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BY WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR, ESQ. AUTHOR OF " IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS." NEARLY READY. In one vol. *24mo, illustrated by wood Engravings from Designs by FLAXSIAN and STOTHARD, SONGS. BY BARRY CORNWALL. ALSO IN PREPARATION, In two vols. 8vo, illustrated by autographs, original letters, $c., THE FOUNDERS OF ENGLISH LIBERTY. THE FIRST PART, WILL INCLUDE MEMOIRS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY STATESMEN. Sir John Eliot John Pym John Hampden Sir Henry Vane, the Younger Algernon Sydney Henry Marten Thomas Scot John Bradshaw Edmund Ludlow. THE SECOND, MEMOIRS OF THE POLITICAL WRITERS. John Milton I James Harrington I John Lilburne Andrew Marvel | William Prynne | Thomas May. THE THIRD, MEMOIRS OF THE LAWYERS. Sir "Strode WhiUocke. THE HUNCHBACK A PLAY, IN FIVE ACTS. BY JAMES SHERIDAN KNOWLES, AUTHOR OF " Vi retires with the latter. CLIFFORD rises. WALTER. So, Sir Thomas ! Aha ! you husband time ! well, was I right ? Is'tnot the jewel that I told you 'twas ? Would'st thou not give thine eyes to wear it ? Eh ? It has an owner tho', nay, start not, one Thatmay be brought to partwith't, and with whom I'll stand thy friend I will I say, I will ! A strange man, Sir, and unaccountable : But I can humour him will humour him For thy sake, good Sir Thomas, for I like thee. Well, is't a bargain ? Come, thy hand upon it. A word or two with thee. (They retire. JULIA and HELEN come forward). JULIA. Go up to town ! HELEN. Have I not said it ten times o'er to thee ? But if thou lik'st it not, protest against it. JULIA. Not if 'tis Master Walter's will. 26 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT r. HELEN. What then ? Thou would'st not break thy heart for Master Walter ? JULIA. That follows not ! HELEN. What follows not ? JULIA. That I Should break my heart, because we go to town. HELEN. Indeed ! O that's another matter. Well, I'd e'en advise thee then to do his will ; And ever after when I prophecy, Believe me, Julia! (They retire. MASTER WALTER comes forward.} Enter FATHOM. FATHOM. So please you, Sir, a letter, a post haste letter ! The bearer on horseback, the horse in a foam smoak- ing like a boiler at the heat be sure a post haste letter ! w ALTER. Look to the horse arid rider. (Opens the letter and reads). What's this ? A testament addressed to me, Found in his Lordship's escrutoire, and thence Directed to be taken by no hand But mine. My presence instantly required. SIR THOMAS, JULIA, and HELEN come forward. Come my mistresses, You dine in town to-day. Ytmr father's will It is, my Julia, that you see the world, SCENE;.] THE HUNCHBACK. 27 And thou shalt see it in its best attire. Its gayest looks its richest finery It shall put on for thee, that thou may'st judge Betwixt it, and the rural life you've lived. Business of moment Pm but just advis'd of, Touching the will of my late noble master, The Earl of Rochdale, recently deceas'd, Commands me for a time to leave thee there. Sir Thomas, hand her to the chariot. Nay, I tell thee true. We go indeed to town ! [Exeunt. END OF FIRST ACT. 28 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT n, ACT II. SCENE I. AN APARTMENT IN MASTER HEART- WELL'S HOUSE. Enter FATHOM and THOMAS. THOMAS. WELL, Fathom, is thy mistress up ? FATHOM. She is, Master Thomas, and breakfasted. THOMAS. She stands it well ! ? Twas five, you say, when she came home ; and wants it now three quarters of an hour of ten ! Wait till her stock of country health is out. FATHOM. 'Twill come to that, Master Thomas, before she lives another month in town ! three, four, five, six o'clock are now the hours she keeps. 'Twas otherwise with her in the country. There, my mistress used to rise what time she now lies down. THOMAS. Why, yes ; she's changed since she came hither. FATHOM. Changed, do you say, Master Thomas? Changed forsooth ! I know not the thing in which she is not changed, saving that she is still a woman. I tell thee there is no keeping pace with her moods. In the coun- try she had none of them. When I brought what she asked for, it was " Thank you, Fathom," and no more SCENE [.] THE HUNCHBACK. 29 to do ; but now, nothing contents her. Hark ye ! were you a gentleman, Master Thomas, for then you know you would be a different kind of man, how many times would you have your coat altered ? THOMAS. Why, Master Fathom, as many times as it would take to make it fit me. FATHOM. Good ! But supposing it fitted thee at the first ? THOMAS. Then would I have it altered not at all. FATHOM. Good ! Thou would'st be a reasonable gentleman. Thou would'st have a conscience. Now hark to a tale about my lady's last gown. How many times, think you, took I it back to the sempstress ? THOMAS. Thrice, may be. FATHOM. Thrice, may be ! Twenty times, may be ; and not a turn too many for the truth on't. Twenty times on the oath of the sempstress. Now mark me can you count ? THOMAS. After a fashion. FATHOM. You have much to be thankful for, Master Thomas ; you London serving men know a world of things, which we in the country never dream of. Now mark : four times took I it back for the flounce; twice for the sleeves; thrice for the tucker. How many times in all is that? THOMAS. Eight times to a fraction, Master Fathom. 30 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT ir. FATHOM. What a master of figures you are ! Eight times now recollect that ! And then found she fault with the trimmings. Now tell me how many times took I back the gown for the trimmings? THOMAS. Eight times more, perhaps ! FATHOM. Ten times to a certainty. How many times makes that? THOMAS. Eighteen, Master Fathom, by the rule of addition. FATHOM. And how many times more will make twenty ? THOMAS. Twice, by the same rule. FATHOM. Thou hast worked with thy pencil and slate, Master Thomas ! Well, ten times, as I said, took I back the gown for the trimmings : and was she content after all ? I warrant you no, or my ears did not pay for it. She wished, she said, that the slattern sempstress had not touched the gown, for nought had she done, but botched it. Now, what think you, what had the sempstress done to the gown ? THOMAS. To surmise that, I must be learned in the sempstress's art. FATHOM. The sempstress's art! Thou hast hit it! Oh, the sweet sempstress ! The excellent sempstress ! Mis- tress of her scissors and needles, which are pointless and edgeless to her art ! The sempstress had done notliing SCENE ij THE HUNCHBACK. 31 to the gown, yet raves and storms my mistress at her for having botched it in the making and mending ; and orders her straight to make another one, which home the sempstress brings on Tuesday last. THOMAS. And found thy fair mistress as many faults with that ? FATHOM. Not one ! She finds it a very pattern of a gown ! A well sitting flounce ! The sleeves a fit the tucker a fit the trimmings her fancy to a T ha ! ha ! ha ! and she praised the sempstress ha! ha! ha! and she smiles at me, and I smile ha! ha! ha! and the sempstress smiles ha! ha! ha! Now why did the sempstress smile ? THOMAS. That she had succeeded so well in her art. FATHOM. Thou hast hit it again. The jade must have been born a sempstress. If ever I marry she shall work for my wife. The gown was the same gown, and there was my mistress's twentieth mood ! THOMAS. What think you will Master Walter say when he comes back? I fear he'll hardly know his country maid again. Has she yet fixed her wedding-day ? FATHOM. She has, Master Thomas. I coaxed it from her maid. She marries, Monday week. THOMAS. Comes not Master Walter back to-day ? FATHOM. Your master expects him. (A ringing). Perhaps that's he. I prithee go and open the door ; do, Master 32 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT n. Thomas, do; for proves it my master, he'll surely question me. THOMAS. And what should I do ? FATHOM. Answer him, Master Thomas, and make him none the wiser. He'll go mad, when he learns how my lady flaunts it ! Go ! open the door, I prithee. Fifty things, Master Thomas, know you, for one thing that I know ; you can turn and twist a matter into any other kind of matter, and then twist and turn it back again, if needs be; so much you servants of the town beat us of the country, Master Thomas. Open the door, now; do, Master Thomas, do ! [Exeunt. SCENE IL A GARDEN WITH TWO ARBOURS. Enter MASTER HEARTWELL and MASTER WALTER, meeting. HEARTWELL. Good Master Walter, welcome back again ! WALTER. Pm glad to see you, Master Heartwell. HEARTWELL. How, I pray you, sped the weighty business which So sudden called you hence ? WALTER. Weighty, indeed ! What thou woulds't ne'er expect wilt scarce believe ! Long hidden wrong, wondrously come to light, SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 33 And great right done ! But more of this, anon. Now of my ward discourse ! Likes she the town ? How does she ? Is she well ? Can'st match me her, Amongst your city maids ? HEARTWELL. Nor court ones neither ! She far outstrips them all ! WALTER. I knew she would. What else could follow in a maid so bred ? A pure mind, Master Heart well ! not a taint From intercourse with the distemper'd town ; With which all contact was walPd out ; until, Matured in soundness, I could trust her to it, And sleep amidst infection. HEARTWELL. Master Walter ! WALTER. Well? HEARTWELL. Tell me, prithee, which is likelier To plough a sea in safety ? he that's wont To sail in it, or he that by the chart Is master of its soundings, bearings, knows Its headlands, havens, currents, where 'tis bold, And where behoves to keep a good look out. The one will swim where sinks the other one ? WALTER. The drift of this? HEARTWELL. Do you not guess it ? WALTER. Humph ! 34 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT n. HEARTWELL. If you would train a maid to live in town, Breed her not in the country ! WALTER. Say you so ? And stands she not the test ? HEARTWELL. As snow stands fire ! Your country maid has melted all away, And plays the city lady to the height : Her mornings gives to mercers, milliners, Shoemakers, jewellers, and haberdashers ; Her noons, to calls ; her afternoons, to dressing ; Evenings, to plays and drums ; and nights, to routs, Balls, masquerades ! Sleep only ends the riot, Which waking still begins ! WALTER. I'm all amaze ! How bears Sir Thomas this ? HEARTWELL. Why, patiently; Though one can see with pain. WALTER. She loves him ? Ha ! That shrug is doubt ! She'd ne'er consent to wed him, Unless she loved him ! never ! Her young fancy The pleasures of the townnew things have caught. Anon their hold will slacken ; she'll become Her former self again ; to its old train Of sober feelings will her heart return ; And then she'll give it wholly to the man, Her virgin wishes chose ! SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 35 HEARTWELL, Here comes Sir Thomas ; And with him Master Modus. WALTER. Let them pass : I would not see him till I speak with her. ( They retire into one of the arbours. Enter CLIFFORD and MODUS. CLIFFORD. A dreadful question is it, when we love, To ask if love's returned ! I did believe Fair Julia's heart was mine I doubt it now. But once last night she danced with me, her hand To this gallant and that engaged, as soon As asked for ! Maid that loved would scarce do this ! Nor visit we together as we used, When first she came to town. She loves me less Than once she did or loves me not at all. MODUS. I'm little skilled, Sir Thomas, in the world : What mean you now to do ? CLIFFORD. Remonstrate with her ; Come to an understanding, and, at once, If she repents her promise to be mine, Absolve her from it and say farewell to her. MODUS. Lo, then, your opportunity she comes, My cousin also : her will I engage, Whilst you converse together. CLIFFORD. Nay, not yet ! D2 36 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT n. My heart turns coward at the sight of her. Stay 'till it finds new courage ! Let them pass. (CLIFFORD and MODUS retire into the other arbour. Enter JULIA and HELEN. HELEN. So, Monday week will say good morn to thee A maid, and bid good night a sober wife ! JULIA. That Monday week, I trust, will never come, That brags to make a sober wife of me ! HELEN. How chang'd you are, my Julia ! JULIA. Change makes change. HELEN. Why wed'st thou then ? JULIA. Because I promis'd him. HELEN. Thou lov'st him ? JULIA. Do I? HELEN. He's a man to love : A right, well-favour'd man ! JULIA. Your point's well-favoured. Where did you purchase it ? In Gracechurch-street ? HELEN. Pshaw ! never mind my point, but talk of him. JULIA. I'd rather talk with thee about the lace. SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 37 Where bought you it ? In Gracechurch-street, Cheapside, Whitechapel, Little Britain ? Can't you say Where, 'twas you bought the lace ? HELEN. In Cheapside, then. And now then to Sir Thomas ! He is just The height I like a man. JULIA. Thy feather's just The height I like a feather ! Mine's too short ! What shall I give thee in exchange for it ? HELEN. What shall I give thee for a minute's talk About Sir Thomas ? JULIA. Why, thy feather. HELEN. Take it ! CLIFFORD, (aside to MODUS). What, likes she not to speak of me ! HELEN. And now Let's talk about Sir Thomas much I'm sure He loves you. JULIA. Much I'm sure he has a right ! Those know I who would give their eyes to be Sir Thomas, for my sake ! HELEN. Such, too, know I. But 'mong them none that can compare with him, Not one so graceful. 38 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT n. JULIA. What a graceful set Your feather has ! HELEN. Nay give it back to me, Unless you pay me for't. JULIA. What was't to get ? HELEN. A minute's talk with thee about Sir Thomas. JULIA. Talk of his title, and his fortune then. CLIFFORD (aside). Indeed ! I would not listen, yet I must ! JULIA. An ample fortune, Helen I shall be A happy wife ! What routs, what balls, what masques, What gala days ! CLIFFORD (aside). For these she marries me ! She '11 talk of these! JULIA. Think not, when I am wed, I'll keep the house as owlet does her tower, Alone, when every other bird's on wing. I'll use my palfrey, Helen; and my coach; My barge too for excursions on the Thames ; What drives to Barnet, Hackney, Islington ! What rides to Epping, Hounslow, and Blackheath ! What sails to Greenwich, Woolwich, Fulham, Kew ! I'll set a pattern to your lady wives ! CLIFFORD. Ay, lady ? Trust me, not at my expense. SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 39 JULIA. And what a wardrobe ! I'll have change of suits For every day in the year ! and sets for days ! My morning dress, my noon dress, dinner dress, And evening dress ! then will I shew you lace A foot deep, can I purchase it ; if not, I'll speedily bespeak it. Diamonds too ! Not buckles, rings, and ear-rings only, but Whole necklaces and stomachers of gems ! I'll shine ! be sure I will. CLIFFORD (aside). Then shine away ; Who covets thee may wear thee ; I'm not he ! JULIA. And then my title ! Soon as I put on The ring, I'm Lady Clifford. So I take Precedence of plain mistress, were she e'en The richest heiress in the land ! At town Or country ball, you'll see me take the lead, While wives that carry on their backs the wealth To dower a princess, shall give place to me ; Will I not profit, think you, by my right ? Be sure I will ! marriage shall prove to me A never ending pageant. Every day Shall show how I am spous'd ! I will be known For Lady Clifford all the city through, And fifty miles the country round about. Wife of Sir Thomas Clifford, baronet, Not perishable knight ! who, when he makes A lady of me, doubtless must expect To see me play the part of one. CLIFFORD (coming forward). Most true. But not the part which you design to play. 40 THE HUNCHBACK. ACT n. JULIA. A list'ner, Sir ! CLIFFORD. By chance, and not intent. Your speech was forced upon mine ear, that ne'er More thankless duty to my heart discharged ! Would for that heart it ne'er had known the sense Which tells it 'tis a bankrupt there, where most It coveted to be rich, and thought it was so ! Julia ! is it you ? Could I have set A coronet upon that stately brow, Where partial nature hath already bound A brighter circlet radiant beauty's own 1 had been proud to see thee proud of it, So for the donor thou hadst ta'en the gift, Not for the gift ta'en him. Could I have pour'd The wealth of richest Crsesus in thy lap, I had been blest to see thee scatter it, So I was still thy riches paramount ! JULIA. Know you me, Sir ? CLIFFORD. I do ! On Monday week, We were to wed, and are, so you're content The day that weds,- wives you to be widowed. Take The privilege of my wife ; be Lady Clifford ! Outshine thy title in the wearing on't ! My coffers, lands, are all at thy command ; Wear all ! but, for myself, she wears not me, Although the coveted of every eye, Who would not wear me for myself alone. JULIA. And do you carry it so proudly, Sir ? CLIFFORD. Proudly, but still more sorrowfully, Lady ! SCENE in.] THE HUNCHBACK. 4] I'll lead thee to the church on Monday week. Till then, farewell ! and then, farewell for ever ! Julia, I have ventured for thy love, As the bold merchant, who, for only hope Of some rich gain, all former gains will risk. Before I asked a portion of thy heart, 1 perilPd all my own ; and now, all's lost ! [Exit CLIFFORD. JULIA. Helen ! HELEN. What ails you, sweet ! JULIA. I cannot breathe, quick, loose my girdle, oh ! (faints). MASTER WALTER and MASTER HEARTWELL come forward. WALTER. Good Master Heartwell, help to take her in, Whilst I make after him ! and look to her ! Unlucky chance, that took me out of town, \_Exeunt severally. SCENE III. THE STREET. Enter CLIFFORD and STEPHEN, meeting. STEPHEN. Letters, Sir Thomas. CLIFFORD. Take them home again, I shall not read them now. STEPHEN. Your pardon, Sir, But here is one directed strangely. 42 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACI n. CLIFFORD. How? STEPHEN. " To Master Clifford, gentleman ; now stiled Sir Thomas Clifford, baronet." CLIFFORD. Indeed ! Whence comes that letter ? STEPHEN. From abroad. CLIFFORD. Which is it? STEPHEN. So please you this, Sir Thomas. CLIFFORD. Give it me. STEPHEN. That letter brings not news, to wish him joy upon. If he was disturbed before, which I guessed by his looks he was, he is not more at ease now. His hand to his head ! A most unwelcome letter ! If it brings him news of disaster, fortune does not give him his deserts ; for never waited servant upon a kinder master. CLIFFORD. Stephen ! STEPHEN. Sir Thomas! CLIFFORD. From my door remove The plate that bears my name. STEPHEN. The plate, Sir Thomas ! CLIFFORD. The plate collect my servants and instruct them SCENE in.] THE HUNCHBACK. 43 To make out each, their claims, unto the end Of their respective terms, and give them in To my steward. Him and them apprise, good fellow, That I keep house no more. As you go home Call at my coachmaker's, and bid him stop The carriage I bespoke. The one I have Send with my horses to the mart whereat Such things are sold by auction. They're for sale Pack up my wardrobe have my trunks convey'd To the Inn in the next street and when that's done. Go round my tradesmen and collect their bills, And bring them to me, at the Inn. STEPHEN. The Inn ! CLIFFORD. Yes ; I go home no more. Why, what's the matter ? What has fallen out to make your eyes fill up ? You'll get another place. I'll certify You're honest and industrious, and all That a servant ought to be. STEPHEN. I see, Sir Thomas, Some great misfortune has befallen you ? CLIFFORD. No! I have health ; I have strength ; my reason, Stephen, and A heart that's clear in truth, with trust in God. No great disaster can befall the man Who's still possessed of these ! Good fellow, leave me, What you would learn, and have a right to know, I would not tell you now. Good Stephen, hence ! Mischance has fallen on me but what of that ? Mischance has fallen on many a better man. I prithee leave me. I grow sadder while 44 TEIE HUNCHBACK. [ACT H. I see the eye with which you view my grief. 'Sdeath they will out ! I would have been a man, Had you been less a kind and gentle one. Now, as you love me, leave me. STEPHEN. Never master So well deserv'd the love of him that serv'd him. [Exit STEPHEN. CLIFFORD. Misfortune liketh company : it seldom Visits its friends alone. Ha, Master Walter, And ruffled too ! I'm in no mood for him. % Enter MASTER WALTER. WALTER. So, Sir !- Sir Thomas Clifford ! what with speed And choler I do gasp for want of breath ! CLIFFORD. Well, Master Walter? WALTER. You're a rash young man, Sir ! Strong-headed, and wrong-headed and I fear, Sir, Not over delicate in that fine sense Which men of honour pride themselves upon ! CLIFFORD. Well, Master Walter ! WALTER. A young woman's heart, Sir, Is not a stone to carve a posey on ! Which knows not what is writ on't which you may buy, Exchange or sell, Sir, keep or give away, Sir : It is a richer yet a poorer thing ! Priceless to him that owns and prizes it; Worthless when own'd, not priz'd; which makes the man SCENE HI.] THE HUNCHBACK. 45 That covets it, obtains it, and discards it, A fool, if not a villain, Sir ! CLIFFORD. Well, Sir! WALTER. You never lov'd my ward, Sir ! CLIFFORD. The bright Heavens Bear witness that I did ! WALTER. The bright Heavens, Sir, Bear not false witness. That you lov'd her not, Is clear, for had you lov'd her, you'd have pluck'd Your heart from out your breast, 'ere cast her from your heart ! Old as I am, I know what passion is. It is the summer's heat, Sir, which in vain We look for frost in Ice, like you, Sir, knows But little of such heat ! We are wrong' d, Sir ; wrong'd ! You wear a sword, and so do I ! CLIFFORD. Well, Sir ! WALTER. You know the use, Sir, of a sword ? CLIFFORD. I do. To whip a knave, Sir, or an honest man ! A wise man or a fool atone for wrong, Or double the amount on't ! Master Walter, Touching your ward, if wrong is done, I think On my side lies the grievance. I would not say so Did I not think so. As for love look, Sir, 46 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT u. That hand's a widower's, to its first mate sworn To clasp no second one. As for amends, Sir, You're free to get them from a man in whom You've been forestall'd by fortune, for the spite Which she has vented on him, if you still Esteem him worth your anger. Please you read That letter. Now, Sir, judge if life is dear, To one so much a loser. WALTER. What, all gone ! Thy cousin living they reported dead ! CLIFFORD. Title and land, Sir, unto which add love ; All gone, save life and honour, which ere I'll lose I'll let the other go ! WALTER. We're public here, And may be interrupted. Let us seek Some spot of privacy. Your letter, Sir! (gives it back). Tho' fortune slights you, I'll not slight you ! not Your title or the lack of it I heed. Whether upon the score of love or hate With you and you alone I settle, Sir. We've gone too far. 'Twere folly now to part Without a reckoning. CLIFFORD. Just as you please. WALTER. You've done A noble lady wrong. CLIFFORD. That lady, Sir, Has done me wrong. SCENE m.J THE HUNCHBACK. 47 WALTER, Go to ! Thou art a boy Fit to be trusted with a plaything", not A woman's heart. Thou know'st not what it is ! Which I will prove to thee, soon as we find Convenient place. Come on, Sir ! you shall get A lesson that shall serve you for the rest Of your life. I'll make you own her, Sir, a piece Of Nature's handiwork, as costly, free From bias, flaw, and fair as ever yet Her cunning hand turn'd out. Come on, Sir ! come ! [Exeunt. END OF SECOND ACT. 48 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT m. ACT III. SCENE I. A DRAWING ROOM. Enter LORD TINSEL and the EARL OF ROCHDALE, TINSEL. Refuse a Lord ! A saucy lady this. I scarce can credit it. ROCHDALE. She'll change her mind. My agent, Master Walter, is her guardian. TINSEL. How can you keep that Hunchback in his office ? He mocks you. ROCHDALE. He is useful. Never heed him. My offer now do I present through him. He has the title deeds of my estates. She'll listen to their wooing. I must have her. Not that I love her, but that all allow She's fairest of the fair. TINSEL. Distinguish'd well : 'Twere most unseemly for a Lord to love ! Leave that to commoners. 'Tis vulgar she's Betroth'd, you tell me, to Sir Thomas Clifford. ROCHDALE. Yes. TINSEL. That a commoner should thwart a Lord ! SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 49 Yet not a commoner. A Baronet Is fish and flesh. Nine parts plebeian, and Patrician in the tenth. Sir Thomas Clifford ! A man, they, say of brains. I abhor brains As I do tools ! They're things mechanical. So far are we above our forefathers : They to their brains did owe their titles, as Do lawyers, doctors. We to nothing owe them, Which makes us far the nobler. ROCHDALE. Is it so ? TINSEL. Believe me. You shall profit by my training ; You grow a Lord apace. I saw you meet A bevy of your former friends, who fain Had shaken hands with you. You gave them fingers ! You're now another man. Your house is chang'd, Your table chang'd your retinue your horse Where once you rode a hack, you now back blood; Befits it then you also change your friends ! Enter WILLIAMS. WILLIAMS. A gentleman would see your lordship. TINSEL. Sir! What's that? WILLIAMS. A gentleman would see his lordship. TINSEL. How know you, Sir, his lordship is at home ? Is he at home because he goes not out ? He's not at home, though there you see him, Sir, Unless he certifies that he's at home ! E 50 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT in. Bring up the name of the gentleman, and then Your lord will know if he's at home, or not. [Exit WILLIAMS. Your man was porter to some merchant's door, Who never taught him better breeding Than to speak the vulgar truth ! Well, Sir ? WILLIAMS having re-entered. WILLIAMS. His name, So please your lordship, Markham. TINSEL. Do you know The thing ? ROCHDALE. Right well ! Ffaith a hearty fellow, Son to a worthy tradesman, who would do Great things with little means ; so enter'd him In the Temple. A good fellow on my life, Nought smacking of his stock ! TINSEL. You've said enough ! His lordship's not at home. (Exit WILLIAMS), We do not go By hearts, but orders ! Had he family Blood tho' it only were a drop his heart Would pass for something ; lacking such desert, Were it ten times the heart it is, 'tis nought ! Enter WILLIAMS. WILLIAMS. One Master Jones hath ask'd to see your lordship. TINSEL. And what was your reply to Master Jones ? SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 51 WILLIAMS. I knew not if his lordship was at home, TINSEL. You'll do. Who's Master Jones ? ROCHDALE. A curate's son. TINSEL. A curate's ? Better be a yeoman's son ! Was it the rector's son, he might be known. Because the rector is a rising man, And may become a bishop. He goes light The curate ever hath a loaded back. He may be call'd the yeoman of the church That sweating does his work, and drudges on While lives the hopeful rector at his ease. How made you his acquaintance, pray ? ROCHDALE. We read Latin and Greek together. TINSEL. Dropping them As, now that you're a lord, of course you've done Drop him. -You'll say his lordship's not at home. WILLIAMS. So please your lordship, I forgot to say, One Richard Cricket likewise is below. TINSEL. Who ? Richard Cricket ! You must see him, Rochdale ! A noble little fellow ! A great man, Sir ! Not knowing whom, you would be nobody ! I won five thousand pounds by him ! ROCHDALE, Who is he ? I never heard of him. E 2 52 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT in. TINSEL. What ! never heard Of Richard Cricket ! never heard of him ! Why, he's the jockey of Newmarket ; you May win a cup by him, or else a sweepstakes. I bade him call upon you. You must see him. His lordship is at home to Richard Cricket. ROCHDALE. Bid him wait in the anti-room. [Exit WILLIAMS, TINSEL. The anti-room ! The best room in your house ! You do not know The use of Richard Cricket ! Show him, Sir, Into the drawing room. Your lordship needs Must keep a racing stud, and you'll do well To make a friend of Richard Cricket. Well, Sir, What's that? Enter WILLIAMS. WILLIAMS. So please your lordship, a petition. TINSEL. Had'st not a service 'mongst the Hottentots Ere thou cam'st hither, friend ? Present thy lord With a petition ! At mechanics' doors, At tradesmens', shopkeepers', and merchants' only, Have such things leave to knock ! Make thy lord's gate A wicket to a workhouse ! Let us see it Subscriptions to a book of poetry ! Who heads the list? Cornelius Tense, A. M., Which means he construes Greek and Latin, works Problems in mathematics, can chop logic, And is a conjuror in philosophy, Both natural and moral. Pshaw ! a man Whom nobody, that isj any body, knows. Who think you follows him ? Why an M. D., SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 53 An F. R. S., an F. A. S., and then A D. D., Doctor of Divinity, Ushering in an LL. D., which means Doctor of Laws their harmony no doubt The difference of their trades ! There's nothing here But languages, and sciences, and arts, Not an iota of nobility ! We cannot give our names. Take back the paper, And tell the bearer there's no answer for him : That is the lordly way of saying " No." But, talking of subscriptions, here is one To which your lordship may affix your name. ROCHDALE. Pray, who's the object? TINSEL. A most worthy man ! A man of singular deserts ; a man In serving whom, your lordship will serve me, Signer Cantata. ROCHDALE. He's a friend of yours ? TINSEL. O, no, I know him not ! I've not that pleasure. But Lady Dangle knows him ; she's his friend/ He will oblige us with a set of concerts. Six concerts to the set. The set three guineas. Your lordship will subscribe ? ROCHDALE. O, by all means. TINSEL. How many sets of tickets ? Two at least. You'll like to take a friend ? I'll set you down Six guineas to Signor Cantata's concerts. And now, my Lord, we'll to him, then we'll walk. 54 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT HI. ROCHDALE. Nay, I would wait the Lady's answer. TINSEL. Wait! Take an excursion to the country ; let Her answer wait for you. ROCHDALE, Indeed? TINSEL. Indeed ! Befits a lord nought like indifference. Say an estate should fall to you, you'd take it, As it concerned more a stander by Than you. As you're a lord, be sure you ever Of that make little, other men make much of; Nor do the thing they do, but the right contrary. Where the distinction else 'twixt them and you ? [Exeunt. SCENE II. AN APARTMENT IN MASTER HEARTWELL'S HOUSE. (MASTER WALTER discovered looking through title-deeds and papers. ) So falls out every thing as I would have it, Exact in place and time. This lord's advances Receives she, as, I augur, in the spleen Of wounded pride she will, my course is clear. She comes all's well the tempest rages still. ( JULIA enters, and paces the room in a state of high excitement.) JULIA. What have my eyes to do with water ? Fire Becomes them better ! SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 55 WALTER. True. JULIA. Yet, must I weep To be so monitor 'd, and by a man ! A man that was my slave ! whom I have seen Kneel at my feet from morn till noon, content With leave to only gaze upon my face, And tell me what he read there, till the page I knew by heart, I 'gan to doubt I knew, Emblazoned by the comment of his tongue ! And he to lesson me ! Let him come here On Monday week ! He ne'er leads me to church ! I would not profit by his rank, or wealth, Tho' kings might call him cousin, for their sake ! I'll shew him I have pride ! WALTER. You're very right ! JULIA. He would have had to-day our wedding day ! I fix'd a month from this. He pray'dand pray'd, I dropp'd a week. He pray'd and pray'd the more ! I dropp'd a second one. Still more he pray'd ! And I took off another week, and now I have his leave to wed, or not to wed ! He'll see that I have pride ! WALTER. Arid so he ought. JULIA. O ! for some way to bring him to my foot ! But he should lie there ! Why, 'twill go abroad, That he has cast me off. That there should live The man could say so ! Or that I should live To be the leavings of a man ! 56 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT in. WALTER. Thy case I own a hard one. JULIA, Hard ! 'Twill drive me mad ! His wealth and title ! I refused a lord I did ! that privily implored my hand, And never cared to tell him on't ! So much I hate him now, that lord should not in vain Implore my hand again ! WALTER. You'd give it him ? JULIA. I would. WALTER. You'd wed that lord ? JULIA. That lord I'd wed; Or any other lord, only to show him That I could wed above him ! WALTER. Give me your hand And word to that. JULIA. There ! Take my hand and word ! WALTER. That lord hath offered you his hand again. JULIA. He has? WALTER. Your father knows it : he approves of him. There are the title deeds of the estates, Sent for my jealous scrutiny. All sound, SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 57 No flaw, or speck, that e'en the lynx-eyed law Itself could find. A lord of many lands ! In Berkshire half a county ; and the same In Wiltshire, and in Lancashire ! Across The Irish Sea a principality ! And not a rood with bond or lien on it ! Wilt give that lord a wife ? Wilt make thyself A countess? Here's the proffer of his hand. Write thou content, and wear a coronet ! JULIA (eagerly}. Give me the paper. WALTER. There ! Here's pen and ink. Sit down. Why do you pause? A flourish of The pen, and you're a countess. JULIA. My poor brain Whirls round and round ! I would not wed him now, Were he more lowly at my feet to sue Than e'er he did ! WALTER. Wed whom ? JULIA. Sir Thomas Clifford. WALTER. You're right. JULIA. His rank and wealth are roots to doubt ; And while they lasted, still the weed would grow, Howe'er you pluck'd it. No ! That's o'er That's done ! Was never lady wronged so foul as I ! ( Weeps.) WALTER. Thou'rt to be pitied. 58 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT in- JULIA (aroused.) Pitied ! Not so bad As that. WALTER. Indeed thou art, to love the man That spurns thee ! JULIA. Love him ! Love ! If hate could find A word more harsh than its own name, Pd take it, To speak the love I bear him ! ( Weeps.) WALTER. Write thy own name, And show him how near a kin thy hate's to hate. JULIA (writes.) 'Tis done ! WALTER. 'Tis well ! I'll come to you anon ! [Exit. JULIA (alone.) Pm glad 'tis done ! I'm very glad 'tis done ! I've done the thing I ought. From my disgrace This lord shall lift me 'bove the reach of scorn That idly wags its tongue, where wealth and state Need only beckon to have crowds to laud ! Then how the tables change ! The hand he spurn'd His betters take ! Let me remember that ! I'll grace my rank ! I will ! I'll carry it As I was born to it ! I warrant none Shall say it fits me not : but, one and all Confess I wear it bravely, as I ought ! And he shall hear it ! ay ! and he shall se it ! I will roll by him in an equipage Would mortgage his estate but he shall own His slight of me was my advancement ! Love me ! SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 59 He never lov'd me ! if he had, he ne'er Had given me up ! Love's not a spider's web But fit to mesh a fly that you can break By only blowing on't ! He never lov'd me ! He knows not what love is or, if he does, He has not been o'er chary of his peace ! And that he'll find when I'm another's wife, Lost ! lost to him for ever ! Tears again ! Why should I weep for him ? Who make their woes Deserve them ! what have I to do with tears ? Enter HELEN. HELEN. News ! Julia, news ! JULIA. What ! is't about Sir Thomas ? HELEN. Sir Thomas, say you ? He's no more Sir Thomas ! That cousin lives, as heir to whom, his wealth And title came to him. JULIA. Was he not dead ? HELEN. No more than I am dead. JULIA. I would 'twere not so. HELEN. What say you, Julia ? JULIA. Nothing ! HELEN. I could kiss That cousin ! could'nt you, Julia ? 60 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT in. JULIA. Wherefore ? HELEN. Why For coming back to life again, as 'twere Upon his cousin to revenge you. JULIA. Helen ! HELEN. Indeed, 'tis true. With what a sorry grace The gentleman will bear himself without His title ! Master Clifford ! Have you not Some token to return him ? Some love letter ? Some broach? Some pin ? Some anything ? I'll. be Your messenger, for nothing but the pleasure Of calling him, plain " Master Clifford." JULIA. Helen ! HELEN. Or has he aught of thine ? Write to him, Julia, Demanding it ! Do, Julia, if you love me ; And I'll direct it in a schoolboy's hand, As round as I can write, " To Master Clifford." JULIA. Helen ! HELEN. I'll think of fifty thousand ways To mortify him ! I've a twentieth cousin, A care-for-nought at mischief. Him I'll set With twenty other madcaps like himself, To walk the streets the traitor most frequents, And give him salutation as he passes " How do you, Master Clifford?" SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. C>L JULIA (highly incensed.) Helen ! HELEN. Bless me ! JULIA. I hate you, Helen ! Enter MODUS. MODUS. Joy for you, fair lady ! Our baronet is now plain gentleman, And hardly that, not master of the means To bear himself as such ! The kinsman lives Whose only rumour' d death gave wealth to him, And title. A hard creditor he proves. Who keeps strict reckoning will have interest, As well as principal. A ruin'd man Is now Sir Thomas Clifford. HELEN. I'm glad on't. MODUS. And so am I. A scurvy trick it was He serv'd you, Madam. Use a lady so ! I merely bore with him. I never lik'd him. HELEN. No more did I. No, never could I think He look'd his title. MODUS. No, nor acted it. If rightly they report, he ne'er disbursed To entertain his friends, 'tis broadly said, A hundred pounds in the year. He was most poor, In the appointments of a man of rank. Possessing wealth like his. His horses, hacks ! 62 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT in. His gentleman, a footman ! and his footman, A groom ! The sports that men of quality And spirit countenance, he kept aloof from, From scruple of economy, not taste, As racing and the like. In brief he lack'd Those shining points that, more than name, denote High breeding"; and, moreover, was a man Of very shallow learning. JULIA. Silence Sir ! For shame ! HELEN. Why Julia ! JULIA. Speak not to me ! Poor ! Most poor ! I tell you, Sir, he was the making Of fifty gentlemen each one of whom Were more than peer for thee ! His title, Sir, Lent him no grace, he did not pay it back ! Tho' it had been the highest of the high He would have look'd it, felt it, acted it, As thou could'st ne'er have done ! When found you out You lik'd him not ? It was not ere to day ! Or that base spirit I must reckon your's Which smiles where it would scowl can stoop to hate And fear to show it ! He was your better, Sir, And is ! Ay, is ! tho' stripped of rank and wealth His nature's 'bove or fortune's love or spite, To blazon or to blur it ! (Retires. ) MODUS (to HELEN.) I was told Much to disparage him I know not wherefore. HELEN. And so was I, and know as much the cause. SCENE it.] THE HUNCHBACK. 63 Enter MASTER WALTER with parchments. WALTER. Joy, my Julia ! Impatient love has foresight ! Lo you here The marriage deeds filPd up, except a blank To write your jointure. What you will, my girl ! Is this a lover ? Look ! Three thousand pounds Per annum for your private charges ! Ha ! There's pin money ! Is this a lover ? Mark What acres, forests, tenements, are tax'd For your revenue ; and so set apart, That finger cannot touch them, save thine own. Is this a lover ? What good fortune's thine ! Thou dost not speak ; but, 'tis the way with joy ! With richest heart, it has the poorest tongue ! MODUS. What great good fortune's this you speak of, Sir ? WALTER. A coronet, Master Modus ! You behold The wife elect, Sir, of no less a man Than the new Earl of Rochdale heir of him That's recently deceased. HELEN. My dearest Julia, Much joy to you ! MODUS. All good attend you, Madam ! WALTER. This letter brings excuses from his lordship, Whose absence it accounts for. He repairs To his estate in Lancashire, and thither We follow. JULIA. When, Sir? 64 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT in. WALTER. Now. This very hour. JULIA. This very hour ! Oh cruel, fatal haste ! WALTER. " O cruel, fatal haste !" What meanest thou ? Have I done wrong to do thy bidding, then ? I have done no more. Thou wast an off-cast bride, And would'st be an affianc'd one thou art so ! Thou'dst have the slight that mark'd thee out for scorn, Converted to a means of gracing thee It is so ! If our wishes come too soon, What can make sure of welcome ? In my zeal To win thee thine, thou know'st, at any time I'd play the steed, whose will to serve his lord, With his last breath gives his last bound for him ! Since only noon have I despatched what well Had kept a brace of clerks, and more, on foot, And then, perhaps, had been to do again ! No\ finish' d, sure, complete the compact firm, As fate itself had seal'd it I JULIA., Give you thanks ! Tho' 'twere my death ! my death ! WALTER. Thy death ! Indeed, For happiness like this, one well might die ! Take thy lord's letter ! Well ? Enter THOMAS with a letter. THOMAS. This letter, Sir, The gentleman that serv'd Sir Thomas Clifford Or him that was Sir Thomas gave to me For mistress Julia. SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 65 JULIA. Give it me ! ( Throwing away the one she holds. ) WALTER (snatching it). For what ? Would 'st read it ? He's a bankrupt ! stripped of title House, chattels, lands and all ! A naked bankrupt, With neither purse, nor trust ! Would'st read his letter ? A beggar ! Yea, a beggar ! fasts, unless He dines on alms ! How durst he send thee a letter ! A fellow cut on this hand, and on that ; Bows and is cut again, and bows again ! Who pays you fifty smiles for half a one, And that given grudgingly ! To send you letter ! I burst with choler ! Thus I treat his letter ! ( Tears and throws it on the ground.) So ! I was wrong to let him ruffle me ; He is not worth the spending anger on ! I prithee, Master Modus, use despatch, And presently make ready for our ride. You, Helen, to my Julia look a change Of dresses will suffice. She must have new ones, Matches for her new state ! Haste, friends. My Julia ! Why stand you poring there upon the ground ? Time flies. Your rise astounds you? Never heed You'll play my lady countess like a queen ! {Exeunt. END OF THIRD ACT. 66 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv ACT IV. SCENE I. A ROOM IN THE EARL OF ROCHDALE'S. Enter HELEN. . HELEN. I'M weary wandering from room to room ; A castle after all is but a house The dullest one when lacking company ! Were I at home I could be company Unto myself. I see not Master Walter. He's ever with his ward. I see not her. By Master Walter will she bide, alone. My father stops in town. I can't see him. My cousin makes his books his company. I'll go to bed and sleep. No I'll stay up And plague my cousin into making love ! For, that he loves me, shrewdly I suspect. How dull he is that hath not sense to see What lies before him, and he'd like to find. I'll change my treatment of him. Cross him, where Before I used to humour him. He comes Poring upon a book. What's that you read ? Enter MODUS. MODUS. Latin, sweet cousin. SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 67 HELEN. 'Tis a naughty tongue I fear, and teaches men to lie. MODUS. To lie ! HELEN. You study it. You call your cousin sweet, And treat her as you would a crab. As sour 'Twould seem you think her, so you covet her ! Why how the monster stares, and looks about ! You construe Latin, and can't construe that. MODUS. I never studied women. HELEN. No ; nor men. Else would you better know their ways ; nor read In presence of a lady. (Strikes the book from his hand). MODUS. Right you say, And well you serv'd me cousin, so to strike The volume from my hand. I own my fault ; So please you, may I pick it up again ? I'll put it in my pocket ! HELEN. Pick it up. He fears me, as I were his grandmother ! What is the book ? MODUS. 'Tis Ovid's Art of Love. HELEN. That Ovid was a fool ! MODUS. In what ? 68 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. HELEN. In that. To call that thing an art, which art is none. MODUS. And is not love an art ? HELEN. Are you a fool, As well as Ovid ? Love an art ! No art But taketh time and pains to learn. Love comes With neither. Is't to hoard such grain as that, You went to College ? Better stay at home, And study homely English. MODUS. Nay, you know not The argument. HELEN. I don't ? I know it better Than ever Ovid did ! The face, the form, The heart, the mind we fancy, cousin ; that's The argument ! Why, cousin, you know nothing. Suppose a lady were in love with thee, Could'st thou, by Ovid, cousin, find it out ? Could'st find it out, was't thou in love thyself ? Could Ovid, cousin, teach thee to make love ? I could, that never read him. You begin With melancholy ; then to sadness ; then To sickness ; then to dying but not die ! She would not let thee, were she of my mind ; She'd take compassion on thee. Then for hope ; From hope to confidence ; from confidence To boldness; then you'd speak; at first entreat; Then urge ; then flout ; then argue ; then enforce ; Make prisoner of her hand ; besiege her waist ; SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 69 Threaten her lips with storming ; keep thy word And carry her ! My sampler 'gainst thy Ovid ! Why cousin, are you frighten 'd, that you stand As you were stricken dumb ? The case is clear, You are no soldier. You'll ne'er win a battle. You care too much for blows ! MODUS. You wrong me there. At School I was the champion of my form, And since I went to College HELEN. That for college ! MODUS. Nay, hear me ! HELEN. Well ? What, since you went to college ? You know what men are set down for, who boast Of their own bravery. Go on, brave cousin ! What, since you went to college ? Was there not One Quentin Halworth there ? You know there was, And that he was your master ! MODUS. He my master ! Thrice was he worsted by me. HELEN. Still was he Your master. MODUS. He allow'd I had the best ! Allow 'd it, mark me ! nor to me alone, But twenty I could name. HELEN. And master'd you 70 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. At last ! Confess it, cousin, 'tis the truth. A proctor's daughter you did both affect Look at me and deny it ! Of the twain She more affected you ; I've caught you now, Bold cousin ! Mark you ! opportunity On opportunity she gave you, Sir, Deny it if you can ! but tho' to others, When you discours'd of her, you were a flame ; To her you were a wick that would not light, Tho' held in the very fire ! And so he won her Won her, because he woo'd her like a man. For all your cuffings, cuffing you again With most usurious interest. Now, Sir, Protest that you are valiant ! MODUS. Cousin Helen ! HELEN. Well, Sir? MODUS. The tale is all a forgery ! HELEN. A forgery ! MODUS. From first to last, ne'er spoke I To a proctor's daughter while I was at college. HELEN. 'Twas a scrivener's then or somebody's. But what concerns it whose ? Enough, you lov'd her, And shame upon you, let another take her ! MODUS. Cousin, I tell you, if you'll only hear me I lov'd no woman while I was at college Save one, and her I fancied ere I went there. SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 71 HELEN. Indeed ! Now I'll retreat, if he's advancing. Comes he not on ! O what a stock's the man ? Well, cousin? MODUS. Well ! What more would 'st have me say ? I think I've said enough. HELEN. And so think I. I did but jest with you. You are not angry? Shake hands ! Why, cousin, do you squeeze me so ? MODUS ( letting her go. ) I swear I squeezed you not ! HELEN. You did not ? MODUS. No, I'll die if I did ! HELEN. Why then you did not, cousin, So let's shake hands again (he takes her hand as before) O go and now Read Ovid ! Cousin, will you tell me one thing. Wore lovers ruffs in Master Ovid's time ? Behov'd him teach them then, to put them on: And that you have to learn. Hold up your head! Why cousin, how you blush. Plague on the ruff ! I cannot give 't a set. You're blushing still ! Why do you blush, dear cousin ? So ! 'twill beat me ! I'll give it up. MODUS. Nay, prithee don't try on ! HELEN. And if I do, I fear you'll think me bold. 72 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. MODUS. For what ? HELEN. To trust my face so near to thine. MODUS. I know not what you mean. HELEN. I'm glad you don't ! Cousin, I own right well behav'd you are, Most marvellously well behav'd I They've bred You well at college. With another man My lips would be in danger ! Hang the ruff ! MODUS. Nay, give it up, nor plague thyself, dear cousin. HELEN. Dear fool ! (Throws the ruff on the ground.} I swear the ruff is good for just As little as its master ! There ! 'Tis spoil'd You'll have to get another. Hie for it And wear it in the fashion of a wisp, Ere I adjust it for thee ! Farewell, cousin ! You'd need to study Ovid's Art of Love. [Exit HELEN. MODUS (solus.} Went she in anger ! I will follow her, No, I will not ! Heigho ! I love my cousin I O would that she lov'd me ! Why did she taunt me With backwardness in love ? What could she mean ? Sees she I love her, and so laughs at me, Because I lack the front to woo her ? Nay, I'll woo her then ! Her lips shall be in danger, When next she trusts them near me ! Look'd she at me To day, as never did she look before ! SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 73 A bold heart, Master Modus ! 'Tis a saying, A faint one never won fair lady yet ! I'll woo my cousin, come what will on't ! Yes ! (Begins reading again., throws down the book.) Hang Ovid's Art of Love ! I'll woo my cousin ! SCENE II. THE BANQUETTING ROOM IN THE EARL OF ROCHDALE'S MANSION. Enter MASTER WALTER and JULIA. WALTER. This is the banquetting room. Thou see'st as far It leaves the last behind, as that excels The former ones. All is proportion here And harmony ! Observe ! The massy pillars May well look proud to bear the gilded dome. You mark those full length portraits ? They're the heads, The stately heads, of his ancestral line. Here o'er the feast they aptly still preside ! Mark those medallions ! Stand they forth or not In bold and fair relief? Is not this brave ? JULIA (abstractedly.) It is. WALTER. It should be so. To cheer the blood That flows in noble veins is made the feast That gladdens here ! You see this drapery ? 'Tis richest velvet ! Fringe and tassels, gold ! Is not this costly ? JULIA. Yes. 74 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. WALTER. And chaste, the while ? Both chaste and costly ? JULIA. Yes. WALTER. Come hither ! There's a mirror for you. See ! One sheet from floor to ceiling ! Look into it, Salute its mistress ! Dost not know her ? JULIA (sighing deeply.) Yes ! WALTER, And sighest thou to know her ? Wait until To-morrow, when the banquet shall be spread In the fair hall ; the guests already bid, Around it ; here, her lord ; and there, herself ; Presiding o'er the cheer that hails him bridegroom, And her the happy bride ! Dost hear me ? JULIA (sighing still more deeply.) Yes. WALTER. These are the day rooms only, we have seen, For public, and domestic uses kept. I'll show you now the lodging rooms. (Goes, then turns and observes JULIA standing perfectly abstracted.) You're tired. Let be 'till after dinner then. Yet one I'd like thee much to see the bridal chamber. (JULIA starts, crosses her hands upon her breast, and looks upwards.) I see you're tired ; yet is it worth the viewing, If only for the tapestry which shows The needle like the pencil glows with life : (Brings down chairs, they sit.) SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 75 The story's of a page who lov'd the dame He served a princess ! Love's a heedless thing ! That never takes account of obstacles ; Makes plains of mountains, rivulets of seas, That part it from its wish. So proved the page, Who from a state so lowly looked so high, But love's a greater lackwit still than this. Say it aspires that's gain ! Love stoops that's loss ! You know what comes. The princess lov'd the page. Shall I go on, or here leave off? JULIA. Go on. WALTER. Each side of the chamber shows a different stage Of this fond page, and fonder lady's love.* First no, it is not that. JULIA. O, recollect ! WALTER. And yet it is ! JULIA. No doubt it is. What is't ? * In representation, the passages following this are curtailed and the scene runs as follows : Master Walter continues The first side shows their passion in the dawn In the next side 'tis shining open day In the third there's clouding, I but touch on these To make a long tale brief, and bring thee to The last side. JULIA. What shows that ? WALTER. The fate of love That will not be advised. The scene's a dungeon, It's tenant is the page he lies in fetters. JULIA. Hard! Hard as the steel, the hands that put them on ! &c. 76 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. WALTER. He holds to her a salver, with a cup : His cheek more mantling with his passion, than The cup with the ruby wine. She heeds him not, For too great heed of him ; but seems to hold Debate betwixt her passion and her pride, That's like to lose the day. You read it in Her vacant eye, knit brow, and parted lips, Which speak a heart too busy all within To note what's done without. Like you the tale ? JULIA. I list to every word. WALTER. The next side paints The page upon his knee. He has told his tale ; And found that, when he lost his heart, he play'd No losing game ; but won a richer one ! There may you read in him, how love would seem Most humble when most bold, you question which Appears to kiss her hand his breath, or lips ! In her you read how wholly lost is she Who trusts her heart to love. Shall I give o'er ? JULIA. Nay, tell it to the end. Is't melancholy ? WALTER. To answer that, would mar the story. JULIA. Right. WALTER. The third side now we come to. JULIA. What shews that ? WALTER. The page and princess still. But stands her sire SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 77 Between them. Stern he grasps his daughter's arm, Whose eyes like fountains play ; while thro' her tears Her passion shines, as, thro' the fountain drops, The sun ! His minions crowd around the page ! They drag him to a dungeon. JULIA. Hapless youth ! WALTER. Hapless indeed, that's twice a captive ! heart And body both in bonds. But that's the chain, Which balance cannot weigh, rule measure, touch Define the texture of, or eye detect, That's forged by the subtle craft of love ! No need to tell you that he wears it. Such The cunning of the hand that plied the loom, YouVe but to mark the straining of his eye, To feel the coil yourself ! JULIA. I feel 't without ! You've finished with the third side ; now the fourth ! WALTER. It brings us to a dungeon, then. JULIA. The page, The thrall of love, more than the dungeon's thrall, Is there? WALTER. He is. He lies in fetters. JULIA. Hard ! Hard as the steel, the hands that put them on. WALTER. Some one unrivets them ! JULIA. The princess ? 'Tis ! 78 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. WALTER. It is another page. JULIA. It is herself! WALTER. Her skin is fair; and his is berry-brown. His locks are raven black ; and her's are gold. JULIA. Love's cunning of disguises ! spite of locks, Skin, vesture, it is she, and only she ! What will not constant woman do for love That's lov'd with constancy ! Set her the task, Virtue approving, that will baffle her ! O'ertax her stooping, patience, courage, wit ! My life upon it, 'tis the princess' self, Transform'd into a page ! WALTER. The dungeon door Stands open, and you see beyond JULIA. Her father ! WALTER. No ; a steed. JULIA (starting up.) O, welcome steed, My heart bounds at the thought of thee ! Thou com'st To bear the page from bonds, to liberty. What else ? WALTER (rising.) The story's told. JULIA. Too briefly told ; O happy princess, that had wealth and state To lay them down for love ! Whose constant love SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 79 Appearances approv'd, not falsified ! A winner in thy loss as well as gain. WALTER. Weighs love so much ? JULIA. What would you weigh 'gainst love. That's true ? Tell me with what you'd turn the scale ? Yea, make the index waver ? Wealth ? A feather ! Rank ? Tinsel against bullion in the balance ! The love of kindred ? That to set 'gainst love ! Friendship comes nearest to 't ; but put it in, Friendship will kick the beam ! weigh nothing 'gainst it ! Weigh love against the world ! Yet are they happy that have nought to say to it. WALTER. And such a one art thou. Who wisely wed, Wed happily. The love thou speak 'st of A flower is only, that its season has Which they must look to see the withering of, Who pleasure in its budding and its bloom ! But wisdom is the constant evergreen Which lives the whole year through ! Be that your flower ! Enter a SERVANT. Well? SERVANT. My Lord's secretary is without. He brings a letter for her ladyship, And craves admittance to her. WALTER. Show him in. JULIA. No! 80 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. WALTER. Thou must see him. To show slight to him, Were slighting him that sent him. Show him in ! \_Exit SERVANT. Some errand proper for thy private ear, Besides the letter, he may bring. What mean This paleness and this trembling ? Mark me, Julia ! If, from these nuptials, which thyself invited Which, at thy seeking, came thou would'st be freed, Thou hast gone too far ! Receding were disgrace, Sooner than see thee suffer which, the hearts That love thee most, would wish thee dead ! Reflect ! Take thought ! Collect thyself ! With dignity Receive thy bridegroom's messenger ! for sure As dawns to-morrow's sun, to-morrow night Sees thee a wedded bride ! [Exit. JULIA (alone.) A wedded bride ! Is't a dream ? Is't a phantasm ? 'Tis Too horrible for reality ! for aught else Too palpable ! O would it were a dream ! How would I bless the sun that wak'd me from it ! I perish ! Like some desperate-mariner Impatient of a strange, and hostile land, Who rashly hoists his sail, and puts to sea, And being fast on reefs and quicksands borne, Essays in vain once more to make the land, Whence wind and current drive him, I'm wreck'd By mine own act ! What ! no escape ? no hope ? None ! I must e'en abide these hated nuptials ! Hated ! Ay ! own it, and then curse thyself ! That mad'st the bane thou loathest for the love Thou bearest to one, who never can be thine ! SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 81 Yes love ! Deceive thyself no longer. False To say 'tis pity for his fall, respect, Engender 'd by a hollow world's disdain, Which hoots whom fickle fortune cheers no more ! 'Tis none of these : 'tis love and if not love, Why then idolatry ! Ay, that's the name To speak the broadest, deepest, strongest passion, That ever woman's heart was borne away by ! He comes ! Thou'dst play the lady, play it now ! Enter a SERVANT, conducting CLIFFORD, plainly attired as the EARL OF ROCHDALE'S Secretary. SERVANT. His lordship's secretary. [Exit Servant. JULIA. Speaks he not ? Or does he wait for orders to unfold His business ? Stopp'd his business till I spoke, I'd hold my peace for ever! (CLIFFORD kneels; pre- senting a letter.) Does he^kneel ? A lady am I to my heart's content ! Could he unmake me that which claims his knee, I'd kneel to him, I would ! 1 would ! Your will ? CLIFFORD. This letter from my lord. JULIA. fate ! who speaks ? CLIFFORD. The secretary of my lord. JULIA. 1 breathe ! I could have sworn 'twas he ! (Makes an effort to look at him but is unable.) G 82 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. So like the voice I dare not look, lest there the form should stand ! How came he by that voice ? 'Tis Clifford's voice, If ever Clifford spoke ! My fears come back Clifford the secretary of my lord ! Fortune hath freaks, but none so mad as that ! It cannot be it should not be ! a look, And all were set at rest. ( Tries to look at him again but cannot.) So strong my fears, Dread to confirm them takes away the power To try and end them ! Come the worst, I'll look. (She tries again ; and again is unequal to the task.) I'd sink before him, if I met his eye ! CLIFFORD. Wilt please your ladyship to take the letter ? JULIA. There Clifford speaks again ! Not Clifford's heart Could more make Clifford's voice ! Not Clifford's tongue And lips more frame it into Clifford's speech ! A question, and 'tis over ! Know I you ? CLIFFORD. Reverse of fortune, lady, changes friends : It turns them into strangers. What I am, I have not always been ! JULIA. Could I not name you ? CLIFFORD. If your disdain for one, perhaps too bold When hollow fortune call'd him favourite, Now by her fickleness perforce reduced To take an humble tone, would suffer you JULIA. I might ? SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 83 CLIFFORD. You might ! JULIA. Clifford! is it you? CLIFFORD. Your answer to my lord. (Gives the letter.) JULIA. Your lord ! (Mechanically taking it.) CLIFFORD. Wilt write it? Or, will it please you send a verbal one ? I'll bear it faithfully. JULIA. You'll bear it? CLIFFORD. Madam, Your pardon, but my haste is somewhat urgent. My lord's impatient, and to use despatch Were his repeated orders. JULIA. Orders? Well, I'll read the letter, Sir. 'Tis right you mind His lordship's orders. They are paramount ! Nothing should supersede them ! stand beside them ! They merit all your care, and have it ! Fit, Most fit they should ! Give me the letter, Sir. CLIFFORD. You have it, Madam. JULIA. So ! How poor a thing 1 look ! so lost, while he is all himself ! Have I no pride ? (She rings, the Servant enters.) Paper, and pen and ink ! 84 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT i. If he can freeze, 'tis time that I grow cold ! I'll read the letter. ( Opens it, and holds it as about to read it. ) Mind his orders ! So ! Quickly he fits his habits to his fortunes ! He serves my lord with all his will ! His heart's In his vocation So ! Is this the letter ? 'Tis upside down and here I'm poring on't ! Most fit I let him see me play the fool ! Shame Let me be myself ! (A servant enters with materials for writing.) A table, Sir, And chair. ( The servant brings a table and chair, and goes out. She sits awhile, vacantly gazing on the letter then looks at CLIFFORD. How plainly shows his humble suit ! It fits not him that wears it ! I have wronged him I He can't be happy does not look it ! is not. That eye which reads the ground is argument Enough ! He loves me. There I let him stand, And I am sitting ! (Rises, takes a chair, and approaches CLIFFORD. Pray you take a chair. (He bows as acknowledging, and declining the honour. She looks at him awhile.) Clifford, why don't you speak to me ? (She weeps.) CLIFFORD. I trust You're happy. JULIA. Happy ! Very, very happy ! You see I weep, I am so happy ! Tears Are signs, you know, of nought but happiness ! When first I saw you, little did I look To be so happy ! Clifford ! SCENE H.J THE HUNCHBACK. 85 CLIFFORD. Madam ? JULIA. Madam ! I call thee Clifford, and thou call'st me madam ! CLIFFORD. Such the address my duty stints me to. Thou art the wife elect of a proud Earl Whose humble secretary sole, am T. JULIA. Most right ! I had forgot ! I thank you, Sir, For so reminding me ; and give you joy, That what, I see, had been a burthen to you, Is fairly off your hands. CLIFFORD. A burthen to me ! Mean you yourself ? Are you that burthen, Julia ? Say that the sun's a burthen to the earth ! Say that the blood's a burthen to the heart ! Say health's a burthen, peace, contentment, joy, Fame, riches, honours ! every thing that man Desires, and gives the name of blessing to ! E'en such a burthen, Julia were to me, Had fortune let me wear her. JULIA (aside.) On the brink Of what a precipice I'm standing ! Back ! Back ! while the faculty remains to do't ! A minute longer, not the whirlpool's self More sure to suck thee down ! One effort ! There ! (She returns to her seat, recovers her self-possession, takes up the letter, and reads.) To wed to-morrow night ! Wed whom ? A man Whom I can never love ! I should before 86 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. Have thought of that. To-morrow night ! This hour To-morrow ! How I tremble ! Happy bands To which my heart such freezing welcome gives, As sends an ague through me ! At what means Will not the desperate snatch ! What's honour's price ? Nor friends, nor lovers, no, nor life itself ! Clifford ! This moment, leave me! (CLIFFORD retires up the stage, out of Julia's sight. ) Is he gone ! O docile lover ! Do his mistress wish That went against his own ! Do it so soon ! Ere well 'twas utter'd ! No good bye to her ! No word ! no look ! 'Twas best that so he went ! Alas, the strait of her, who owns that best, Which last she'd wish were done ! What's left me now? To weep ! To weep ! (Leans her head upon her arm, which rests upon the desk, her other arm hanging listless at her side. CLIFFORD comes down the stage, looks a moment at her, approaches her, and kneeling, takes her hand. CLIFFORD. My Julia ! JULIA. Here again, Up ! up ! By all thy hopes of heaven go hence ! To stay's perdition to me ! Look you, Clifford ! Were there a grave where thou art kneeling now, I'd walk into 't, and be inearth'd alive, Ere taint should touch my name ! Should some one come And see thee kneeling thus ! Let go my hand ! Remember, Clifford, I'm a promis'd bride And take thy arm away ! It has no right To clasp my waist ! Judge you so poorly of me, SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 87 As think I'll suffer this ? My honour, Sir ! (She breaks from him, quitting her seat.) I'm glad you've forc'd me to respect myself You'll find that I can do so ! CLIFFORD. I was bold Forgetful of your station and my own. There was a time I held your hand unchid ! There was a time I might have clasp 'd your waist I had forgot that time was past and gone ! I pray you, pardon me ! JULIA (softened.) I do so, Clifford. CLIFFORD. I shall no more offend. JULIA. Make sure of that. No longer is it fit thou keep'st thy post In's lordship's household. Give it up ! A day An hour remain not in it ! CLIFFORD. Wherefore ? JULIA. Live In the same house with me, and I another's ? Put miles, put leagues between us ! The same land Should not contain us. Oceans should divide us With barriers of constant tempests such As mariners durst not tempt ! O Clifford ! Rash was the act so light that gave me up, That stung a woman's pride, and drove her mad 'Till in her phrensy, she destroy 'd her peace ! O, it was rashly done ! Had you reprov'd Expostulated, had you reason'd with me 88 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. Tried to find out what was indeed my heart, I would have shewn it you'd have seen it. All Had been as nought can ever be again ! CLIFFORD. Lov'st thou me, Julia ? JULIA. Dost thou ask me, Clifford ? CLIFFORD. These nuptials may be shunn'd JULIA. With honour ? CLIFFORD. Yes. JULIA. Then take me ! Stop hear me, and take me then ! Let not thy passion be my counsellor ! Deal with me, Clifford, as my brother. Be The jealous guardian of my spotless name ! Scan thou my cause as 'twere thy sister's ! Let Thy scrutiny o'erlook no point of it, Nor turn it over once, but many a time : That flaw, speck, yea the shade of one, a soil So slight, not one out of a thousand eyes Could find it out, may not escape thee ; then Say if these nuptials can be shunn'd with honour ! CLIFFORD. They can. JULIA. Then take me, Clifford! ( TJiey embrace.) WALTER (entering.) Ha! What's this? Ha ! treason ! What ! my baronet that was. My secretary now ? Your servant, Sir ! SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 89 Is't thus you do the pleasure of your lord, That for your service^ feeds you, clothes you, pays you ? Or tak'st thou but the name of his dependent ? What's here ? a letter. Fifty crowns to one A forgery ! I'm wrong. It is his hand. This proves thee double traitor I CLIFFORD. Traitor ! JULIA. Nay, Control thy wrath, good Master Walter I Do, And I'll persuade him to go hence. (MASTER WALTER retires up the stage.) I see For me thou bearest this, and thank thee, Clifford ! As thou hast truly shown thy heart to me, So truly I to thee have open'd mine ! Time flies ! To-morrow ! If thy love can find A way, such as thou said'st, for my enlargement, By any means thou can'st, apprize me of it, And soon as shown, I'll take it. WALTER. Is he gone ? JULIA. He is this moment ! If thou covet'st me, Win me, and wear me ! May I trust thee ? Oh ! If that's thy soul, that's looking thro' thine eye, Thou lov'st me, and I may ! I sicken, lest I never see thee more ! CLIFFORD. As life is mine, The ring that on thy wedding finger goes, No hand but mine shall place there ! WALTER. Lingers he ? 90 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT iv. JULIA. For my sake, now away ! And yet a word. By all thy hopes most dear, be true to me ! Go now ! Yet stay ! Clifford, while you are here, I'm like a bark distress 'd, and compassless, That by a beacon steers ; when you're away, That bark alone, and tossing miles at sea ! Now go ! Farewell ! My compass beacon land ! When shall my eyes be bless 'd with thee again ! CLIFFORD. Farewell ! [Exit. JULIA. Ar't gone ! All's chance all's care all's darkness ! lls led off by MASTER WALTER. END OF THE FOURTH ACT. SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 91 ACT V. SCENE I. AN APARTMENT IN THE EARL OF ROCHDALE'S. Enter HELEN and FATHOM. FATHOM. The long and the short of it is this if she marries this Lord, she'll break her heart ! I wish you could see her, madam. Poor lady ! HELEN. How looks she, prithee ? FATHOM. Marry, for all the world like a dripping wet cambrick handkerchief ! She has no colour nor strength in her ; and does nothing but weep poor lady ! HELEN. Tell me again what said she to thee ? FATHOM. She offered me all she was mistress of to take the letter to Master Clifford. She drew her purse from her pocket the ring from her finger she took her very ear- rings out of her ears, but I was forbidden, and refused. And now I'm sorry for it ! Poor lady ! HELEN. Thou should'st be sorry. Thou hast a hard heart, Fathom. FATHOM. I, madam ! My heart is as soft as a woman's. You 92 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. should have seen me when I came out of her chamber poor lady ! HELEN. Did you cry ? FATHOM. No ; but I was as near it as possible. I a hard heart ! I would do any thing to serve her, poor sweet lady ! HELEN. Will you take her letter, asks she you again ? FATHOM. No I am forbid. HELEN. Will you help Master Clifford to an interview with her ? FATHOM. No Master Walter would find it out. HELEN. Will you contrive to get me into her chamber ? FATHOM. No you would be sure to bring me into mischief. HELEN. Go to ! You would do nothing to serve her. You a soft heart ! You have no heart at all ! You feel not for her ! FATHOM. But I tell you I do and good right I have to feel for her. I have been in love myself. HELEN. With your dinner ! FATHOM. I would it had been ! My pain would have soon been over, and at little cost. A fortune I squandered upon her ! trinkets trimmings treatings what swallowed SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 93 up the revenue of a whole year ! Wasn't I in love ? Six months I courted her, and a dozen crowns all but one did I disburse for her in that time ! Wasn't I in love ? An hostler a tapster and a constable, courted her at the same time, and I offered to cudgel the whole three of them for her ! Wasn't I in love ? HELEN. You are a valiant man, Fathom. FATHOM. Am not I ? Walks not the earth the man I am afraid of! HELEN. Fear you not Master Walter ? FATHOM. No. HELEN. You do. FATHOM. I don't. HELEN. I'll prove it to you. You see him breaking your young mistress's heart, and have not the manhood to stand by her. FATHOM, What could I do for her? HELEN. Let her out of prison. It were the act of a man. FATHOM. That man am I ! HELEN. Well said, brave Fathom ! FATHOM. But my place ! HELEN. I'll provide thee with a better one. 94 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. FATHOM. 'Tis a capital place ! So little to do, and so much to get for't. Six pounds in the year; two suits of livery; shoes and stockings, and a famous larder. He'd be a bold man that would put such a place in jeopardy. My place, Madam, my place ! HELEN. I tell thee I'll provide thee with a better place. Thou shalt have less to do, and more to get Now, Fathom, hast thou courage to stand by thy mistress ? FATHOM. I have ! HELEN. That's right. FATHOM. I'll let my lady out. Enter MASTER WALTER unperceived. HELEN. That's right. When, Fathom ? FATHOM. To night. HELEN. She is to be married to night. FATHOM. This evening then. Master Walter is now in the library, the key is on the outside, and I'll lock him in. HELEN. Excellent! You'll do it? FATHOM. Rely upon it. How he'll stare when he finds himself a prisoner, and my young lady at liberty. HELEN. Most excellent ! You'll be sure to do it ? SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 95 FATHOM. Depend upon me ! When Fathom undertakes a thing, he defies fire and water w ALTE R . (coming forward.) Fathom ! FATHOM. Sir! WALTER. Assemble straight the servants. FATHOM. Yes, Sir! WALTER. Mind, And have them in the hall when I come down. FATHOM. Yes, Sir ! WALTER. And see you do not stir a step, But where I order you. FATHOM. Not an inch, Sir ! WALTER. See that you don't, away ! So, my fair mistress, [Exit FATHOM. What's this you have been plotting ? An escape For mistress Julia ? HELEN. I avow it. WALTER. Do you ? HELEN. Yes ; and moreover to your face I tell you, Most hardly do you use her. 96 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. WALTER. Verily ! HELEN. I wonder where's her spirit ! Had she mine She would not tak't so easily. Do you mean To force this marriage on her ? WALTER. With your leave. HELEN. You laugh. WALTER. Without it then. I don't laugh now. HELEN. If I were she, I'd find a way to escape. WALTER. What would you do ? HELEN. I'd leap out of the window ! WALTER. Your window should be barr'd. HELEN. I'd cheat you still ! I'd hang myself ere I'd be forced to marry ! WALTER. Well said ! you shall be married then, to-night. HELEN. Married to-night ! WALTER. As sure as I have said it. HELEN. Two words to that. Pray who's to be my bridegroom ? WALTER A daughter's husband is her father's choice. SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 97 HELEN. My father's daughter ne'er shall wed such husband ! WALTER. Indeed ! HELEN. I'll pick a husband for myself. WALTER. Indeed ! HELEN. Indeed, Sir ; and indeed again ! WALTER. Go dress you for the marriage ceremony. HELEN. But Master Walter, what is it you mean ? Enter MODUS. WALTER. Here comes your cousin ; he shall be your bridesman ! The thought's a sudden one, that will excuse Defect in your appointments. A plain dress, So 'tis of white, will do. HELEN. I'll dress in black. I'll quit the castle. WALTER. That you shall not do. It's doors are guarded by my lord's domestics. It's avenues it's grounds : what you must do, Do with a good grace. In an hour, or less, Your father will be here. Make up your mind To take with thankfulness the man he gives you. Now, (aside) if they find not out how beat their hearts, I have no skill, not I, in feeling pulses. [Exit. HELEN. Why, cousin Modus ! What ! will you stand by H 98 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. And see me forced to marry ? Cousin Modus, Have you not got a tongue ? Have you not eyes ? Do you not see I'm very very ill, And not a chair in all the corridor ? MODUS. I'll find one in the study. HELEN* Hang the study ! MODUS. My room's at hand. I'll fetch one thence. HELEN. You shan't ! I'd faint ere you came back ! MODUS. What shall I do? HELEN. Why don't you offer to support me ? Well ? Give me your arm be quick ! ( MODUS offers his arm.) Is that the way To help a lady when she's like to faint ? I'll drop unless you catch me ! ( MODUS supports her.) That will do; I'm better now ( MODUS offers to leave her) don't leave me ! Is one well Because one's better ? Hold my hand. Keep so. I'll soon recover so you move not. Loves he (aside.) Which I'll be sworn he does, he'll own it now. Well, cousin Modus? MODUS. Well ! sweet cousin ? HELEN. Well? You heard what Master Walter said ? SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 99 MODUS. I did. HELEN. And would you have me marry ? Can't you speak ? Say yes or no. MODUS. No, cousin. HELEN. Bravely said ! And why, my gallant cousin ? MODUS. Why? HELEN. Ah, why? Women you know are fond of reasons why Would you not have me marry ? How you blush ! Is it because you do not know the reason ? You mind me of a story of a cousin Who once her cousin such a question asked. He had not been to college tho' for books, Had pass'd his time in reading ladies eyes, Which he could construe marvellously well, Tho' writ in language all symbolical. Thus stood they once together, on a day As we stand now discoursed as we discourse, But with this difference, fifty gentle words He spoke to her, for one she spoke to him ! What a dear cousin ! well, as I did say, As now I questioned thee, she questioned him. And what was his reply ? To think of it Sets my heart beating 'twas so kind a one ! So like a cousin's answer a dear cousin ! A gentle, honest, gallant, loving cousin ! What did he say ? A man might find it out, Though never read he Ovid's Art of Love. H 2 100 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. What did he say ? He'd marry her himself ! How stupid are you, cousin ! Let me go ! MODUS. You are not well yet ? HELEN. Yes. MODUS. I'm sure you're not? HELEN. I'm sure I am. MODUS. Nay, let me hold you, cousin ! I like it. HELEN. Do you ? I would wager you You could not tell me why you like it. Well ? You see how true I know you ! How you stare ! What see you in my face to wonder at ? MODUS. A pair of eyes ! HELEN. At last he'll find his tongue (aside.) And saw you ne'er a pair of eyes before ? MODUS. Not such a pair. HELEN. And why ? MODUS. They are so bright ! You have a Grecian nose. HELEN. Indeed ! SCENE i.] THE HUNCHBACK. 101 MODUS. Indeed ! HELEN. What kind of mouth have I ? MODUS. A handsome one. I never saw so sweet a pair of lips ! I ne'er saw lips at all till now, dear cousin ! HELEN. Cousin, Fm well, you need not hold me now. Do you not hear ? I tell you I am well ! I need your arm no longer take't away ! So tight it locks me, 'tis with pain I breathe ! Let me go, cousin ! Wherefore do you hold Your face so close to mine ? What do you mean ? MODUS. You've questioned me, and now I'll question you. HELEN. What would you learn ? MODUS. The use of lips. HELEN. To speak. MODUS. Nought else ? HELEN. How bold my modest cousin grows ' Why, other use know you ? MODUS. I do! HELEN. Indeed ! You're wondrous wise ! And pray what is it ? 102 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. MODUS. This ! (Attempts to kiss her. ) HELEN. Soft ! My hand thanks you cousin for my lips I keep them for a husband ! Nay, stand off ! I'll not be held in manacles again ! Why do you follow me ? MODUS. I love you, cousin ! HELEN. cousin, say you so ! That's passing strange ! Falls out most crossly is a dire mishap A thing to sigh for, weep for, languish for, And die for ! MODUS. Die for ! HELEN. Yes, with laughter, cousin ! For, cousin, I love you ! MODUS. And you'll be mine ? HELEN. 1 will. MODUS. Your hand upon it. HELEN. Hand and heart. Hie to thy dressing-room, and I'll to mine Attire thee for the altar so will I. Whoever may claim me, thou'rt the man shall have me. Away ! Despatch ! But hark you, ere you go, Ne'er brag of reading Ovid's Art of Love ! MODUS. And cousin ! stop one little word with you ! (She returns, he snatches a kiss.) [Exeunt sever ally. SCENE II.] 103 SCENE II.- JULIA'S CHAMBER. Enter JULIA. JULIA. No word from him, and evening now set in ! He cannot play me false ! His messenger Is dogged or letter intercepted. I'm Beset with spies ! No rescue ! No escape ! The hour at hand that brings my bridegroom home ! No relative to aid me ! Friend to counsel me ! (A knock at the door.) Come in. Enter TWO FEMALE ATTENDANTS. Your will ? FIRST ATTENDANT. Your toilet waits, my lady, Tis time you dress. JULIA. 'Tis time I die ! (A peal of bells.) What's that ? FIRST ATTENDANT. Your wedding bells, my lady. JULIA. Merrily They ring my knell ! (Second Attendant presents an open case.) And pray you what are these ? SECOND ATTENDANT. Your wedding jewels. JULIA. Set them by. 104 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. SECOND ATTENDANT. Indeed Was ne'er a braver set ! A necklace, brooch, And ear-rings all of brilliants, with a hoop To guard your wedding ring. JULIA. 'Twould need a guard That lacks a heart to keep it ! SECOND ATTENDANT. Here's a heart Suspended from the necklace one huge diamond Imbedded in a host of smaller ones ! Oh ! how it sparkles ! JULIA. Show it me ! Bright heart, Thy lustre, should I wear thee, will be false, For thou the emblem art of love and truth, From her that wears thee unto him that gives thee. Back to thy case ! Better thou ne'er should'st leave it Better thy gems, a thousand fathoms deep In their native mine again, than grace my neck, And lend thy fair face to palm off a lie ! FIRST ATTENDANT. Wilt please you dress ? JULIA. Ay ! in infected clothes New from a pest-house ! Leave me ! If I dress, I'll dress alone. O ! for a friend ! Time gallops ! [Exeunt ATTENDANTS. He that should guard me is mine enemy ! Constrains me to abide the fatal die, My rashness, not my reason cast ! He comes, That will exact the forfeit ! Must I pay it? E'en at the cost of utter bankruptcy ! SCENE ii. J THE HUNCHBACK. 105 What's to be done ? Pronounce the vow that parts My body from my soul ! To what it loathes Links that, while this is link'd to what it loves ! Condemn' d to such perdition ! What's to be done ? Stand at the altar in an hour from this ! An hour thence seated at his board a wife ! Thence ! phrensy's in the thought ! What's to be done? Enter MASTER WALTER. WALTER. What ! run the waves so high ? Not ready yet ! Your Lord will soon be here ! The guests collect. JULIA. Show me some way to 'scape these nuptials ! Do it ! Some opening for avoidance or escape, Or, to thy charge, I'll lay a broken heart ! It may be, broken vows, and blasted honour ! Or else a mind distraught ! WALTER. What's this? JULIA. The strait I'm fallen into my patience cannot bear ! It frights my reason warps my sense of virtue ! Religion ! changes me into a thing, I look at with abhorring ! WALTER. Listen to me ! JULIA. Listen to me, and heed me ! If this contract Thou hold'st me to abide thou the result ! Answer to heaven for what I suffer ! act ! Prepare thyself for such calamity 106 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. To fall on me, and those whose evil stars Have link'd them with me, as no past mishap, How ever rare, and marvellously sad . Can parallel ! Lay thy account to live A smileless life, die an unpitied death Abhorr'd, abandon'd of thy kind, as one Who had the guarding of a young maid's peace, Look'd on and saw her rashly peril it; And when she saw her danger, and confess'd Her fault, compell'd her to complete her ruin ! WALTER. Hast done ? JULIA. Another moment, and I have. Be warn'd ! Beware how you abandon me To myself ! I'm young, rash, inexperienc'd ! tempted By most insufferable misery I Bold, desperate, and reckless ! Thou hast age, Experience, wisdom, and collectedness, Power, freedom, every thing that I have not, Yet want, as none e'er wanted ! Thou can'st save me, Thou ought'st I thou must 1 I tell thee at his feet I'll fall a corse ere mount his bridal bed I So choose betwixt my rescue and my grave : And quickly too ! The hour of sacrifice Is near 1 Anon the immolating priest Will summon me ! Devise some speedy means To cheat the altar of its victim. Do it ! Nor leave the task to me ! WALTER. Hast done ? JULIA. I have. SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 107 WALTER. Then list to me and silently, if not With patience. (Brings chairs for himself and her) How I watch 'd thee from thy childhood, I'll not recal to thee. Thy father's wisdom Whose humble instrument I was directed Your nonage should be pass'd in privacy, From your apt mind that far outstripp'd your years, Fearing- the taint of an infected world ; For, in the rich ground, weeds once taking root, Grow strong as flowers. He might be right or wrong ! I thought him right ; and therefore did his bidding. Most certainly he lov'd you so did I ; Ay ! well as I had been myself your father ! (His hand is resting upon his knee, JULIA attempts to take it he withdraws it looks at her she hangs her head. ) Well ; you may take my hand ! I need not say How fast you grew in knowledge, and in goodness, That hope could scarce enjoy its golden dreams So soon fulfilment realized them all ! Enough. You came to womanhood. Your heart. Pure as the leaf of the consummate bud, That's new unfolded by the smiling sun, And ne'er knew blight nor canker ! ( JULIA attempts to place her other hand on his shoulder he leans from her looks at her she hangs her head again.) Put it there ! Where left I off? I know ! When a good woman Is fitly mated, she grows doubly good, How good so e'er before ! I found the man I thought a match for thee ; and, soon as found 108 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT Propos'd him to tliee. 'Twas your father's will, Occasion offering, you should be married Soon as you reach 'd to womanhood. You lik'd My choice accepted him. We came to town; Where, by important matter summon'd thence, I left you an affianc'd bride ! JULIA. You did ! You did ! (leans her head upon her hand, and weeps.) WALTER. Nay, check thy tears ! Let judgment now, Not passion, be awake. On my return, I found thee what? I'll not describe the thing I found thee then ! I'll not describe my pangs To see thee such a thing ! The engineer Who lays the last stone of his sea-built tower, It cost him years and years of toil to raise, And, smiling at it, tells the winds and waves To roar and whistle now but, in a night, Beholds the tempest sporting in its place May look aghast as I did ! JULIA. (Falling on her knees.} Pardon me ! Forgive me ! pity me ! WALTER. Resume thy seat. (Raises her.) I pity thee ; perhaps not thee alone It fits to sue for pardon. JULIA. Me alone ! None other ! WALTER. But to vindicate myself, SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 109 I name thy lover's stern desertion of thee. What wast thou then with wounded pride ? A thing To leap into a torrent ! throw itself From a precipice ! Rush into fire ! I saw Thy madness knew to thwart it were to chafe it And humour'd it to take that course, I thought, Adopted, least 'twould rue ! JULIA. 'Twas wisely done. WALTER. At least 'twas for the best ! JULIA. To blame thee for it, Was adding shame to shame ! But, Master Walter ! These nuptials ! must they needs go on ? SERVANT. (Entering.) More guests, Arrive. WALTER. Attend to them. [Exit SERVANT. JULIA. Dear Master Walter ! Is there no way to escape these nuptials ? WALTER. Know'st not What with these nuptials comes ? Hast thou forgot ? JULIA. What? WALTER. Nothing ! I did tell thee of a thing. JULIA. What was it ? HO THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. WALTER. To forget it was a fault ! Look back and think. JULIA. I can't remember it. WALTER. Fathers, make straws your children ! Nature's nothing ! Blood, nothing ! Once in other veins it runs, It no more yearneth for the parent flood, Than doth the stream that from the source disparts. Talk not of love instinctive what you call so, Is but the brat of custom ! Your own flesh By habit only cleaves to you without, Hath no adhesion ! (Aside.) So, you have forgot You have a father, and are here to meet him ! JULIA. I'll not deny it. WALTER. You should blush for't. JULIA. No! No ! no ! dear Master Walter ! what's a father That you've not been to me ? Nay, turn not from me, For at the name a holy awe I own, That now almost inclines my knee to earth ! But thou to me, except a father's name, Hast all the father been : the care the love The guidance the protection of a father. Can'st wonder then, if like thy child I feel, And feeling so, that father's claim forget Whom ne'er I knew, save by the name of one ? Oh turn to me, and do not chide me ! or If thou wilt chide, chide on ! but turn to me ! SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. Ill WALTER (struggling with emotion.) My Julia ! (Embraces her.) JULIA. Now, dear Master Walter, hear me ! Is there no way to 'scape these nuptials ? WALTER. Julia, A promise made, admits not of release, Save by consent or forfeiture of those Who hold it so it should be ponder'd well Before we let it go. 'Ere man should say I broke the word I had the power to keep, I'd lose the life I have the power to part with ! Remember, Julia, thou and I to-day, Must to thy father of thy training render A strict account. While honour's left to us, We have something nothing, having all but that ! Now for thy last act of obedience, Julia ! Present thyself before thy bridegroom ! (She assents.) Good ! My Julia's now herself ! Show him thy heart, And to his honour leav't to set thee free, Or hold thee bound. Thy father will be by ! [Exeunt severally. SCENE III. THE BANQUETTING ROOM. Enter MASTER WALTER and MASTER HEARTWELL. HEARTWELL. Thanks, Master Walter ! Ne'er was child more bent 112 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACI v. To do her father's will, you'll own, than mine : Yet never one more froward. WALTER. All runs fair Fair may all end ! To day you'll learn the cause That took me out of town. But soft awhile, Here comes the bridegroom, with his friends, and here The all obedient bride. Enter on one hand JULIA, and on the other LORD ROCHDALE with Lo R D Ti N s E L, and friends, after- wards CLIFFORD. ROCHDALE. Is she not fair? TINSEL. She'll do. Your servant, lady ! Master Walter We're glad to see you. Sirs, you're welcome all ! What wait they for ? Are we to wed or not ? We're ready why don't they present the bride ? I hope they know she is to wed an Earl. ROCHDALE. Should I speak first ? TINSEL. Not for your coronet ! I, as your friend, may make the first advance. We've come here to be married. Where's the bride ? WALTER. There stands she, Lord; if 'tis her will to wed, His lordship's free to take her. TINSEL. Not a step ! I, as your friend, may lead her to your lordship. Fair lady, by your leave. SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 113 JULIA. No ! not to you. TINSEL. I ask your hand to give it to his lordship. JULIA. Nor to his lordship save he will accept My hand without my heart ! but I'll present My knee to him, and, by his lofty rank, Implore him now to do a lofty deed Will lift its stately head above his rank, Assert him nobler yet in worth than name, And, in the place of an unwilling bride, Unto a willing debtor make him lord, Whose thanks shall be his vassals, night and day That still shall wait upon him ! TINSEL. What means this ? JULIA. What is't behoves a wife to bring her lord ? WALTER. A whole heart, and a true one. JULIA. I have none ! Not half a heart the fraction of a heart ! Am I a woman it befits to wed ? WALTER. Why, where's thy heart? JULIA. Gone out of my keeping ! Lost past recovery ! right and title to it And all given up ! and he that's owner on't, So fit to wear it, were it fifty hearts, I'd give it to him all ! WALTER. Thou dost not mean i 114 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. His Lordship's secretary ? JULIA. Yes. Away Disguises ! In that secretary know The master of the heart, of which, the poor. Unvalued, empty casket, at your feet, Its jewel gone, I now despairing throw ! (Kneels.) Of his lord's bride he's lord ! lord paramount ! To whom her virgin homage first she paid, 'Gainst whom rebell'd in frowardness alone, Nor knew herself how loyal to him, till Another claim' d her duty then awoke To sense of all she ow'd him all his worth And all her undeservings ! TINSEL. Lady, we come not here to treat of hearts, But marriage ; which, so please you, is with us A simple joining, by the priest, of hands. A ring's put on ; a prayer or two is said ; You're man and wife, and nothing more ! For hearts, We oft'ner do without, than with them, lady ! CLIFFORD. So does riot wed this lady. TINSEL. Who are you ? CLIFFORD. I'm secretary to the Earl of Rochdale. TINSEL. My lord ! ROCHDALE. I know him not. TINSEL. I know him now Your lordship's rival ! Once Sir Thomas Clifford. SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 115 CLIFFORD. Yes, and the bridegroom of that lady then. Then lov'd her loves her still ! JULIA. Was lov'd by her Tho' then she knew it not ! is lov'd by her As now she knows, and all the world may know ! TINSEL. We can't be laugh' d at. We are here to wed, And shall fulfil our contract. JULIA. Clifford ! CLIFFORD. Julia ! You will not give your hand ? (A pause JULIA seems utterly lost.) WALTER. You have forgot Again. You have a father ! JULIA. Bring him now, To see thy Julia justify thy training, And lay her life down to redeem her word ! WALTER. And so redeems her all ! Is it your will, My Lord, these nuptials should go on ? ROCHDALE. It is. WALTER. Then is it mine they stop ! TINSEL. I told your lordship You should not keep a Hunchback for your agent. WALTER. Thought like my father, my good lord, who said 1 16 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v He would not have a Hunchback for his son, So do I pardon you the savage slight ! My lord, that I am not as straight as you, Was blemish neither of my thought nor will, My head nor heart. It was no act of mine, Yet did it curdle nature's kindly milk E'en where 'tis richest in a parent's breast To cast me out to heartless fosterage, Not heartless always, as it prov'd and give My portion to another ! the same blood But I'll be sworn, in vein, my lord, and soul Although his trunk did swerve no more than yours Not half so straight as I. TINSEL. Upon my life You've got a modest agent, Rochdale ! Now He'll prove himself descended mark my words From some small gentleman ! WALTER. And so you thought, Where nature played the churl, it would be fit That fortune played it too. You would have had My lord absolve me of my agency ! Fair lord, the flaw did cost me fifty times A hundred times my agency : but all's Recovered. Look, my lord, a testament To make a pension of his lordship's rent roll ! It is my father's, and was left by him, In case his heir should die without a son, Then to be opened. Heaven did send a son To bless the heir. Heaven took its gift away. He died his father died. And Master Walter The unsightly agent of his lordship there SCENE ii.] THE HUNCHBACK. 117 The Hunchback whom your lordship would have stripped Of his agency, is now the Earl of Rochdale ! TINSEL. We've made a small mistake here. Never mind, 'Tis nothing in a lord. JULIA. The Earl of Rochdale ! WALTER. And what of that ? Thou know'st not half my greatness ! A prouder title, Julia, have I yet. Sooner than part with which I'd give that up, And be again plain Master Walter. What ! Dost thou not apprehend me ? Yes, thou dost ! Command thyself don't gasp ! My pupil daughter ! Come to thy father's heart ! ( JULIA rushes into his arms.) Enter FATHOM, FATHOM. Thievery ! Elopement escape arrest ! WALTER. What's the matter ? FATHOM. Mistress Helen is running away with Master Modus Master Modus is running away with Mistress Helen but we have caught them, secured them, and here they come, to receive the reward of their merits. Enter HELEN and Mows, followed by Servants. HELEN. I'll ne'er wed man, if not my cousin Modus. MODUS. Nor woman I, save Cousin Helen's she. WALTER to MASTER HEARTWELL. A daughter have you, and a nephew too, 118 THE HUNCHBACK. [ACT v. Without their match in duty ! Let them marry. For you, Sir, who to day have lost an earldom, Yet would have shared that earldom with my child My only one content yourself with prospect Of the succession it must fall to you. And fit yourself to grace it. Ape not those Who rank by pride. The man of simplest bearing Is yet a lord, when he's a lord indeed ! TINSEL. The paradox is obsolete. Ne'er heed ! Learn from his book, and practice out of mine ! WALTER. Sir Thomas Clifford, take my daughter's hand ! If now you know the master of her heart ! Give it my Julia ! You shall know anon, How jealousy of my mis-shapen back Made me mistrustful of a child's affections Although I won a wife's so that I dropped The title of thy father, lest thy duty Should pay the debt, thy love could solve alone. All this and more, that to thy friends and thee Pertains, at fitting time thou shalt be told. But now thy nuptials wait the happy close Of thy hard trialwholesome, though severe ! The world won't cheat thee now thy heart is proved : Thou know'st thy peace by finding out its bane And ne'er wilt act from reckless impulse more ! Bradbury and Evans, Printers, 22, Bouverie Street. MR. LEIGH HUNT. THOUGH the publication of books by subscription is no longer the mode, as it was in the days of Pope and Dryden, when those eminent men resorted to it, and when Prior, who had been an ambassador, did not scruple to let it be turned to his account by his friends, and though there are many reasons why the revival of the custom is not desirable, especially in these days of universal penmanship, yet occasions have now and then occurred, when in this, as in other instances, delicacy has vindicated the most delicate of its privileges, and converted what was objectionable in ordinary to a means of showing its sepse of claims out of the common path. The uninterrupted literary labour of many years, with the exhaustion it is calculated to produce, exertion, still continued, in a state of health always too much drawn upon, and sometimes threatening to be fatal, domestic difficulties with which every man of spirit and feeling may sympathize, and the common cause of the world of letters, (for it is the particular wish, both of those who differ, and of those who agree with them, that all other considerations connected with his literary efforts, should be left out of the question), all these reasons, and all which they can imply to delicate understandings, have induced some of the friends of Mr. LEIGH HUNT to take upon them one of the justest of offices, and endeavour to expedite for him what it might take many more anxious months, and many another illness, to accomplish. In a word, they would put him in advance of his difficulties. It is proposed, for this purpose, that the Poetical Works of Mr. LEIGH HUNT, now first brought together, and selected by himself, (with corrections and emen- dations, the result of his experience,) and accompanied by notes, and a new general preface, should be printed in one very handsome volume, octavo, price a guinea, and published by subscription. A selection from his Prose Writings would have accompanied them, but these are in the hands of a bookseller, who will not give up the copyright, and who is about to bring them forth. In this edition will be printed a NEW POEM by the Author, in Two Cantos, the first of any length he has written for many years. 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