Mme。Deschap。Andwhat\'stobecomeofPauline？AmInottobemothertoaprincess，afterall？
EnterPAULINEandMONSIEURDESCHAPPELLES。
Pauline[throwingherselfintoMELNOTTE\'sarms。]Youmustleaveus！——LeavePauline！
Beau。Notamomentistobewasted。
M。Deschap。Iwillgotothemagistratesandinquire——
Beau。Thenheislost;themagistrates，hearingheissuspected，willorderhisarrest。
Mme。Deschap。AndIshallnotbeaprincess—dowager！
Beau。Whynot？Thereisonlyonethingtobedone:——sendforthepriest——
letthemarriagetakeplaceatonce，andtheprincecarryhomeabride？
Mel。Impossible！——[Aside。]Villain。
Mme。Deschap。What，losemychild？
Beau。Andgainaprincess！
MmeDeschap。Oh，MonsieurBeauseant，youaresoverykind，itmustbeso，——weoughtnottobeselfish，mydaughter\'shappinessatstake。
Shewillgoaway，too，inacarriageandsix！
Pauline。Thouartherestill，——Icannotpartfrommyheartwillbreak。
Mel。Butthouwiltnotconsenttothishastyunion？——thouwiltnotwedanoutcast——afugitive？
Pauline。Ah！ifthouartindanger，whoshouldshareitbutPauline？
Mel。[aside]。Distraction！——Iftheearthcouldswallowme！
M。Deschap。Gently！gently！Thesettlements——thecontracts——
mydaughter\'sdowry！
Mel。Thedowry！——Iamnotbaseenoughforthat;no，notonefarthing！
Beau。[toMADAM]。Noblefellow！——Reallyyourgoodhusbandistoomercantileinthesematters。MonsieurDeschappelles，youhearhishighness:wecanarrangethesettlementsbyproxy;
\'tisthewaywithpeopleofquality。
M。Deschap。But——
Mme。Deschap。Holdyourtongue！——Don\'texposeyourself！
Beau。Iwillbringthepriestinatrice。Goinallofyouandprepare;
thecarriageshallbeatthedoorbeforetheceremonyisover。
Mme。Deschap。Besuretherearesixhorses，Beauseant！Youareverygoodtohaveforgivenusforrefusingyou;butyousee——aprince！
Beau。Andsuchaprince！Madam，Icannotblushatthesuccessofsoillustriousarival。——[Aside。]NowwillIfollowthemtothevillage，enjoymytriumph，andto—morrow，inthehourofthyshameandgrief，Ithink，proudgirl，thouwiltprefereventhesearmstothoseofthegardener\'sson。（Exit。
Mme。Deschap。Come，MonsieurDeschappelles，giveyourarmtoherhighnessthatistobe。
M。Deschap。Idon\'tlikedoingbusinessinsuchahurry;
\'tisnotthewaywiththehouseofDeschappelles&Co。
Mme。Deschap。There，now，youfancyyouareinthecounting—house，don\'tyou？
[PusheshimtoPAULINE。
Mel。Stay，stay，Pauline——oneword。Haveyounoscruple，nofear？
Speak——itisnotyettoolate。
Pauline。WhenIlovedthee，thyfatebecamemine。Triumphordanger——
joyorsorrow——Iambythyside。
Damas。Well，well，prince，thouartaluckymantobesoloved。
Sheisagoodlittlegirlinspiteofherfoiblesmakeherashappyasifshewerenottobeaprincess[slappinghimontheshoulder]。Come，sir，Iwishyoujoy——youngtender——lovely;——zounds，Ienvyyou！
Mel。[whohasstoodapartingloomyabstraction]。Doyou？*
（*Onthestagethefollowinglinesareadded:——
\"Doyou？Wisejudgesareweofeachother。
\'Woo，wed，andbearherhome！SorunsthebondTowhichIsoldmyself，——andthen——whatthen？
Away？——Iwillnotlookbeyondthehour。
Likechildreninthedark，IdarenotfaceTheshadesthatgathersoundmeinthedistance。
Youenvyme——Ithankyou——youmayreadMyjoyuponmybrow——Ithankyou，sir！
Ifheartshadaudiblelanguage，youwouldhearWhatminewouldanswerwhenyoutalkofENVY！\"
ACTIII。——SCENEI。
TheexterioroftheGoldenLeon——time，twilight。Themoonrisesduringthescene。
EnterLandlordandhisDaughterfromtheInn。
Land。Ha——ha——ha！Well，Inevershallgetoverit。
OurClaudeisaprincewithavengeancenow。Hiscarriagebreaksdownatmyinn——ha——ha！
Janet。Andwhatairstheyoungladygivesherself！\"Isthisthebestroomyouhave，youngwoman？\"withsuchatossofthehead。
Land。Well，getin，Janet:getinandseetothesupper:
theservantsmustsupbeforetheygoback。[Exeunt。
EnterBEAUSEANTandGLAVIS。
Beau。Youseeourprincessislodgedatlast——onestagemore，andshe\'llbeatherjourney\'send——thebeautifulpalaceatthefootoftheAlps！——ha——ha！
Gla。Faith，IpitythepoorPauline——especiallyifshe\'sgoingtosupattheGoldenLion[makesawryface]。Ishallneverforgetthatcursedragout。
EnterMELNOTTEfromtheInn。
Beau。Yourservant，myprince;youreignedmostworthily，Icondolewithyouonyourabdication。Iamafraidthatyourhighness\'sretinuearenotveryfaithfulservants。Ithinktheywillquityouinthemomentofyourfall\'tisthefateofgreatness。
Butyouarewelcometoyourfineclothes——alsothediamondsnuff—box，whichLouisXIV。gavetoyourgreat—great—grandmother。
Gla。Andthering，withwhichyourgrandfathertheDodgeofVenicemarriedtheAdriatic。
Mel。Ihavekeptmyoath，gentlemen——say，haveIkeptmyoath？
Beau。Mostreligiously。
Mel。Thenyouhavedonewithmeandmine——awaywithyou！
Beau。How，knave？
Mel。Lookyou，ourbondisover。Proudconquerorsthatweare，wehavewonthevictoryoverasimplegirlcompromisedherhonor——
embitteredherlife——blasted，intheirveryblossoms，alltheflowersofheryouth。Thisisyourtriumph，——itismyshame！
[TurnstoBEAUSEANT。]Enjoythytriumph，butnotinmysight。
Iwasherbetrayer——Iamherprotector！Crossbutherpath——
onewordofscorn，onelookofinsult——nay，butonequiverofthatmockinglip，andIwillteachtheethatbitterwordthouhastgraveneternallyinthisheart——RepentanceBeau。Hishighnessismostgrandiloquent。
Mel。Highnessmenomore！Beware！Remorsehasmademeanewbeing。
Awaywithyou！Thereisdangerinme。Away！
Gla。[aside]。He\'sanawkwardfellowtodealwith:
comeaway，Beauseant。
Beau。Iknowtherespectcluetorank。Adieu，myprince。
AnycommandsatLyons？Yethold——Ipromisedyou200Louisonyourwedding—day;heretheyare。
Mel。[dashingthepursetotheground]。Igaveyourevenge，Ididnotsellit。Takeupyoursilver，Judas;takeit。
Ay，itisfityoushouldlearntostoop。
Beau。Youwillbegmypardonforthissomeclay。[AsidetoGLAVIS。]Cometomychateau——Ishallreturnhithertomorrow，tolearnhowPaulinelikeshernewdignity。
Mel。Areyounotgoneyet？
Beau。Yourhighness\'smostobedient，mostfaithfulGla。Andmosthumbleservants。Ha！ha！[ExeuntBEAUSEANTandGLAVIS。
Mel。ThankheavenIhadnoweapon，orIshouldhaveslalnthem。
Wretch！whatcanIsay？Whereturn？Onallsidesmockery——theveryboorswithin——[LaughterfromtheInn]。——\'Sdeath，ifeveninthisshortabsencetheexposureshouldhavechanced。Iwillcallher。Wewillgohence。
IhavealreadysentoneIcantrusttomymother\'shouse。
There，atleast，nonecaninsultheragony——gloatuponhershame！
Therealonemustshelearnwhatavillainshehassworntolove。
[AsheturnstothedoorenterPAULINEfromtheInn。
Pauline。Ah！mylord，whataplace！Ineversawsuchrudepeople。
Theystareandwinkso。Ithinktheverysightofaprince，thoughhetravelsincognito，turnstheirhonestheads。
Whatapitythecarriageshouldbreakdowninsuchaspot！
Youarenotwell——thedropsstandonyourbrow——yourhandisfeverish。
Mel。Nay，itisbutapassingspasm;——theairPauline。Isnotthesoftairofyournativesouth——
Howpaleheis！——indeedthouartnotwell。
Whereareourpeople？Iwillcallthem。
Mel。Hold！I——Iamwell。
Pauline。Thouart！——Ah！nowIknowit。
Thoufanciest，mykindlord——Iknowthoudost——
Thoufanciesttheserudewalls，theserusticgossips，Brick\'dfloors，sourwine，coarseviands，vexPauline;
Andsotheymight，butthouartbymyside，AndIforgetallelse。
EnterLandlord，theServantspeepingandlaughingoverhisshoulder。
Land。Mylord——yourhighness——Willyourmostnobleexcellencychoose——
Mel。Begone，sir！[ExitLandlordlaughing。
Pauline。Howcouldtheyhavelearn\'dthyrank？
One\'sservantsaresovain！——nay，letitnotChafethee，sweetprince！——afewshortdaysandweShallseethypalacebyitslakeofsilver，And——nay，nay，spendthrift，isthywealthofsmiles，Alreadydrain\'d，ordostthouplaythemiser？
Mel。Thineeyeswouldcallupsmilesindeserts，fairone。
Letusescapetheserustics:closeathandThereisacot，whereIhavebidprepareOureveninglodgment——arude，homelyroof，Buthonest，whereourwelcomewillnotbeMadetorturebythevulgareyesandtonguesThatareasdeathtoLove！Aheavenlynight！
Thewooingairandthesoftmooninviteus。
Wiltwalk？Ipraythee，now，——Iknowthepath，Ay，everyinchofit！
Pauline。What，thou！MethoughtThouwertastrangerintheseparts？Ah，truant，Somevillagebeautyluredthee;——thouartnowGrownconstant？
Mel。Trustme。
Pauline。Princesaresochangeful！
Mel。Come，dearest，come。
Pauline。ShallInotcallourpeopleTolightus？
Mel。Heavenwilllenditsstarsfortorches！Itisnotfar。
Pauline。Thenightbreezechillsme。
Mel。Nay，Letmethusmantlethee;——itisnotcold。
Pauline。Neverbeneaththysmile！
Mel。[aside。]OHeaven！forgiveme！[ExeuntSCENEII。
MELNOTTE\'Scottage——Widowbustlingabout——atablespreadforsupper。
Widow。So，Ithinkthatlooksveryneat。Hesentmealine，soblottedthatIcanscarcelyreadit，tosayhewouldbeherealmostimmediately。Shemusthavelovedhimwellindeedtohaveforgottenhisbirth;forthoughhewasintroducedtoherindisguise，heistoohonorablenottohaverevealedtohertheartifice，whichherloveonlycouldforgive。Well，Idonotwonderatit;
forthoughmysonisnotaprince，heoughttobeone，andthat\'salmostasgood，[Knockatthedoor。]Ah！heretheyare。
EnterMELNOTTEandPAULINE。
Widow。Oh，myboy——theprideofmyheart！——welcome，welcome！
Ibegpardon，ma\'am，butIdolovehimso！
Pauline。Goodwoman，Ireally——whyprince，whatisthis？——doestheoldladyknowyou？Oh，Iguess，youhavedonehersomeservice。
Anotherproofofyourkindheart？isitnot？
Mel。Ofmykindheart，ay！
Pauline。Soyouknowtheprince？
Widow。Knowhim，madam？——Ah，Ibegintofearitisyouwhoknowhimnot！
Pauline。Doyouthinksheismad？Canwestayhere，mylord？
Ithinkthere\'ssomethingverywildabouther。
Mel。Madam，I——no，Icannottellher;mykneesknocktogether:
whatacowardisamanwhohaslosthishonor！Speaktoher——
speaktoher[tohismother]——tellherthat——OHeaven，thatIweredead！
Pauline。Howconfusedhelooks！——thisstrangeplace？——thiswoman——
whatcanitmean？——Ihalfsuspect——Whoareyou，madam！——whoareyou！
can\'tyouspeak？areyoustruckdumb？
Widow。Claude，youhavenotdeceivedher？——Ah，shameuponyou1I
thoughtthat，beforeyouwenttothealtar，shewastohaveknownall。
Pauline。All！what！——Mybloodfreezesinmyveins！
Widow。Poorlady！——dareItellher，Claude？[MELNOTTEmakesasignofassent。]Knowyounotthen，madam，thatthisyoungmanisofpoorthoughhonestparents？Knowyounotthatyouareweddedtomyson，ClaudeMelnotte？
Pauline。Yourson！hold——hold！donotspeaktome。——[ApproachesMELNOTTE，andlaysherhandonhisarm。]——Isthisajest？isit？
Iknowitis，onlyspeak——oneword——onelookonesmile。
Icannotbelieve——Iwholovedtheeso——Icannotbelievethatthouartsucha——No，Iwillnotwrongtheebyaharshword——Speak！
Mel。Leaveus——havepityonher，onme:leaveus。
Widow。Oh，Claude，thatIshouldlivetoseetheebowedbyshame！
theeofwhomIwassoproud！（Exitbythestaircase。
Pauline。Herson——herson！
Mel。Now，lady，hearme。
Pauline。Hearthee！
Ay，speak——herson！havefiendsaparent？speak，Thatthoumaystsilencecurses——speak！
Mel。No，curseme:
Thycursewouldblastmelessthanthyforgiveness。
Pauline[laughingwildly]。\"Thisisthypalace，wheretheperfumedlightStealsthroughthemistofalabasterlamps，AndeveryairisheavywiththesighsOforange—groves，andmusicfromthesweetlutes，Andmurmursoflowfountains，thatgushforthI\'themidstofroses！\"Dostthoulikethepicture？
Thisismybridalhome，andthoumybridegroom。
Ofool——Odupe——Owretch！——IseeitallThyby—wordandthejeerofeverytongueInLyons。HastthouinthyheartonetouchOfhumankindness？ifthouhast，why，killme，Andsavethywifefrommadness。No，itcannotItcannotbe:thisissomehorriddream:
Ishallwakesoon。——[Touchinghim。]Artfleshartman？orbutTheshadowsseeninsleep？Itistooreal。
WhathaveIdonetothee？howsinn\'dagainstthee，Thatthoushouldstcrushmethus？
Mel。Pauline，byprideAngelshavefallenerethytime:byprideThatsolealloyofthymostlovelymouldTheevilspiritofabitterlove，Andarevengefulheart，hadpoweruponthee。
Frommyfirstyearsmysoulwasfill\'dwiththee:
Isawtheemidsttheflow\'rsthelowlyboyTended，unmark\'dbythee——aspiritofbloom，Andjoy，andfreshness，asifSpringitselfWeremadealivingthing，andworethyshape！
Isawthee，andthepassionateheartofmanEnter\'dthebreastofthewild—dreamingboy。
AndfromthathourIgrew——whattothelastIshallbe——thineadorer！Well，thisloveVain，frantic，guilty，ifthouwilt，becameAfountainofambitionandbrighthope;
IthoughtoftalesthatbythewinterhearthOldgossipstell——howmaidenssprungfromkingsHavestoop\'dfromtheirhighsphere;howlove，likedeathLevelsallranks，andlaystheshepherd\'scrookBesidethesceptre。ThusImademyhomeInthesoftpalaceofafairyFuture！
Myfatherdied;andI，thepeasant—born，Wasmyownlord。ThendidIseektoriseOutoftheprisonofmymeanestate;
And，withsuchjewelsastheexploringmindBringsfromthecavesofknowledge，buymyransomFromthosetwingaolersofthedaringheartLowbirthandironfortune。ThybrightimageGlass\'dinmysoul，tookallthehuesofglory，AndluredmeontothoseinspiringtoilsBywhichmanmastersmen！FortheeIgrewAmidnightstudento\'erthedreamsofsages。
FortheeIsoughttoborrowfromeachgrace，Andeverymuse，suchattributesaslendIdealcharmstolove。Ithoughtofthee，Andpassiontaughtmepoesy——ofthee，Andonthepainter\'scanvasgrewthelifeOfbeauty！ArtbecametheshadowOfthedearstarlightofthyhauntingeyesMencall\'dmevain——somemad——Iheedednot;
Butstilltoil\'don——hopedon——foritwassweet，Ifnottowin，tofeelmoreworthythee？
Pauline。Hasheamagictoexorcisehate！
Mel。Atlast，inonemadhour，IdaredtopourThethoughtsthatbursttheirchannelsintosong，Andsentthemtothee——suchatribute，lady，Asbeautyrarelyscorns，evenfromthemeanest。
Thename——appendedbytheburningheartThatlong\'dtoshowitsidolwhatbrightthingsIthadcreated——yea，theenthusiast\'sname，Thatshouldhavebeenthytriumph，wasthyscorn！
Thatveryhour——whenpassion，turn\'dtowrath，Resembledhatredmost——whenthydisdainMademywholesoulachaos——inthathourThetemptersfoundmearevengefultoolFortheirrevenge！ThouhadsttrampledonthewormItturn\'dandstungthee！
Pauline。Love，sir，hathnosting。
WhatwastheslightofapoorpowerlessgirlTothedeepwrongofthismostvilerevenge？
Oh，howIlovedthisman！——aserf！——aslave！
Mel。Hold，lady！No，notslave！Despairisfree！
Iwillnottelltheeofthethroes——thestrugglesTheanguish——theremorse:No，letitpass！
AndletmecometosuchmostpooratonementYetinmypower。Pauline！
（Approachingherwithgreatemotion，andabouttotakeherhand。
Pauline。No，touchmenot！
Iknowmyfate。Youare，bylaw，mytyrant;
AndI——OHeaven！——apeasant\'swife！I\'llworkToil——drudge——dowhatthouwilt——buttouchmenot;
Letmywrongsmakemesacred！
Mel。Donotfearme。
Thoudostnotknowme，madam:atthealtarMyvengeanceceased——myguiltyoathexpired！
Henceforth，noimageofsomemarblesaint，Nichedincathedralaisles，ishallow\'dmoreFromtherudehandofsacrilegiouswrong。
Iamthyhusband——nay，thouneed\'stnotshudder;
Here，atthyfeet，Ilayahusband\'srights。
Amarriagethusunholy——unfulfill\'d——
Abondoffraud——is，bythelawsofFrance，Madevoidandnull。To—nightsleep——sleepinpeace。
To—morrow，pureandvirginasthismornIborethee，bathedinblushes，fromtheshrine，Thyfather\'sarmsshalltaketheetothyhome。
Thelawshalldotheejustice，andrestoreThyrighttoblessanotherwiththylove。
Andwhenthouarthappy，andhasthalfforgotHimwhosoloved——sowrong\'dthee，thinkatleastHeavenleftsomeremnantoftheangelstillInthatpoorpeasant\'snature！
Ho！mymother！[EnterWidow。
Conductthislady——（sheisnotmywife;
Sheisourguest，——ourhonor\'dguest，mymother）——
Tothepoorchamber，wherethesleepofvirtue，Never，beneathmyfather\'shonestroof，Ev\'nvillainsdaredtomar！Now，lady，now，Ithinkthouwiltbelieveme。Go，mymother！
Widow。Sheisnotthywife！
Mel。Hush，hush！formercy\'ssake！
Speaknot，butgo。
[Widowascendsthestairs;PAULINEfollowsweeping——turnstolookback。
Mel。[sinkingdown]。Allangelsblessandguardher！
ACTIV。——SCENEI。
Thecottageasbefore——MELNOTTEseatedbeforeatable——writingimplements，etc。——（Daybreaking。）
Mel。Hush，hush！——shesleepsatlast！——thankHeaven，forawhilesheforgetseventhatIlive！Hersobs，whichhavegonetomyheartthewhole，long，desolatenight，haveceased！——allcalm——allstill！
Iwillgonow;IwillsendthislettertoPauline\'sfather:
whenhearrives，Iwillplaceinhishandsmyownconsenttothedivorce，andthen，OFrance！mycountry！acceptamongthyprotectors，thydefenders——thepeasant\'sSon！Ourcountryislessproudthancustom，anddoesnotrefusetheblood，theheart，therighthandofthepoorman。
EnterWidow。
Widow。Myson，thouhastactedill;butsinbringsitsownpunishment。
Inthehourofthyremorse，itisnotforamothertoreproachthee。
Mel。Whatispastispast。Thereisafuturelefttoallmen，whohavethevirtuetorepent，andtheenergytoatone。Thoushaltbeproudofthysonyet。Meanwhile，rememberthispoorladyhasbeengrievouslyinjured。
Forthesakeofthyson\'sconscience，respect，honor，bearwithher。
Ifsheweep，console——ifshechide，besilent。\'Tisbutalittlewhilemore——Ishallsendanexpressfastashorsecanspeedtoherfather。Farewell！Ishallreturnshortly。
Widow。Itistheonlycourselefttothee——thouwertledastray，butthouartnothardened。Thyheartisrightstill，aseveritwaswhen，inthymostambitioushopesthouwertneverashamedofthypoormother。
Mel。Ashamedofthee;No，ifIyetendure，yetlive，yethope，——
itisonlybecauseIwouldnotdietillIhaveredeemedthenobleheritageIhavelost——theheritageItookunstainedfromtheeandmydeadfather——aproudconscienceandanhonestname。
Ishallwinthembackyet——heavenblessyou！[Exit。
Widow。MydearClaude！Howmyheartbleedsforhim。
[PAULINElooksdownfromabove，andafterapausedescendsPauline。Nothere！——hesparesmethatpainatleast:
sofarheisconsiderate——yettheplaceseemsstillmoredesolatewithouthim。Oh，thatIcouldhatehim——thegardener\'sson！——
andyethownoblyhe——no——no——noIwillnotbesomeanathingastoforgivehim！
Widow。Goodmorning，madam;IwouldhavewaitedonyouifIhadknownyouwerestirring。
Pauline。Itisnomatter，ma\'am——yourson\'swifeoughttowaitonherself。
Widow。Myson\'swife——letnotthatthoughtvexyou，madam——hetellsmethatyouwillhaveyourdivorce。AndIhopeIshalllivetoseehimsmileagain。Therearemaidensinthisvillage，youngandfair，madam，whomayyetconsolehim。