montargis and Raoul de Rouvroy.
De Rouvroy.
This north wind bites. I am half sick with cold.

Montargis.
The night is chill; but something in my soul
Dances and sparkles like yon frosty star.
To watch for her I love or him I loathe
Is better than a bed of down.

De Rouvroy.
God's life!
I shall be frozen to the door-post soon;
My dagger hand is numb.

Montargis.
Think of thy wrongs;
Hast thou no spark of Hell-fire in thy heart
To keep thee warm?

De Rouvroy.
This hanging by and waiting
Is what I hate. Come but the work to hand,
It warms me well. Hear'st thou? what noise is that?

Montargis.
'Tis but a sheaf of snow slid from a roof.
'Tis vain to hearken for a tread to-night;
Unless he come accompanied and talk,
You'll see him ere you hear him.

De Rouvroy.
Hark! the chimes!
Eight and three quarters.

Montargis.
Look, he comes! hide, hide.

[They retire under the porch.
Enter the Duke of Orleans and Geoffrey de Laval, his Page.
Orleans.
Now haste thee home, and bid the Seneschal
Bring me swift muster of the men-at-arms
Wherever I may be.

Montargis.
(springing from the porch, followed by De Rouvroy and others).
That is in Hell.

[Stabs him.
Orleans.
Ha! know ye whom ye strike? Villains, 'tis I,
The Duke of Orleans.

Montargis.
The man we want.

Orleans.
I know thee not, nor whence thy grudge to me;
But thou hast struck the life.

[Falls.
Montargis.
And will again.

[Aiming again at the Duke, whose Page, throwing himself on his master, is stabbed and dies.
Montargis.
Fool, what thy master needed not is thine.
He hath enough.

De Rouvroy.
What! is he dead? Make sure.

Montargis.
Look in the gutter; full of blood he was;
But if that drain him not ... Fly for your lives!
There's some one comes.

[Exeunt Montargis and his gang.
Enter De Vezelay and his Squire.
De Vezelay.
What horrible sight is this! The Duke! the Duke!

Orleans.
(raising himself.)
And who art thou? Is't not De Vezelay?
Not many minutes have I left of life,
De Vezelay—
[Seeing the body of his Page.
Alas! poor faithful boy!
And couldst not thou be spared! De Vezelay,
Lift me and take me to the Celestines
Alive or dead. Despatch thee. If God will
I fain would reach the Celestines alive.

[Faints.
De Vezelay.
(assisted by his Squire, takes up the Duke).
Accursed be my feet that came too late,
My hand, that could not find a time to strike
Ere this was acted. Bastard! man of blood!
'Tis thou, 'tis thou that didst this murder. So!
Swiftly, but smoothly, to the Celestines.