Mrs. Inchbald

“ BARON.
I will once more repeat to you my sentiments. It is the custom in this country for the children of nobility to marry only with their equals; but as my daughter’s content is more dear to me than an ancient custom, I would bestow you on the first man I thought calculated to make you happy: by this I do not mean to say that I should not be severely nice in the character of the man to whom I gave you; and Mr. Anhalt, from his obligations to me, and his high sense of honour, thinks too nobly—
AMELIA.
Would it not be noble to make the daughter of his benefactor happy? ”

“ AGATHA.
Yes, I am that unfortunate woman; and the man who pretends to take concern in my misfortunes is——Baron Wildenhaim——he who betrayed me, abandoned me and my child, and killed my parents.—He would now repair our sufferings with this purse of gold. [Takes out the purse.] Whatever may be your errand, Sir, whether to humble, or to protect me, it is alike indifferent. I therefore request you to take this money to him who sent it. Tell him, my honour has never been saleable. Tell him, destitute as I am, even indigence will not tempt me to accept charity from my seducer. ”

“ BARON.
The whole castle smells of his perfumery. Go, call my daughter hither. [Exit Gentleman.] And am I after all to have an ape for a son-in-law? No, I shall not be in a hurry—I love my daughter too well. We must be better acquainted before I give her to him. I shall not sacrifice my Amelia to the will of others, as I myself was sacrificed. The poor girl might, in thoughtlessness, say yes, and afterwards be miserable. What a pity she is not a boy! The name of Wildenhaim will die with me. My fine estates, my good peasants, all will fall into the hands of strangers. ”

“ AGATHA.
No—since the death of his mother this castle has only been inhabited by servants—for he settled as far off as Alsace, upon the estate of his wife.
FREDERICK.
I will carry you in my arms to Alsace. No—why should I ever know my father, if he is a villain! My heart is satisfied with a mother.—No—I will not go to him. I will not disturb his peace—I leave that task to his conscience. What say you, mother, can’t we do without him? [Struggling between tears and his pride.] We don’t want him. I will write directly to my captain. ”

“ For that very reason I am sent to you to explain the good and the bad of which matrimony is composed.
AMELIA.
Then I beg first to be acquainted with the good.
MR. ANHALT.
When two sympathetic hearts meet in the marriage state, matrimony may be called a happy life. When such a wedded pair find thorns in their path, each will be eager, for the sake of the other, to tear them from the root. Where they have to mount hills, or wind a labyrinth, the most experienced will lead the way, and be a guide to his companion. ”

“ Enter COTTAGER.
COTTAGER.
Good day, young soldier.—What is it you want?
FREDERICK.
Good friend, look at that poor woman. She is perishing in the public road! It is my mother.—Will you give her a small corner in your hut? I beg for mercy’s sake—Heaven will reward you.
COTTAGER.
Can’t you speak quietly? I understand you very well. [Calls at the door of the hut.] Wife, shake up our bed—here’s a poor sick woman wants it. [Enter WIFE] . Why could not you say all this in fewer words? Why such a long preamble? Why for mercy’s sake, and heaven’s reward? ”

“ MR. ANHALT.
Woman herself is a problem.
AMELIA.
And I’ll teach you to make her out.
MR. ANHALT.
You teach?
AMELIA.
Why not? none but a woman can teach the science of herself: and though I own I am very young, a young woman may be as agreeable for a tutoress as an old one.—I am sure I always learnt faster from you than from the old clergyman who taught me before you came. ”

“ The first I think is best. Ay, I don’t want a breakfast, for dinner time will soon be here. To do good satisfies both hunger and thirst. [Going towards her with the money in his hand.] Take this, good woman.
[She stretches her hand for the gift, looks steadfastly at him, and cries out with astonishment and joy.]
AGATHA.
Frederick!
FREDERICK.
Mother! [With astonishment and grief.] Mother! For God’s sake what is this! How is this! And why do I find my mother thus? Speak!
AGATHA.
I cannot speak, dear son! [Rising and embracing him.] My dear Frederick! ”

“ Enter Count CASSEL.
COUNT.
Ah, my dear Colonel! Miss Wildenhaim, I kiss your hand.
BARON.
Good morning! Good morning! though it is late in the day, Count. In the country we should rise earlier.
[Amelia offers the Count a Cup of tea.]
COUNT.
Is it Hebe herself, or Venus, or——
AMELIA.
Ha, ha, ha! Who can help laughing at his nonsense?
BARON.
[rather angry] . Neither Venus, not Hebe; but Amelia Wildenhaim, if you please.
COUNT.
[Sitting down to breakfast] . You are beautiful, Miss Wildenhaim.—Upon my honour, I think so. ”

“ FREDERICK.
And my mother——
BARON.
She shall live in peace and affluence. Do you think I would leave your mother unprovided, unprotected? No! About a mile from this castle I have an estate called Weldendorf—there she shall live, and call her own whatever it produces. There she shall reign, and be sole mistress of the little paradise. There her past sufferings shall be changed to peace and tranquility. On a summer’s morning, we, my son, will ride to visit her; pass a day, a week with her; and in this social intercourse time will glide pleasantly. ”

“ BUTLER.
All my poetry is true—and so far, better than some people’s prose.
BARON.
But I want prose on this occasion, and command you to give me nothing else. [Butler bows.] Have you heard of an engagement which Count Cassel is under to any other woman than my daughter?
BUTLER.
I am to tell your honour in prose?
BARON.
Certainly. [Butler appears uneasy and loath to speak.] Amelia, he does not like to divulge what he knows in presence of a third person—leave the room. ”

“ MR. ANHALT.
I shall judge with all the lenity my religion dictates: and you are the prisoner of a nobleman, who compassionates you for the affection which you bear towards your mother; for he has sent to the village where you directed him, and has found the account you gave relating to her true.—With this impression in your favour, it is my advice, that you endeavour to see and supplicate the Baron for your release from prison, and all the peril of his justice. ”

“ AGATHA.
And he is the only branch on which my hope still blossoms: the rest are withered.—I will forget my wrongs as a woman, if the Baron will atone to the mother—he shall have the woman’s pardon, if he will merit the mother’s thanks— [after a struggle] —I will go to the castle—for the sake of my Frederick, go even to his father. But where are my good host and hostess, that I may take leave, and thank them for their kindness?
MR. ANHALT.
[taking up the purse which Agatha had thrown down] . Here, good friend! Good woman! ”

“ AMELIA.
You may tell my father—I’ll marry. [Rises.]
MR. ANHALT.
[rising] . This picture is pleasing; but I must beg you not to forget that there is another on the same subject.—When convenience, and fair appearance joined to folly and ill-humour, forge the fetters of matrimony, they gall with their weight the married pair. Discontented with each other—at variance in opinions—their mutual aversion increases with the years they live together. They contend most, where they should most unite; torment, where they should most soothe. ”

“ Anhalt? Have you not yet been able to make any discoveries on that unfortunate subject?
MR. ANHALT.
I have taken infinite pains; but in vain. No such person is to be found.
BARON.
Believe me, this burthen presses on my thoughts so much, that many nights I go without sleep. ”

“ MR. ANHALT.
Are you of opinion that she will never fall in love?
BARON.
Oh! no. I am of opinion that no woman ever arrived at the age of twenty without that misfortune.—But this is another subject.—Go to Amelia—explain to her the duties of a wife and of a mother.—If she comprehends them, as she ought, then ask her if she thinks she could fulfil those duties, as the wife of Count Cassel.
MR. ANHALT.
I will.—But—I—Miss Wildenhaim— [confused. I—I shall—I—I shall obey your commands.
BARON.
Do so. [gives a deep sigh.] Ah! so far this weight is removed ”

“ AMELIA.
Oh! my good butler, I am not in a humour to listen to the muses, and your lyre.
BUTLER.
There has never been a birth-day, nor wedding-day, nor christening-day, celebrated in your family, in which I have not joined with the muses in full chorus.—In forty-six years, three hundred and ninety-seven congratulations on different occasions have dropped from my pen. To-day, the three hundred and ninety-eighth is coming forth;—for heaven has protected our noble master, who has been in great danger. ”

“ COUNT.
True;—for I am an epitome of the world. In my travels I learnt delicacy in Italy—hauteur, in Spain—in France, enterprize—in Russia, prudence—in England, sincerity—in Scotland, frugality—and in the wilds of America, I learnt love.
AMELIA.
Is there any country where love is taught?
COUNT.
In all barbarous countries. But the whole system is exploded in places that are civilized. ”

“ Hear, Amelia! [stops short, and speaks softer.] To see you happy is my wish. But matrimony, without concord, is like a duetto badly performed; for that reason, nature, the great composer of all harmony, has ordained, that, when bodies are allied, hearts should be in perfect unison. However, I will send Mr. Anhalt to you——
AMELIA.
[much pleased] . Do, papa.
BARON.
——He shall explain to you my sentiments. [Rings.] A clergyman can do this better than—— [Enter servant.] Go directly to Mr. Anhalt, tell him that I shall be glad to see him for a quarter of an hour if he is not engaged. ”

“ Pardon an old servant, your father’s old butler, gracious lady, who has had the honour to carry the baron in his arms—and afterwards with humble submission to receive many a box o’ the ear from you—if he thinks it his duty to make his congratulations with due reverence on this happy day, and to join with the muses in harmonious tunes on the lyre. ”

“ WIFE.
[to Agatha.] This young man being tutor in our Baron’s family, he was very much beloved by them all; and so the Baron gave him this living in consequence.
COTTAGER.
And well he deserved it, for his pious instructions to our young lady: who is, in consequence, good, and friendly to every body.
AGATHA.
What young lady do you mean?
COTTAGER.
Our Baron’s daughter.
AGATHA.
Is she here?
WIFE.
Dear me! Don’t you know that? I thought every body had known that. It is almost five weeks since the Baron and all his family arrived at the castle.
AGATHA.
Baron Wildenhaim? ”

“ The Count wants a little of my daughter’s simplicity and sensibility.—Take him under your care while he is here, and make him something like yourself.—You have succeeded to my wish in the education of my daughter.—Form the Count after your own manner.—I shall then have what I have sighed for all my life—a son.
MR. ANHALT.
With your permission, Baron, I will ask one question. What remains to interest you in favour of a man, whose head and heart are good for nothing? ”

“ ACT I. SCENE I. A high road, a town at a distance—A small inn on one side of the road—A cottage on the other.
The LANDLORD of the inn leads AGATHA by the hand out of his house.
LANDLORD.
No, no! no room for you any longer—It is the fair to-day in the next village; as great a fair as any in the German dominions. The country people with their wives and children take up every corner we have.
AGATHA.
You will turn a poor sick woman out of doors who has spent her last farthing in your house.
LANDLORD.
For that very reason; because she has spent her last farthing. ”

“ Enter FREDERICK—He is dressed in a German soldier’s uniform, has a knapsack on his shoulders, appears in high spirits, and stops at the door of the inn.
FREDERICK.
Halt! Stand at ease! It is a very hot day—A draught of good wine will not be amiss. But first let me consult my purse. [Takes out a couple of pieces of money, which he turns about in his hand.] This will do for a breakfast—the other remains for my dinner; and in the evening I shall be home. [Calls out] Ha! Halloo! Landlord! [Takes notice of Agatha, who is leaning against the tree.] Who is that? A poor sick woman! She don’t beg ”

“ A man is sometimes tempted to commit such depravity when young.—Oh, Anhalt! had I, in my youth, had you for a tutor;—but I had no instructor but my passions; no governor but my own will. [Exit.
MR. ANHALT.
This commission of the Baron’s in respect to his daughter, I am— [looks about] —If I shou’d meet her now, I cannot—I must recover myself first, and then prepare.—A walk in the fields, and a fervent prayer—After these, I trust, I shall return, as a man whose views are solely placed on a future world; all hopes in this, with fortitude resigned. ”

“ Patience and love will accompany them in their journey, while melancholy and discord they leave far behind.—Hand in hand they pass on from morning till evening, through their summer’s day, till the night of age draws on, and the sleep of death overtakes the one. ”