444 CLAVIGO : A TRAGEDY. 



extraordinary men are in this also extraordinary, because their duties differ 

 from those of ordinary men ; so that he, whose business it is to rule, to 

 sustain, to overlook a great whole, need not reproach himself for having 

 neglected slight conveniences and sacrificed trifles to the general good. If 

 the Creator does this in nature, the king in government, why should not 

 we do so to resemble them ? 



Clav. Carlos, I am a weak man. 



Car. We are not weak when circumstances give us uneasiness, but when 

 they subdue us. Do but draw breath, and you are yourself again. Cast 

 off the remains of a pitiful passion, which becomes you now no better than 

 the gray jacket and diffident mien which you brought with you to Madrid. 

 What the girl did for you, you have repaid long ago. As to being indebted 

 to her for the first friendly reception oh ! another would have done as 

 much, or even more, but to enjoy the pleasure of your conversation, without 

 making such pretensions. Would you think of giving your schoolmaster 

 half your fortune because thirteen years since he taught you your ABC? 

 Now, Clavigo ! 



Clav. That is all very well upon the whole you may be right it may 

 be so ; but how shall we extricate ourselves from the perplexity we are 

 involved in ? Advise as to that think of a remedy, and then talk. 



Car. Good ! then you will ? 



Clav. Shew me how, then I will. I have no power to reflect. You must 

 think for me. 



Car. Well, then, first go and assign the gentleman to meet you at a 

 third place, and then, with a challenge, demand back the declaration 

 which you, under constraint, thoughtlessly have written. 



Clav. I have it already he tore it, and returned it to me. 



Car. Excellent! excellent! This step already effected, and you have let 

 me talk so long ! Briefly, then. Write to him quite coolly " You do not 

 find it convenient to marry his sister; that he may learn the cause if he 

 will attend this evening accompanied by a friend, provided with a choice of 

 weapons at such and such a place." Signed of course. Come, Cla- 

 vigo, write that. I shall be your second and, the thing must go to 

 the devil. {Clavigo goes to the table.) Wait! a word! If I think 

 rightly this is a very silly proposition ! Who are we that we should 

 expose ourselves against a broken-down adventurer? And the man's 

 behaviour his condition does not require that we should treat him as 

 an equal. So hear me ! Suppose I were to lay an information against him 

 that he came privately to Madrid announced himself to you, with an ac- 

 complice, under a false name first put you off your guard with friendly 

 words then surprised you unawares extorted a declaration from you, 

 which he is gone away to distribute. That will do for him he shall learn 

 what it is to declare war against a Spaniard. 



Clav. Right! 



Car. But in the mean while, till our process is brought to bear, and before 

 my gentleman can play us any more of his pranks, if we make short and 

 sure work of it, and lay him at once by the heels ? 



Clav. I understand, and know you to be man enough to carry it through. 



Car. Why ! If I, who have for these five-and-twenty years, spent my 

 days with the first of men, and stood by them in situations which have 

 made the drops of anguish stand in their foreheads ; if I, with this expe- 

 rience, could not wind up such a farce, it would be strange. And therefore 

 you will leave me at liberty to act as I choose. You have nothing to do, 

 nothing to write. He who suffers the brother to be imprisoned pantomi- 

 mically shews that he does not like the sister. 



Clav. No, Carlos ! happen what will, that I cannot, will not suffer- 

 Beaumarchais is a worthy jnan, and he shall not languish in any disgrace- 



