A

ws nothing yet

Jands.

to yourself,

Patience, Clara,

knight discern

not, my love.

en peace comes, dearest; on to bower and hall, nd for his brow

Such things

Nobly said. nd hope your aid

D'ARLON.

Sir, it is not for me to say you nay

In your own town, with not a man to back me;
Nor would I willingly distrust your word

That all is honourably meant; for else

I scarce should miss to find a future time

For fair requital.

What's all the coil about? Depart! aye truly,
That's when I bid him, not an instant sooner.
Dismiss him thus, and bid him come no more!
Then what becomes of me? Oh, I'm a child!
I'm to be whipp'd for crying after him?
But let me tell thee, Philip, I'm the child
Of Jacques Artevelde-So look well to it.
An injury to myself I might forgive,
But one to D'Arlon-

[Bursting into tears.

Sir, think twice upon it,

Lest you should lose a sister unawares.

D'ARLON.

Nay Clara, nay, be not so troubled.

ARTEVELDE.

There

You see the humour she is of, my lord;

But be my sins confess'd, the fault is mine.
An orphan sister and an only one,

What could I less but let her have her will
In all things possible? An easy man

She still has found me, and knows nothing yet
Of opposition to her high commands.

You, if you e'er should take her to yourself,
May teach her better doctrine. Patience, Clara,
Patience, my love; nor let this knight discern
His future trials thus presignified

In rain and lightning; let him not, my love.

CLARA (weeping).

When will he come again?

ARTEVELDE.

When peace comes, dearest;

We'll make him welcome then to bower and hall,

And thou shalt twine a garland for his brow
Of olive and of laurels won from me.

D'ARLON.

Be pacified, sweet Clara; dry your tears.
He but deals with me as he has the right
And deems himself in duty bound.

Shall jar no string between us.

Such things

ARTEVELDE.

Nobly said.

I leave her in your hands, and hope your aid

For bringing her to reason.

D'ARLON.

I entreat

One word in private with you ere we part.

Who craves to see you instantly: another
Says the Lord Occo waits your leisure.

ARTEVELDE (after a pause).

Ha!

Lord Occo, saidst thou? tell me, what of him!

CAPTAIN.

He waits your leisure, sir.

ARTEVELDE.

And when comes that?

He shall not wait my leisure. And what more?

CAPTAIN.

Sir, Van den Bosch would see you.

ARTEVELDE.

It is well:

I will attend the Lord of Occo first,

And Van den Bosch shall find me at my house Some half hour hence. How look we, sir, abroad?

CAPTAIN.

The citizens are trooping to the Stadt-House. 'Tis said Sir Simon and Sir Guisebert pass From door to door incessantly.

ARTEVELDE.

To beg?

CAPTAIN.

To gain a strong attendance.

ARTEVELDE.

Wo the while!

A bear, a fiddle, and a pair of monkeys,

Had sped the service better.