University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A magnificent Apartment, where the Countess, the Marquis, the Count of Colmar, and Matilda, appear conversing.
COUNTESS.
I love to hear these tales of former days,
Which move the mind to useful retrospection,
And seem to give it new and longer being.—
Your rev'rence for my Albert's noble father,
Delights my soul.—Your zeal proclaims his worth.

COUNT OF COLMAR.
It was transcendent! For his noble mind,
Gen'rous as kind, to all around diffus'd
Unnumber'd blessings!—To the rich, and poor,
His gates and hand and heart were ever open,
With courteous dignity, and temper'd state;
That mix'd with liberal plenty, wise expence;
Invited ease, and yet inspir'd respect;
Allur'd to mirth, yet banish'd noisy riot.
He was, what great men shou'd be; what, alas!
I knew, but never hope to know again!—

COUNTESS.
I wonder, Montval, with the nat'ral pride
A son shou'd feel, offspring of such a father!—
I wonder that his tongue shou'd not be lavish
On such a theme!—If I am not mistaken,
He lost his noble mother when a child.

COUNT.
He did: and great the loss! for ne'er was beauty
Inform'd with clearer sense, or sweeter temper,
Or deck'd and dignified by higher virtue.

COUNTESS.
I shou'd not grieve that she has long been dead:
My poor deserts wou'd but have been a foil
To her endowments.

COLMAR.
O that she had liv'd,
She and the count, to see their only son
Mated, with beauty, fortune, virtue, birth,
Beyond their highest hopes!

COUNTESS.
You overrate,
With the warm impulse of a noble mind,
My humble merits: but inform me, count,
—For in his absence he must be my theme—
Did never any difference arise,
—Such as, too oft' has ris'n 'twixt youth, and age—
Between my Albert, and his noble father?

COLMAR.
Nothing of moment:—nought, I trust, that left
Rankling rememb'rance.—Strict, himself, of morals,—
Tho' liberal, not profuse—perhaps he thought
His son's first burst of manhood rather wild,
And his expence beyond the bounds of prudence:
This, lady, I have heard, but this was all;
For never doating parent felt more pride
In a son's talents, and his manly grace,
Than felt the count in your accomplish'd lord's.

COUNTESS.
Thanks, noble sir, for gratifying thus
The fond enquiries of a curious woman;
Curious to ev'ry, ev'n the least concern,
Of him she loves.—Marquis, you also know
My Albert's father?

MARQUIS.
Late, tho' long enough
To see, and feel his worth. Some six years since,
Upon a visit to a noble kinsman,
I often found admittance in this castle,
And learnt to love, and to revere its lord.

MATILDA.
But, my dear countess, you forget your purpose
To visit the fair terrace, whence the view
Of Alps on Alps, shining with all their snows,
O'er the dark forest of the tow'ring pines,
At once delights and elevates the soul.—

COUNTESS.
'Tis well remember'd; and the western sun
Must, at this moment, pour a golden blaze
On their white summits, and their lofty rocks.
Dear count, your arm.—Marquis, you'll shew the way,
And lead Matilda to her favorite seat.

[Exeunt.