Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 5Bridges, Robert
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Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 5
Bridges, Robert
English drama; English poetry
_T._ Not I, my lady.
_D._ Could you get sight of it?
_T._ Impossible.
At night ’tis neath his pillow, and all the day
He keeps it in a little special pocket 1400
In his doublet here, just under his heart; or if
He pulls it out, he holds it by his chin
Where none may see.
_D._ You should have told me of this,
This portrait: have you no guess who ’tis of?
_T._ I guess ’tis part of the pretence, my lady;
For when the fit is on he’ll talk to it:
And once I saw him kiss it.
_D._ Thank you, Tristram.
Take now these papers to your master at once
And tell him....
_T._ (_going_). I will, your ladyship.
_D._ Stay yet....
This letter which he brought me, did you see 1410
Whence he procured it?
_T._ I suppose, my lady,
He wrote it himself, no doubt of it. Where else
Should he have got it?
_D._ Tell Ricardo, Tristram,
I wish to see him here, at once. Your master
May wait on me at noon.
_T._ About that gentleman....
_D._ Begone, and do my bidding. [_Exit T._
They have met in spite of me—they have met: and he
Hath dared to disobey me and lie to my face.
Who can it be? who is she? she is in my house....
Ah! what a prey I have netted! One of my maids....
One of my maids, it must be.... O detestation! 1421
And he hath her portrait. Ah, he loves, he loves.
The love that taught me to dissemble and scheme,
Hath taught him to meet plot with counterplot.—
Frederick, dear Frederick! ’tis unworthy of you:
This is too hard upon me.... I loved you well.
Shame, shame, shame, shame! Indeed he cannot know
How much I love him ... he cannot. Am I too old
At twenty-seven? out-matched! I had taken too
This letter for the Duke’s. Ho! the insolence 1430
To assume his fulsomeness! to forge in terms
Of a humble obedient lover, so he might
Keep tryst with.... O shame, shame! and then to write it
He must have broke my seal, and read my letter—
He has gone too far: here is a slip in honour
Which I may work on. I’ll not give him up,
Not yet. He can be shamed: and first I’ll prove
The forgery, and then wring confession from him.
’Tis well I have at hand so trusty a witness.
_Re-enter Ricardo._
_R._ Your ladyship sent for me.
_D._ I did, Ricardo. 1440
In answer to the favour, which most gladly
I do you at the Duke’s request, I beg
A service for myself.
_R._ My honoured master
Commands me, lady; and you command my master.
I am twice yours.
_D._ Again! well—Look at this!
Is this your famous master’s writing? Look.
You know it? (_giving letter._)
_R._ As my own.
_D._ Is that then his?
_R._ It is,
And writ his best.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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