Mel。Disgrace，Gaspar！Disgrace？
Gaspar。Igavethylettertotheporter，whopasseditfromlackeytolackeytillitreachedtheladyitwasmeantfor。
Mel。Itreachedher，then;youaresureofthat！
Itreachedher，——well，well！
Gaspar。Itreachedher，andwasreturnedtomewithblows。
Dosthear，Melnotte？withblows！Death！areweslavesstill，thatwearetobethusdealtwith，wepeasants？
Mel。Withblows？No，Gaspar，no;notblows！
Gaspar。Icouldshowtheethemarksifitwerenotsodeepashametobearthem。Thelackeywhotossedthyletterintothemiresworethathisladyandhermotherneverweresoinsulted。
Whatcouldthylettercontain，Claude？
Mel。[lookingovertheletter]。Notalinethataserfmightnothavewrittentoanempress。No，notone。
Gaspar。Theypromisetheethesamegreetingtheygaveme，ifthouwiltpassthatway。Shallweendurethis，Claude？
Mel。[wringingGASPAR\'shand]。Forgiveme，thefaultwasmine，Ihavebroughtthisonthee;Iwillnotforgetit;thoushaltbeavenged！
Theheartlessinsolence！
Gaspar。Thouartmoved，Melnotte;thinknotofme;Iwouldgothroughfireandwatertoservethee;but，——ablow！
Itisnotthebruisethatgalls，——itistheblush，Melnotte。
Mel。Say，whatmessage？——Howinsulted！——Wherefore？——Whattheoffence？
Gaspar。DidyounotwritetoPaulineDeschappelles，thedaughteroftherichmerchant？
Mel。Well？
Gaspar。Andareyounotapeasant——agardener\'sson？——
thatwastheoffence。Sleeponit，Melnotte。BlowstoaFrenchcitizen，blows！[Exit。
Widow。Nowyouarecured，Claude！
Mel。tearingtheletter。SodoIscatterherimagetothewinds——
Iwillstopherintheopenstreets——Iwillinsulther——Iwillbeathermenialruffians——Iwill——[TurnssuddenlytoWidow。]Mother，amIhumpbacked——deformed——hideous？Widow。You！
Mel。Acoward——athief——aliar？
Widow。You！
Mel。Oradullfool——avain，drivelling，brainlessidiot？
Widow。No，no。Mel。WhatamIthen——worsethanallthese？
Why，Iamapeasant！Whathasapeasanttodowithlove？
Vainrevolutions，whylavishyourcrueltyonthegreat？Ohthatwe——
we，thehewersofwoodanddrawersofwater——hadbeensweptaway，sothattheproudmightlearnwhattheworldwouldbewithoutus！
[Knockatthedoor。
EnterServantfromtheInn。
Servant。AletterforCitizenMelnotte。
Mel。Aletter！fromherperhaps——whosentthee？
Servant。Why，Monsieur——ImeanCitizen——Beauseant，whostopstodineattheGoldenLion，onhiswaytohischateau。
Mel。Beauseant！——[Reads]。
\"Youngman，Iknowthysecret——thoulovestabovethystation:
ifthouhastwit，courage，anddiscretion，Icansecuretotheetherealizationofthymostsanguinehopes;andthesoleconditionI
askinreturnis，thatthoushaltbesteadfasttothineownends。
Ishalldemandfromtheeasolemnoathtomarry。herwhomthoulovest;
tobearhertothinehomeonthyweddingnight。Iamserious——
ifthouwouldstlearnmore，losenotamoment，butfollowthebearerofthislettertothyfriendandpatron，——CHARLESBEAUSEANT。\"
Mel。CanIbelievemyeyes？Areourownpassionsthesorcerersthatraiseupforusspiritsofgoodorevil？Iwillgoinstantly。
Widow。Whatisthis，Claude？
Mel。\"Marryherwhomthoulovest\"——\"bearhertothineownhome。\"——
Oh，revengeandlove;whichofyouisthestronger？——[Gazingonthepicture。]Sweetface，thousmilestonmefromthecanvas:
weakfoolthatIam，doIthenloveherstill？No，itisthevisionofmyownromancethatIhaveworshipped:itistherealitytowhichIbringscornforscorn。Adieu，mother:Iwillreturnanon。
Mybrainreels——theearthswimsbeforeme。——[Looksagainattheletter。]No，itisnotamockery;Idonotdream！[Exit。
ACTII。——SCENEI。
TheGardensofM。DESCHAPPELLEs\'houseatLyons——thehouseseenatthebackofthestage。
EnterBEAUSEANTandGLAVIS。
Beau。Well，whatthinkyouofmyplot？Hasitnotsucceededtoamiracle？TheinstantthatIintroducedhisHighnessthePrinceofComotothepompousmotherandthescornfuldaughter，itwasalloverwiththem:hecame——hesaw——heconquered:
and，thoughitisnotmanydayssincehearrived，theyhavealreadypromisedhimthehandofPauline。
Gla。Itislucky，though，thatyoutoldthemhishighnesstravelledincognito，forfeartheDirectory（whoarenotveryfondofprinces）
shouldlayhimbytheheels;forhehasawonderfulwishtokeepuphisrank，andscattersourgoldaboutwithasmuchcoolnessasifhewerewateringhisownflower—pots。
Beau。True，heisdamnablyextravagant;Ithinktheslydogdoesitoutofmalice。However，itmustbeownedthathereflectscreditonhisloyalsubjects，andmakesaveryprettyfigureinhisfineclothes，withmydiamondsnuff—box。
Gla。Andmydiamondring！Butdoyouthinkhewillbefirmtothelast？
IfancyIseesymptomsofrelenting:hewillneverkeepuphisrank，ifheonceletouthisconscience。
Beau。Hisoathbindshim！hecannotretractwithoutbeingforesworn，andthoselowfellowsarealwayssuperstitious！
But，asitis，Itremblelesthebediscovered:thatbluffColonelDamas（MadameDeschappelles\'cousin）evidentlysuspectshim:
wemustmakehasteandconcludethefarce:Ihavethoughtofaplantoenditthisveryday。
Gla。Thisveryday！PoorPauline:herdreamwillbesoonover。
Beau。Yes，thisdaytheyshallbemarried;thisevening，accordingtohisoath，heshallcarryhisbridetotheGoldenLion，andthenpomp，equipage，retinue，andtitle，allshallvanishatonce;
andherHighnessthePrincessshallfindthatshehasrefusedthesonofaMarquis，tomarrythesonofagardener。——Oh，Pauline！onceloved，nowhated，yetstillnotrelinquished，thoushaltdrainthecuptothedregs，——thoushaltknowwhatitistobehumbled！
Enterfromthehouse，MELNOTTE，asthePrinceofComo，IeadinginPAULINE;MADAME
DESCHAPPELLES，fanningherself;andCOLONELDAMAS。
[BEAUSEANTandGLAVISbowrespectfully。fully。PAULINEandMELNOTTEwalkapart。
Mme。Deschap。Goodmorning，gentlemen;reallyIamsofatiguedwithlaughter;thedearPrinceissoentertaining。Whatwithehas！
Anyonemayseethathehasspenthiswholelifeincourts。
Damas。Andwhatthedeucedoyouknowaboutcourts，cousinDeschappelles？Youwomenregardmenjustasyoubuybooks——
younevercareaboutwhatisinthem，buthowtheyareboundandlettered。\'Sdeath，Idon\'tthinkyouwouldevenlookatyourBibleifithadnotatitletoit。
Mme。Deschap。Howcoarseyouare，cousinDamas！——quitethemannersofabarrack——youdon\'tdeservetobeoneofourfamily;
reallywemustdropyouracquaintancewhenPaulinemarries。
Icannotpatronizeanyrelationsthatwoulddiscreditmyfutureson—in—law，thePrinceofComo。
Mel。[advancing]。Thesearebeautifuigardens，madame，（BEAUSEANTandGLAVISretire——whoplannedthemMme。Deschap。AgardenernamedMelnotte，yourhighness——
anhonestmanwhoknewhisstation。Ican\'tsayasmuchforhisson——
apresumingfellow，who，——ha！ha！actuallywroteverses——suchdoggerel！——
tomydaughter。
Pauline。Yes，howyouwouldhavelaughedatthem，Prince！you，whowritesuchbeautifulverses！
Mel。ThisMelnottemustbeamonstrousimpudentperson！
Damas。Ishegood—looking？
Mme。Deschap。Inevernoticesuchcanaille——anugly，mean—lookingclown，ifIrememberright。
Damas。YetIheardyourportersayhewaswonderfullylikehishighness。
Mel。[takingsnuff]。Youarecomplimentary。
Mme。Deschap。Forshame，cousinDamas！——likethePrince，indeed！
Pauline。Likeyou！Ah，mother，likeourbeautifulprince！
I\'llneverspeaktoyouagain，cousinDamas。
Mel。[aside]。Humph！——rankisagreatbeautifier！IneverpassedforanApollowhileIwasapeasant;ifIamsohandsomeasaprince，whatshouldIbeasanemperor！[Aloud。]MonsieurBeauseant，willyouhonorme？[Offerssnuff。
Beau。No，yourhighness;Ihavenosmallvices。
Mel。Nay，ifitwereavice，you\'dbesuretohaveit，MonsieurBeauseant。
Mme。Deschap。Ha！ha！——howverysevere！——whatwit！
Beau。[inarageandaside]。Cursehisimpertinence！
Mme。Deschap。Whatasuperbsnuff—box！Pauline。Andwhatabeautifulring！
Mel。Youlikethebox——atrifle——interestingperhapsfromassociations——
apresentfromLouisXIV。tomygreat—greatgrandmother。
Honormeby——acceptingit。
Beau。pluckinghimbythesleeve。How！——whatthedevil！
Mybox——areyoumad？Itisworthfivehundredlouis。
Mel。[unheedinghim，andturningtoPAULINE]。Andyoulikethisring？
Ah，ithas，indeedalustresinceyoureyeshaveshoneonitplacingitonherfinger。Henceforthholdme，sweetenchantress，theSlaveoftheRing。
Gla。[pullinghim]。Stay，stay——whatareyouabout？
Mymaidenaunt\'slegacy——adiamondofthefirstwater。
Youshallbehangedforswindling，sir。
Mel。[pretendingnottohear]。Itiscurious，thisring;
itistheonewithwhichmygrandfather，theDogeofVenice，marriedtheAdriatic！
（MadameandPAULINEexaminethering。Mel。[toBEAUSEANTandGLAVIS]。Fie，gentlemen！princesmustbegenerous？——[TurnstoDAMAS，whowatchesthemclosely。]Thesekindfriendshavemyinterestsomuchatheart，thattheyareascarefulofmypropertyasifitweretheirown！
BeauandGla。[confusedly]。Ha！ha！——verygoodjokethat！
[AppearstoremonstratewithMELNOTTEindumbshow。
Damas。What\'sallthatwhispering？Iamsurethereissomejugglehere:
hangme，ifIthinkheisanItalianafterall。Gad，I\'lltryhim。
Servitoreumillissimo，Eccellenza。*
（*YourExcellency\'smosthumbleservant。）
Mel。Hum——whatdoeshemean，Iwonder？
Damas。Gododivederviinbuonasalute。*
（*Iamgladtoseeyouingoodhealth。）
Mel。Hem——hem！
Damas。Fabeltempo——thesidicedinuovo？*
（*Fineweather。Whatnewsisthere？）
Mel。Well，sir，what\'sallthatgibberish？
Damas。Oh，oh！——onlyItalian，yourhighness！——ThePrinceofComodoesnotunderstandhisownlanguage！
Mel。Notasyoupronounceit;whothedeucecould？
Mme。Deschap。Ha！ha！cousinDamas，neverpretendtowhatyoudon\'tknow。
Pauline。Ha！ha！cousinDamas;youspeakItalian，indeed！
[Makesamockinggestureathim。
Beau。[toGLAVIS]。Cleverdog！——howready！
Gla。Ready，yes;withmydiamondring！——Damnhisreadiness！
Damas。Laughatme！——laughataColonelintheFrencharmy！——
thefellow\'sanimpostor;Iknowheis。I\'llseeifheunderstandsfightingaswellashedoesItalian。——[Goesuptohim，andaside。]Sir，youareajackanapes。——Canyouconstruethat？
Mel。No，sir;Ineverconstrueaffrontsinthepresenceofladies;
by—and—byIshallbehappytotakealesson——orgiveone。
Damas。I\'llfindtheoccasion，neverfear！
Mme。Deschap。Whereareyougoing，cousin？
Damas。TocorrectmyItalian。[Exit。
Beau。[toGLAVIS]。Letusafter，andpacifyhim;heevidentlysuspectssomething。
Gla。Yes！——butmydiamondring！
Beau。Andmybox！——Weareover—taxedfellow—subjects！——wemuststopthesupplies，anddethronetheprince。
Gla。Prince！——heoughttobeheir—apparenttoKingStork。
[ExeuntBEAUSEANTandGLAVIS。
Mme。Deschap。DareIaskyourhighnesstoforgivemycousin\'sinsufferablevulgarity？
Pauline。Ohyes！——youwillforgivehismannerforthesakeofhisheart。
Mel。Andthesakeofhiscousin。——Ah，madam，thereisonecomfortinrank，——wearesosureofourpositionthatwearenoteasilyaffronted。Besides，M。Damashasboughttherightofindulgencefromhisfriends，bynevershowingittohisenemies。
Pauline。Ah！heis，indeed，asbraveinactionasheisrudeinspeech。
Herosefromtherankstohispresentgrade，andintwoyears！
Mel。Intwoyears！——twoyears，didyousay？
Mme。Deschap。[aside]。Idon\'tlikeleavinggirlsalonewiththeirlovers;but，withaprince，itwouldbesoill—bredtobeprudish。
（Exit。
Mel。Youcanbeproudofyourconnectionwithonewhooweshispositiontomerit——notbirth。
Pauline。Why，yes;butstillMel。Stillwhat，Pauline！
Pauline。Thereissomethinggloriousintheheritageofcommand。
Amanwhohasancestorsislikearepresentativeofthepast。
Mel。True;but，likeotherrepresentatives，ninetimesoutoftenheisasilentmember。Ah，Pauline！nottothepast，buttothefuture，lookstruenobility，andfindsitsblazoninposterity。
Pauline。Yousaythistopleaseme，whohavenoancestors;
butyou，prince，mustbeproudofsoillustriousarace！
Mel。No，no！Iwouldnot，wereIfiftytimesaprince，beapensioneronthedead！Ihonorbirthandancestrywhentheyareregardedastheincentivestoexertion，notthetitledeedstosloth！
Ihonorthelaurelsthatovershadowthegravesofourfathers;
itisourfathersIemulate，whenIdesirethatbeneaththeevergreenImyselfhaveplanted，myownashesmayrepose！
Dearest！couldstthoubutseewithmyeyes！
Pauline。IcannotforegopridewhenIlookonthee，andthinkthatthoulovestme。SweetPrince，tellmeagainofthypalacebytheLakeofComo;itissopleasanttohearofthysplendorssincethoudidstsweartomethattheywouldbedesolatewithoutPauline;
andwhenthoudescribestthem，itiswithamockinglipandanoblescorn，asifcustomhadmadetheedisdaingreatness。
Mel。Nay，dearest，nay，ifthouwouldsthavemepaintThehometowhich，couldlovefulfilitsprayers，Thishandwouldleadthee，listen！*——
Adeepvale（*ThereaderwillobservethatMelnotteevadestherequestofPauline。
Heproceedstodescribeahome，whichbedoesnotsayhepossesses，buttowhichhewouldleadher，\"couldLovefulfilitsprayers。\"
Thiscautionisintendedasareplytoasagaciouscriticwhocensuresthedescription，becauseitisnotanexactandprosaicinventoryofthecharacteristicsoftheLakeofComo！——WhenMelnotte，forinstance，talksofbirds\"thatsyllablethenameofPauline\"
（bytheway，aliteraltranslationfromanItalianpoet），heisnotthinkingofornithology，butprobablyoftheArabianNights。Heisventingtheextravagant，butnatural，enthusiasmofthepoetandthelover。）
ShutoutbyAlphinehillsfromtherudeworld;
Nearaclearlake，margin\'dbyfruitsofgoldAndwhisperingmyrtles;glassingsoftestskies，Ascloudless，savewithrareandroseateshadows，AsIwouldhavethyfate！
Pauline。Myowndearlove！
Mel。ApalaceliftingtoeternalsummerItsmarblewalls，fromoutaglossybowerOfcoolestfoliagemusicalwithbirds，Whosesongsshouldsyllablethyname！AtnoonWe\'dsitbeneaththearchingvines，andwonderWhyEarthcouldbeunhappy，whiletheHeavensStillleftusyouthandlove！We\'dhavenofriendsThatwerenotlovers;noambition，saveToexcelthemallinlove;we\'dreadnobooksThatwerenottalesoflove——thatwemightsmileTothinkhowpoorlyeloquenceofwordsTranslatesthepoetryofheartslikeours！
Andwhennightcame，amidstthebreathlessHeavensWe\'dguesswhatstarshouldbeourhomewhenloveBecomesimmortal;whiletheperfumedlightStolethroughthemistsofalabasterlamps，AndeveryairwasheavywiththesighsOforange—grovesandmusicfromsweetlutes，AndmurmursoflowfountainsthatgushforthI\'themidstofroses！——Dostthoulikethepicture？
Pauline。Oh，asthebeeupontheflower，IhangUponthehoneyofthyeloquenttongue！
AmInotblest？AndifIlovetoowildly，WhowouldnotlovetheelikePauline？
Mel。[bitterly。]Oh，falseone！
Itistheprincethoulovest，notthemanIfinthesteadofluxury，pomp，andpower，Ihadpaintedpoverty，andtoil，andcare，Thouhadstfoundnohoneyonmytongue;——Pauline，Thatisnotlove！
Pauline。Thouwrong\'stme，cruelPrince！
Atfirst，intruth，Imightnothavebeenwon，Savethroughtheweaknessofaflatter\'dpride;
Butnow，——oh！trustme，——couldstthoufallfrompowerAndsink——
Mel。Aslowasthatpoorgardener\'ssonWhodaredtolifthiseyestothee？——
Pauline。Eventhen，MethinksthouwouldstbeonlymademoredearBythesweetthoughtthatIcouldprovehowdeepIswoman\'slove！Weareliketheinsects，caughtBythepoorglitteringofagarishflame;
But，oh，thewingsoncescorch\'d，thebrighteststarLuresusnomore;andbythefatallightWeclingtilldeath！
Mel。Angel！[Aside。]Oconscience！conscience！
Itmustnotbe;herlovehathgrownatortureWorsethanherhate。IwillatoncetoBeauseant，And——ha！hecomes。Sweetlove，onemomentleaveme。
Ihavebusinesswiththesegentlemen——I——I
Willforwithjoinyou。
Pauline。Donottarrylong！[Exit。
EnterBEAUSEANTandGLAVIS。
Mel。Releasemefrommyoath，——Iwillnotmarryher！
BeauThenthouartperjured。
Mel。No，IwasnotinmysenseswhenIsworetotheetomarryher！
Iwasblindtoallbutherscorn！——deaftoallbutmypassionandmyrage！Givemebackmypovertyandmyhonor！
Beau。Itistoolate，——youmustmarryher！andthisday。
Ihaveastoryalreadycoined，andsuretopasscurrent。
ThisDamassuspectsthee，——hewillsetthepolicetowork！——
thouwiltbedetected——Paulinewilldespiseandexecratethee。
Thouwiltbesenttothecommongaolasaswindler。
Mel。Fiend！
Beau。Andintheheatofthegirl\'sresentment（youknowofwhatresentmentiscapable）andtheparents\'shame，shewillbeinducedtomarrythefirstthatoffers——evenperhapsyourhumbleservant。
Mel。You！No;thatwereworse——forthouhastnomercy！
Iwillmarryher。——Iwillkeepmyoath。Quick，then，withthedamnableinventionthouarthatching;——quick，ifthouwouldstnothavemestrangletheeormyself。
Gla。Whatatiger！Toofierceforaprince;heoughttohavebeentheGrandTurk。
Beau。Enough——Iwilldispatch;beprepared。
[ExeuntBEAUSEANTandGLAVIS。
EnterDAMASwithtwoswords。
Damas。Now，then，sir，theladiesarenolongeryourexcuse。
Ihavebroughtyouacoupleofdictionaries;letusseeifyourhighnesscanfindouttheLatinforbilbo。
Mel。Away，sir！Iaminnohumorforjesting。Damas。Iseeyouunderstandsomethingofthegrammar;youdeclinethenon—substantive\"small—swords\"withgreatease;butthatwon\'tdo——youmusttakealessoninparsing。
Mel。Fool！Damas。Sir，assonstakeaftertheirmother，sothemanwhocallsmeafoolinsultstheladywhoboreme;
there\'snoescapeforyou——fightyoushall，or——
Mel。Oh，enough！enough！——takeyourground。
Theyfight;DAMASisdisarmed。MELNOTTEtakesuptheswordandreturnsittoDAMASrespectfully。Ajustpunishmenttothebravesoldierwhorobsthestateofitsbestproperty——thesolerighttohisvalorandhislife。
Damas。Sir，youfenceexceedinglywell;youmustbeamanofhonor——
Idon\'tcareajotwhetheryouareaprince;butamanwhohascarteandtierceathisfingers\'endsmustbeagentleman。
Mel。[aside。]Gentleman！Ay，IwasagentlemanbeforeI
turnedconspirator;forhonestmenarethegentlemenofNature！Colonel，theytellmeyourosefromtheranks。
Damas。Idid。
Mel。Andintwoyears！
Damas。Itistrue;that\'snowonderinourarmyatpresent。
Whytheoldestgeneralintheserviceisscarcelythirty，andwehavesomeoftwo—and—twenty。
Mel。Two—and—twenty！
Damas。Yes;intheFrencharmy，nowadays，promotionisnotamatterofpurchase。Weareallheroes，becausewemay。beallgenerals。
Wehavenofearofthecypress，becausewemayallhopeforthelaurel。
Mel。Ageneralattwo—and—twenty！[turningaway]——Sir，Imayaskyouafavoroneofthesedays。
Damas。Sir，Ishallbeproudtograntit。ItisastonishinghowmuchIlikeamanafterI\'vefoughtwithhim。[Hidestheswords。
EnterMADAMEDESCHAPPELLESandBEAUSEANT。
Mme。Deschap。Oh，prince，——prince！——WhatdoIhear？Youmustfly——
youmustquitus！
Mel。I！
Beau。Yes，prince:readthisletter，justreceivedfrommyfriendatParis，oneoftheDirectory;theysuspectyouofdesignsagainsttheRepublic:theyareverysuspiciousofprinces，andyourfamilytake。partwiththeAustrians。KnowingthatI
introducedyourhighnessatLyons，myfriendwritestometosaythatyoumustquitthetownimmediately，oryouwillbearrested，——
thrownintoprison，perhapsguillotined！Fly！——Iwillorderhorsestoyourcarriageinstantly。FlytoMarsailles;thereyoucantakeshiptoLeghorn。