University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A Closet in the Chateau of Thancmar. Enter Thancmar and Hebert.
THANCMAR.
You think then I must fight this hot-brain'd boy?

HEBERT.
Or that, or bear about a spotted honour,
Tarnish'd with his defiance flung upon it—
I see no middle course.

THANCMAR.
Indeed? Good Hebert,
I marvel much that one of ready parts,
As I confess you are not wanting in them—
And one, who of the varied book of life
Has turn'd o'er many pages, should be still
So dull of vision, he can only see
The broad and trodden highway paths of action;
And would rush headlong on to his intent,
Like the infuriate bull, blinded with rage;
And like him, if his foe but step aside,
Go blundering past the mark!

HEBERT.
Thancmar, your words
Have so much wisdom—my more sluggish sense
Is honour'd by their teaching;—yet speak plainly—
You will not fight Bouchard?

THANCMAR.
Not willingly.

HEBERT.
Yet why? You cannot fear him?

THANCMAR.
If I could,
That were an unwise speech!—I do not fear him;
But mark me, Hebert—how for years I have striven
Against the ascendancy of the proud Provost,
You have not now to learn—nor how his honours
Still overtopping mine, have galled my spirit.
But let that pass—his star is on the wane;
The unsuspicious Earl gives me his ear,
And I have used it so to my advantage,
Backing my reasons with the Provost's pride,
And opposition to these wholesome laws
Against the Serfs, which I myself urge on,
That even now Bertulphe's great power totters;—
The links of Love that bound the two together,
Each day are by some new estrangement weaken'd:—
Were it then wise, just as my hopes are ripening,
To risk them all against some trick of fence
Of this young whipster's sword?

HEBERT.
'Tis true, that were
But a boy's folly, not a statesman's wisdom.—
But how to 'scape with honour? Will you move
The Earl, that he shall not allow this duel?

THANCMAR.
Such was my purpose, but there now has risen
A brighter hope!
Hast thou not seen an old man named Philippe?—
A parched and haggard wretch, infirm and bent
Beneath a pile of years that none can count;
His feeble foot just balanced on the brink
That severs life from death—yet shrewd and cunning—
Greedy of gold, and of a spleenful malice,
That loves to wound, as 'twould compensate thus
The body's impotence, by the tongue's sharpness—
He dwells beside the Church of Nôtre Dame!

HEBERT.
I think I have seen him, but it is long since.

THANCMAR.
I knew him in my youth, and even the
I thought him old. And yet the crabbed churl
Had a strange fondness for me, and would talk
In his sour fashion with me by the hour.—
I lost him then, to find him here in Bruges,
Where he arrived, when first Bertulphe grew great.—
He has lived in much seclusion, and the boors
Dread him, as one with more than mortal dealings—
And he has dealings I would fain unriddle;
For I have had him watch'd, and been assured
The Provost's Secretary visits there
At cautious hours, and gold is heard to chink
When he arrives!

HEBERT.
Indeed!—that's strange.

THANCMAR.
I know Bertulphe profuse,—
Generous, as fools would call it, but I know
He scatters not his gold without a motive—
He cannot love this man—then he must fear him,
And, it may be, is even in his power!
Bertulphe is proud, and such discordant natures
At length must jar—in this has been my hope.
I have waited patiently for my occasion,
And it has come.—Philippe this morning watch'd
The Provost's path, and would have spoken with him;
But he dash'd proudly by: I mark'd the old man,
And saw his sunken eye gleam with such malice
As told he hated him—he turned to me;—
I thought he would have spoken, but he checked
His struggling passion, and went slowly home,
The better there to brood on it.

HEBERT.
'Twas well!

THANCMAR.
'Twas well, good Hebert—for Philippe is here.

HEBERT.
Here!

THANCMAR.
Ay, has sought me out, forestall'd my wishes,
And craves to speak with me.

HEBERT.
Shall I admit him?

THANCMAR.
Yes, but be cautious—he is shrewd and jealous;—
Leave me to mould him [exit Hebert].
He must have some power
To bind Bertulphe thus to him, and that power
Transferr'd to me, I would not spare to use it.

Enter Philippe.
PHILIPPE.
I have waited long; you show small courtesy
To one who comes to serve you.

THANCMAR.
Good Philippe,
I'm glad to see you well.

PHILIPPE.
Why, that's a pleasure,
You might have earn'd on any day these ten years
By a three minutes' journey.

THANCMAR.
Yet I'd serve you.
You have been wrong'd; Bertulphe has slighted you;
I will befriend you.

PHILIPPE.
That is very kind!
But should Bouchard o'ermatch you, brave Sir Thancmar,
The promise were worth little. He would fight you.

THANCMAR.
How know you that?

PHILIPPE.
The stars! You smile;—why, then
'Twas from some other source. I am old; but still—
But still I know a little of what stirs in Bruges.
You would escape this combat—

THANCMAR.
Who says so?

PHILIPPE.
Good policy!—Hi! Hi! Bouchard is young—
Brave, very brave—Sir Thancmar is a statesman.
The Chatelain of Bourbourg has too much
To stake upon a sword. Though I am old—
A very old, poor man, yet, I thank Heaven,
My wits are spared. You shall not fight Bouchard.

THANCMAR.
Indeed!

PHILIPPE.
I have said it.
The great Bertulphe, the mighty, noble Provost—
I pray you frown not so—hi! hi! though I
Am but a dog before him,—is so good
He will not do the thing I warn him from.

THANCMAR.
Philippe, you have a power o'er this Provost—

PHILIPPE.
I pray you interrupt me not. Your safety
Must be provided first; the rest, at leisure
We'll talk upon. You shall not fight Bouchard.

THANCMAR.
You have some motive thus to watch my safety.

PHILIPPE.
Motive!—Why, ay! all men must have their motives,
And most have many;—I have mine, no doubt.
Perhaps I wish to use you; and, if so,
'Tis clear you serve my purpose better living
Than you would dead; or, it may be, I love you.

THANCMAR.
Indeed!

PHILIPPE.
'Tis strange, I know; yet I do love you—
I always loved you, even from a child.
There was malice in you that I loved,
'Twas like myself:—envy of others' good—
Impatience of another's greatness—spleen,
That gave back hatred in return for favors;—
'Twas all so like myself: I loved you for it.
Hi! hi! Go to—you shall not fight Bouchard.

THANCMAR.
Philippe, let us speak plainly. You possess
Something that gives you power on Bertulphe;
Make but that secret mine, and whatsoever
The price you ask, I'll double it.

PHILIPPE.
Sir Thancmar,
Men call you wise; you must have read of one
Who had a bird that laid him golden eggs
Each day it lived. I'm not the fabled fool
To kill my bird to get them all at once!

THANCMAR.
But I will give thee gold at thy desire.

PHILIPPE.
When my security is gone? Sir Thancmar,
Men trade not so in Bruges.

THANCMAR.
You shall have
Most full security—bonds,—what you will!
And take this purse in earnest of my faith.

PHILIPPE.
'Tis a fair offer—an exceeding fair:
I'll think upon it. Troth, the purse is heavy:
Sir Thancmar, men report you rich,—I'll think on't.
Bertulphe has scorn'd me;—he is grown too proud—
But say no farther now. Thou shalt be safe—
Thou shalt not fight Bouchard; and for the rest,
Beshrew me,—but I'll think on't. Fare you well.
[Exit Philippe.

THANCMAR.
What, Hebert!

Enter Hebert.
Hebert.
Your success?

THANCMAR.
Full to my hope—
The train is laid,—my net is closing round him!
Now haste thou to the Earl; tell him this quarrel;
Against whose issue thou canst urge more reasons
Than would in me be seemly: thou mayst make it
Appear Bouchard set on me in revenge
For the delay of those long-promised lands
The Provost claims, and knows I covet. This,
Well urged, as thou canst do it, will, 'tis likely,
Make a new breach between them. Go, good Hebert,
And I will read thy love in thy success.
[Exit Hebert.
The patient hound, that never leaves the track,
Runs down his game before the day is spent.

[Exit.