What dost thou here?-art like a cursed sprite I was he! Strang. You are the man I seek! Thos. What is't you want? I can bestow no favours, give no giftsI have not even a stiver for myself! Strang. Nothing I ask; I seek but to confer. Now listen to my words, my noble friend! I knew a man whose case was like your own; He stood upon the hills that overlooked The fair lands he had lost; as you on yours— He saw his treeless woods, his desolate mansion, Gone to a stranger's name—yet what did he? Sit still and make a moan about the past, And call himself ill names and beat his breast? No, no! he was another kind of man! He made a vow to win his lost lands back; To set a tree for every tree he felled; To dwell in his ancestral home again! Thos. And was his vow performed? Strang. Where he had counted one in his wild youth, In his old age he counted twenty fold; And died within the room where he was born. Thos. To win the faithless lady of his love Made he a vow? Strang. Indeed, it was! That vow he did not make; Because I know not if his heart had loved. But you may make that vow. Thos. I'll do as thou hast said! give me thy hand! Thou hast performed a friend's part, though a stranger; Witness my vow-witness, thou ancient earth, And thou, more ancient heaven, oh, witness it! All that was mine I will win back to me --All I have lost I will again possess -Silver or gold, or love more precious still! All that gave joy and beauty to my life, Shall gladden and adorn it ere its close! Hunger and thirst, and cold, and weariness Shall not oppose me! - through the day I'll toil, And through the night I will lay ceaseless schemes! Here, in the face of my ancestral home, I make this solemn vow!-So help me God! Strang. You have done well. The oath is goodnow keep it! - A comfortable friend, who meets your face I could have counted out a hundred men, And said, "All these would serve me, were there need!" Curse on them! I had my liveried servants in those days; All sorts of meats, and rare elaborate dishes Look at thy sordid frame-look at thy garb — Thomas [A rap is heard at his door. Trav. [without.] For God's sake, worthy Christian, Thos. Who are you-and what brings you to this door? Trav. A weary traveller who hath lost his way; Thos. A little further on a village lieth; Thos. [carefully opening his door.] First you must Then cross yon woody ridge; the hamlet lies SCENE III. A fine moonlight night.— A lonely field in the ex tremity of the valley of Torres. Enter Thomas with an ass, he takes off the bridle and turns it to graze. Thomas. There, thou poor, half-starved, patient There's grass, rare, green grass for thee! eat thy fill, Ah, I remember well- - [He advances into the hollow. "Tis even as then! this bower hath little changed, But hearts have changed since then- and thoughts have changed, And the great purpose of a life hath changed! Trav. star, O'er the old tower; you cannot miss the way. Am I to lodge all weary travellers? [He puts out his fire, and then throws A fire, and yet so cold! let's feel it now, If 'tis as it was then. [He stoops to pick it up. Heavens, it is gold! And here is more! bright, shining, glorious gold! out a small bag of gold coin. 19 Let me into the moonlight-gold, gold, gold! Ha! some one comes! [A step is heard approaching. I might have groaned for that poor wretch's groan [He takes off his belt, and then securely fixing Thou shalt be my true breast-plate, [He shrinks into the shade, and lies close But hence! this is no land of safety for me. Man. Now, by your leave, good friend, Who may you be? Thos. A poor night traveller, Who takes up his cheap quarters 'neath the hedges. I have a little liking for your pillow, Man. Come, come, my friend, these are my ancient I have a foolish liking for this spot All are alike to you Thos. And will maintain it! I have possession, Man. It shall then be tried! SCENE V. [He goes out. Several years afterwards.—A dark night in a distant country. A field of battle covered with dead.Enter Thomas of Torres with a small lantern in his hand. Thos. Rings; dagger-sheaths; gold chains and spurs; massy gold embroidery-this is all clear gain -no deduction for agents-no plaguy discount-all net profit! [he gropes among the bodies.] But ha!thou art worth looking after! Come, my young gentleman, I'll be your valet!-Let go your sword. Poor wretch that was a strong death-grasp! Now [He lays hold on Thomas, and they off with your rings!-one, two, three! I'll lay my struggle together. Ha! ha, you thief, then you have got the bag! Thos. I have! Man. You villain! you marauding thief! Man. [within the thicket.] I am a dead man, help! oh, I am murdered! Christ help me! I am murdered! Thos. [rushing out.] He is not! no! Cuffs do not murder men! SCENE IV. In this unearthly silence chills my blood. A faint Voice. For the dear love of Christ, be't friend or foe, [He runs off. Make short my death! A cave by the sea shore. - Enter Thomas of Torres; he takes out the bag. Thos. Now let me count-now let me see my Ah! it reminds me of the thirty pieces, Now let me count [He counts out a hundred pieces. Thos. What, art thou sick of life? Voice. It is not life it is a living death! Thos. [seizing his hand.] Gems worthy of a king! Thou stony-hearted wretch, off, off! [He faintly strikes him off, and then falls back dead.-Thomas proceeds to strip the body. Thou art a magazine of gems and gold! [He draws a gold chain from his neck. What, more? Some love-gift!-"Twas a heavenly lady, For whom our earthly gold was all too mean, Heavens! it is Isabel- the gentle queen And thou, bright Isabel! it was for thee SCENE VI. A foreign city.-A miserable den-like room, surrounded with iron chests, secured with heavy padlocks — the door and windows grated and barred.-Thomas of Torres sitting at a desk, with pen and ink before him. Enter A FINE GENTLEMAN. Gent. Good morrow, most excellent sir! Gent. I have the misfortune, sir, to need a thousand gold pieces, and knowing your unimpeachable honour, I have pleasure in asking the loan from you. Thos. Humph! Gent. Your rate of interest, sir, is -? Thos. I'll have my money! [The Gentleman, in great agitation, lays down a bundle of parchments before him. Well, what of these? Give me the further sum Of twenty thousand pieces on these landsThos. Thirty per cent. for spendthrift heirs, and These parchments will be surety for the whole! two responsible sureties. Gent. The terms are hard, sir. Thos. They are the terms! Gent. Sir, twenty per cent. is high interest: elsewhere Thos. Then go elsewhere! [The Gentleman turns on his heel, Thos. The jackanapes! Enter A GRIM-LOOKING MAN. Man. He cannot pay, sir; he declares it impossible, and prays you to have patience; and in the meantime leaves in your hand this casket. Thos. [opening it.] Baubles-Can't pay!-impossible! I say I will be paid! Man. His ship was lost in the squall- he must sell the furniture of his house to cover your demand, and he prays you to have mercy on his wife and children! Thos. Wife and children! talk not to me of wives and children!-I'll have my money! Man. I tell you, sir, it is impossible, without you seize his goods. Thos. Then take the city bailiff, and get them appraised. Man. I cannot do it, sir!-You shall see him yourself. [aside.] The nether mill-stone is running water compared to his heart! [He goes out. Thos. Twenty thousand gold pieces, and seven months' interest-and give that up because a man has wife and children. Ha! ha! ha! [He resumes his pen, and calculates interest. Enter A GENTLEMAN, with a depressed countenance. Thos. [glancing over them.] The lands of Torres ! ha! ha! ha!-and you're — ? Gent. The lord of Torres. Thos. How shall I be sure Of the validity of these same deeds? If so, the signatures of its late lords, Father and son, may be well known to you. No, no, sir; Then pay down Of Torres were a miserable price- Lord of T. So did the last possessor leave it, sir- Thos. Sir, I am no extortioner, God knows; Tis a poor price for the rich lands of Torres ! Thos. I'll give you not an hour!-not e'en a The hold of a ship.-Thomas of Torres seated upon an iron chest, and another beside him. Enter a lady, wrapped in a long cloak and veiled; two younger ones follow, supporting a third-the master of the vessel follows them. Lady. Are these, good sir, the best accommodations? Master. Unless you pay the price of what are better. Lady. [throwing back her veil, and showing a fair Sir, I have told you more of our distress But for my youngest child, my dying daughter- And 't would have seemed ungracious to refuse her. SCENE VIII. A small chamber in the house of Torres.-Thomas as Is with me night and day. The lord of Torres ! [A low rap is heard, and a poor widow Widow. Pardon, my lord: I am an aged widow, [She lays a few small silver coins before him, and a gold ring. Lord of T. You shall not be disturbed in your possession! Wid. Ten thousand blessings on your noble lordship! [She goes out. Lord of T. [testing the ring and coins] They're sterling gold and silver, though the weight Is small; but every little addeth to the whole. Enter JOHN O'NOKES. John [bowing very low.] There is a little field- My noble lord, which brings you little profit field. John. My lord, its worth is small to your estate; [He supports the young lady out, and To mine 't is otherwise and she who rents it the others follow. Thos. Why, yonder is the lady of the pearls- And she is poor, is burdened with three daughters! I was a fool to think I e'er should marry- Is poor, and hath no management of land. Lord of T. She pays her rent as true as quarter day. |