_An Apartment in the Palace._ (Phillips.)
(_Laughing heard without._)
_Re-Enter HUGO._
HUGO.
Ha! ha! ha! the wild man has began to shew his breeding with a
vengeance--he has overturned the kitchen, set the cellar afloat, and
sent every thing in the stable to rack and manger; for he hath eaten
the beast's provender, given wine to the horses, and thrown the cook
into the dripping pan, where he basted him with his own ladle.
_Enter AGATHA._
AGATHA.
Ah, Hugo--what, are you laughing at the wild man? I'm sure he frightens
me.
HUGO.
He'd have frightened you more, if you had seen him, as I did, in his
own dining room in the forest.
AGATHA.
Why now, really, had you courage enough to venture there?
HUGO.
To be sure I had--I went in boldly--by mistake. (_Aside._)
AGATHA.
When he was out, I suppose?
HUGO.
O, no; he was there, and wanted me to stay. I took off my cloak to
oblige him, and to avoid ceremony, came away without it. Your lady may
well be glad that Valentine had power to tame him.
AGATHA.
Glad! she's more uneasy than ever; and if she hasn't fallen _out_ of
_love_ into _jealousy_, I'll give you leave to say that Agatha is no
conjuror.
HUGO.
I'm sure I never said you was one: but who is she jealous of?
AGATHA.
You shall hear. The Duke of Acquitane has arrived to beg relief against
a pagan, they call the Green Knight, who holds his daughter unlawfully
a prisoner, and unless, by a certain hour she is rescued, she will be
forced to marry this Saracen monster, who has already vanquished and
hanged up twenty knights who fought for her.
HUGO.
Poor fellows! And what is he to have who conquers the pagan?
AGATHA.
The lady's hand.
HUGO.
Hanging on one side, and marriage on the other! bless me! Where could
they find twenty knights mad enough to undertake such a terrible
alternative?
AGATHA.
Why; your master, Valentine, will go, if it's only for the honour of
the thing: and the Princess is distracted lest he should fall in love
with the lady, or be killed by the knight.
HUGO.
And for fear he shou'd once more ask me to bear him company I'll get
out of the way as fast as possible.
(_Going, meets the PRINCESS._)
EGLANTINE.
Hugo, where are you going?
HUGO.
I'm going, madam, to----to unarm my master before the banquet, and fear
I shall be too late.
EGLANTINE.
Hold, sir--Can you be secret?
HUGO.
Ask Agatha, your grace's hand-maid--she knows I can.
AGATHA.
I know you are a blockhead. Mark my lady.
EGLANTINE.
Can you not bring, Sir Valentine's armour to Agatha's apartment?
HUGO.
Aye, madam, if she be there to receive it--but when, and how long must
I--
AGATHA.
How rude of you to want to know more than I do--Go, fetch the armour,
quick!
EGLANTINE.
And here's a purse of gold to speed thee.
HUGO.
I lack no spur but your commands, and a kiss from Agatha.
AGATHA.
No, no--(_he is going away_) Well, take it.
HUGO.
Now, why did you say no, no?
AGATHA.
Why, one must refuse at first for decency.
EGLANTINE.
Here, Hugo.
[_Gives the purse._
HUGO.
[_Takes it._] Madam, I'm gone.
AGATHA.
[_Apart to HUGO._] I thought you didn't want the money.
HUGO.
One must refuse at first, you know, for decency.
[_Exit._
EGLANTINE.
In Valentine's disguise I'll see this beauty he would venture
for;--for, should he conquer in the fight, how many Cupids smiling,
through her tears, may aim at Valentine! And, shou'd he fall----
AGATHA.
It wou'd be a sad thing, truly, my dear lady; but how will your going
help it?
EGLANTINE.
There is a prophecy, that no _man nursed by woman_ can subdue this
pagan--Perhaps it is his fate to fall by woman.
AGATHA.
He wou'dn't be the first if he did, madam.
EGLANTINE.
My mother's martial spirit trained me up to Amazonian sports--Foremost
in the chace, thrice have I pierced the monarch of our woods; and, more
than once, have been where battles roar, and undismayed, beheld the
mortal conflict.
AGATHA.
I shou'd have been frighten'd out of my wits.
EGLANTINE.
By force or stratagem it may be mine to free this lady, and save my
lover from a double danger.
AGATHA.
But will he go, knowing this prophecy?
EGLANTINE.
He disregards it as an artful fable, coined by the Saracen; or else as
pagan sorcery, which he, a christian knight, fears not to combat with.
Come, thou, as my page, shalt follow me, and learn my purpose on the
journey.
AGATHA.
Me!
_Enter HUGO._
HUGO.
The armour is all in Agatha's apartment, your highness. My master had
taken it all off before I came.
AGATHA.
But, madam, wont you go to the banquet, you purposely provided for the
king and Valentine?
EGLANTINE.
No time for feasting now--obey my orders----We'll to the Green Knight's
Camp----Away, my girl.
[_Exit._
"AGATHA.
"With all my heart. Its my opinion my lady is so in love, that, to save
Valentine from danger, she'd follow him to the world's end.
"HUGO.
"I dare say she would, but when I am in danger nobody talks of
following me.
"AGATHA.
"No; that's impossible--you run so fast.
_DUET.--HUGO and AGATHA._
"_Hugo._ The man who fights and runs away,
"_Agatha._ Wou'd make a sorry lover,
"_Hugo._ May live to fight another day,
"_Agatha._ But ne'er his fame recover.
"While he who boldly meets the foe,
"_Hugo._ May boldly die, 'tis true,
"_Agatha._ Will live in history, you know,
"_Hugo._ I'd rather live with you.
"Nay come I'll boldly meet the foe,
"_Agatha._ I'll love you if you do;
"_Hugo._ And when to fame I'm wed you know,
"_Agatha._ Then I'll be wed to you.
"_Both._ Then I'll be wed to you.
II.
"_Agatha._ The hero slain, claims beauty's tear,
"_Hugo._ Her smiles more pleasure giving;
"_Agatha._ She holds his mem'ry ever dear,
"_Hugo._ And marries some one living.
"But come, I'll bravely meet the foe, &c.
"[_Exeunt._"