 | Crazy Jane |  |
SCENE I.
—A Chamber in Lord Raymond's Castle.Enter Lord Raymond, R. D.
Lord R.
Since threats avail not with the stubborn girl,
I'll try severer measures. What, ho! Francis!
Fra.
(R.)
I am here, my gracious lord.
Lord R.
(L.)
Tell me the exact amount of Walter's
debt.
Fra.
Five hundred and five-and-twenty crowns, my
lord; neither more nor less: and he declares he'll pay
it honestly, which I firmly believe, as soon as prospects
brighten with him a little. Alack-a-day! troubles will
overtake the best of men sometimes—this is a fickle
world: the wheel of fortune is always going round—
sometimes we are at the top, and sometimes at the bottom
of it.
Lord. R.
Psha! cease thy idle prate, and hear my orders:
I'll not have Walter longer for a tenant—
Go thou, distrain his goods, and turn him out.
Fra.
What, my lord! turn out a worthy tenant, who
has honestly paid rent to your lordship's father and
yourself for upwards of thirty years! Turn him out,
indeed! now that misfortunes have overtaken him!
You never can be so cruel, my lord! no, no!
Lord R.
Peace, graybeard! and obey me; for, by heavens!
I'll not be trifled with! My blood is boiling,
And I will have revenge! Go, turn the dotard out;
Send him adrift: ay, and his daughter, too!
E'en to the dogs with 'em, for aught I care.
Fra.
[After a short pause.]
Do it yourself, my lord; I'll
not be the instrument of such cruelty. No, not if you
were to cast me into the deepest dungeon of your castle,
and keep me there until I die, without a bit of straw at
the bottom of it.
Lord R.
You dare dispute my orders!
[Seizing him.
Know'st thou not, hoary fool, this arm could crush thee?
Fra.
Yes; and a noble action it would be of you to
strain your vigorous nerves to harm a poor old man, and
offer insult to gray hairs. Oh, fie on't! shame! shame!
Lord R.
Tutor me not, but go and do my bidding.
Fra.
My lord, I will not stir an inch to do an act
which conscience cannot justify; and I repeat, if honest
Walter must be turned out of his cottage, do it yourself,
my lord.
Lord R.
Send Rupert hither; he is not so squeamish.
Fra.
Nay, good my lord; I pray you be merciful:
Walter's debt, the money shall be forthcoming.
Lord R.
Where should the pauper get so large a sum?
Fra.
From a good friend, my lord; and I am that friend.
During the forty years that I have had the honour to
serve in this castle, I have laid me by some hundreds
of good and lawful coin; ay, and it delights mine eyes to
see the shining gold, because I know that poverty is
grievous in old age; yet 'twill delight my heart much
more to part with it, if I can save an honest man from
sinking. I will pay Walter's debt—he shall not go to
prison! Thanks to my frugality, I've got a good long
purse, and to assist a friend in distress—I don't care
how soon I get at the bottom of it.
Lord R.
What! wouldst thou throw away the staff of age?
Be lavish of thy substance unto those
Who would not even give thee in return
A crust of bread, if thou shouldst come to want it?
Go to! thou art again in leading-strings!
[Crosses to R.
I will bethink me how to treat this Walter.
Fra.
(L.)
That's right, my lord, do so—consider better
of it—reflection is to passion what water is to fire.
[Aside in going.]
Turn out an honest tenant into the wide
world! Shame! shame! If ever I am guilty of so base
an action, I wish I may go to a certain place when I die,
and have a precious warm berth at the very bottom of it.
[Exit, L D.
Lord R.
I loathe the very name of man, and would
I were some savage beast, that I might glut
Myself with blood, not fearing an hereafter!
Psha! that's an idle phantasy! a dream!
Were the assassin, Hardolf, now but here,
He should set fire to old Walter's cottage;
And fortune, then, not I, might bear the blame
Of the fool's sufferings.—I'll do't myself!
'Tis shameful, whispers honour—what care I?
Revenge and passion prompt me to the deed—
I'll execute it, e'en though hearts should bleed.
[Exit, R. S. E.
| Crazy Jane | |