University of Virginia Library

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.
But “Soft! my friends,” quoth I; “ye know not yet
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.
What's needful I can do. I pray you, where
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;
Now these, grown desperate and needy too,
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!