The People's Friend! The People keep their word— I 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! 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 . . . Gui. Why tore! ay, 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. Gui. Ay-but my name, I caught? Adolf. Oh, sir-he said -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 He glances when his cheeks flush and his brow At each repulse— 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— 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! 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 As I return-for I must needs return! -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? 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! Nay, Valence, this procedure's vile in you- Can cast about a little, might require Your services a second time! I tried To tempt you with advancement here to court -"No!"—well, for curiosity at least To view our life here-" No!"- —our Duchess, then,-A pretty woman's worth some pains to see, Nor is she spoiled, I take it, if a crown Completes the forehead pale and tresses pure.. And I am come. Gui. So much for taste! But " come," So may you be, for any thing I know, To beg the Pope's cross, or Sir Clugnet's daughter, Val. -That I had brought the miseries Of a whole city to relieve. Gui. -Which saying Won your admittance? You saw me, indeed, |