Frances de Barry.

a Monoscenic Drama. the circumstances historical.¹

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Dear Scene the ramparts of Leu<au>cate.² Frances De Barry.³ Herald. de Loupian⁴ –

Frances—          Bid here the Captains of the garrison. And the chief Citizens –

Herald – My errand Lady Is for your private ear.

Frances. – Reserve it therefore – I have no private ear! the day your craft Entrapt De Barry,⁵ – whom by courage never Ye had subdued, that day did I become My husbands image here, like him the servant Of France, & faithful to my trust like him.

Herald.—            Your husbands –

Frances – Peace! anon & thou shalt have Thy scope of speech.

(Enter Captains &c–) Now Herald, do thine errand.

Herald.                Thus say the Leaders of the League:⁶ their troops Hem in Laucate; they hold the country round, – The Tyrant⁷ daily weakening, daily prest Closer & closer by their righteous arm, Desperate himself of safety, can afford No succour here. resistance boots not here, Your town perforce must fall. yet are the League Mindful of mercy, rightly as befits The champions of the church, & like the church By wholesome terror as by promised grace Would make you wise to safety. yield the town And ransomless your husband shall be free. But if, relying on deceitful hopes Lady! & obstinate in waste of blood, Still you provoke their vengeance, my return Condemns De Barry. yonder he is bound Waiting the event – & ye shall see him die The victim of your crime.

Frances. – Ye turn your eyes, Defenders of Laucate! as tho in doubt Towards me! – look – my husband from his prison Sent me this handkerchief with charcoal traced – “Keep the town well” – say to De Barry, Herald, His wife received the token. if he dies, I have a womans feelings: – but his honour – That is beyond your power, & in my grief There will be consolation.

Herald – This – your answer?

Captain—            Yet more. ye see the hostage in our hands power By Montmorency⁸ sent, De Barrys pledge Of safety. as a noble gentlemanHis image hath been here. Hath he been guarded here.

De Loupian. with all indulgence Never was foe by foe, more honourably Intreated.

Captain. – Tell the League his life depends Upon De Barry – (Exit Herald)

Frances to De Loupian. Think you they will act Their threatening?

De Loupian – As a soldier I must deem The crime impossible. but as my life Hangs on the issue – Lady I have fears. But – look! – what stir is yonder in the camp? – Oh base & bloody men!

Frances – It is my husband!

De Loupian.—  He kneels – as tho for death – !

Frances viels her face –

Captain – your life De Loupian Is in the event.

(a gun is heard.)

De Loupian. Then Christ have mercy on me! – That was De Barrys death.

many voices – Away with him – Away with him – vengeance – away with him –

Frances, uncovering her face. Hold Frenchmen! unpolluted by a crime, Unspotted by in his honour, hath my husband Died in his countrys cause. no cruelty No act of impotent revenge shall stain The memory of his fate. shall I revenge In innocent blood the life that by a treason I would not save? – De Loupian – thou art safe! Return to Montmorency, say to him De Barrys xxx widow will defend Laucate.

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