第24章 SCENE III.--The Banqueting' Room(1)

[Enter MASTER WALTER and MASTER HEARTWELL.]

Heart. Thanks, Master Walter! Ne'er was child more bent To do her father's will, you'll own, than mine:

Yet never one more froward.

Wal. All runs fair -

Fair may all end! To-day you'll learn the cause That took me out of town. But soft a while, -Here comes the bridegroom, with his friends, and here The all-obedient bride.

[Enter on one hand JULIA, and on the other hand LORD ROCHDALE with LORD TINSEL and friends--afterwards CLIFFORD.]

Roch. Is she not fair?

Tin. She'll do. Your servant, lady! Master Walter, We're glad to see you. Sirs, you're welcome all.

What wait they for? Are we to wed or not?

We're ready--why don't they present the bride?

I hope they know she is to wed an earl.

Roch. Should I speak first?

Tin. Not for your coronet!

I, as your friend, may make the first advance.

We've come here to be married. Where's the bride?

Wal. There stands she, lord; if 'tis her will to wed, His lordship's free to take her.

Tin. Not a step!

I, as your friend, may lead her to your lordship.

Fair lady, by your leave.

Julia. No! not to you.

Tin. I ask your hand to give it to his lordship.

Julia. Nor to his lordship--save he will accept My hand without my heart! but I'll present My knee to him, and, by his lofty rank, Implore him now to do a lofty deed Will lift its stately head above his rank, -Assert him nobler yet in worth than name, -

And, in the place of an unwilling bride, Unto a willing debt or make him lord, -Whose thanks shall be his vassals, night and day That still shall wait upon him!

Tin. What means this?

Julia. What is't behoves a wife to bring her lord?

Wal. A whole heart, and a true one.

Julia. I have none!

Not half a heart--the fraction of a heart!

Am I a woman it befits to wed?

Wal. Why, where's thy heart?

Julia. Gone--out of my keeping!

Lost, past recovery: right and title to it -And all given up! and he that's owner on't, So fit to wear it, were it fifty hearts, I'd give it to him all!

Wal. Thou dost not mean His lordship's secretary?

Julia. Yes. Away Disguises! in that secretary know The master of the heart, of which the poor, Unvalued, empty casket, at your feet -Its jewel gone--I now despairing throw!

[Kneels.]

Of his lord's bride he's lord! lord paramount!

To whom her virgin homage first she paid, -

'Gainst whom rebelled in frowardness alone, Nor knew herself how loyal to him, till Another claimed her duty--then awoke To sense of all she owed him--all his worth -And all her undeservings!

Tin. Lady, we came not here to treat of hearts, -But marriage; which, so please you, is with us A simple joining, by the priest, of hands.

A ring's put on, a prayer or two is said;

You're man and wife,--and nothing more! For hearts, We oftener do without, than with them, lady!

Clif. So does not wed this lady!

Tin. Who are you?

Clif. I'm secretary to the Earl of Rochdale.

Tin. My lord!

Roch. I know him not -

Tin. I know him now -

Your lordship's rival! Once Sir Thomas Clifford.

Clif. Yes, and the bridegroom of that lady then, Then loved her--loves her still!

Julia. Was loved by her -

Though then she knew it not!--is loved by her, As now she knows, and all the world may know!

Tin. We can't be laughed at. We are here to wed, And shall fulfil our contract.

Julia. Clifford!

Clif. Julia!

You will not give your hand?

[A pause. JULIA seems utterly lost.]

Wal. You have forgot Again. You have a father!

Julia. Bring him now, -

To see thy Julia justify thy training, And lay her life down to redeem her word!

Wal. And so redeems her all! Is it your will, My lord, these nuptials should go on?

Roch. It is.

Wal. Then is it mine they stop!

Tin. I told your lordship You should not keep a Hunchback for your agent.

Wal. Thought like my father, my good lord, who said He would not have a Hunchback for his son -So do I pardon you the savage slight.