 | The Secret in Words |  |
SCENE III.
—FREDERICK'S CHAMBER—EVENING.Enter HENRY and FREDERICK: a servant places lights upon the table and retires.
FREDERICK.
Have you yet written?
HENRY.
Yes; these few
Letters, I trust, will make you find
A friendly welcome—warm and kind,
Like that I have received from you:
Just payment for a debt so just.
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Thou art a sovereign prince, my lord,
And firmly to thy royal word,
My life, my honour, I entrust:
Remain with God: while I prefer,
Now that the night descends, to wait
Her coming:—to anticipate
Rather than, through delaying, err.
HENRY.
Well have you said; but will you not,
At least, allow me for a while
To attend you, if 'twere but a mile
Or so, until you leave this spot?
FREDERICK.
Excuse me, if I cannot be
So proudly companied: I swear
My very shadow now I fear;
And if I hide my love from thee,
Believe the truth with which I say,
I so respect the darling prize,
That I would hide her from all eyes,
Even mine own, this happy day.
HENRY.
You wish to go alone: confess.
FREDERICK.
'Tis so: adieu.
HENRY.
Adieu, since I
Vainly to change thy purpose, try.
A knocking is heard at the door.
FREDERICK.
Do you not hear a knocking?
252
Yes.
FREDERICK.
Pray, who is there?
ARNESTO,
entering.
'Tis I.
FREDERICK.
No doubt,
Some business drives you out so late?
ARNESTO.
Why, no; the distance was not great,
And I but came to seek you out.
FREDERICK,
aside.
To seek me?—(How I quake with fear.)
My lord, I wait your lordship's will.
ARNESTO.
They told me that you came home ill,
Depressed and low; and being near,
I thought it would be most unkind
If I unto my bed retired,
Before I had, my lord, inquired
How you your health this evening find.
FREDERICK.
May Heaven with all its choicest wealth
Your lordship's friendly care reward!
But I can tell you now, my lord,
I never felt in stronger health:
They spread a false report, in sooth,
Who told you this.
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I much rejoice
To find that rumour's lying voice
Is wholly unsustained by truth.
But how did you contrive to spend
The time ere I came in?
FREDERICK.
In chat,
With Henry here, of this and that.
ARNESTO.
The conversation of a friend,
Who is with wit and sense imbued,
Who teaches with his voice and looks,
Is worth a thousand printed books.
FREDERICK.
This solemn preface bodes no good.
[Aside.
HENRY,
aside.
For Frederick's sake, I much desire
To stop the old man's long discourse;
To leave them is the proper course:
Will you allow me to retire?
ARNESTO.
Is it because I came you go?
FREDERICK.
Why, partly yes, and partly no.
Yes, for I wished to go, I own,
Before your steps did hither wend—
And no, for parting with my friend
I do not leave him now alone.
[Exit.
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Adieu.
FREDERICK.
I beg you will declare
Whate'er you're anxious to confide;—
Why do you look on every side?
ARNESTO.
I'm only looking for a chair.
For, being quite unused to walking,
I feel fatigued and somewhat heated;
I think we may as well be seated
As standing, all the time we're talking.
They sit down.
FREDERICK,
aside.
Oh, heavens! was ever such assurance!
To come at such an hour as this,
When I was on the wings of bliss!
His coolness is beyond endurance!
ARNESTO.
How do you make the night pass o'er?
FREDERICK.
I sometimes at the court attend;
Whither I shall be proud to lend
My arm, and see you to your door.
ARNESTO.
'Tis rather early.
FREDERICK,
aside.
Powers that rule!
Must I then lose my life and love?
ARNESTO.
Do you play piquet?
255
aside.
Heavens above!
Was ever anything so cool?
No, my good lord.
[Aloud.
ARNESTO.
Being out of tune,
Depressed, I left my home to-day,
And feeling better, wish to stay,
Nor care for going home so soon.
FREDERICK.
My lord, I feel disturbed, enraged,
At being compelled to go: to-night
I have, in truth, so much to write,
That all my time shall be engaged.
He wishes to rise, but Arnesto prevents him.
ARNESTO.
Let me assist you with your task:
A good, fair, flowing hand I bring.
FREDERICK.
I could not think of such a thing!
ARNESTO.
Nay, 'tis a favour that I ask!
FREDERICK.
A very bad return 'twould be
For your great kindness and attention:
Besides, my lord, I have to mention
One reason why I wished to see
Your lordship home,—it is that one
Of my best friends I'm bound to meet
To-night, quite near your lordship's street.
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I will attend you—let's be gone.
My power to serve you is not great,
But what I can I'll do; I'll wait
Outside the door till break of dawn;
Or, trust me, Frederick, tell me, is it
An assignation you have made?
If so, come on; be not afraid
That aught shall interrupt your visit.
FREDERICK.
My lord, your courage well I know,
But I must go alone; adieu.
He rises from his chair.
ARNESTO.
With you
I go to-night where'er you go.
FREDERICK.
My lord, what thus compelleth thee?
ARNESTO.
To find the cause, perhaps 'twere best
To ask the trouble of your breast.
FREDERICK,
aside.
What shall I say? ah! woe is me!—
No trouble doth my bosom hide.
[Aloud.
ARNESTO.
What it concealeth—well I know:—
And so from this thou shalt not go,
Unless by me accompanied.
FREDERICK,
aside.
Was e'er bewilderment more rare?
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You seemed surprised.
FREDERICK.
I am, indeed.
ARNESTO.
Well, let us, Frederick, speak out fair:
I know a person waits you now,
By whom a message has been sent.
FREDERICK,
aside.
Will cruel fortune ne'er relent?
Can fate a sterner aspect show?
ARNESTO.
To my honour and my fame,
Having heard of it, 'twas due
To prevent this interview:—
When you recollect my name—
Governor of Parma—you
Must, upon the moment, see
That a certain duty claim
My unspotted rank and fame:
If I now could part from thee,
I would wholly fail, I fear,
In the motives that should move
An appointed judge, and prove
But a worthless cavalier:
So, by Heaven! 'tis only due
Unto both, for both agree,
That you here remain with me,
Or that I go hence with you:—
Knowing now what 'tis you seek—
What you rashly would commit,
Think you that I could permit?
258
aside.
Ah! can words more plainly speak?
My lord, your arguments must claim
[Aloud.
Great weight, no doubt, but do not chafe
If I insist that still are safe
Your spotless character and name;
By me they cannot be made less.
ARNESTO.
How, if you act as you intend?
FREDERICK.
First, will you graciously extend
Your kind indulgence to me?
ARNESTO.
Yes.
FREDERICK.
My birth, my blood, you recollect?
ARNESTO.
I know thy noble blood has run
Pure as the light that leaves the sun.
FREDERICK.
Trusting to this, I now expect
That you will cause the person, who
Has written, as you understand,
Also to offer me the hand.
ARNESTO.
That, Frederick, I shall gladly do,
Nor from the friendly task desist,
Until your hands together meet.
259
A thousand times I kiss your feet!
ARNESTO.
So tell me your antagonist,
And I shall on the instant, fly ......
FREDERICK,
aside.
Ah! me, how vainly I believed
My bliss was real!
ARNESTO.
To the aggrieved
Expectant party waiting nigh.
FREDERICK.
And can it possibly be true,
You know not yet the person?
ARNESTO.
No;
That you have quarrelled I but know,
And that your rival challenged you.
FREDERICK.
Know you no more than this?
ARNESTO.
No more.
FREDERICK.
Then I shall ......
ARNESTO.
What?
FREDERICK.
No more inquire;
Since to allow it to transpire
260
You learned it otherwise, would be
To act unlike a cavalier;
And so my duty is quite clear
To keep the engagement without thee.
ARNESTO.
Think you, my honour knows not how
Its duties also to fulfil?
FREDERICK.
Indeed, I know it well, but still
Mine is more pressing: longer now
Thus to absent myself, will lay
My peace, my honour in the dust.
ARNESTO.
Well, notwithstanding all, I must
Prevent this meeting.
FREDERICK.
How?
ARNESTO.
This way:
Ho! there.
Enter some Soldiers.
SOLDIER.
My lord?
ARNESTO.
These doors secure.
I give them to thy charge this night:
Yield yourself prisoner; nor fight
[To Fred.
Against your fate.
261
aside.
Alas! how sure
Have my misfortunes ever been!—
With a less numerous guard, you may
Be quite secure!—O Heavens! to-day
Naught but dead hopes and joys are seen!
ARNESTO.
As matters are, I well may be
Perfectly safe; but still would I
Caution you not to attempt to fly,
As death will be the penalty.
[Exit with Soldiers; Frederick remains alone.
FREDERICK.
Ah! how little would appear
The threatened vengeance of this man,
If no other risk I ran—
If I had not more real fear:—
For, O Heavens!—to force my way
Out of this prison now, would prove
A public scandal to my love;—
But any longer here to stay
Ignorant how have matters gone
With Laura, even that pain exceeds;—
I know a secret way that leads
From this house to the neighbouring one.
Laura, wait—with panting breath,
Love, thy longed-for presence gains,
Though thy father threatens chains—
Though Flerida threatens death!
[Exit.
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