CLAVIGO: A TRAGEDY. 321 



wonderful, a man who is set over so many is himself bound with a silken 

 cord. Away ! Do I owe more to Maria than to myself? And is it a 

 duty to make myself unhappy, because a woman loves me ? 

 Enter a Servant. 



Serv. The foreigners, Sir. 



Clav. Show them in. Did you inform their attendants that I expected 

 them to breakfast ? 



Serv. As you commanded, Sir. 



Clav. I shall return directly. (Exit.) 



Enter Beaumarchais and Saint George. Servant places chairs for them, 



and exit. 



Beau. I am so delighted ! so happy ! my friend, that I am here at last, 

 that I have him he shall not escape. Be you calm at least appear so. 

 My sister! my sister! who could have believed you to be as innocent as 

 you are unhappy ? The day will come when you shall be amply avenged. 

 And thou, gracious God ! preserve the calmness of soul which thou hast 

 vouchsafed me in this moment, that I may act with all prudence and mo- 

 deration in this horrible affliction. 



St. George. All your prudence, all your reflection and caution, my 

 friend, which you have learned from experience, I challenge on this occa- 

 sion ; and once more, my dear friend, let me intreat you to bear in mind 

 where you are : in a foreign country where all your friends, all your gold, 

 will not secure you against the private machinations of an unprincipled 

 foe. 



Beau. You be collected. Act your part well he will not know which 

 of us he has to deal with. I'll torture him. O ! I am just in the humour 

 to roast the villain at a slow fire. 



Enter Clavigo. 



Clav. Gentlemen, I feel great pleasure in receiving men from a nation 

 which I have always esteemed. 



Beau. I hope, Sir, we may be found worthy the honour you are pleased 

 to do our countrymen. 



St. George. The desire of becoming acquainted with you overcame our 

 fear of being troublesome. 



Clav. Persons of such prepossessing appearance should not carry their 

 modesty so far. 



^ Beau. You can scarcely be regarded as a foreigner, to foreigners who 

 visit you, since you have made yourself as well known in distant kingdoms 

 by the excellence of your writings, as you are distinguished in your own 

 country by the eminent office which his majesty has conferred upon you. 



Clav. The king shews much kindness for my slight services, and the 

 public extend great indulgence to the insignificant essays of my pen. I 

 wish to contribute in some measure to the improvement of taste in my 

 country, and to the extension of science ; for it is these chiefly which unite 

 us with other nations ; it is these which create friends in the remotest 

 regions of the earth, and preserves the most grateful intercourse even 

 among those who, alas ! are often separated by state policy. 



Beau. It is delightful to hear a man talk thus who possesses an equal 

 influence over the state and sciences, and I own you have completely 

 anticipated me, and your sentiments lead me at once to the business which 

 has drawn me here. A society of learned and estimable men have com- 

 missioned me to institute a correspondence in every place I may pass 

 through, and find opportunity, between them and the literati of the king- 

 dom. Now as no Spaniard excels the author of the weekly papers signed 

 " The Thinker," with the writer of which I presume I have the honour 

 to converse (Clavigo bows courteously) ; and one peculiar ornament of this 

 learned writer being to unite with his talents so great a degree of pru- 



