He's right that does say something: that's bare truth. Ten-twelve, I make a perilous dropping-off! Gui. Pooh-is it audience-hour? The vestibule Swarms too, I wager, with the common sort That want our privilege of entry here. Gau. Adolf! [Re-enter ADOLF.] Who's outside? Nobody waiting? Mau. [Looking through the door-folds.] Scarce our number! Gui. Nothing to beg for, to complain about? 'Sdeath! It can't be ! Ill news spreads, but not so fast Gau. The world Lives out of doors, sir-not with you and me Gui. That's their craft? And last year's crowders-round and criers-forth, The People's Friend! The People keep their wordI keep my place: don't doubt I'll entertain The People when the Prince comes, and the People -For they wrote, too, as well as spoke, these knaves! you ask; And take them for the brute they boast themselves! And somebody entreating... that's my name! -And the great fool! Just ope the mid-door's fold- Adolf. If it bear plenteous signs of travel... ay, The very Gui. Why tore! Adolf. He seeks the Duchess' presence in that trim: Since daybreak, was he posted hereabouts Lest he should miss the moment. Gui. Where's he now? Adolf. Gone for a minute possibly, not more. They have ado enough to thrust him back. Oh, sir-he said Gui. Ay-but my name, I caught? Adolf. -What was it?-You had known him formerly, And, he believed, would help him did you guess He waited now-you promised him as much— The old plea!-'Faith, he's back,—renews the charge! [Speaking at the door.] So long as the man parleys, peace outside! Nor be too ready with your halberts, there! Gau. My horse bespattered, as he blocked the path, A thin sour man not unlike somebody. Adolf. He holds a paper in his breast, whereon Gau. I noticed he'd a brow. Adolf. So glancing, he grows calmer, leans awhile Over the balustrade, adjusts his dress, And presently turns round, quiet again, With some new pretext for admittance.-Back! [To GUIBERT.]-Sir, he has seen you! Now cross halberts! Ha Pascal is prostrate-there lies Fabian too No passage! Whither would the madman press? Gui. Too late-he's here. Enter, hastily and with discomposed dress, VALENCE. Val. Sir Guibert, will you help me?-Me, that come Charged by your townsmen, all who starve at Cleves, To represent their heights and depths of woe Before our Duchess and obtain relief! Such errands barricade such doors, it seems: But not a common hindrance drives me back On all the sad yet hopeful faces, lit With hope for the first time, which sent me forth! Cleves, speak for me! Cleves' men and women, speak— Who followed me—your strongest-many a mile That I might go the fresher from their ranks, -Who sit-your weakest-by the city-gates, To take me fuller of what news I bring -Can I? 'Twere hard, no listener for their wrongs, To turn them back upon the old despair— Harder, Sir Guibert, than imploring thus So I do any way you please-implore! If you. but how should you remember Cleves? Yet they of Cleves remember you so well! -Ay, comment on each trait of you they keep, Of the very levity and recklessness Which only prove that you forget their wrongs. You promised me that you would help me once Val. Valence of Cleves. Gui. Valence of... not the Advocate of Cleves I owed my whole estate to, three years back? land By some knaves' pretext,-(eh? when you refused me -(When I refused her)! Here's the very friend, -Valence of Cleves, all parties have to thank! |