WhosegeniusandexamplehavealikecontributedtowardstheregenerationofTheNationalDrama，Thisplayisinscribed。
PREFACE。
Anindistinctrecollectionoftheveryprettylittletale，called\"TheBellows—Mender，\"suggestedtheplotofthisDrama。
Theincidentsare，however，greatlyalteredfromthoseinthetale，andthecharactersentirelyre—cast。
HavinglonghadawishtoillustratecertainperiodsoftheFrenchhistory，so，intheselectionofthedateinwhichthescenesofthisplayarelaid，IsawthattheeraoftheRepublicwasthatinwhichtheincidentswererenderedmostprobable，inwhichtheprobationarycareeroftheherocouldwellbemadesufficientlyrapidfordramaticeffect，andinwhichthecharacterofthetimeitselfwasdepictedbytheagenciesnecessarytotheconductofthenarrative。
ForduringtheearlyyearsofthefirstandmostbrilliantsuccessesoftheFrenchRepublic，inthegeneralfermentofsociety，andthebriefequalizationofranks，Claude\'shigh—placedlove;
hisardentfeelings，hisunsettledprinciples（thestrugglebetweenwhichmakesthepassionofthisdrama），hisambition，andhiscareer，werephenomenathatcharacterizedtheage，andinwhichthespiritofthenationwentalongwiththeextravaganceoftheindividual。
Theplayitselfwascomposedwithatwofoldobject。
Inthefirstplace，sympathizingwiththeenterpriseofMr。Macready，asManagerofCoventGarden，andbelievingthatmanyofthehigherinterestsoftheDramawereinvolvedinthesuccessorfailureofanenterpriseequallyhazardousanddisinterested，Ifelt，ifI
maysopresumetoexpressmyself，somethingoftheBrotherhoodofArt;
anditwasonlyforMr。MacreadytothinkitpossiblethatImightservehiminordertoinducemetomaketheattempt。
Secondly，inthatattemptIwasmainlyanxioustoseewhetherornot，afterthecomparativefailureonthestageof\"TheDuchessdelaValliere，\"certaincriticshadtrulydeclaredthatitwasnotinmypowertoattaintheartofdramaticconstructionandtheatricaleffect。Ifelt，indeed，thatitwasinthisthatawriter，accustomedtothenarrativeclassofcomposition，wouldhavethemostbothtolearnandunlearn。Accordingly，itwastothedevelopmentoftheplotandthearrangementoftheincidentsthatIdirectedmychiefattention;——andIsoughttothrowwhateverbelongstopoetrylessintothedictionandthe\"felicityofwords\"
thanintotheconstructionofthestory，thecreationofthecharacters，andthespiritofthepervadingsentiment。
Theauthorshipoftheplaywasneitheravowednorsuspecteduntiltheplayhadestablisheditselfinpublicfavor。
Theannouncementofmynamewasthesignalforattacks，chieflypolitical，towhichitisnowneedlesstorefer。
Whenaworkhasoutlivedforsometimetheearlierhostilitiesofcriticism，therecomesanewraceofcriticstowhichawritermay，forthemostpart，calmlytrustforafairconsideration，whetherofthefaultsorthemeritsofhisperformance。
DRAMATISPERSONAE。
BEAUSEANT，arichgentlemanofLyons，inlovewith，andrefusedby，PaulineDeschappellesMR。ELTON。
GLAVIS，hisfriend，alsoarejectedsuitortoPaulineMR。MEADOWS。
COLONEL（afterwardsGeneral）DAMAS，cousintoMme。Deschappelles，andanofficerintheFrencharmyMR。BARTLEY。
MONSIEURDESCHAPPELLES，aLyonnesemerchantfathertoPaulineMR。STRICKLAND。
GASPARMR。DIDDEAR。
CLAUDEMELNOTTEMR。MACREADY。
FIRSTOFFICERMR。HOWE。
SECONDOFFICERMR。PRITCHARD。
THIRDOFFICERMR。ROBERTS。
Servants，Notary，etc。
MADAMEDESCHAPPELLESMRS。W。CLIFFORD。
PAULINE，herdaughterMISSHELENFAUCIT。
THEWIDOWMELNOTTE，mothertoClaudeMRS。GRIFFITH。
JANET，theinnkeeper\'sdaughterMRS。EAST。
MARIAN，maidtoPaulineMISSGARRICK。
Scene——Lyonsandtheneighborhood。
Time——1795—1798
FirstperformedonThursday，the15thofFebruary，1838，atCoventGardenTheatre。
THELADYOFLYONS;
or，LOVEANDPRIDE。
ACTI。——SCENEI。
AroominthehouseofM。DESCHAPPELLES，atLyons。PAULINErecliningonasofa;MARIAN，hermaid，fanningher——Flowersandnotesonatablebesidethesofa——MADAMEDESCHAPPELLESseated——Thegardensareseenfromtheopenwindow。
Mme。Deschap。Marian，putthatrosealittlemoretotheleft。——[MARIAN
altersthepositionofaroseinPAULINE\'shair。]——Ah，so！——
thatimprovesthehair，——thetournure，thej\'enesaisquoi！——
Youarecertainlyveryhandsome，child！——quitemystyle;——Idon\'twonderthatyoumakesuchasensation！——Old，young，rich，andpoor，dohomagetotheBeautyofLyons！——Ah，weliveagaininourchildren，——
especiallywhentheyhaveoureyesandcomplexion！
Pauline[languidly]。Dearmother，youspoilyourPauline！——[Aside。]I
wishIknewwhosentmetheseflowers！
Mme。Deschap。No，child！——IfIpraiseyou，itisonlytoinspireyouwithaproperambition。——Youareborntomakeagreatmarriage。——
Beautyisvaluableorworthlessaccordingasyouinvestthepropertytothebestadvantage。Marian，goandorderthecarriage！
[ExitMARIAN。
Pauline。Whocanitbethatsendsme，everyday，thesebeautifulflowers？——
howsweettheyare！
EnterServant。
Servant。MonsieurBeauseant，Madam。
Mme。Deschap。Lethimenter。Pauline，thisisanotheroffer！——
Iknowitis！——Yourfathershouldengageanadditionalclerktokeeptheaccount—bookofyourconquests。
EnterBEAUSEANT。
Beau。Ah，ladieshowfortunateIamtofindyouathome！——[Aside。]Howlovelyshelooks！——ItisagreatsacrificeImakeinmarryingintoafamilyintrade！——theywillbeeternallygrateful！——[Aloud。]Madam，youwillpermitmeawordwithyourcharmingdaughter。——[ApproachesPAULINE，whorisesdisdainfully。]——Mademoiselle，Ihaveventuredtowaituponyou，inahopethatyoumustlongsincehavedivined。
Lastnight，whenyououtshoneallthebeautyofLyons，youcompletedyourconquestoverme！Youknowthatmyfortuneisnotexceededbyanyestateintheprovince，——youknowthat，butfortheRevolution，whichhasdefraudedmeofmytitles，Ishouldbenoble。
MayI，then，trustthatyouwillnotrejectmyalliance？
Iofferyoumyhandandheart。
Pauline[aside。]Hehastheairofamanwhoconfersafavor！——[Aloud。]Sir，youareverycondescending——Ithankyouhumbly;
but，beingdulysensibleofmyowndemerits，youmustallowmetodeclinethehonoryoupropose。[Curtsies，andturnsaway。
Beau。Decline！Impossible！——youarenotserious！——Madam，suffermetoappealtoyou。Iamasuitorforyourdaughter\'shand——
thesettlementsshallbeworthyofherbeautyandmystation。
MayIwaitonM。Deschappelles？
Mme。Deschap。M。Deschappellesneverinterferesinthedomesticarrangements，——youareveryobliging。Ifyouwerestillamarquis，orifmydaughterwereintendedtomarryacommoner，——why，perhaps，wemightgiveyouthepreference。
Beau。Acommoner！——weareallcommonersinFrancenow。
Mme。Deschap。InFrance，yes;butthereisanobilitystillleftintheothercountriesinEurope。Wearequiteawareofyourgoodqualities，anddon\'tdoubtthatyouwillfindsomeladymoresuitabletoyourpretensions。Weshallbealwayshappytoseeyouasanacquaintance，M。Beauseant！——Mydearchild，thecarriagewillbeherepresently。
Beau。Saynomore，madam！——saynomore！——[Aside。]Refused！andbyamerchant\'sdaughter！——refused！ItwillbealloverLyonsbeforesunset！——
Iwillgoandburymyselfinmychateau，studyphilosophy，andturnwoman—hater。Refused！theyoughttobesenttoamadhouse！——
Ladies，Ihavethehonortowishyouaverygoodmorning。[Exit。
Mme。Deschap。Howforwardthesemenare！——Ithink，child，wekeptupourdignity。Anygirl，howeverinexperienced，knowshowtoacceptanoffer，butitrequiresavastdealofaddresstorefuseonewithpropercondescensionanddisdain。
Iusedtopractiseitatschoolwiththedancing—master。
EnterDAMAS。
Damas。Goodmorning，cousinDeschappelles。——Well，Pauline，areyourecoveredfromlastnight\'sball？——Somanytriumphsmustbeveryfatiguing。EvenM。Glavissighedmostpiteouslywhenyoudeparted;
butthatmightbetheeffectofthesupper。
Pauline。M。Glavis，indeed！
Mme。Deschap。M。Glavis？——asifmydaughterwouldthinkofM。Glavis！
Damas。Hey—day！——whynot？——Hisfatherlefthimaveryprettyfortune，andhisbirthishigherthanyours，cousinDeschappelles。ButperhapsyouarelookingtoM。Beauseant，——hisfatherwasamarquisbeforetheRevolution。
Pauline。M。Beauseant！——Cousin，youdelightintormentingme！
Mme。Deschap。Don\'tmindhim，Pauline！——CousinDamas，youhavenosusceptibilityoffeeling，——thereisacertainindelicacyinallyourideas。——M。Beauseantknowsalreadythatheisnomatchformydaughter！
Damas。Pooh！pooh！onewouldthinkyouintendedyourdaughtertomarryaprince！
Mme。Deschap。Well，andifIdid？——whatthen？——Manyaforeignprince——
Damas[interruptingher]。Foreignprince！——foreignfiddlestick！——
yououghttobeashamedofsuchnonsenseatyourtimeoflife。
Mme。Deschap。Mytimeoflife！——Thatisanexpressionneverappliedtoanyladytillsheissixty—nineandthree—quarters;——
andonlythenbytheclergymanoftheparish。
EnterServant。
Servant。Madame，thecarriageisatthedoor。[Exit。
Mme。Deschap。Come，child，putonyourbonnet——youreallyhaveaverythorough—bredair——notatalllikeyourpoorfather。——[Fondly]。Ah，youlittlecoquette！whenayoungladyisalwaysmakingmischief，itisasuresignthatshetakesafterhermother！
Pauline。Goodday，cousinDamas——andabetterhumortoyou。——[Goingbacktothetableandtakingtheflowers]。Whocouldhavesentmetheseflowers？[ExeuntPAULINEandMADAMEDESCHAPPELLES。
Damas。Thatwouldbeanexcellentgirlifherheadhadnotbeenturned。
Ifearsheisnowbecomeincorrigible！Zounds，whataluckyfellowI
amtobestillabachelor！Theymaytalkofthedevotionofthesex——
butthemostfaithfulattachmentinlifeisthatofawomaninlove——
withherself。[Exit。
SCENEII。
TheexteriorofasmallVillageInn——sign，theGoldenLion——AfewleaguesfromLyons，whichisseenatadistance。
Beau。[behindthescenes。]Yes，youmaybaitthehorses;weshallresthereanhour。
EnterBEAUSEANTandGLAVIS。
Gla。Really，mydearBeauseant，considerthatIhavepromisedtospendadayortwowithyouatyourchateau，thatIamquiteatyourmercyformyentertainment，——andyetyouareassilentandasgloomyasamuteatafuneral，oranEnglishmanatapartyofpleasure。
Beau。Bearwithme！——thefactisthatIammiserable。
Gla。You——therichestandgayestbachelorinLyons？
Beau。ItisbecauseIamabachelorthatIammiserable。——ThouknowestPauline——theonlydaughteroftherichmerchant，Mons。Deschappelles？
Gla。Knowher？——whodoesnot？——asprettyasVenus，andasproudasJuno。
Beau。Hertasteisworsethanherpride。——[Drawinghimselfup。]Know，Glavis，shehasactuallyrefusedme！
Gla。[aside]。Soshehasme！——veryconsoling！Inallcasesofheart—ache，theapplicationofanotherman\'sdisappointmentdrawsoutthepainandallaystheirritation。——[Aloud。]Refusedyou！andwherefore？
Beau。Iknownot，unlessitbebecausetheRevolutionsweptawaymyfather\'stitleofMarquis，——andshewillnotmarryacommoner。
Now，aswehavenonoblemenleftinFrance，——asweareallcitizensandequals，shecanonlyhopethat，inspiteofthewar，someEnglishMilordorGermanCountwillriskhislife，bycomingtoLyons，thatthisfilleduRoturiermaycondescendtoaccepthim。
Refusedme，andwithscorn！——ByHeaven，I\'llnotsubmittoittamely:——
I\'minaperfectfeverofmortificationandrage。——Refuseme，indeed！
Gla。Becomforted，mydearfellow，——Iwilltellyouasecret。
ForthesamereasonsherefusedME！
Beau。You！——that\'saverydifferentmatter！Butgivemeyourhand，Glavis，——we\'llthinkofsomeplantohumbleher。Millediables！
Ishouldliketoseehermarriedtoastrollingplayer！
EnterLandlordandhisDaughterfromtheInn。
Land。Yourservant，citizenBeauseant，——servant，Sir。Perhapsyouwilltakedinnerbeforeyouproceedtoyourchateau;ourlarderismostplentifullysupplied。
Beau。Ihavenoappetite。
Gla。NorI。Stillitisbadtravellingonanemptystomach。
Whathaveyougot？[Takesandlooksoverthebilloffare。]
[Shoutwithout。]\"LonglivethePrince！——LonglivethePrince！\"
Beau。ThePrince！——whatPrinceisthat？IthoughtwehadnoprincesleftinFrance。
Land。Ha，ha！theladsalwayscallhimPrince。Hehasjustwontheprizeintheshooting—match，andtheyaretakinghimhomeintriumph。
Beau。Him！andwho\'sMr。Him？
Land。Whoshouldhebebuttheprideofthevillage，ClaudeMelnotte？——OfcourseyouhaveheardofClaudeMelnotte？
Gla。[givingbackthebilloffare。]Neverhadthathonor。
Soup——ragoutofhare——roastchicken，and，inshort，allyouhave！
Beau。ThesonofoldAlelnotte，thegardener？
Land。Exactlyso——awonderfulyoungman。
Beau。How，wonderful？——Arehiscabbagesbetterthanotherpeople\'sLand。Nay，hedon\'tgardenanymore;hisfatherlefthimwelloff。
He\'sonlyagenus。
Gla。Awhat？
Land。Agenus！——amanwhocandoeverythinginlifeexceptanythingthat\'suseful——that\'sagenus。
Beau。Youraisemycuriosity;——proceed。
Land。Well，then，aboutfouryearsago，oldMelnottedied，andlefthissonwelltodointheworld。WethenallobservedthatagreatchangecameoveryoungClaude:hetooktoreadingandLatin，andhiredaprofessorfromLyons，whohadsomuchinhisheadthathewasforcedtowearagreatfull—bottomwigtocoverit。
Thenhetookafencing—master，andadancing—master，andamusic—master;
andthenhelearnedtopaint;andatlastitwassaidthatyoungClaudewastogotoParis，andsetupforapainter。
Theladslaughedathimatfirst;butheisastoutfellow，isClaude，andasbraveasalion，andsoontaughtthemtolaughthewrongsideoftheirmouths;andnowalltheboysswearbyhim，andallthegirlsprayforhim。
Beau。Apromisingyouth，certainly！AndwhydotheycallhimPrince？
Land。Partlybecauseheisattheheadofthemall，andpartlybecausehehassuchaproudwaywithhim，andwearssuchfineclothes——
and，inshort，lookslikeaprince。
Beau。Andwhatcouldhaveturnedthefoolishfellow\'sbrain？
TheRevolution，Isuppose？
Land。Yes——therevolutionthatturnsusalltopsy—turvy——
therevolutionofLove。
Beau。RomanticyoungCorydon！Andwithwhomisheinlove？
Land。Why——butitisasecret，gentlemen。
Beau。Oh！certainly。
Land。Why，then，Ihearfromhismother，goodsoul！thatitisnolessapersonthantheBeautyofLyons，PaulineDeschappelles。
Beau。andGlavis。Ha，ha！——Capital！
Land。Youmaylaugh，butitisastrueasIstandhere。
Beau。AndwhatdoestheBeautyofLyonssaytohissuit？
Land。Lord，sir，sheneverevencondescendedtolookathim，thoughwhenhewasaboyheworkedinherfather\'sgarden。
Beau。Areyousureofthat？
Land。HismothersaysthatMademoiselledoesnotknowhimbysight。
Beau。[takingGlavisaside]。Ihavehitit，——Ihaveit;
hereisourrevenge！Hereisaprinceforourhaughtydamsel。
Doyoutakeme？
Gla。DeucetakemeifIdo！
Beau。Blockhead！——it\'sasclearasamap。Whatifwecouldmakethiselegantclownpasshimselfoffasaforeignprince？——
lendhimmoney，clothes，equipageforthepurpose？——makehimproposetoPauline？——marryPauline？Woulditnotbedelicious？
Gla。Ha，ha！——Excellent！Buthowshallwesupportthenecessaryexpensesofhishighness？
Beau。Pshaw！Revengeisworthamuchlargersacrificethanafewhundredlouis;——asfordetails，myvaletisthetrustiestfellow，intheworld，andshallhavetheappointmentofhishighness\'sestablishment。
Let\'sgotohimatonce，andseeifhebereallythisAdmirableCrichton。
Gla。Withallmyheart;——butthedinner？
Beau。Alwaysthinkingofdinner！Harkye，landlord;howfarisittoyoungMelnotte\'scottage？Ishouldliketoseesuchaprodigy。
Land。Turndownthelane，——thenstrikeacrossthecommon，——
andyouwillseehismother\'scottage。
Beau。True，heliveswithhismother。——[Aside。]Wewillnottrusttoanoldwoman\'sdiscretion;bettersendforhimhither。
I\'lljuststepinandwriteanote。Come，Glavis。
Gla。Yes，——Beauseant，Glavis，andCo。，manufacturersofprinces，wholesaleandretail，——anuncommonlygenteellineofbusiness。
Butwhysograve？
Beau。Youthinkonlyofthesport，——Ioftherevenge。
[ExeuntwithintheInn。
SCENEIII。
TheinteriorofMELNOTTE\'Scottage;flowersplacedhereandthere;
aguitaronanoakentable，withaportfolio，etc。;apictureonaneasel，coveredbyacurtain;fencingfoilscrossedoverthemantelpiece;
anattemptatrefinementinsiteofthehomelinessofthefurniture，etc。;
astaircasetotherightconductstotheupperstory。
[Shoutwithout]。\"LongliveClaudeMelnotte！\"\"LonglivethePrince！\"
TheWidowMel。Hark！——there\'smydearson;——carriedofftheprize，I\'msure;andnowhe\'llwanttotreatthemall。
ClaudeMel。[openingthedoor]。What！youwillnotcomein，myfriends！Well，well，there\'satrifletomakemerryelsewhere。
Gooddaytoyouall，——goodday！
[Shout]。\"Hurrah！LonglivePrinceClaude！\"
EnterCLAUDEMELNOTTE，witharifleinhishand。
Mel。Givemejoy，dearmother！——I\'vewontheprize！——nevermissedoneshot！Isitnothandsome，thisgun？
Widow。Humph！——Well，whatisitworth，Claude？
Mel。Worth！Whatisaribandworthtoasoldier？Worth！everything！
Gloryispriceless！
Widow。Leaveglorytogreatfolks。Ah！Claude，Claude，castlesintheaircostavastdealtokeepup！Howisallthistoend？
WhatgooddoesitdotheetolearnLatin，andsingsongs，andplayontheguitar，andfence，anddance，andpaintpictures？
Allveryfine;butwhatdoesitbringin？
Mel。Wealth！wealth，mymother！Wealthtothemind——wealthtotheheart——
highthoughts——brightdreams——thehopeoffame——theambitiontobeworthiertolovePauline。
Widow。Mypoorson！——Theyoungladywillneverthinkofthee。
Mel。Dothestarsthinkofus？Yetiftheprisonerseethemshineintohisdungeon，wouldstthoubidhimturnawayfromtheirlustre？
Evensofromthislowcell，poverty，IliftmyeyestoPaulineandforgetmychains。——[Goestothepictureanddrawsasidethecurtain。]
See，thisisherimage——paintedfrommemory。Oh，howthecanvaswrongsher！——[Takesupthebrushandthrowsitaside。]Ishallneverbeapainter！Icanpaintnolikenessbutone，andthatisaboveallart。Iwouldturnsoldier——Franceneedssoldiers！
ButtoleavetheairthatPaulinebreathes！Whatisthehour？——
solate？Iwilltelltheeasecret，mother。ThouknowestthatforthelastsixweeksIhavesenteverydaytherarestflowerstoPauline？——shewearsthem。Ihaveseenthemonherbreast。
Ah，andthenthewholeuniverseseemedfilledwithodors！
Ihavenowgrownmorebold——Ihavepouredmyworshipintopoetry——
IhavesenttheversestoPauline——Ihavesignedthemwithmyownname。
Mymessengeroughtto——bebackbythistime。Ibadehimwaitfortheanswer。
Widow。Andwhatanswerdoyouexpect，Claude？
Mel。ThatwhichtheQueenofNavarresenttothepoortroubadour:——\"LetmeseetheOraclethatcantellnationsIambeautiful！\"
Shewilladmitme。Ishallhearherspeak——Ishallmeethereyes——
Ishallreaduponhercheekthesweetthoughtsthattranslatethemselvesintoblushes。Then——then，oh，then——shemayforgetthatIamthepeasant\'sson！。
Widow。Nay，ifshewillbutheartheetalk，Claude？
Mel。Iforeseeitall。Shewilltellmethatdesertisthetruerank。
Shewillgivemeabadge——aflower——aglove！Ohrapture！
Ishalljointhearmiesoftherepublic——Ishallrise——
Ishallwinanamethatbeautywillnotblushtohear。
Ishallreturnwiththerighttosaytoher——\"See，howlovedoesnotleveltheproud，butraisethe——humble！\"Oh，howmyheartswellswithinme！——Oh，whatgloriousprophetsofthefutureareyouthandhope！
[Knockatthedoor。]
Widow。Comein。
EnterGASPAR。
Mel。Welcome，Gaspar，welcome。Whereistheletter？
Whydoyouturnaway，man？whereistheletter？[GASPARgiveshimone。]This！Thisismine，theoneIintrustedtothee。
Didstthounotleaveit？
Gaspar。Yes，Ileftit。
Mel。Myownversesreturnedtome。Nothingelse！
Gaspar。Thouwiltbeproudtohearhowthymessengerwashonored。
Forthysake，Melnotte，IhavebornethatwhichnoFrenchmancanbearwithoutdisgrace。