320 CLAVIGO : A TKAGEDY. 



in France, why should it not be so in Spain ? Why should a French- 

 woman be other than a Frenchwoman in Spain ? We will let him go, and 

 take another. They do that too with us, I believe ? 



Buen. He has broken a solemn promise, not a mere romantic slight 

 attachment. Mademoiselle, you are injured, afflicted to the inmost 

 core ; never did my insignificant station in life, of an humble burgher of 

 Madrid, afflict me so much as now, since I feel myself too weak, too 

 powerless, to execute justice upon this perfidious courtier ! 



Mar. W" nen ne was merely Clavigo, before he became keeper of the 

 royal archives, a stranger newly introduced into our house, how amiable 

 he was, how good ! All his ambition, every effort, seemed to be the off- 

 spring of his love. For my sake he struggled to obtain name, station, for- 

 tune ; he has obtained them and I 



Enter Guilbert. 



Guilb. {Aside to his wife.) Your brother is arrived. 



Mar. My brother ! (Agitated they lead her to a chair.) Where ! where ! let 

 me see him ! conduct me to him ! 



Enter Beaumarchais. 



Beau. My sister ! (Hastily turning from the eldest to the youngest.} My 

 sister ! my love ! oh sister ! 



Mar. Are you come ? Thank God you are come. 



Beau. Let me recover myself. 



Mar. My heart, my poor heart ! 



Sop. Calm yourself. Dear brother I hoped to see you more tranquil. 



Beau. More tranquil ! Are you then tranquil ? do I not see in the 

 blighted form of this dear one, in your tearful eyes, in your pallid cheeks, 

 by the dead silence of your friend, that you are as miserable as I pic- 

 tured to myself throughout my journey ? And more miserable for 



now I see you, I hold you in my arms, your presence redoubles my feel- 

 ings Oh, my sister! 



Sop. And our father ? 



Beau. He will bless you, and me if I vindicate you. 



Buen. Sir, permit a stranger, who at the first glance recognizes in you 

 a noble, brave man, to express the sincere and cordial sympathy he has felt 

 at this calamity. Sir ! you have undertaken this, immense journey to 

 vindicate, to avenge your sister. Welcome ! you are welcome as an angel, 

 though you put us all equally to the blush. 



Beau. I hcped, Sir, to find such hearts as yours in Spain; which spur- 

 red me on to take this step. I never despaired of finding generous souls, 

 to sympathise and assist, and if but one steps forth to countenance our 

 pursuit, it acts as an incentive to our resolution. And, oh ! my friend, I have 

 that hopeful expectation ! There are excellent men to be found in every 

 place amongst the great and powerful, and the ear of majesty itself is 

 seldom deaf; although our voices are often too weak to ascend thus high. 



Sop. Come, sister ! come ! She is quite insensible. They lead her 

 away.} 



Mar. My brother ! 



Beau. God grant, you are innocent, and then vengeance upon the betrayer! 

 (Maria and Sophia exeunt.) " My brother !" My dear sister ! I see by 

 your countenance you are innocent. Let me collect myself. And then 

 a clear impartial relation of the whole history That shall determine my 

 actions. The consciousness of having a good cause will strengthen my re- 

 solution ; and believe me, if we are in the right, we shall find justice. 



ACT II. Clavigo's House. 



Clav. Who can these Frenchmen be who have been announced ? French- 

 men ! Once this name was welcome to me ! And why riot now ? It is 



