_A room in the Palace._
_DIANA and FREDERICK._
_DIANA._
You say you start at once.
_FREDERICK._
The coach is waiting.
_D._ Here is my letter: give it to the Duke.
The answer is not urgent: it may keep you
A day or two at Milan.
_F._ You wish, my lady,
I should return?
_D._ Why not?
I understood
Your ladyship to accept my resignation.
It lies with her convenience but to fix 2600
The day of my dismission.
_D._ Do you wish
To leave my service?
_F._ I could never serve
Where I am distrusted.
_D._ Would you reconsider
Your angry speech, I would make some concession.
_F._ I had cause for anger.
_D._ That I would concede.
But I too was provoked; and in the end
I came off worst.
_F._ Not so, my lady.
_D._ I sought
To learn your secret, and was merely fooled.
_F._ I understand not how your ladyship
Was first provoked,—at least with me.
_D._ Nay, true: 2610
’Twas a mistake. We need no explanation,
And may be friends again.
_F._ I cannot offer
Her ladyship my services.
_D._ You leave me?
_F._ ’Tis better that I should. I thank your ladyship
For many kindnesses. I pray sincerely
You may be better suited.
_D._ No fear for that,
Frederick: for by my soul I think 2617
There is no other man would so have wronged me
As thou hast done.... My only fault hath been 2619
To have thought too well of thee. But do not dream
I am unprepared. I have seen thro’thee, Frederick;
Yes, thro’and thro’. My offers of concession
I made to prove thee, lest thou shouldst pretend
That I was unforgiving. In the letter
I have writ the Duke, thou bearest the commission
Of thy successor. Henceforth I reject thee:
And treat thee as thou deservest. Go, sir, go!
Indeed, I care not whether you go or not.
_F._ I have then your leave to stay away?
_D._ My leave?
I bid thee go, and never see me more. 2630
I have done with thee, sir. Go!
[_Exit F. bowing._
And that’s the man I loved; the man for whom
I sank to jealousy. Who is’t he loves?
He love! The fool was right: he loves himself.
Now will he bide at Milan. Ah, good sir,
Thy lady is not there, and yet thou goest
Most cheerfully,—thou goest. And it was thou
Didst write soft verses: music too,—thy music.
And I thinking I loved thee was betrayed
A thousand times ... and to be scorned—by thee!
Scorned for another. (_Weeps._) 2641
_Enter St. Nicholas hastily._
_ST. NICHOLAS._
My lady, I pray.
_D._ (_going off_). Nay, sir: I cannot see you.
_N._ But listen a moment. Tristram locked me in the cupboard....
_D._ What is this? I cannot see you.
_N._ But Sir Gregory sent me to entreat an interview at once,—he said
at once.
_D._ Then tell Sir Gregory that I will see him in half
an hour; until that time let no one disturb me on any
account,—not even Sir Gregory. [_Exit._ 2650
_N._ I’ll be well satisfied. I’ll be revenged.
To shut me half an hour in a dark cupboard,
With all the flock and flue, ’mong cast-off clothes,
Old boots and shoes: call me an ass, a goose,
And mock my muse ... a fellow ... a common fellow.
A man that is the servant of the servant
Of the adoptive sister of my Laura!
He shall be swinged. Sir Gregory will right me:
Sir Gregory will avenge me. Had heaven but given me
His inches, why, I’d do it myself. I’d flog him, 2660
Till he cried mercy, mercy! mercy, St. Nicholas,
Mercy, I pray! No, no: no mercy, sir.
Down on thy knees! No mercy, sir, from me.
No mercy. (_beating a chair._)
_Enter Sir Gregory._
_GREGORY._
St. Nicholas, where’s the Countess?
_N._ (_shouting_). She says that she will see you in half an hour.
_G._ In half an hour!—Nay, I must see her at once.
You have been betrayed.
_N._ I have. I have been betrayed.
But you shall see me avenged.
_G._ And I must see her at once. (_going in._)
_N._ (_withstanding him_). She bade me say
She could not see you.
_G._ Do not stay me, man; 2670
Your happiness is at stake.
_N._ Nay, she forbade it.
She said in half an hour.
_G._ (_half-aside_). Why does he stay me?
In half an hour he says. What can I do?
By that time he’ll be off. (_Aloud._) St. Nicholas!
His coach is at the door: in half an hour
’Twill be too late: he will have got away.
Go to the stables, mount yourself at once
With three or four of the grooms, and ride together
To the further gate of the park. There wait for Frederick’s carriage:
Stop it. If she is within, I give you warrant 2680
To bring them back: if she be not within,
Follow. She awaits him somewhere on the road.
Wherever it be, take them, and bring them back:
You have a father’s warrant.
_N._ Who is it you speak of, sir?
_G._ Heigh!
_N._ Whose carriage shall I stop?
_G._ Why, Frederick’s.
_N._ And who’s the lady?
_G._ Who is the lady, ask you? Why Laura, my daughter. 2690
_N._ Laura with Frederick!
_G._ I went to her room: she’s flown, and with a maid.
She hath packed up clothes and gone. I am right, I am sure.
_N._ And shall I stop them?
_G._ Lose no more time. Begone! Do as I bid.
_N._ There’s some mistake; Laura with Frederick!
Why, we were to be married!
_G._ Fly! fly! St. Nicholas, else ’twill be too late.
[_Exit N._
The man’s a dolt: he’ll never be in time,
And I that call him fool, why what am I? 2700
With my grey hairs—and such an idiot,
Not to have seen! And if I had only known
That Frederick loved my Laura, and she him....
Why did they never tell me? My dearest Laura, ...
To marry without my knowledge, ... run away
Without my blessing ... it shall not be ... as if
Against my will ... not to ask my consent ...
And count on my approval. O Laura, Laura!
If I had known—and now no doubt
’Tis past all hindrance.... Am I not a fool 2710
To wish to stop them? Perhaps they have not started,
I may be in time. I will tell Frederick all,—
I do not disapprove ... nay, I approve.
’Tis better far ... and yet how can I?—
My word is plighted to St. Nicholas.
’Tis better they should get clear off. Heaven speed them!
Why did I send that idiot after them?
I wish they may escape. O Laura, Laura!
Without my blessing. Yet thou hast my blessing.
God bless thee! I try and hinder thee? O no. 2720
I will go stop St. Nicholas. [_Hurries out._