as　if　custom　had　made　thee　disdain　greatness。
  Mel。　　Nay；　dearest；　nay；　if　thou　wouldst　have　me　paint　The　home　to　which；
  could　love　fulfil　its　prayers；　This　hand　would　lead　thee；　listen！*
  A　deep　vale
  （*　The　reader　will　observe　that　Melnotte　evades　the　request　of　Pauline。
  He　proceeds　to　describe　a　home；　which　be　does　not　say　he　possesses；
  but　to　which　he　would　lead　her；　〃could　Love　fulfil　its　prayers。〃
  This　caution　is　intended　as　a　reply　to　a　sagacious　critic　who　censures
  the　description；　because　it　is　not　an　exact　and　prosaic　inventory
  of　the　characteristics　of　the　Lake　of　Como！When　Melnotte；
  for　instance；　talks　of　birds　〃that　syllable　the　name　of　Pauline〃
  （by　the　way；　a　literal　translation　from　an　Italian　poet）；　he　is　not
  thinking　of　ornithology；　but　probably　of　the　Arabian　Nights。　　He　is
  venting　the　extravagant；　but　natural；　enthusiasm　of　the　poet
  and　the　lover。）
  Shut　out　by　Alphine　hills　from　the　rude　world；
  Near　a　clear　lake；　margin'd　by　fruits　of　gold
  And　whispering　myrtles；　glassing　softest　skies；
  As　cloudless；　save　with　rare　and　roseate　shadows；
  As　I　would　have　thy　fate！
  Pauline。　My　own　dear　love！
  Mel。　A　palace　lifting　to　eternal　summer
  Its　marble　walls；　from　out　a　glossy　bower
  Of　coolest　foliage　musical　with　birds；
  Whose　songs　should　syllable　thy　name！　At　noon
  We'd　sit　beneath　the　arching　vines；　and　wonder
  Why　Earth　could　be　unhappy；　while　the　Heavens
  Still　left　us　youth　and　love！　We'd　have　no　friends
  That　were　not　lovers；　no　ambition；　save
  To　excel　them　all　in　love；　we'd　read　no　books
  That　were　not　tales　of　lovethat　we　might　smile
  To　think　how　poorly　eloquence　of　words
  Translates　the　poetry　of　hearts　like　ours！
  And　when　night　came；　amidst　the　breathless　Heavens
  We'd　guess　what　star　should　be　our　home　when　love
  Becomes　immortal；　while　the　perfumed　light
  Stole　through　the　mists　of　alabaster　lamps；
  And　every　air　was　heavy　with　the　sighs
  Of　orange…groves　and　music　from　sweet　lutes；
  And　murmurs　of　low　fountains　that　gush　forth
  I'　the　midst　of　roses！Dost　thou　like　the　picture？
  Pauline。　Oh；　as　the　bee　upon　the　flower；　I　hang
  Upon　the　honey　of　thy　eloquent　tongue！
  Am　I　not　blest？　And　if　I　love　too　wildly；
  Who　would　not　love　thee　like　Pauline？
  Mel。　＇bitterly。＇　Oh；　false　one！
  It　is　the　prince　thou　lovest；　not　the　man
  If　in　the　stead　of　luxury；　pomp；　and　power；
  I　had　painted　poverty；　and　toil；　and　care；
  Thou　hadst　found　no　honey　on　my　tongue；Pauline；
  That　is　not　love！
  Pauline。　Thou　wrong'st　me；　cruel　Prince！
  At　first；　in　truth；　I　might　not　have　been　won；
  Save　through　the　weakness　of　a　flatter'd　pride；
  But　now；oh！　trust　me；couldst　thou　fall　from　power
  And　sink
  Mel。　As　low　as　that　poor　gardener's　son
  Who　dared　to　lift　his　eyes　to　thee？
  Pauline。　Even　then；
  Methinks　thou　wouldst　be　only　made　more　dear
  By　the　sweet　thought　that　I　could　prove　how　deep
  Is　woman's　love！　We　are　like　the　insects；　caught
  By　the　poor　glittering　of　a　garish　flame；
  But；　oh；　the　wings　once　scorch'd；　the　brightest　star
  Lures　us　no　more；　and　by　the　fatal　light
  We　cling　till　death！
  Mel。　Angel！　＇Aside。＇　O　conscience！　conscience！
  It　must　not　be；　her　love　hath　grown　a　torture
  Worse　than　her　hate。　I　will　at　once　to　Beauseant；
  Andha！　he　comes。　Sweet　love；　one　moment　leave　me。
  I　have　business　with　these　gentlemenII
  Will　forwith　join　you。
  Pauline。　　Do　not　tarry　long！　　＇Exit。
  Enter　BEAUSEANT　and　GLAVIS。
  Mel。　　Release　me　from　my　oath；I　will　not　marry　her！
  Beau　Then　thou　art　perjured。
  Mel。　　No；　I　was　not　in　my　senses　when　I　swore　to　thee　to　marry　her！
  I　was　blind　to　all　but　her　scorn！deaf　to　all　but　my　passion
  and　my　rage！　　Give　me　back　my　poverty　and　my　honor！
  Beau。　　It　is　too　late；you　must　marry　her！　and　this　day。
  I　have　a　story　already　coined；　and　sure　to　pass　current。
  This　Damas　suspects　thee；he　will　set　the　police　to　work！
  thou　wilt　be　detectedPauline　will　despise　and　execrate　thee。
  Thou　wilt　be　sent　to　the　common　gaol　as　a　swindler。
  Mel。　　Fiend！
  Beau。　　And　in　the　heat　of　the　girl's　resentment　（you　know　of　what
  resentment　is　capable）　and　the　parents'　shame；　she　will　be　induced
  to　marry　the　first　that　offerseven　perhaps　your　humble　servant。
  Mel。　　You！　　No；　that　were　worsefor　thou　hast　no　mercy！
  I　will　marry　her。I　will　keep　my　oath。　　Quick；　then；　with　the　damnable
  invention　thou　art　hatching；quick；　if　thou　wouldst　not　have　me
  strangle　thee　or　myself。
  Gla。　　What　a　tiger！　　Too　fierce　for　a　prince；　he　ought　to　have　been
  the　Grand　Turk。
  Beau。　　EnoughI　will　dispatch；　be　prepared。
  ＇Exeunt　BEAUSEANT　and　GLAVIS。
  Enter　DAMAS　with　two　swords。
  Damas。　　Now；　then；　sir；　the　ladies　are　no　longer　your　excuse。
  I　have　brought　you　a　couple　of　dictionaries；　let　us　see　if　your
  highness　can　find　out　the　Latin　for　bilbo。
  Mel。　　Away；　sir！　　I　am　in　no　humor　for　jesting。　　Damas。　　I　see　you
  understand　something　of　the　grammar；　you　decline　the　non…substantive
  〃small…swords〃　with　great　ease；　but　that　won't　doyou　must　take
  a　lesson　in　parsing。
  Mel。　　Fool！　　Damas。　　Sir；　as　sons　take　after　their　mother；
  so　the　man　who　calls　me　a　fool　insults　the　lady　who　bore　me；
  there's　no　escape　for　youfight　you　shall；　or
  Mel。　　Oh；　enough！　enough！take　your　ground。
  They　fight；　DAMAS　is　disarmed。　　MELNOTTE　takes　up　the　sword　and　returns
  it　to　DAMAS　respectfully。　　A　just　punishment　to　the　brave　soldier
  who　robs　the　state　of　its　best　propertythe　sole　right　to　his　valor
  and　his　life。
  Damas。　　Sir；　you　fence　exceedingly　well；　you　must　be　a　man　of　honor
  I　don't　care　a　jot　whether　you　are　a　prince；　but　a　man　who　has
  carte　and　tierce　at　his　fingers'　ends　must　be　a　gentleman。
  Mel。　　＇aside。＇　Gentleman！　　Ay；　I　was　a　gentleman　before　I
  turned　conspirator；　for　honest　men　are　the　gentlemen
  of　Nature！　　Colonel；　they　tell　me　you　rose　from　the　ranks。
  Damas。　　I　did。
  Mel。　　And　in　two　years！
  Damas。　　It　is　true；　that's　no　wonder　in　our　army　at　present。
  Why　the　oldest　general　in　the　service　is　scarcely　thirty；　and　we
  have　some　of　two…and…twenty。
  Mel。　　Two…and…twenty！
  Damas。　　Yes；　in　the　French　army；　now　a　days；　promotion　is　not　a　matter
  of　purchase。　　We　are　all　heroes；　because　we　may。　　be　all　generals。
  We　have　no　fear　of　the　cypress；　because　we　may　all　hope　for　the　laurel。
  Mel。　　A　general　at　two…and…twenty！　＇turning　away＇Sir；　I　may　ask
  you　a　favor　one　of　these　days。
  Damas。　　Sir；　I　shall　be　proud　to　grant　it。　　It　is　astonishing　how　much
  I　like　a　man　after　I've　fought　with　him。　　＇Hides　the　swords。
  Enter　MADAME　DESCHAPPELLES　and　BEAUSEANT。
  Mme。　Deschap。　　Oh；　prince；prince！What　do　I　hear？　　You　must　fly
  you　must　quit　us！
  Mel。　　I！
  Beau。　　Yes；　prince：　　read　this　letter；　just　received　from　my　friend
  at　Paris；　one　of　the　Directory；　they　suspect　you　of　designs
  against　the　Republic：　　they　are　very　suspicious　of　princes；
  and　your　family　take。part　with　the　Austrians。　　Knowing　that　I
  introduced　your　highness　at　Lyons；　my　friend　writes　to　me　to　say
  that　you　must　quit　the　town　immediately；　or　you　will　be　arrested；
  thrown　into　prison；　perhaps　guillotined！　　Fly！I　will　order　horses
  to　your　carriage　instantly。　　Fly　to　Marsailles；　there　you　can　take
  ship　to　Leghorn。
  Mme。　Deschap。　　And　what's　to　become　of　Pauline？　　Am　I　not　to　be
  mother　to　a　princess；　after　all？
  Enter　PAULINE　and　MONSIEUR　DESCHAPPELLES。
  Pauline　＇throwing　herself　into　MELNOTTE's　arms。＇　You　must
  leave　us！Leave　Pauline！
  Beau。　　Not　a　moment　is　to　be　wasted。
  M。　Deschap。　　I　will　go　to　the　magistrates　and　inquire
  Beau。　　Then　he　is　lost；　the　magistrates；　hearing　he　is　suspected；
  will　order　his　arrest。
  Mme。　Deschap。　　And　I　shall　not　be　a　princess…dowager！
  Beau。　　Why　not？　　There　is　only　one　thing　to　be　done：send　for　the　priest
  let　the　marriage　take　place　at　once；　and　the　prince　carry　home　a　bride？
  Mel。　　Impossible！＇Aside。＇　Villain。
  Mme。　Deschap。　　What；　lose　my　child？
  Beau。　　And　gain　a　princess！
  Mme　Deschap。　　Oh；　Monsieur　Beauseant；　you　are　so　very　kind；　it　must
  be　so；we　ought　not　to　be　selfish；　my　daughter's　happiness　at　stake。
  She　will　go　away；　too；　in　a　carriage　and　six！
  Pauline。　　Thou　art　here　still；I　cannot　part　from　my　heart　will　break。
  Mel。　　But　thou　wilt　not　consent　to　this　hasty　union？thou　wilt
  not　wed　an　outcasta　fugitive？
  Pauline。　　Ah！　if　thou　art　in　danger；　who　should　share　it　but　Pauline？
  Mel。　　＇aside＇。　Distraction！If　the　earth　could　swallow　me！
  M。　Deschap。　　Gently！　gently！　　The　settlementsthe　contracts
  my　daughter's　dowry！
  Mel。　　The　dowry！I　am　not　base　enough　for　that；　no；　not　one　farthing！
  Beau。　　＇to　MADAM＇。　Noble　fellow！Really　your　good　husband
  is　too　mercantile　in　these　matters。　　Monsieur　Deschappelles；
  you　hear　his　highness：　　we　can　arrange　the　settlements　by　proxy；
  'tis　the　way　with　people　of　quality。
  M。　Deschap。　　But
  Mme。　Deschap。　　Ho