the lady of lyons-第13章
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His love itself would pardon that desertion!
Look on that poor old man;he is my father;
He stands upon the verge of an abyss!
He calls his child to save him! Shall I shrink
From him who gave me birth?withhold my hand;
And see a parent perish? Tell him this;
And saythat we shall meet again in Heaven!
Mel。 LadyIIwhat is this riddle?what
The nature of this sacrifice?
Pauline 'pointing to DAMAS'。 Go; ask him!
Beau。 'from the table'。 The papers are preparedwe only need
Your hand and seal。
Mel。 Stay; ladyone word more。
Were but your duty with your faith united;
Would you still share the low…born peasant's lot?
Pauline。 Would I? Ah; better death with him I love
Than all the pompwhich is but as the flowers
That crown the victim!'Turning away。' I am ready。
'MELNOTTE rushes to DAMAS。
Damas。 ThereThis is the schedulethis 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?
M。 Deschap。 How; Sir! What means this insult?
Mel。 Peace; old man!
I have a prior claim。 Before the face
Of man and Heaven I urge it; I outbid
Yon sordid huckster for your priceless jewel。 'Giving a pocket…book。
There is the sum twice told! Blush not to take it:
There's not a coin that is not bought and hallow'd
In the cause of nations with a soldier's blood!
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
Thine eyes! The stain is blotted from my name。
I have redeem'd mine honor。 I can call
On France to sanction thy divine forgiveness!
Oh; joy!Oh; rapture! By the midnight watchfires
Thus have I seen thee! thus foretold this hour!
And 'midst the roar of battle; thus have heard
The beating of thy heart against my own!
Beau。 Fool'd; duped; and triumph'd over in the hour
Of mine own victory! Curses on ye both!
May thorns be planted in the marriage…bed!
And love grow sour'd and blacken'd into hate
Such as the hate that gnaws me!
Damas。 Curse away
And let me tell thee; Beauseant; a wise proverb
The Arabs have;〃Curses are like young chickens;
'Solemnly。' And still come home to roost!〃
Beau。 Their happiness
Maddens my soul! I am powerless and revengeless! 'To MADAME。
I wish you joy! Ha! ha! the gardener's son! 'Exit。
Damas 'to GLAVIS'。 Your friend intends to hang himself! Methinks
You ought to be his travelling companion!
Gla。 Sir; you are exceedingly obliging! 'Exit。
Pauline。 Oh
My father; you are saved;and by my husband!
Ah; blessed hour!
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!
Take her;be happy both!
Mme。 Deschap。I'm all astonish'd!
Who; then; is Colonel Morier?
Damas。You behold him!
Mel。 Morier no more after this happy day!
I would not bear again my father's name
Till I could deem it spotless! The hour's come!
Heaven smiled on conscience! As the soldier rose
From rank to rank; how sacred was the fame
That cancell'd crime; and raised him nearer thee!
Mme。 Deschap。 A Colonel and a hero! Well; that's something!
He's wondrously improved! I wish you joy; sir!
Mel。 Ah! the same love that tempts us into sin;
If it be true love; works out its redemption;
And he who seeks repentance for the Past
Should woo the Angel Virtue in the Future。
End