318 CLAVIGO '. A TRAGEDY. 



of men where it so difficult to obtain notice ? I feel a tranquil joy while 

 I contemplate the way I have made. Beloved by the chief of the king- 

 dom ; honoured for my knowledge my rank ; keeper of the royal ar- 

 chives ! These thoughts stimulate me, Carlos ; I should be nothing 

 should I remain what I am. Mount ! mount ! but climbing requires 

 labour and address ! With the exercise of a mastery of wit, and the 

 women ! women ! we trifle away too much time with them. 



Car. Foolish fellow ! there is your weakness. I can never live without 

 women either ; but they are no impediment to me. To be sure, I don't 

 say so many pretty things to them, nor am I to be consoled for months 

 together with sentiment, and the like ; and therefore I detest having to do 

 with your virtuous girls, for scarcely have you chatted a little with them 

 than you are clogged with them : and when you have insinuated yourself 

 into their good graces, the devil seizes them with thoughts of matrimony 

 and proposals of marriage, which I dread as I do the plague. You are 

 thoughtful, Clavigo. 



Clav. I cannot shake off the recollection of having left Maria betrayed 

 call it, if you will. 



Car. Strange ! yet it seems to me we exist but once in the world have 

 these powers, these prospects but once, and he who does not make the 

 best of them is an idiot; and to marry to marry ! just at the time when it 

 may be said you are soaring into life to domesticate, to retrench, before 

 you have made half your way half your conquests. That you loved her 

 was natural, that you promised her marriage was a folly : but if you had 

 kept your word, it had indeed been madness. 



Clav. Well, I can't comprehend man. I loved her sincerely ; she capti- 

 vated me and bound me as with a spell ; and as I sat at her feet, I swore 

 to her I swore to myself, it should be thus eternally, that I would be 

 hers as soon as I had obtained office and rank ; and now, Carlos ! 



Car. It will be time enough when you have succeeded when you have 

 reached the desired end that you then seek, by a prudent alliance with 

 some considerable and wealthy family, to crown and fix your fortunes. 



Clav. She is vanished quite vanished from my heart. Were it not that 



her unhappiness at times crosses my brain alas ! that one should be so 



changeable ! 



Car. It would surprise me more if you were constant. Does not every 

 thing in the world change ? Wherefore should our passions be immutable? 

 Comfort yourself she is not the first woman who has been forsaken, nor 

 the first who has consoled herself. If I may advise you, there is the young 

 widow opposite 



Clav. You know such proposals don't suit me. An intrigue which does 

 not arise quite accidentally has no power to captivate me. 



Car. Some folks are over delicate 



Clav. So it is. But don't forget that our main object now is to make 

 ourselves indispensable to the new minister ; Whal having given up the 

 governorship of India is disagreeable for us. However, I do not feel ap- 

 prehensive ; his influence remains. Grimaldi and he are friends. We can 

 prate, and bow 



Car. And think and act as we please. 



Clav. That is the main point. (Rings To a Servant) Take this sheet to 

 the printer. 



Car. Shall I see you this evening ? 



Clav. I hardly know perhaps you will look in. 



Car. I should like a little something this evening in the way of amuse- 

 ment. I must write all the afternoon. My work is never done ! 



Clav. Well, well. If we had not laboured for so many, we should not 

 have raised ourselves above so many. (Exeunt) 



