My rights were far from being judged as plain
In those days as of late, I promise you-
And 'twas my day-dream, Lady Colombe here
Might e'en compound the matter, pity me,
Be struck, say, with my chivalry and grace
(I was a boy!)-bestow her hand at length,
And make me Duke, in her right if not mine.
Here am I, Duke confessed, at Juliers now!
Hearken if ever I be Emperor,

Remind me what I felt and said to-day!

Mel. All this consoles a bookish man like me! -And so will weariness cling to you! WrongWrong! Had you sought the Lady's court yourself,Faced the redoubtables composing it,

Flattered this, threatened that man, bribed the other,-
Pleaded, by writ and word and deed, your cause,—
Conquered a footing inch by painful inch,—
And, after long years' struggle, pounced at last
On her for prize,—the right life had been lived,
And justice done to divers faculties

Shut in that brow: yourself were visible

As you stood victor, then! whom now— -(your pardon!)

I am forced narrowly to search and see

So are you hid by helps-this Pope, your uncle—
Your cousin, the other King! You are a Mind,—
They, Body: too much of mere legs-and-arms

Obstructs the mind so! Match these with their like-
Match mind with mind!

Berth.

VOL. I.

And where's your mind to match?

22

They show me legs-and-arms to cope withal!

I'd subjugate this city-where's its mind?

[The Courtiers enter slowly,

Mel. Got out of sight when you came troops and all! And in its stead, here greets you flesh-and-blood—

A smug œconomy of both, this first!

[AS CLUGNET bows obsequiously.

Well done, gout, all considered!—I may go?
Berth. Help me receive them!

Mel.

Oh, they just will say

What yesterday at Aix their fellows said,

At Treves, the day before!—Sir Prince, my friend,
Why do you let your life slip thus ?-Meantime,
I have my little Juliers to achieve-
The understanding this tough Platonist,
Your holy uncle disinters, Amelius-
Lend me a company of horse and foot,

To help me through his tractate-gain my Duchy!
Berth. And Empire, after that is gained, will be—?
Mel. To help me through your uncle's comment,
Prince!

[Goes.

Berth. Ah? Well! he o'er-refines-the scholar's fault!

How do I let my life slip? Say, this life,

I lead now, differs from the common life

Of other men in mere degree, not kind,

Of joys and griefs,-still there is such degree-
Mere largeness in a life is something, sure,-
Enough to care about and struggle for,

In this world: for this world, the Size of things;

The Sort of things, for that to come, no doubt!
A great is better than a little aim-

And when I wooed Priscilla's rosy mouth
And failed so, under that gray convent-wall,
Was I more happy than I should be now

[By this time the Courtiers are ranged before him.

If failing of my Empire? Not a whit!

-Here comes the Mind, it once had tasked me sore
To baffle, but for my advantages!

All's best as 'tis-these scholars talk and talk!

[Seats himself.

The Courtiers. Welcome our Prince to Juliers !-to

his Heritage!

Our dutifullest service proffer we!

Clug. I, please your Highness, having exercised
The function of Grand Chamberlain at Court,
With much acceptance, as men testify ...

Berth. I cannot greatly thank you, gentlemen!
The Pope declares my claim to the Duchy founded
On strictest justice; if you concede it, therefore,
I do not wonder-and the kings my friends
Protesting they will see such claim enforced,
You easily may offer to assist us.

But there's a slight discretionary power

To serve me in the matter, you've had long,
Though late you use it. This is well to say-
But could you not have said it months ago?
I'm not denied my own Duke's truncheon, true-
'Tis flung me-I stoop down, and from the ground

Pick it, with all you placid standers-by-
And now I have it, gems and mire at once,
Grace go with it to my soiled hands, you say!

Gui. (By Paul, the Advocate our doughty friend
Cuts the best figure!)

--I mean the Duchess all this time, I hope!

And since I have been forced repeat my claims

As if they never had been made before,

As I began, so must I end, it seems.

The formal answer to the grave demand

What says the lady?

Courtiers. [one to another.] 1st Court. Marshal!

2d Court. Orator!

Gui. A variation of our mistress' way!

Wipe off his boots' dust, Clugnet?-that, he waits!

1st Court. Your place!

2d Court. Just now it was your own!

Gui.

The devil's!

Berth. [to GUIBERT.] Come forward, friend-you with

the paper, there!

Is Juliers the first city I've obtained?
By this time, I may boast proficiency
In each decorum of the circumstance!

Give it me as she gave it—the petition

(Demand, you style it)-what's required, in brief?

What title's reservation, appanage's

Allowance?—I heard all at Treves, last week!

Gau. [to GUIBERT.] “ Give it him as she gave it!" Gui.

And why not?

[TO BERTHOLD.] The lady crushed your summons thus

together,

And bade me, with the very greatest scorn

So fair a frame could hold, inform you..

Courtiers.

Idiot!

Stop

Gui. -Inform you she denied your claim, Defied yourself! (I tread upon his heel,

The blustering Advocate!)

Berth.

Dare you jest, sir?

Gui.

By heaven and earth!

Did they at Treves, last week?

Berth. [starting up.] Why then, I look much bolder

than I knew,

And you prove better actors than I thought—

Since, as I live, I took you as you entered

For just so many dearest friends of mine,

Fled from the sinking to the rising power

-The sneaking'st crew, in short, I e'er despised!
Whereas, I am alone here for the moment-

With every soldier left behind at Aix!

Silence? That means the worst-I thought as much!

What follows next then?

Courtiers.

Gracious Prince-he raves!

Gui. He asked the truth and why not get the truth?