第 8 节
作者:孤独半圆      更新:2024-01-16 22:39      字数:9321
  heritage I have lostthe heritage I took unstained from thee
  and my dead fathera proud conscience and an honest name。
  I shall win them back yetheaven bless you!  'Exit。
  Widow。  My dear Claude!  How my heart bleeds for him。
  'PAULINE looks down from above; and after a pause descends
  Pauline。  Not here!he spares me that pain at least:
  so far he is considerateyet the place seems still more desolate
  without him。  Oh; that I could hate himthe gardener's son!
  and yet how nobly henonono I will not be so mean a thing
  as to forgive him!
  Widow。  Good morning; madam; I would have waited on you if I had known
  you were stirring。
  Pauline。  It is no matter; ma'amyour son's wife ought to
  wait on herself。
  Widow。  My son's wifelet not that thought vex you; madamhe tells
  me that you will have your divorce。  And I hope I shall live
  to see him smile again。  There are maidens in this village;
  young and fair; madam; who may yet console him。
  Pauline。  I dare saythey are very welcomeand when the divorce is got
  he will marry again。  I am sure I hope so。  'Weeps。
  Widow。  He could have married the richest girl in the province;
  if he had pleased it; but his head was turned; poor child! he could
  think of nothing but you。  'Weeps。
  Pauline。  Don't weep; mother。
  Widow。  Ah; he has behaved very ill; I know; but love is so headstrong
  in the young。  Don't weep; madam。
  Pauline。  So; as you were sayinggo on。
  Widow。  Oh; I cannot excuse him; ma'amhe was not in his right senses。
  Pauline。  But he alwaysalways 'sobbing' lovedloved me then?
  Widow。  He thought of nothing else。  See herehe learnt to paint
  that he might take your likeness 'uncovers the picture'。 But that's
  all over nowI trust you have cured him of his folly;but; dear heart;
  you have had no breakfast!
  Pauline。  I can't take anythingdon't trouble yourself。
  Widow。  Nay; madam; be persuaded; a little coffee will refresh you。
  Our milk and eggs are excellent。  I will get out Claude's coffee…cup
  It is of real Sevres; he saved up all his money to buy it three
  years ago; because the name of Pauline was inscribed on it。
  Pauline。  Three years ago!  Poor Claude!Thank you; I think I will have
  some coffee。  Oh! if he were but a poor gentleman; even a merchant:
  but a gardener's sonand what a home!Oh no;it is too dreadful!
  They seat themselves at the table; BEAUSEANT opens the lattice
  and looks in。
  Beau。  Sosothe coast is clear!  I saw Claude in the lane
  I shall have an excellent opportunity。Shuts the lattice and knocks
  at the door。
  Pauline。  'starting'。 Can it be my father?he has not sent for
  him yet?  No; he cannot be in such a hurry to get rid of me。
  Widow。  It is not time for your father to arrive yet; it must
  be some neighbor。
  Pauline。  Don't admit any one。
  'Widow opens the door; BEAUSEANT pushes her aside and enters。
  Ha!  Heavens! that hateful Beauseant!  This is indeed bitter!
  Beau。  Good morning; madam!  O widow; your son begs you will have
  the goodness to go to him in the village he wants to speak to you on
  particular business; you'll find him at the inn; or the grocer's shop;
  or the baker's; or at some other friend's of your familymake haste。
  Pauline。  Don't leave me; mother!don't leave me。
  Beau。  'with great respect'。 Be not alarmed; madam。  Believe me
  your friendyour servant。
  Pauline。  Sir; I have no fear of you; even in this house!  Go; madam;
  if your son wishes it; I will not contradict his commands whilst;
  at least he has still the right to be obeyed。
  Widow。  I don't understand this; however; I sha'n't be long gone。
  'Exit。
  Pauline。  Sir; I divine the object of your visityou wish
  to exult in the humiliation of one who humbled you。  Be it so;
  I am prepared to endure alleven your presence!
  Beau。  You mistake me; madamPauline; you mistake me!  I come to lay
  my fortune at your feet。  You must already be disenchanted with
  this impostor; these walls are not worthy to be hallowed by your beauty!
  Shall that form be clasped in the arms of a base…born peasant?
  Beloved; beautiful Pauline! fly with memy carriage waits without
  I will bear you to a home more meet for your reception。
  Wealth; luxury; stationall shall yet be yours。  I forget your
  past disdainI remember only your beauty and my unconquerable love!
  Pauline。  Sir! leave this houseit is humble:  but a husband's roof;
  however lowly; is; in the eyes of God and man; the temple of a
  wife's honor!  Know that I would rather starveyeswith him
  who has betrayed me; than accept your lawful hand; even were you
  the prince whose name he bore。Go。
  Beau。  What! is not your pride humbled yet?
  Pauline。  Sir; what was pride in prosperity in affliction becomes virtue。
  Beau。  Look round:  these rugged floorsthese homely walls
  this wretched struggle of poverty for comfortthink of this! and
  contrast with such a picture the refinement; the luxury; the pomp;
  that the wealthiest gentleman of Lyons offers to the loveliest lady。
  Ah; hear me!
  Pauline。  Oh! my father!why did I leave you?why am I thus friendless?
  Sir; you see before you a betrayed; injured; miserable woman!
  respect her anguish
  'MELNOTTE opens the door silently; and pauses at the threshold。
  Beau。  No! let me rather thus console it; let me snatch from those lips
  one breath of that fragrance which never should be wasted on the low
  churl thy husband。
  Pauline。  Help!  Claude!Claude!Have I no protector?'
  Beau。  Be silent! 'showing a pistol。' See; I do not come unprepared even
  for violence。  I will brave all thingsthy husband and all his race
  for thy sake。  Thus; then; I clasp thee!
  Mel。  'dashing him to the other end of the stage'。 Paulinelook up;
  Pauline! thou art safe。
  Beau。  'levelling his pistol'。 Dare you thus insult a man of
  my birth; ruffian?
  Pauline。  Oh; spare himspare my husband!BeauseantClaudeno
  no 'faints'。
  Mel。  Miserable trickster! shame upon you! brave devices to terrify
  a woman!  Coward!you trembleyou have outraged the lawsyou know
  that your weapon is harmlessyou have the courage of the mountebank;
  not the bravo!Pauline; there is no danger。
  Beau。  I wish thou wert a gentlemanas it is; thou art beneath me。
  Good day; and a happy honeymoon。'Aside。' I will not die till I
  am avenged。  'Exit。
  Mel。 I hold her in these armsthe last embrace
  Never; ah never more; shall this dear head
  Be pillow'd on the heart that should have shelter'd
  And has betray'd!Softsoft! one kisspoor wretch!
  No scorn on that pale lip forbids me now!
  One kissso ends all record of my crime!
  It is the seal upon the tomb of hope;
  By which; like some lost; sorrowing angel; sits
  Sad memory evermore; she breathesshe moves
  She wakes to scorn; to hate; but not to shudder
  Beneath the touch of my abhorred love。
  Places her on a seat。 Therewe are strangers now!
  Pauline。 All goneall calm
  Is every thing a dream? thou art safe; unhurt
  I do not love thee;butbut I am woman;
  Andandno blood is spilt?
  Mel。  No; lady; no; My guilt hath not deserved so rich a blessing
  As even danger in thy cause。
  Enter WIDOW。
  Widow。  My son; I have been everywhere in search of you; why did
  you send for me?
  Mel。  I did not send for you。
  Widow。  No! but I must tell you your express has returned。
  Mel。  So soon! impossible!
  Widow。  Yes; he met the lady's father and mother on the road;
  they were going into the country on a visit。  Your messenger
  says that Monsieur Deschappelles turned almost white with anger
  when he read your letter。  They will be here almost immediately。
  Oh; Claude; Claude! what will they do to you?  How I tremble!
  Ah; madam! do not let them injure himif you knew how he doated on you。
  Pauline。  Injure him! no; ma'am; be not afraid;my father! how shall
  I meet him? how go back to Lyons? the scoff of the whole city!
  Cruel; cruel; Claude 'in great agitation'。 Sir; you have
  acted most treacherously。
  Mel。  I know it; madam。
  Pauline 'aside。' If he would but ask me to forgive him!
  I never can forgive you; sir。
  Mel。  I never dared to hope it。
  Pauline。  But you are my husband now; and I have sworn to
  to love you; sir。
  Mel。  That was under a false belief; madam; Heaven and the laws
  will release you from your vow。
  Pauline。  He will drive me mad! if he were but less proud
  if he would but ask me to remainhark; harkI hear the wheels
  of the carriageSirClaude; they are coming; have you no word
  to say ere it is loo late?  Quick speak。
  Mel。  I can only congratulate you on your release。  Behold your parents
  Enter MONSIEUR and MADAME DESCHAPPELLES and COLONEL DAMAS。
  M。 Deschap。  My child! my child!
  Mme。 Deschap。  Oh; my poor Pauline!what a villanous hovel this is!
  Old woman; get me a chairI shall faint I certainly shall。
  What will the world say?  Child; you have been a fool。
  A