Val. [from his paper.] "We, all the manufacturers of Cleves " The D. Or stay, sir-lest I seem too covetous— Val. [from his paper.]-" Valence ordained your Advocate at Cleves " The D. [replacing the coronet.] Then I remain Cleves' Duchess! Take you note, While Cleves but yields one subject of this stamp, I stand her lady till she waves me off! For her sake, all the Prince claims I withhold; [Casting it away. Gui. [picking it up.]-Which to the Prince I will deliver, Lady, [Note it down, Gaucelme]-with your message too! May follow the delivery!-Or, perhaps, [To VALENCE.] Sir,-for the half-hour till this service The D. Give me ! [The Courtiers present their badges of office. [Putting them by.]—Whatever was their virtue once, They need new consecration! [raising VALENCE.] Are you mine? -I will be Duchess yet! The Courtiers. [She retires. Our Duchess yet! A glorious lady! Worthy love and dread! I'll stand by her, and I, whate'er betide! Gui. [to VALENCE.] Well done, well done, sir! I care not who knows, You have done nobly, and I envy you— Tho' I am but unfairly used, I think : For when one gets a place like this I hold, We're laughed at-much would zeal and faith subsist Our zeal and faith, we hear on every side, Therefore, I say, I'll serve you, how you please- Gau. Or, kinder still, you'll introduce, no doubt, And Chamberlain, and Heaven knows what beside ! Let me say, That at your age, when first I came to court, I was not much above a gentleman; While now Val. ... -You are Head-Lackey? With your office I have not yet been graced, sir! Other Courtiers to Clug. Fidelity disinterestedness Let him talk! Excuse so much! Men claimed my worship ever Who, stanch and steadfastly... At Aix, and enters almost by himself. 1st Court. The Prince! This foolish business puts all out! 2d Court. Let Gaucelme speak first! 3d Court. About the state of Juliers-should one say 4th Court. All's prostrate and imploring him! Better I began -Or rather 5th Court. Where's the Cleves' paper, by the way? 4th Court. [to VALENCE.] If you'll but give that paper-trust it me, That's best! Sir-sir 5th Court. Softly, sir-the Marshal's duty! Clug. Has not the Chamberlain a hearing first By virtue of his patent? Gau. Patents?-Duties? All that, my masters, must begin again! One word composes the whole controversy— The Others. Ay-the Prince's! Enter SABYNE. Sab. Adolf! Bid ... Oh, no time for ceremony! Where's whom our lady calls her only subject? She needs him! Who is here the Duchess's? Val. [starting from his reverie.] Most gratefully I follow to her feet! ACT III. Afternoon. SCENE.-The Vestibule. Enter PRINCE Berthold and MELCHIOR. Berth. A thriving little burgh this Juliers looks. [Half-apart.] Keep Juliers, and as good you kept Cologne: Better try Aix, though!— Mel. Please 't your Highness speak? Berth. [as before.] Aix, Cologne, Frankfort,— Mel. Milan ;-Rome!— -The Grave. -More weary seems your Highness, I remark, You must not look for next achievement's palm So easy this will hurt your conquering! Berth. My next? Ay-as you say, my next and next Well, I am tired, that's truth, and moody too, This quiet entrance-morning; listen why! Of the great chain by which I reach my hope— It happens now-this very nook-to be A place that once ... but a short while since, neither— Of foreign courts, and bore my claims about, |