The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 114

PRINCE REGENT

d.a.m.n me, though; can it be true? [He provisionally throws a regal air into his countenance.]

d.u.c.h.eSS OF YORK [on the Regent's left]

I hardly can believe it. This forenoon He was reported mending.

d.u.c.h.eSS OF ANGOULEME [on the Regent's right]

On this side They are a.s.serting that the news is false-- That Buonaparte's child, the "King of Rome,"

Is dead, and not your royal father, sire.

PRINCE REGENT

That's mighty fortunate! Had it been true, I should have been abused by all the world-- The Queen the keenest of the chorus, too-- Though I have been postponing this pledged feast Through days and weeks, in hopes the King would mend, Till expectation fusted with delay.

But give a dog a bad name--or a Prince!

So, then, it is new-come King of Rome Who has pa.s.sed or ever the world has welcomed him!...

Call him a king--that pompous upstart's son-- Beside us scions of the ancient lines!

DUKE OF BEDFORD

I think that rumour untrue also, sir. I heard it as I drove up from Woburn this evening, and it was contradicted then.

PRINCE REGENT

Drove up this evening, did ye, Duke. Why did you cut it so close?

DUKE OF BEDFORD

Well, it so happened that my sheep-sheering dinner was fixed for this very day, and I couldn't put it off. So I dined with them there at one o'clock, discussed the sheep, rushed off, drove the two-and-forty miles, jumped into my clothes at my house here, and reached your Royal Highness's door in no very bad time.

PRINCE REGENT

Capital, capital. But, 'pon my soul, 'twas a close shave!

[Soon the babbling and glittering company rise from supper, and begin promenading through the rooms and tents, the REGENT setting the example, and mixing up and talking unceremoniously with his guests of every degree. He and the group round him disappear into the remoter chambers; but may concentrate in the Grecian Hall, which forms the foreground of the scene, whence a glance can be obtained into the ball-room, now filled with dancers.

The band is playing the tune of the season, "The Regency Hornpipe,"

which is danced as a country-dance by some thirty couples; so that by the time the top couple have danced down the figure they are quite breathless. Two young lords talk desultorily as they survey the scene.]

FIRST LORD

Are the rumours of the King of Rome's death confirmed?

SECOND LORD

No. But they are probably true. He was a feeble brat from the first. I believe they had to baptize him on the day he was born.

What can one expect after such presumption--calling him the New Messiah, and G.o.d knows what all. Ours is the only country which did not write fulsome poems about him. "Wise English!" the Tsar Alexander said drily when he heard it.

FIRST LORD

Ay! The affection between that Pompey and Caesar has begun to cool.

Alexander's soreness at having his sister thrown over so cavalierly is not salved yet.

SECOND LORD

There is much beside. I'd lay a guinea there will be war between Russia and France before another year has flown.

FIRST LORD

Prinny looks a little worried to-night.

SECOND LORD

Yes. The Queen don't like the fete being held, considering the King's condition. She and her friends say it should have been put off altogether. But the Princess of Wales is not troubled that way.

Though she was not asked herself she went wildly off and bought her people new gowns to come in. Poor maladroit woman!....

[Another new dance of the year is started, and another long line of couples begin to foot it.]

That's a pretty thing they are doing now. What d'ye call it?

FIRST LORD

"Speed the Plough." It is just out. They are having it everywhere.

The next is to be one of those foreign things in three-eight time they call Waltzes. I question if anybody is up to dancing 'em here yet.

["Speed the Plough" is danced to its conclusion, and the band strikes up "The Copenhagen Waltz."]

SPIRIT IRONIC

Now for the wives. They both were tearing hither, Unless reflection sped them back again; But dignity that nothing else may bend Succ.u.mbs to woman's curiosity, So deem them here. Messengers, call them nigh!

[The PRINCE REGENT, having gone the round of the other rooms, now appears at the ball-room door, and stands looking at the dancers.