The Holy Office here-garner the wheat, Thou light'st a torch that will never go out. As I do, to the death. And poor Pole pines for it, I am but a woman, I have no power. Ah, weak and meek old man, Of thine own sectaries-No, no. No pardon. Sir, you were burnt for heresy, not for treason, Remember that! 'Twas I and Bonner did it, And Pole. We are three to one. Have you found mercy there, Grant it me here; and see he smiles and goes, Alice-Madam, who goes? King Philip? Mary-No, Philip comes and goes, but never goes. Women, when I am dead, Open my heart, and there you'll find written You will find Philip only, policy, policy— Alice-Ay, madam, but o' God's mercy Mary-Fool, think'st thou I would peril mine own soul By slaughter of the body? I could not, girl, Alice-Take heed, take heed! The blade is keen as death. Mary-This Philip shall not Stare in upon me in my haggardness, Old, miserable, diseased Come thou down! [Cuts out the picture and throws it down.] Lie there! [Wails.] O God, I have killed my Philip! Alice-No, madam; you have but cut the canvas out. We can replace it. Mary-All is well, then; rest, I will to rest; he said I must have rest. [Cries of" Elizabeth" in the street.] A cry! What's that? Elizabeth? Revolt? Mary-I will not see her. Who knows if Boleyn's daughter be my sister? I will see none except the priest. Your arm. [To Lady Clarence.] O Saint of Aragon, with that sweet worn smile Among thy patient wrinkles Help me hence. [Exeunt.] TENNYSON. FAG AG-Sir, there is a gentleman below desires to see Capt. Absolute-Ay-you may. Capt. A.-Stay; who is it, Fag? Fag-Your father, sir. Capt. A.-You puppy, why didn't you show him up directly? [Exit FAG.] Acres You have business with Sir Anthony.-I expect a message from Mrs. Malaprop, at my lodgings. I have sent also to my dear friend, Sir Lucius O'Trigger. -Adieu, Jack, we must meet at night, when you shall give me a dozen bumpers to little Lydia. [Exit.] Capt. A.-That I will, with all my heart. Now for a parental lecture-I hope he has heard nothing of the business that has brought me here-I wish the gout had held him fast in Devonshire, with all my soul! Enter SIR ANTHONY. Sir, I am delighted to see you here, and looking so well! —your sudden arrival at Bath made me apprehensive for your health. Sir Anthony-Very apprehensive, I dare say, Jack.What, you are recruiting here, hey? Capt. A.-Yes, sir; I am on duty. Sir A.-Well, Jack, I am glad to see you, though I did not expect it; for I was going to write to you on a little matter of business. Jack, I have been considering that I grow old and infirm, and shall probably not trouble you long. Capt. A.-Pardon me, sir, I never saw you look more strong and hearty, and I pray fervently that you may continue so. Sir A.-I hope your prayers may be heard, with all my heart. Now, Jack, I am sensible that the income of your commission, and what I have hitherto allowed you, is but a small pittance for a lad of your spirit. Capt. A.-Sir, you are very good. Sir A.-And it is my wish, while yet I live, to have my boy make some figure in the world.-I have resolved, therefore, to fix you at once in a noble independence. Capt. A.-Sir, your kindness overpowers me.-Yet, sir, I presume you would not wish me to quit the army? Sir A.-Oh! that shall be as your wife chooses. Capt. A.-My wife, sir! Sir A.-Ay, ay, settle that between you-settle that between you. Capt. A.-A wife, sir, did you say? Sir A.-Ay, a wife-why, did not I mention her before? Capt. A.-Not a word of her, sir. Sir A.-Odd so! I must n't forget her, though-Yes, Jack, the independence I was talking of, is by a mar riage the fortune is saddled with a wife-but I suppose that makes no difference? Capt. A.-Sir! sir! you amaze me! Sir A.-Why, what's the matter with the fool? Just now you were all gratitude and duty. Capt. A.-I was, sir,-you talked to me of independ. ence and a fortune, but not a word of a wife. Sir A.-Why-what difference does that make? Odds life, sir! if you have the estate, you must take it with the live stock on it, as it stands. Capt. A.-Pray, sir, who is the lady? Sir A.-What's that to you, sir?-Come, give me your promise to love, and to marry her directly. Capt. A.-Sure, sir, this is not very reasonable, to summon my affections for a lady I know nothing of! Sir A.-I am sure, sir, 't is more unreasonable in you to object to a lady you know nothing of. Capt. A.-You must excuse me, sir, if I tell you, once for all, that in this point I cannot obey you. Sir A.-Harkye, Jack!-I have heard you for some time with patience-I have been cool-quite cool; but take care-you know I am compliance itself-when I am not thwarted; no one more easily led-when I have my own way ;-but do n't put me in a frenzy. Capt. A.-Sir, I must repeat it—in this, I cannot obey you. Sir A.-Now, hang me if ever I call you Jack again while I live! Capt. A.-Nay, sir, but hear me. Sir A.-Sir, I won't hear a word-not a word! not one word! so give me your promise by a nod-and I'll tell you what, Jack-I mean, you dog-if you do n't— Capt. A.—What, sir, promise to link myself to some mass of ugliness? Sir A.-Zounds! Sirrah! the lady shall be as ugly as I choose: she shall have a hump on each shoulder; she shall be as crooked as the Crescent; her one eye shall roll like the bull's in Cox's Museum-she shall have a skin like a mummy, and the beard of a Jew-she shall be all this, sirrah!-yet I'll make you ogle her all day, and sit up all night to write sonnets on her beauty. Capt. A.-This is reason and moderation indeed! Sir A.-None of your sneering, puppy! no grinning jackanapes! |