Chapter 5

MEGACLES _and_ COURTIERS.

_Meg._ Well, my lords, and so this is the palace. A grand palace, forsooth, and a fine reception to match! Why, these people are worse than barbarians. They are worse than the sea, and that was inhospitable enough. The saints be praised that that is over, at any rate. Oh, the intolerable scent of pitch, and the tossing and the heaving! Heaven spare me such an ordeal again! I thought I should have died of the smells. And here, can it be? Is it possible that there is a distinct odour of--pah! what? Oils, as I am a Christian, and close to the very palace of the Archon! What a detestable people! Some civet, good friends, some civet!

_1st Court._ Here it is, good Megacles. You did not hope, surely, to find republicans as sweet as those who live cleanly under a King? But here are some of their precious citizens at last.

_Enter_ Citizens _hurriedly._

_1st Citizen._ I pray you, forgive us, gentlemen. We thought the Prince would take the land at the other quay, and had prepared our welcome accordingly.

_Meg._ Who are these men?

_1st Court._ They are honourable citizens of Cherson.

_Meg._ Citizens! They will not do for me. The Count of the Palace should be here with the Grand Chamberlain to meet my Master.

_1st Cit._ Your Master? Oh! then you are a serving man, as it would seem. Well, my good man, when comes your Master?

_Meg._ Oh, the impertinent scoundrel! Do you know, sir, who I am?

_1st Cit._ Probably the Prince's attendant, his lackey, or possibly his steward. I neither know nor care.

_Meg._ Oh, you barbarian! Where is the Count of the Palace, I say?

_1st Cit._ Now, citizen, cease this nonsense. We have not, thank Heaven, any such foolish effeminate functionary.

_Meg._ No Count of the Palace? Heavens! what a crew! Well, if there is none, where are your leading nobles? where the Respectable and Illustrious? You are certainly not Illustrious nor Respectable; you probably are not even Honourable, or if you are you don't look it.

_1st Cit._ What, you wretched popinjay of a serving man! You dare address a Greek citizen in that way? Take that, and that! [_Beats him._

_1st Court._ Draw, gentlemen! These are ruffians!

[_They fight._

_Enter_ ASANDER.

_Asan._ Put up your swords, gentlemen. Why, fellows, what is this? Is this your hospitality to your guests?

_1st Cit._ Nay, sir; but this servant of yours has been most insolent, and has abused and insulted our State and its manners. He told us that we were not men of honour; and some of us, sir, are young, and have hot blood, and, as Greek citizens of Cherson, will not bear insults.

_Asan._ Insolent upstarts, you are not worthy of our swords! Come, my Lord Megacles, heed them not. Here is their master.

_Enter_ LAMACHUS _and_ Senators.

_Lama._ We bid you heartfelt welcome, Prince, to Cherson. That we have seemed to fail to do you honour Comes of the spite of fortune. For your highness, Taking the land at the entrance of the port, Missed what of scanty pomp our homely manners Would fain have offered; but we pray you think 'Twas an untoward accident, no more. Welcome to Cherson, Prince!

_Asan._ Methinks, my lord, Scarce in the meanest State is it the custom To ask the presence of a noble guest With much insistance, and when he accepts The summons, and has come, to set on him With insolent dogs like these.

_Lama._ Nay, Prince, I pray you, What is it that has been?

_Asan._ Our chamberlain Was lately, in your absence, which your highness So glibly doth excuse, set on and beaten By these dogs here.

_Lama._ Nay, sir, they are not dogs, But citizens of honour; yet indeed Wanting, I fear, in that deep courtesy Which from a stranger and a guest refuses To take provoked offence. My lord, indeed I am ashamed that citizens of Cherson Should act so mean a part. Come, Prince, I pray you Forget this matter, and be sure your coming Fills me with joy. Go, tell the Lady Gycia The Prince is safe in Cherson.

_Meg._ My Lord Asander, remember what is due to yourself and Bosphorus. Remember, when this merchant's daughter comes, you _must_ not treat her as an equal. Courtesy to a woman is all very well, but rank has greater claims still, especially when you have to deal with such people as these. Now, remember, you must make _no_ obeisance at all; and if you advance to meet her more--(_Enter_ GYCIA, IRENE, MELISSA, _and_ Ladies. IRENE, _seeing_ ASANDER, _faints, and is withdrawn_, GYCIA _supporting her. Confusion._)--than one step, you are lost for ever. These are the truly important things.

_Asan._ Good Megacles, Forewarned I am forearmed. (_Aside_) Thou fluent trickster! Fit head of such a State! I would to Heaven I had never come!

_Re-enter_ GYCIA.

Nay, nay, I thank the saints That I have come. Who is this peerless creature? Is this the old man's daughter?

_Lama._ Prince Asander, This is my daughter, Gycia. Of the prince Thou hast heard many a time, my daughter.

_Gycia (confused)._ Ay!--

Indeed I----

_Lama._ Come, my girl, thou art not used To fail of words.

_Asan._ Nay, sir, I pray you press her not to speak. And yet I fain would hear her. Artemis Showed not so fair, nor with a softer charm Came Hebe's voice.

_Gycia._ Nay, sir, I did not know A soldier could thus use a courtier's tongue.

_Asan._ If being bred in courts would give me power To put my thought in words, then would I fain Be courtier for thy sake.

_Gycia._ Ah, sir, you jest. The ways of courts we know not, but I bid thee Good welcome to our city, and I prithee Command whatever service our poor Cherson Can give whilst thou art here. (_To_ MEGACLES) Pray you, my lord, Accompany his Highness and our household To the apartments which our serving men Have now prepared. They are but poor, I know, For one who lives the stately life of kings; But such as our poor means can reach they are.

_Meg._ My lady, I have lived long time in courts, But never, in the palaces of Rome, Have I seen beauty such as yours, or grace More worthy of a crown. (_To_ MELISSA) To you, my lady, I bow with most respectful homage. Surely The goddess Here has not left the earth While you are here, I humbly take my leave For the present of your Highness with a thousand Obeisances, and to your gracious father Humbly I bend the knee. My Lord Asander, I do attend your Highness.

_Mel._ What a man! What noble manners! What a polished air! How poor to such a courtier our rude Court And humble manners show!

_Asan._ Good Megacles, Get me to my chamber--quick, ere I o'erpass All reasonable limits. I am sped; I am myself no more.

_Lama._ Farewell awhile. We will welcome you at supper.

[_Exeunt all but_ LAMACHUS _and_ GYCIA.

_Lama._ Well, my daughter, What think you of this hot-brained youth? I' faith, I like his soldier's bluntness, and he seemed To be a little startled, as I thought, By something which he saw when thou didst come. Perchance it was the charm of one who came Among thy ladies took him.

_Gycia._ Nay, my father, I think not so indeed.

_Lama._ Ah! well, I am old, And age forgets. But this I tell thee, daughter: If in my youth I had seen a young man's gaze Grow troubled, and he should start, and his cheek pale, A young girl drawing near, I had almost thought Him suddenly in love.

_Gycia._ Oh, nay indeed! Who should be favoured thus? There is no woman In our poor Cherson worthy that his gaze Might rest on her a moment.

_Lama._ Ah, my girl, Is it thus with thee? They say that love is blind, And thou art blind, therefore it may be, Gycia, That thou too art in love. Tell me how it is. Couldst thou love this man, if he loved thee?

_Gycia_ (_throwing herself on her father's neck_). Father!

_Lama._ Say no more, girl. I am not so old as yet That I have quite forgotten my own youth, When I was young and loved; and if I err not, I read love's fluttering signals on thy cheek, And in his tell-tale eyes. But listen! Music! We must prepare for supper with our guests.