Home > Authors Index > Edward Bulwer-Lytton > Lady of Lyons; or, Love and Pride > This page
The Lady of Lyons; or, Love and Pride, a play by Edward Bulwer-Lytton |
||
Act 5 - Scene 2 |
||
< Previous |
Table of content |
|
________________________________________________
_ ACT V - SCENE II [A room in the house of MONSIEUR DESCHAPPELLES; PAULINE seated in great dejection.]
[Enter MONSIEUR DESCHAPPELLES.] M. Deschap. My dear child, Pauline. Is there no hope? M. Deschap. None. If, without the sum Pauline. And am lost! M. Deschap. Come, let me hope that Beauseant's love-- Pauline. His love! M. Deschap. If thou deem'st thus, reject him! Shame and ruin Pauline, No--no--forgive me! You, my honor'd father,-- M. Deschap. My child, Pauline. I have set
Mme. Deschap. Why, Pauline, you are quite in deshabille--you ought to be more alive to the importance of this joyful occasion. We had once looked higher, it is true; but you see, after all, Monsieur Beauseant's father was a Marquis, and that's a great comfort. Pedigree and jointure!--you have them both in Monsieur Beauseant. A young lady decorously brought up should only have two considerations in her choice of a husband; first, is his birth honorable? secondly, will his death be advantageous? All other trifling details should be left to parental anxiety. Beau. Pauline. I am reconciled to my doom. Beau. Doom is a harsh word, sweet lady. Pauline [aside.] This man must have some mercy--his heart cannot be marble. [Aloud.] Oh, sir, be just--be generous! Seize a noble triumph--a great revenge! Save the father, and spare the child. Beau. [aside.] joy--joy alike to my hatred and my passion! The haughty Pauline is at last my suppliant. [Aloud.] You ask from me what I have not the sublime virtue to grant--a virtue reserved only for the gardener's son! I cannot forego my hopes in the moment of their fulfilment! I adhere to the contract--your father's ruin or your hand. Pauline. Then all is over. Sir, I have decided. [The clock strikes one.] [Enter DAMAS and MELNOTTE.] Damas. Your servant, cousin Deschappelles. Let me introduce Colonel Morier. Mme. Deschap. [curtsying very low]. What, the celebrated hero? This is, indeed, an honor! [MELNOTTE bows, and remains in the background.] Damas [to Pauline]. My little cousin, I congratulate you. What, no smile--no blush? You are going to be divorced from poor Melnotte, and marry this rich gentleman. You ought to be excessively happy! Pauline. Happy! Damas. Why, how pale you are, child!--Poor Pauline! Hist--confide in me! Do they force you to this? Pauline. No! Damas. You act with your own free consent? Pauline. My own consent--yes. Damas. Then you are the most--I will not say what you are. Pauline. You think ill of me--be it so--yet if you knew all-- Damas. There is some mystery--speak out, Pauline. Pauline [suddenly]. Oh, perhaps you can save me! you are our relation--our friend. My father is on the verge of bankruptcy--this day he requires a large sum to meet demands that cannot be denied; that sum Beauseant will advance--this hand the condition of the barter. Save me if you have the means--save me! You will be repaid above! Damas. aside. I recant--Women are not so bad after all! [Aloud.] Humph, child! I cannot help you--I am too poor. Pauline. The last plank to which I clung is shivered. Damas. Hold--you see my friend Morier: Melnotte is his most intimate friend--fought in the same fields--slept in the same tent. Have you any message to send to Melnotte? any word to soften this blow? Pauline. He knows Melnotte--he will see him--he will bear to him my last farewell--[approaches MELNOTTE] He has a stern air--he turns away from me--he despises me!--Sir one word I beseech you. Mel. Her voice again! How the old time comes o'er me! Damas [to Madame.] Don't interrupt them.--He is going to tell her what a rascal young Melnotte is; he knows him well, I promise you.
[DAMAS approaches DESCHAPPELLES; converses apart with hint in dumb Pauline. Thrice have I sought to speak; my courage fails me.-- Mel. Lady, yes!-- Pauline. And you will see him, Mel. He hath told me Pauline. Tell him, for years I never nursed a thought Mel. [aside.] Am I already mad? Pauline. Say, that, if his eye-- Mel. Lady--I--I--what is this riddle?--what Pauline [pointing to DAMAS]. Go, ask him! Beau. [from the table]. The papers are prepared--we only need Mel. Stay, lady--one word more. Pauline. Would I? Ah, better death with him I love
Damas. There--This is the schedule--this the total. Beau. [to DESCHAPPELLES, showing notes]. These Are yours the instant she has sign'd; you are Still the great House of Lyons! [The Notary is about to hand the contract to PAULINE, when MELNOTTE seizes it and tears it.] Beau. Are you mad?
Mel. Peace, old man! Beau. Torments and death! Pauline. That voice! Thou art-- Mel. Thy husband! [PAULINE rushes into his arms.] Look up! Look up, Pauline!--for I can bear Beau. Fool'd, duped, and triumph'd over in the hour Damas. Curse away Beau. Their happiness Damas [to GLAVIS]. Your friend intends to hang himself! Methinks Gla. Sir, you are exceedingly obliging! Pauline. Oh Mel. Yet you weep still, Pauline. Pauline. But on thy breast!--these tears are sweet and holy! M. Deschap. You have won love and honor nobly, sir! Mme. Deschap. I'm all astonish'd! Damas. You behold him! Mel. Morier no more after this happy day! Mme. Deschap. A Colonel and a hero! Well, that's something! Mel. Ah! the same love that tempts us into sin, [THE END] _ |