CLAVIGO: A TRAGEDY. 443 



it ! To make yourself contemptible in the eyes of the world, without an 

 iota of passion to justify it! Wantonly to bring upon yourself a disease, 

 which, while it undermines your mental powers, makes you detestable 

 in the sight of men. 



Clav. Carlos ! Carlos ! 



Car, Would you had never soared so high, never to have fallen ! With 

 what eyes will she regard it ! " There is my brother," will she say ! " he 

 must be a brave fellow to have worried him thus he had not the confidence 

 to meet him." " Ha !" will our swaggering equerry say, " one can see 

 he is no gentleman." " Poh!" cries one, cocking his hat, and giving him- 

 self a slap in the paunch a fellow, who perhaps is not worthy to be your 

 groom, " the Frenchman should have come over me thus \" 



Ciav. (In the most vehement affliction bursts into a flood of tears, and falls 

 upon Carlos's neck.} Save me, friend ! dear friend, save me ! Save me 



from this twofold perjury, from this immeasurable infamy from myself 



I am lost ! 



Car. Poor fellow ! miserable man ! I hoped you would have done with 

 these youthful extravagances, these violent tears, this absorbing sadness. 

 I hoped as a man to see no more quaking, no more of this overwhelming 

 grief which you have formerly so often poured into my bosom. Pluck up 

 courage, Clavigo courage man ! 



Clav. Suffer me to weep ! (Throws himself into a seat.} 



Car. Alas ! that you should have struck upon a path to which you will 

 find no end ! To your heart and sentiments, which might make a quiet 

 citizen happy, you unite the fatal propensity for greatness ! And what 

 is greatness, Clavigo ? To raise yourself in rank and appearance above 

 others : do not think it ! If your mind is not greater than the minds 

 of others ; if you are not able to lift yourself calmly above circumstances 

 which would harass an ordinary man, then are you, with all your 

 ribbons and stars, with the crown itself, but an ordinary man. Recollect 

 yourself, compose yourself. (Clavigo rises, looks at Carlos, and holds out his 

 hand, which Carlos eagerly seizes.) Rouse ! rouse, my friend ! be resolute. 

 See, I will lay aside every other consideration, and place these two propo- 

 sitions in equal scales. Either you will marry Maria, and derive happiness 

 from a quiet citizen-like life, in calm domestic joys, or you will continue to 

 prosecute the glorious course in your career to the approaching aim. Now 

 the beam is in equilibrium ; upon your decision depends the turn of the scale. 

 Good ! But be resolute. There is nothing in the world more pitiful than 

 an irresolute raan, wavering between two sentiments, who would fain re- 

 concile both, and understands not that nothing can reconcile them, but 

 the very doubt and disquietude which torment him. Rouse, and give 

 Maria your hand ; act like an honest fellow, who sacrifices to his word the 

 happiness of his life ; who considers it his duty to make amends for the 

 injury he has done, and beyond which he has never stretched the circle of 

 his passions and capabilities, and so enjoy the happiness of a peaceful re- 

 tirement, the approbation of a sober conscience, and all the blessings which 

 are bestowed upon such folks, who can produce from themselves their own 

 happiness and the joys of their families. Be resolute ; then I will say you 

 are a brave fellow. 



Clav. Had I but a spark, Carlos, of your vigour, of your spirit 



Car. It sleeps in you, but I will blow till it kindles into a flame. Be- 

 hold, on the other side, the happiness and greatness which await you. I 

 will not paint these prospects in poetical extravagant colours; imagine 

 them, to yourself vividly, as they stood in full splendour before you, ere the 

 hot-headed Frenchman distracted your brain. But here too, Clavigo, be a 

 man, and push right onward, without looking to the right or left. Let 

 your soul expand, and the firmness of great feelings come over you ! for 



