There's but one clue to this strange mystery: [Re-enter MOUSTA. Mous. (showing ring.) Flor. Why, miserable ape, hast thou then lost I want to die! I've tried to kill myself— But I'm no hero, and my courage failed. (Furiously.) She's gone from you for ever-and I come To work the bitter blighting of your life To chuckle at the aching misery That eats your heart away! I come to spit My hate upon you-If my toad's mouth held The venom of a toad, I would spit that! Come-have I said enough? Then draw thy sword And make an end of me—I am prepared ! Flor. (drawing sword) I needed no assurance, yea or nay, That some foul planning of thy leper heart Had worked this devilry! Thou lovest her? Thou lovest her? Is there no blasphemy That devils shrink from? Hast thou seen thyself. (Seizing MOUSTA and holding his head over the pool.) Look in the fountain-bend thy cursed head! Look at it-dog face! (MOUSTA struggles.) Shrink not back appalled- Lest other reptiles take their clue from it, And say, (Flinging him on ground.) Mous. (crouching on ground) Spare me your tongue, I know well what I am, And what I've done. My life is forfeited. Strike at the heart! Be quick-I am prepared Flor. Hast thou no prayer to utter ? No, not I. Curse you, be quick, I say. Yet stay-one word. Do we start fair, d'you think? Are you and I Now kill me I'm prepared. I only ask One boon of you-strike surely, and be quick! (Florian pauses for a moment then sheaths his sword.) Flor. Go, take thy life, I'll none of it! with one Which Heaven hath so defaced, let Heaven deal. I will not sit in judgment on thy sin! My wrath has faded when I look upon The seal that Heaven hath set upon thy brow, Thy pardon for the fury of my words! Go, take thy life, make fairer use of it. Mous. (much moved) I thank you, sir-not for my blighted life, But for the pitying words in which you grant it. (With emotion.) You've moved me very deeply (places the ring that HILDA gave him on FLORIAN'S finger-then kisses his hand). these tears. I am not used to weep, my lord-but then I am not used to gentleness from men. Curse [Exit MOUSTA. Flor. Unhappy creature, go thy ways in peace. Thou hast atoned. (By permission of the Author.) SCENE FROM IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. CHARLES READE. [The work of genius which placed Mr. Charles Reade in the first rank of English novelists was 66 Peg Woffington.' This was in the year 1852. Later novels of signal merit were Christie Johnstone," ""The Course of True Love," "Love me Little, Love me Long," "Jack of all Trades," "Cloister and the Hearth," "Hard Cash," "White Lies," "Griffith Gaunt," "The Wandering Heir," "A Woman Hater," and "Put Yourself in his Place." The play from which the following extract is taken was written prior to the novel to which it owes its name. It was produced under the title of " Gold," and the plot of this drama was simplified into the great novel, "It's Never Too Late to Mend." The success of the latter excited the cupidity of hack playwrights; the author then, to protect himself from piracy, wrote the drama in its present form. On its first production at the Princess's Theatre, it gave rise to a riot, in consequence of the openly-expressed resentment of certain criticasters; but the public set the seal of its approval on the play, and for twenty years it has held the stage without any prospect of abatement in its popularity. Born 1814. Died 1885.] CHARACTERS: MEADOWS, ISAAC LEVI, GEORGE FIELDING. Meadows (solus). Hallo! here comes another curse I am putting out of my way, the old Jew. Enter ISAAC LEVI leaning upon his staff and bowing low. Levi. Good morning, sir. Mead. (abruptly). Good morning. If it's about that house, you may keep your breath to cool your broth; the house is mine now. Levi. It is, sir; but I have lived there twenty years. I pay a fair rent, but if you think anyone would give more, you shall lose nothing by me. I will pay a little more, and you know your rent is sure. Mead. I do. Levi. Thank you, sir. Well, then Mead. Well, then, next Lady-day you turn out, bag and baggage. Levi. Nay, sir, hear me, for you are younger than I; in the house you have bought, two children were born to me and died from me; and there my Leah died also; and there are times in the silent hours I seem to hear their voices and their feet. In another house I shall never hear them—I shall be quite alone. Have pity on me, sir, an aged and a lonely man. Tear me not from the shadows of my dead. (Pause.) Let me prevail with you. Mead. No. Levi. No? Then you must be an enemy of Isaac Levi. Levi. A little, sir, now and then; a very little. Mead. Well, what you do on the sly, old sixty-per-cent. Mead. It is, and it lies before you, for the little town of Farnborough is not wide enough for me and any man that works my business for his own pocket Levi. This is not enmity, sir; it is but a matter of profit and loss. Let me stay here, and I swear to you, by the tables of the law, you shall not lose one shilling per annum by me. Trust me! Mead. I'll trust you as far as I can fling a bull by the tail. You gave me your history-here's mine. I have always put my foot on whatever has stood in my path. I was poor-I am rich-and that is my policy. Levi. It is frail policy. Some man will be sure to put his foot on you, sooner or later. Mead. What! Do you threaten me? Levi. No, sir. I but tell you what these old eyes have seen in every nation, and read in books that never lie. Goliath defied armies, yet he fell by a shepherd-boy's sling. Samson tore a lion with his hands, but a woman laid him low. No man can defy his kind. The strong man is sure to find one as strong and more skilful; the cunning man one as adroit and stronger than himself. Be advised, then; do not trample on one of my people. Those that oppress us never thrive. Let me rather have to bless you. An old man's blessing is gold. See these grey hairs! My sorrows have been as many as they are. I have been driven to and fro like a leaf many years, and now I long for rest. Let me rest in my little tent till I rest for ever. Oh, let me die where those I loved have died, and there let me be buried! Mead. If you like to hang yourself before next Lady-day, I give you leave; but after Lady-day no more Jewish dogs shall die in my house, or be buried for manure in my garden. Levi (giving way to his pent-up wrath.) Irreverent cur! D'ye rail on the afflicted of Heaven? (He drops his staff and raises his hands.) I spit on ye, and I curse ye! Be accursed! (Throws his hands up.) Whatever is the secret wish of your black heart, Heaven wither it! Ha! ha! ye wince already ?-all men have secret wishes. May all the good luck you have be wormwood for want of that-that-that! May you be near it-close to it—upon it-burn for it-and lose it! May it sport, and smile, and laugh, and play with you, till Gehenna burns your soul upon earth! Mead. (whose wrath has been visibly rising). I'll smash your viper's tongue! [Aims a blow at LEVI with his stick, when GEORGE FIELDING dashes in and receives the blow on his riding-whip.] Field. (coolly). Not if I know it. (Pause.) You are jokin Master Meadows. Why the man is twice your age; and nothing in his hand but his fist. (To LEVI.) Who are you, old man, and what do you want? Mead. Who is he? A villainous old Jew. Levi. Yes, young man, I am Isaac Levy, a Jew. (To MEADOWs.) And what are you Do you call yourself a heathen? Ye lie, ye cur! The heathen were not without their starlight from Heaven; they respected sorrow and grey hairs. And you, Field. Now don't you be so aggravating, daddy. Master Meadows, should know how to make light of an old man's tongue. It is like a woman's-it is all he has got to hit with. Levi. See-see! he can't look you in the face. Any man that has read men from East to West can see "lion" in your eye, and "cowardly wolf" in his. сс Mead. (trembling with rage). Lady-day, Master Isaac, Ladyday! sort. Field. Lady-day! Confound Lady-day, and every day of the There, don't you be so spiteful, old man. Why, if he isn't all of a tremble! (Gives him his staff, MEADOWS goes up to gate.) Now, go into my house, and forget your trouble by my fireside, my poor old man (pointing R. H.). Levi. I must not eat with you; but I thank you, young man. Yes, I will go in and compose myself; for passion is unseemly at my years. (Goes towards house, and at the threshold suddenly stops and raises his hands.) Peace be under this roof, and comfort and love follow me into this dwelling. (Turns suddenly and offers his hand.) Isaac Levi is your friend. (Exit into house. GEORGE looks after him.) Mead. (aside). One more down to your account. (Exit.) Field. The old man's words seem to knock against my breast. Meadows has everybody's good word, parson' somehow I never thought he was the right stuff, and now I'm sure. ·(By permission of Chas. L. Reade, Esq.) and all; but SCENE FROM CHARLES THE FIRST. [That Mr. Wills, of all our modern dramatists, possesses the purest dramatic instinct, is a matter about which there can scarcely be two opinions. It is certainly a fortuitous circumstance for the peculiar bent of his genius that he should have become so intimately associated with the greatest actor of our time. The scene here quoted from what is perhaps his finest work, probably caused, at the time of its first production, more controversy than any other dramatic work of the present century. His first play was "The Man o Airlie;" later dramatic triumphs were Olivia," ""Jane Shore,' ""Medea," and "Faust." It may not be generally known that Mr. Wills is an artist of some repute.] 66 CHARACTERS: CHARLES I. CROMWELL. IRETON. SCENE.-Whitehall Palace, in the presence of the KING. Enter ATTENDANT. Attendant. Two gentlemen, your Majesty. Enter CROMWELL and IRETON. [Exit ATTENDANT. King. You are welcome. Master Cromwell, I believe. Crom. The same, so please you. King. Pray be seated. Crom. Nay, so please you. King. (Sitting.) I pray you. Lord Huntly often has commended you (CROMWELL sits.) As one who shows high promise of the statesman. |