The Hunchback Part 3

_Clif_. Have with you!

_Wal_. You'll bless the day you served the Hunchback, sir!

[They go out.]

SCENE II.--A Garden before a Country House.

[Enter JULIA and HELEN.]

_Helen_. I like not, Julia, this your country life.

I'm weary on't!

_Julia_. Indeed? So am not I!

I know no other; would no other know!

_Helen_. You would no other know! Would you not know Another relative?--another friend-- Another house--another anything, Because the ones you have already please you?

That's poor content! Would you not be more rich, More wise, more fair? The song that last you learned You fancy well; and therefore shall you learn No other song? Your virginal, 'tis true, Hath a sweet tone; but does it follow thence, You shall not have another virginal?

You may, love, and a sweeter one; and so A sweeter life may find than this you lead!

_Julia_. I seek it not. Helen, I'm constancy!

_Helen_. So is a cat, a dog, a silly hen, An owl, a bat,--where they are wont to lodge That still sojourn, nor care to s.h.i.+ft their quarters.

Thou'rt constancy? I am glad I know thy name!

The spider comes of the same family, That in his meshy fortress spends his life, Unless you pull it down and scare him from it.

And so thou'rt constancy? Ar't proud of that?

I'll warrant thee I'll match thee with a snail From year to year that never leaves his house!

Such constancy forsooth!--a constant grub That houses ever in the self-same nut Where he was born, till hunger drives him out, Or plunder breaketh through his castle wall!

And so, in very deed, thou'rt constancy!

_Julia_. Helen, you know the adage of the tree;-- I've ta'en the bend. This rural life of mine, Enjoined me by an unknown father's will, I've led from infancy. Debarred from hope Of change, I ne'er have sighed for change. The town To me was like the moon, for any thought I e'er should visit it--nor was I schooled To think it half so fair!

_Helen_. Not half so fair!

The town's the sun, and thou hast dwelt in night E'er since thy birth, not to have seen the town!

Their women there are queens, and kings their men; Their houses palaces!

_Julia_. And what of that?

Have your town-palaces a hall like this?

Couches so fragrant? walls so high-adorned?

Cas.e.m.e.nts with such festoons, such prospects, Helen, As these fair vistas have? Your kings and queens!

See me a May-day queen, and talk of them!

_Helen_. Extremes are ever neighbours. 'Tis a step From one to the other! Were thy constancy A reasonable thing--a little less Of constancy--a woman's constancy-- I should not wonder wert thou ten years hence The maid I know thee now; but, as it is, The odds are ten to one, that this day year Will see our May-day queen a city one!

_Julia_. Never! I'm wedded to a country life: O, did you hear what Master Walter says!

Nine times in ten the town's a hollow thing, Where what things are is nought to what they show; Where merit's name laughs merit's self to scorn!

Where friends.h.i.+p and esteem that ought to be The tenants of men's hearts, lodge in their looks And tongues alone. Where little virtue, with A costly keeper, pa.s.ses for a heap; A heap for none that has a homely one!

Where fas.h.i.+on makes the law--your umpire which You bow to, whether it has brains or not!

Where Folly taketh off his cap and bells, To clap on Wisdom, which must bear the jest!

Where to pa.s.s current you must seem the thing, The pa.s.sive thing, that others think; and not Your simple, honest, independent self!

_Helen_. Ay: so says Master Walter. See I not What can you find in Master Walter, Julia, To be so fond of him!

_Julia_. He's fond of me!

I've known him since I was a child. E'en then, The week I thought a weary, heavy one, That brought not Master Walter. I had those About me then that made a fool of me, As children oft are fooled; but more I loved Good Master Walter's lesson than the play With which they'd surfeit me. As I grew up, More frequent Master Walter came, and more I loved to see him! I had tutors then, Men of great skill and learning--but not one That taught like Master Walter. What they'd show me, And I, dull as I was, but doubtful saw,-- A word from Master Walter made as clear As daylight! When my schooling days were o'er-- That's now good three years past--three years--I vow I'm twenty, Helen!--well, as I was saying, When I had done with school, and all were gone, Still Master Walter came! and still he comes, Summer or winter--frost or rain! I've seen The snow upon a level with the hedge, Yet there was Master Walter!

_Helen_. Who comes here?

A carriage, and a gay one--who alights?

Pshaw! Only Master Walter! What see you, Which thus repairs the arch of the fair brow, A frown was like to spoil?--A gentleman!

One of our town kings! Mark!--How say you now?

Wouldst be a town queen, Julia? Which of us, I wonder, comes he for?

_Julia_. For neither of us; He's Master Walter's clerk, most like.

_Helen_. Most like!

Mark him as he comes up the avenue; So looks a clerk! A clerk has such a gait!

So does a clerk dress, Julia!--mind his hose-- They're very like a clerk's! a diamond loop And b.u.t.ton, note you, for his clerks.h.i.+p's hat,-- O, certainly a clerk! A velvet cloak, Jerkin of silk, and doublet of the same,-- For all the world a clerk! See, Julia, see, How Master Walter bows, and yields him place, That he may first go in--a very clerk!

I'll learn of thee, love, when I'd know a clerk!

_Julia_. I wonder who he is!

_Helen_. Wouldst like to know?

Wouldst for a fancy ride to town with him?

I prophesy he comes to take thee thither!

_Julia_. He ne'er takes me to town! No, Helen, no!

To town who will, a country life for me!

_Helen_. We'll see!

[Enter FATHOM.]

_Fath_. You're wanted, madam.

_Julia_. [Embarra.s.sed.] Which of us?

_Fath_. You, madam.

_Helen_. Julia! what's the matter? Nay, Mount not the rose so soon! He must not see it A month hence. 'Tis loves flower, which once she wears, The maid is all his own.

_Julia_. Go to!

_Helen_. Be sure He comes to woo thee! He will bear thee hence; He'll make thee change the country for the town.

_Julia_. I'm constancy. Name he the town to me, I'll tell what I think on't!

_Helen_. Then you guess He comes a wooing?