Part 3 (2/2)
_Gycia._ Ah, sir, you jest.
The ways of courts we know not, but I bid thee Good welcome to our city, and I prithee Command whatever service our poor Cherson Can give whilst thou art here. (_To_ MEGACLES) Pray you, my lord, Accompany his Highness and our household To the apartments which our serving men Have now prepared. They are but poor, I know, For one who lives the stately life of kings; But such as our poor means can reach they are.
_Meg._ My lady, I have lived long time in courts, But never, in the palaces of Rome, Have I seen beauty such as yours, or grace More worthy of a crown. (_To_ MELISSA) To you, my lady, I bow with most respectful homage. Surely The G.o.ddess Here has not left the earth While you are here, I humbly take my leave For the present of your Highness with a thousand Obeisances, and to your gracious father Humbly I bend the knee. My Lord Asander, I do attend your Highness.
_Mel._ What a man!
What n.o.ble manners! What a polished air!
How poor to such a courtier our rude Court And humble manners show!
_Asan._ Good Megacles, Get me to my chamber--quick, ere I o'erpa.s.s All reasonable limits. I am sped; I am myself no more.
_Lama._ Farewell awhile.
We will welcome you at supper.
[_Exeunt all but_ LAMACHUS _and_ GYCIA.
_Lama._ Well, my daughter, What think you of this hot-brained youth? I' faith, I like his soldier's bluntness, and he seemed To be a little startled, as I thought, By something which he saw when thou didst come.
Perchance it was the charm of one who came Among thy ladies took him.
_Gycia._ Nay, my father, I think not so indeed.
_Lama._ Ah! well, I am old, And age forgets. But this I tell thee, daughter: If in my youth I had seen a young man's gaze Grow troubled, and he should start, and his cheek pale, A young girl drawing near, I had almost thought Him suddenly in love.
_Gycia._ Oh, nay indeed!
Who should be favoured thus? There is no woman In our poor Cherson worthy that his gaze Might rest on her a moment.
_Lama._ Ah, my girl, Is it thus with thee? They say that love is blind, And thou art blind, therefore it may be, Gycia, That thou too art in love. Tell me how it is.
Couldst thou love this man, if he loved thee?
_Gycia_ (_throwing herself on her father's neck_). Father!
_Lama._ Say no more, girl. I am not so old as yet That I have quite forgotten my own youth, When I was young and loved; and if I err not, I read love's fluttering signals on thy cheek, And in his tell-tale eyes. But listen! Music!
We must prepare for supper with our guests.
SCENE III.--_A street in Cherson._
MEGACLES; _afterwards_ MELISSA.
_Megacles._ Well, it is time for the banquet. Somehow, this place improves on acquaintance, after all. Poor, of course, and rude to a degree. But truly the Lady Gycia is fair--as fair, indeed, as if she was the Emperor's daughter. She is a beautiful creature, truly. But give _me_ that delightful lady-in-waiting of hers, the Lady Melissa.
What grace! what rounded proportions! I like mature beauty. She is as like the late divine Empress as two peas, and I thought--I dare say I was wrong, but I really thought--I made an impression. Poor things!
poor things! They can't help themselves. We courtiers really ought to be very careful not to abuse our power. It is positive cruelty. The contest is too unequal. It makes one inclined sometimes to put on the manners of a clown, so as to give them a chance. Nay, nay, you might as well ask the Ethiopian to change his skin as a courtier his fine manners. By all the saints! here she comes in _propria persona_.
_Enter the_ LADY MELISSA.
_Mel._ Heavens! it is the strange n.o.bleman. I am sure I am all of a flutter.
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