Usw. Peace, both!-we speak no more of this. I go To heave the drawbridge up. [Exit. KATLEEN mounts the steps towards the loop-hole, looks out, and speaks. The storm is gathering fast; broad, heavy drops The distant hills are hid in wreaths of darkness. OSWALD re-enters, and throws himself into a seat. Than is our destiny, it cannot be. Osw. (to FLO.) Such is Heaven's will-it is our part to bear it. We're warranted, my child, from ancient story Enter KATLEEN, introducing BLACKTHORN. KAT. This was the destined scene of action, Blackthorn, And here our properties. But all in vain, BLA. O, if he 's left that same hog's face and sau sages, He will try back upon them, never fear it. KAT. And should that hap, we'll play our comedy,-Shall we not, Blackthorn? Thou shalt be Owlspiegle BLA. And who may that hard-named person be? KAT. I've told you nine times over. BLA. Yes, pretty Katleen, but my eyes were busy In looking at you all the time you were talking; And so I lost the tale. KAT. Then shut your eyes, and let your goodly ears Do their good office. BLA. Then, for the tenth time, and the last-be told, To Erick, wicked Lord of Devorgoil. BLA. The chief who drown'd his captives in the Solway We all have heard of him. KAT. A hermit hoar, a venerable man— So goes the legend-came to wake repentance In the fierce lord, and tax'd him with his guilt; But he, heart-harden'd, turn'd into derision The man of heaven, and, as his dignity Consisted much in a long reverend beard, Which reach'd his girdle, Erick caused his barber This same Owlspiegle, violate its honours With sacrilegious razor, and clip his hair After the fashion of a roguish fool. BLA. This was reversing of our ancient proverb, And shaving for the devil's, not for God's sake. KAT. True, most grave Blackthorn; and in punishment Of this foul act of scorn, the barber's ghost Is said to have no resting after death, But haunts these halls, and chiefly this same cham ber, Where the profanity was acted, trimming And clipping all such guests as sleep within it. Such is at least the tale our elders tell, With many others, of this haunted castle. BLA. And you would have me take this shape o Owlspiegle, And trim the wise Melchisedek!—I wonnot. KAT. You will not! 1 The MS throughout the First Act reads Buckthorn BLA. No-unless you bear a part. KAT. Well, I do hope he 'll come-there's first a chance He will be cudgell'd by my noble uncle— I cry his mercy-by my good aunt's husband, We danced at Shrovetide-then you were my part-Who did vow vengeance, knowing nought of him ner; We sung at Christmas-you kept time with me; By heaven, you must be one, or Master Gullcrammer ΚΑΤ. What end can this serve? BLA. Why, you fool, Nay, I know not, I. But if we keep this wont of being partners, But by report, and by a limping sonnet BLA. Kind damsel, how considerate and merciful! Why, use makes perfect-who knows what may hap- I'll make my exit yonder 'neath the window, KAT. Thou art a foolish patch-But sing our carol, That overhangs the lake. [Gives a paper. I thought they glanced in every beam of moonshine, KAT. I've heard my aunt's high husband tell of And fates impending o'er the house of Devorgoil; And pride of lineage. Five years have I dwelt, BLA. And that is quite enough, I warrant you. To play this-what d'ye call him-Owlspiegle? Preserved with other trumpery of the sort, Nay, keep it for thy pains-it is a coxcomb; BLA. I tell you that he will-I will uphold BLA. "Twere a rare place, this house of Devorgoil, [hawk KAT. Hands off, rude ranger! I'm no managed To stoop to lure of yours.-But bear you gallantly; This Gullcrammer hath vex'd my cousin much, I fain would have some vengeance. BLA. I'll bear my part with glee; he spoke irreve- КАТ. KAT. Out, you great ass! was ever such a fool! BLA. (sings.) O, Robin Hood was a bowman good, And he met with a maiden in merry Sherwood, Now give me a kiss, quoth bold Robin Hood, For there never came maid into merry Sherwood, I've coursed this twelvemonth this sly puss, young And she has dodged me, turn'd beneath my nose, If this same gear fadge right, I'll cote and mouth her, metal To make a woodsman's wife of! Whatever means we have to drive it o'er, [Pauses a moment. And leave to Heaven to-morrow. Trust me, Flora, 'Tis the philosophy of desperate want To match itself but with the present evil, And face one grief at once. Well I can find a hare upon her form [Sits down on the couch to examine the paper. SCENE II. Scene changes to the inhabited apartment of the Castle, as in the last Scene of the preceding Act. A fire is kindled, by which OSWALD sits in an attitude of deep and melancholy thought, without paying attention to what passes around him. ELEANOR is busy in covering a table; FLORA goes sout and re-enters, as if busied in the kitchen. There should be some by-play-the women whispering together, and watching the state of OSWALD; then separating, and seeking to avoid his observation, when he casually raises his head, and drops it again. This must be left to taste and management. The Women, in the first part of the scene, talk apart, and as if fearful of being overheard; the by-play of stopping occasionally, and attending to Oswald's movements, will give liveliness to the Scene. Away, I wish thine aid and not thy counsel. [As FLORA is about to go off, GULLCRAMMER'S voice is heard behind the flat scene, as if from the drawbridge. GUL. (behind.) Hillo-hillo-hilloa-hoa-hoa! [OSWALD raises himself and listens; ELEANOR goes up the steps, and opens the window at the loop-hole; GULLCRAMMER'S voice is then heard more distinctly. GUL. Kind Lady Devorgoil-sweet Mistress Flora !--The night grows fearful, I have lost my way, And wander'd till the road turn'd round with me, And brought me back-For Heaven's sake, give me shelter! KAT. (aside.) Now, as I live, the voice of Gullcrammer! Now shall our gambol be play'd off with spirit; Osw. What bawling knave is this that takes our dwelling For some hedge-inn, the haunt of lated drunkards? ELE. What shall I say?-Go, Katleen, speak to him. KAT. (aside.) The game is in my hands-I will say something Will fret the Baron's pride-and then he enters. We are poor folks, an't please your Reverence, GUL. Nor none to lead them right.-You kill me, lady, If you deny me harbour. To budge from hence, And in my weary plight, were sudden death, Interment, funeral-sermon, tombstone, epitaph. Osw. Who 's he that is thus clamorous without? (To ELE.) Thou know'st him? ELE. (confused.) I know him?-no-yes-'tis a worthy clergyman, Benighted on his way;-but think not of him. And if he miss the marsh, and can avoid Osw. Then this is all your piety!—to leave To choose his way in darkness 'twixt the marsh And dizzy precipice?1 ELE. What can I do? GUL. Kind sir-or, good my lord-my band is ruffied, But yet 'twas fresh this morning. This fell shower Osw. Do what thou canst-the wealthiest do no Hath somewhat smirch'd my cloak, but you may note more And if so much, 'tis well. These crumbling walls, [He goes to the loop-hole while he speaks, and GUL. (without.) Hillo-hoa-hoa! Osw. (speaks from the window.) Patience, my friend, [Descends, and exit. ELE. O, that the screaming bittern had his couch Where he deserves it,3 in the deepest marsh! KAT. I would not give this sport for all the rent ELE. Yes, saucy girl; but, an it please you, then Is lost on him, as hail-shot on the cormorant, FLO. (apart.) And yet to such a one would my kind Whose chiefest fault is loving me too fondly, Enter GULLCRAMMER, his dress damaged by the storm; ELEANOR runs to meet him, in order to explain to him that she wished him to behave as a stranger. GULLCRAMMER, mistaking her approach for an invitation to familiarity, advances with the air of pedantic conceit belonging to his character, when OSWALD enters, ELEANOR recovers herself, and assumes an air of distance-GULLCRAMMER is confounded, and does not know what to make of it. It rates five marks per yard; my doublet [Opens his cloak, and displays his doublet. Osw. A goodly inventory-Art thou a preacher ! GUL. Yea I laud Heaven and good Saint Mungo for it. Osw. 'Tis the time's plague, when those that should weed follies Out of the common field, have their own minds Example should with precept join, to show us When our learn'd Principal such sounding laud Of the sulphuric mineral, I disclaim'd The lovely Saccharissa Kirkencroft, Graced me with her soft hand, credit me, ladies, Though beauty smiled on me. Osw. Come, sir, enough of this. That you 're our guest to-night, thank the rough And all our worser fortunes; be conformable To gild with compliments. There's in your profession, KAT. (aside.) Umph-I am strongly tempted ELE. (apart to FLO.) What shall we do? If he Osw. The counterpoise has clean given way; the He'll fling him out at window. bridge Must e'en remain unraised, and leave us open, For this night's course at least, to passing visitants.— FLO. My father's hint to keep himself unknown To place before him ere he seek repose? ELE. Alas! too well you know our needful fare Is of the narrowest now, and knows no surplus. Osw. Shame us not with thy niggard housekeeping; He is a stranger were it our last crust, And he the veriest coxcomb ere wore taffeta, A pitch he's little short of he must share it, Though all should want to-morrow. Go yourself, And bid the gallant who that bugle winded GUL. (partly overhearing what passes between them.) I'll get admittance for this second suitor, Nay, I am no lover of your sauced dainties: Plain food and plenty is my motto still. Your mountain air is bleak, and brings an appetite: [Makes signs to ELEANOR. FLO. Plague on the vulgar hind, and on his courtesies, The whole truth will come out! Osw. What should they think, but that you 're like to lack Your favourite dishes, sir, unless perchance Peace, sir! Osw. FLO. (apart, seeing her mother uneasy.) The old saw [A horn is winded without; then a loud knocking at the gate. LEO. (without.) Ope, for the sake of love and charity! [OSWALD goes to the loop-hole. GUL. Heaven's mercy! should there come another stranger, And he half starved with wandering on the wolds, And we 'll play out this gambol at cross purposes. Osw. (seems to have spoken with those without, and answers.) Well, I will ope the door; one guest already, Driven by the storm, has claim'd my hospitality, ELE. (to FLO.) The tempest thickens. [Exit. By that I guess the guest that next will honour us.——— FLO. Mother, if I knew less or more of this GUL. (approaching.) Come, ladies, now you see the jest is threadbare, And you must own that same sow's face and sausages Re-enter OSWALD with LEONARD, supporting BAULdie DURWARD. OSWALD takes a view of them, as formerly of GULLCRAMMER, then speaks. Osw. (to LEO.) By thy green cassock, hunting-spear and bugle, I guess thou art a huntsman } LEO. (bowing with respect.) A ranger of the neighbouring royal forest, Under the good Lord Nithsdale; huntsman, therefore, In time of peace, and when the land has war, Osw. Welcome, as either. I have loved the chase, DUR. (recovering his breath.) Is but a beggar, sir, an humble mendicant, Who feels it passing strange, that from this roof, Osw. Why so? You 're welcome both-only the word Warrants more courtesy than our present means |