University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

An Apartment in Stolberg Castle.
Enter Agatha.
AGATHA.
Why lady Ida! Bless us! not here either?
What's come of the dear child? Why, lady Ida!

Enter Ida.
IDA.
Well, nurse, I'm here.

AGATHA.
There's such a do below,
Such moving and removing, such a bevy
Of carpenters and joiners, glaziers, painters,
All hard at work in making preparation
For the great feast to-morrow, that I vow
My poor head turns—do feel, dear, how I tremble—
I'm all in such a twitter—

IDA.
Well, sit down—
Compose yourself—so—Why did you call me?

AGATHA.
Well, who'd have thought it sixteen years ago
It should have come to this? Saint Bridget save us!
You was not thus high when you first came here,
And now, heav'n bless the mark! you must be married.
To see how things turn out! I vow it seems
But yesterday, when my good lord sent for you,
To comfort him, poor man! for th' heavy loss
Of his young Albert. And I'm sure I thought
I should have died too.

IDA.
You must have felt much
For one you nurs'd.

AGATHA.
Aye marry—two whole years
I tended him. If he had been mine own
I had not lov'd him better. Lammas next
He'd have been twenty-one. He ran about,
And talk'd so prettily withal, and smil'd—
Poor little fellow! he so lov'd his nurse—

IDA.
Nay, do not weep—cheer up—come, tell me, nurse,
What did you want with me?

AGATHA.
With you? See there now—
I had clean forgotten. As I was returning
From goody Martin's cottage, where you sent me
To look at her sick child—it's getting better—
I met a young man just at the park corner,
A kind of peasant-looking lad, who stopt me,
And ask'd me to deliver you a letter—

IDA.
Dear Agatha, where is't? Come—give it me—

AGATHA.
Stay—don't be so impatient—Let me feel
In t'other pocket—Now Saint Bridget save me
If I ha'n't dropt it in my hurry.

IDA.
Dropt it?

AGATHA.
Where can it be?—Now if I hav'n't pok'd it
Here in my kerchief—

IDA.
Give it me, good nurse—

AGATHA.
Well, child, and am I to take back an answer?
I bad the bearer wait.—Well, take your time—
I have a thousand things to do.—Good bye!

[Exit.
IDA.
—(Reads).
“Absolv'd by him to whom my faith was given,
“If Ida deign to hear me, I'm prepar'd
“To state the whole of my disastrous story.”
Disastrous say'st thou? Hath calamity
Blighted so early thy fres-budding hopes?
Alas! Why should capricious fortune heap
Her amplest gifts on such a thing as Rodolph,
And leave thee destitute? Ill-fated youth!
I love thee more for knowing thou'rt unhappy!

[Exit.