442 CI.AVIGO: A TRAGEDY. 



Clav. The people ! always the people ! 



Car. You know I am not anxious for the applause of others ; but this 

 maxim is everlastingly true: "He who does nothing for another, does 

 nothing for himself; and if the world does not admire or envy you, then 

 are you not fortunate. 



Clav. The world judges by appearances. Oh ! he who possesses Maria's 

 heart is to be envied. 



Car. Whatever a thing is, such it appears. But 1 thought to be sure those 

 qualifications must be concealed which make your happiness enviable ; for 

 what we see with our eyes common sense can comprehend 



Clav. You will ruin me. 



Car. " How came this to pass?" will be asked in town. " How came 

 this to pass?" will be inquired at court. " In God's name, how came this 

 to pass?" "She is poor, without rank." "Had not Clavigo an intrigue 

 with her once?" " It was scarcely known such a person existed." " She 

 is said to be clever, agreeable, witty ! who would for that take her 

 to wife ?" " These qualities will disappear with the honeymoon." "Ah !" 

 says one, "she is said to be beautiful, charming, exceedingly beautiful!" 

 " That explains it," says another 



Clav. {perplexed ; a deep sigh escapes him.} Ah ! 



Car- t{ Beautiful ? O !" says a third, " that will do ! To be sure, I have 

 not seen her these six years." "She may have altered," says another. 

 " We must be on the look out, he will soon exhibit her," says a third. 

 Then they question each other, pry about, gossip ; wait in anxiety, grow 

 impatient, recollect the proud Clavigo, who never allowed himself to 

 be seen in public without triumphantly escorting a noble, sparkling-eyed 

 Spanish beauty, whose heaving bosorn, glowing cheeks, and ardent eyes, 

 appear to ask round the world, ' Am I not worthy of my escort?" arid 

 who, in her haughtiness, lets her silken robes float out in the wind as far as 

 possible, to make her appearance more distinguished and dignified. And 

 now appears the gentleman and people abruptly stop their half-spoken 

 words with his tripping, little, hollow-eyed Frenchwoman, whose every 

 feature would speak consumption, even though she bedaubed their ca- 

 daverous hues with red and white. O, brother, I should go mad I should 

 start away if any one were to lay hold of me, and inquire, and question, 

 and not be able to comprehend 



Clav. {Taking him by the hand) My friend, my brother, I am in a dread- 

 ful situation I must say, I confess I was petrified when I saw Maria 

 again ! How altered she is how pale and wasted ! O this is my guilt, 

 my treachery ! 



Car. Fudge ! Fancy ! She had the phthisic when your courtship began. 



I told you so a thousand times, and . But her lover has no sight, no 



sense. Clavigo, it is shameful ! so to overlook every consideration, a sick 

 wife who will bring a disease upon your posterity, so that your children 

 and grandchildren, in a few years, will civilly expire like beggars' lamps. 

 A man who could become the ancestor of a family, that perhaps in future 

 1 madden my brain reels. 



Clav. Carlos, how shall I express to you what I felt when I saw her 

 again. In the first extasy my heart flew towards her but, ah ! when 

 that was past pity she inspired the sincerest, deepest compassion ; but, 

 love behold it seemed as if in the plenitude of joy the cold hand of death 

 passed over me. I strove to be cheerful before those who stood around me, 

 strove to act the happy man : but, it was all done so stiffly, so painfully, 

 that had they been a little more collected, they must have observed it. 



Car. Hell! death and the devil! and you'll marry her? {Clavigo 

 stands quite absorbed, without returning any answer.} You are gone! 

 lost eternally. Farewell brother ! Let me too, forget all. Let me wail 

 out my solitary life over the fate of your blindness. Ah ! To think on 



