Mel。　　Of　my　kind　heart；　ay！
  Pauline。　　So　you　know　the　prince？
  Widow。　　Know　him；　madam？Ah；　I　begin　to　fear　it　is　you　who　know　him　not！
  Pauline。　　Do　you　think　she　is　mad？　　Can　we　stay　here；　my　lord？
  I　think　there's　something　very　wild　about　her。
  Mel。　　Madam；　Ino；　I　cannot　tell　her；　my　knees　knock　together：
  what　a　coward　is　a　man　who　has　lost　his　honor！　　Speak　to　her
  speak　to　her　＇to　his　mother＇tell　her　thatO　Heaven；　that　I　were　dead！
  Pauline。　　How　confused　he　looks！this　strange　place？this　woman
  what　can　it　mean？I　half　suspectWho　are　you；　madam！who　are　you！
  can't　you　speak？　are　you　struck　dumb？
  Widow。　　Claude；　you　have　not　deceived　her？Ah；　shame　upon　you　1　I
  thought　that；　before　you　went　to　the　altar；　she　was　to　have　known　all。
  Pauline。　　All！　what！My　blood　freezes　in　my　veins！
  Widow。　　Poor　lady！dare　I　tell　her；　Claude？　　＇MELNOTTE　makes
  a　sign　of　assent。＇　Know　you　not　then；　madam；　that　this　young　man
  is　of　poor　though　honest　parents？　　Know　you　not　that　you　are　wedded
  to　my　son；　Claude　Melnotte？
  Pauline。　　Your　son！　holdhold！　do　not　speak　to　me。＇Approaches　MELNOTTE；
  and　lays　her　hand　on　his　arm。＇Is　this　a　jest？　is　it？
  I　know　it　is；　only　speakone　wordone　look　one　smile。
  I　cannot　believeI　who　loved　thee　soI　cannot　believe　that　thou
  art　such　aNo；　I　will　not　wrong　thee　by　a　harsh　wordSpeak！
  Mel。　　Leave　ushave　pity　on　her；　on　me：　　leave　us。
  Widow。　　Oh；　Claude；　that　I　should　live　to　see　thee　bowed　by　shame！
  thee　of　whom　I　was　so　proud！（Exit　by　the　staircase。
  Pauline。　　Her　sonher　son！
  Mel。　　Now；　lady；　hear　me。
  Pauline。　Hear　thee！
  Ay；　speakher　son！　have　fiends　a　parent？　speak；
  That　thou　mayst　silence　cursesspeak！
  Mel。　No；　curse　me：
  Thy　curse　would　blast　me　less　than　thy　forgiveness。
  Pauline　＇laughing　wildly＇。　〃This　is　thy　palace；　where　the　perfumed　light
  Steals　through　the　mist　of　alabaster　lamps；
  And　every　air　is　heavy　with　the　sighs
  Of　orange…groves；　and　music　from　the　sweet　lutes；
  And　murmurs　of　low　fountains；　that　gush　forth
  I'　the　midst　of　roses！〃　Dost　thou　like　the　picture？
  This　is　my　bridal　home；　and　thou　my　bridegroom。
  O　foolO　dupeO　wretch！I　see　it　all
  Thy　by…word　and　the　jeer　of　every　tongue
  In　Lyons。　Hast　thou　in　thy　heart　one　touch
  Of　human　kindness？　if　thou　hast；　why；　kill　me；
  And　save　thy　wife　from　madness。　No；　it　cannot
  It　cannot　be：　this　is　some　horrid　dream：
  I　shall　wake　soon。＇Touching　him。＇　Art　flesh　art　man？　or　but
  The　shadows　seen　in　sleep？　It　is　too　real。
  What　have　I　done　to　thee？　how　sinn'd　against　thee；
  That　thou　shouldst　crush　me　thus？
  Mel。　Pauline；　by　pride
  Angels　have　fallen　ere　thy　time：　by　pride
  That　sole　alloy　of　thy　most　lovely　mould
  The　evil　spirit　of　a　bitter　love；
  And　a　revengeful　heart；　had　power　upon　thee。
  From　my　first　years　my　soul　was　fill'd　with　thee：
  I　saw　thee　midst　the　flow'rs　the　lowly　boy
  Tended；　unmark'd　by　theea　spirit　of　bloom；
  And　joy；　and　freshness；　as　if　Spring　itself
  Were　made　a　living　thing；　and　wore　thy　shape！
  I　saw　thee；　and　the　passionate　heart　of　man
  Enter'd　the　breast　of　the　wild…dreaming　boy。
  And　from　that　hour　I　grewwhat　to　the　last
  I　shall　bethine　adorer！　Well；　this　love
  Vain；　frantic；　guilty；　if　thou　wilt；　became
  A　fountain　of　ambition　and　bright　hope；
  I　thought　of　tales　that　by　the　winter　hearth
  Old　gossips　tellhow　maidens　sprung　from　kings
  Have　stoop'd　from　their　high　sphere；　how　love；　like　death
  Levels　all　ranks；　and　lays　the　shepherd's　crook
  Beside　the　sceptre。　Thus　I　made　my　home
  In　the　soft　palace　of　a　fairy　Future！
  My　father　died；　and　I；　the　peasant…born；
  Was　my　own　lord。　Then　did　I　seek　to　rise
  Out　of　the　prison　of　my　mean　estate；
  And；　with　such　jewels　as　the　exploring　mind
  Brings　from　the　caves　of　knowledge；　buy　my　ransom
  From　those　twin　gaolers　of　the　daring　heart
  Low　birth　and　iron　fortune。　Thy　bright　image
  Glass'd　in　my　soul；　took　all　the　hues　of　glory；
  And　lured　me　on　to　those　inspiring　toils
  By　which　man　masters　men！　For　thee　I　grew
  A　midnight　student　o'er　the　dreams　of　sages。
  For　thee　I　sought　to　borrow　from　each　grace；
  And　every　muse；　such　attributes　as　lend
  Ideal　charms　to　love。　I　thought　of　thee；
  And　passion　taught　me　poesyof　thee；
  And　on　the　painter's　canvas　grew　the　life
  Of　beauty！　Art　became　the　shadow
  Of　the　dear　starlight　of　thy　haunting　eyes
  Men　call'd　me　vainsome　madI　heeded　not；
  But　still　toil'd　onhoped　onfor　it　was　sweet；
  If　not　to　win；　to　feel　more　worthy　thee？
  Pauline。　Has　he　a　magic　to　exorcise　hate！
  Mel。　At　last；　in　one　mad　hour；　I　dared　to　pour
  The　thoughts　that　burst　their　channels　into　song；
  And　sent　them　to　theesuch　a　tribute；　lady；
  As　beauty　rarely　scorns；　even　from　the　meanest。
  The　nameappended　by　the　burning　heart
  That　long'd　to　show　its　idol　what　bright　things
  It　had　createdyea；　the　enthusiast's　name；
  That　should　have　been　thy　triumph；　was　thy　scorn！
  That　very　hourwhen　passion；　turn'd　to　wrath；
  Resembled　hatred　mostwhen　thy　disdain
  Made　my　whole　soul　a　chaosin　that　hour
  The　tempters　found　me　a　revengeful　tool
  For　their　revenge！　Thou　hadst　trampled　on　the　worm
  It　turn'd　and　stung　thee！
  Pauline。　Love；　sir；　hath　no　sting。
  What　was　the　slight　of　a　poor　powerless　girl
  To　the　deep　wrong　of　this　most　vile　revenge？
  Oh；　how　I　loved　this　man！a　serf！a　slave！
  Mel。　Hold；　lady！　No；　not　slave！　Despair　is　free！
  I　will　not　tell　thee　of　the　throesthe　struggles
  The　anguishthe　remorse：　No；　let　it　pass！
  And　let　me　come　to　such　most　poor　atonement
  Yet　in　my　power。　Pauline！
  （Approaching　her　with　great　emotion；　and　about　to　take　her　hand。
  Pauline。　No；　touch　me　not！
  I　know　my　fate。　You　are；　by　law；　my　tyrant；
  And　IO　Heaven！a　peasant's　wife！　I'll　work
  Toildrudgedo　what　thou　wiltbut　touch　me　not；
  Let　my　wrongs　make　me　sacred！
  Mel。　Do　not　fear　me。
  Thou　dost　not　know　me；　madam：　at　the　altar
  My　vengeance　ceasedmy　guilty　oath　expired！
  Henceforth；　no　image　of　some　marble　saint；
  Niched　in　cathedral　aisles；　is　hallow'd　more
  From　the　rude　hand　of　sacrilegious　wrong。
  I　am　thy　husbandnay；　thou　need'st　not　shudder；
  Here；　at　thy　feet；　I　lay　a　husband's　rights。
  A　marriage　thus　unholyunfulfill'd
  A　bond　of　fraudis；　by　the　laws　of　France；
  Made　void　and　null。　To…night　sleepsleep　in　peace。
  To…morrow；　pure　and　virgin　as　this　morn
  I　bore　thee；　bathed　in　blushes；　from　the　shrine；
  Thy　father's　arms　shall　take　thee　to　thy　home。
  The　law　shall　do　thee　justice；　and　restore
  Thy　right　to　bless　another　with　thy　love。
  And　when　thou　art　happy；　and　hast　half　forgot
  Him　who　so　lovedso　wrong'd　thee；　think　at　least
  Heaven　left　some　remnant　of　the　angel　still
  In　that　poor　peasant's　nature！
  Ho！　my　mother！　＇Enter　Widow。
  Conduct　this　lady（she　is　not　my　wife；
  She　is　our　guest；our　honor'd　guest；　my　mother）
  To　the　poor　chamber；　where　the　sleep　of　virtue；
  Never；　beneath　my　father's　honest　roof；
  Ev'n　villains　dared　to　mar！　Now；　lady；　now；
  I　think　thou　wilt　believe　me。　Go；　my　mother！
  Widow。　She　is　not　thy　wife！
  Mel。　Hush；　hush！　for　mercy's　sake！
  Speak　not；　but　go。
  ＇Widow　ascends　the　stairs；　PAULINE　follows　weepingturns　to　look　back。
  Mel。　　＇sinking　down＇。　All　angels　bless　and　guard　her！
  ACT　IV。SCENE　I。
  The　cottage　as　beforeMELNOTTE　seated　before　a　tablewriting　implements；
  etc。…　…（Day　breaking。）
  Mel。　　Hush；　hush！she　sleeps　at　last！thank　Heaven；　for　a　while　she
  forgets　even　that　I　live！　　Her　sobs；　which　have　gone　to　my　heart
  the　whole；　long；　desolate　night；　have　ceased！all　calmall　still！
  I　will　go　now；　I　will　send　this　letter　to　Pauline's　father：
  when　he　arrives；　I　will　place　in　his　hands　my　own　consent　to　the　divorce；
  and　then；　O　France！　my　country！　accept　among　thy　protectors；
  thy　defendersthe　peasant's　Son！　　Our　country　is　less　proud
  than　custom；　and　does　not　refuse　the　blood；　the　heart；　the　right
  hand　of　the　poor　man。
  Enter　Widow。
  Widow。　　My　son；　thou　hast　acted　ill；　but　sin　brings　its　own　punishment。
  In　the　hour　of　thy　remorse；　it　is　not　for　a　mother　to　reproach　thee。
  Mel。　　What　is　past　is　past。　　There　is　a　future　left　to　all　men；　who　have
  the　virtue　to　repent；　and　the　energy　to　atone。　　Thou　shalt　be　proud　of　thy
  son　yet。　　Meanwhile；　remember　this　poor　lady　has　been　grievously　injured。
  For　the　sake　of　thy　son's　conscience；　respect；　honor；　bear　with　her。
  If　she　weep；　consoleif　she　chide；　be　silent。　　'Tis　but　a　little
  while　moreI　shall　send　an　express　fast　as　horse　can　speed
  to　her　father。　　Farewell！　　I　shall　return　shortly。
  Widow。　　It　is　the　only　course　left　to　theethou　wert　led　astray；
  but　thou　art　not　hardened。　　Thy　heart　is　right　still；　as　ever　it
  was　when；　in　thy　most　ambitious　hopes　thou　wert　never　ashamed
  of　thy　poor　mother。
  Mel。　　Ashamed　of　thee；　No；　if　I　yet　endure；　yet　live；　yet　hope；
  it　is　only　because　I　would　not　die　till　I　have　redeemed　the　noble
  heritage　I　have　lostthe　heritage　I　took　unstained　from　thee
  and　my　dead