The Nephews: A Play, in Five Acts. Part 18

_Chancellor._ And I, young man, warn _you_ that this language----

_Philip._ You shall hear the language of outraged humanity. Suffering innocence calls for a defender; he lives, and possesses both strength and courage.

_Chancellor_ [contemptuously]. And who may this defender be?

_Philip._ I! [Chancellor laughs.] Answer now. Will you persist?

_Chancellor._ Must I answer?

_Philip._ Yes, you shall.

_Chancellor._ Then good bye, Mr. Brook: go home, and wait for the rest.

In the mean time try to recollect yourself a little.

_Philip_ [going]. Well then--

_Augusta_ [withholding Philip.] Stay, for G.o.d's sake, stay!

_Philip_ [turning back]. Believe me, My Lord, I am not acting the Don Quixote. Once more, in the name of justice, for the sake of your conscience, and of the serious trial to which you will one day be inevitably brought, are you resolved to persist?

_Chancellor_ [in anger]. I am.

_Philip._ I have it in my power to act against you: I shall be a formidable enemy. [Pause] Will you persist? Yes, or no?

_Chancellor_ [in a fury]. Yes, yes.

_Philip._ The hour of revenge is come; I feel it through all my veins, and I begin----

_Chancellor_ [as before]. Do it, do it----

_Philip._ I shake the building to its foundation. You or I must be crushed beneath the ruins: you exposed to universal hatred and contempt, or I punished as a calumniator.

_Chancellor._ It shall be your fate.

_Philip._ Then be it so! The die is cast. The cause of justice animates me; and the remembrance of my uncle's sufferings, gives me redoubled energy.--I--you may know it--I was the man who excited and supported the honest clerk.

_Chancellor._ You were? [rings a bell].

_Philip._ He was overpowered. Your crimes were not then ripe: now they are.----In silence I have collected proofs of your treachery, of your cruelty to my uncle, whom you confined for pretended insanity: answer that.

Enter Servant.--CHANCELLOR speaks to him.

_Augusta._ Oh, Brook, Brook! what are you doing? I beg you----

_Philip._ Let me proceed. He may contrive----I have full conviction of his crimes, and will lay them open to our Prince.

_Chancellor._ Go, go, frantic fool! try what your mad dreams can effect there.

_Philip._ I will. Our Prince is benevolent and just. What is your support in your crimes? The chain of ceremony?--I break it [Chancellor laughs] I break it: my despair will give me strength--and--before sun-set--woe on thee, and thy house! [Exit hastily with Augusta].

[Chancellor rings the bell, and walks eagerly up and down.--Philip enters surrounded by Officers of Justice.]

_Chancellor._ Nearer, Mr. Brook! [To the officers] Leave us till I call.

_Philip_ [with firmness]. What have you to say?

_Chancellor._ Terrified? Pale? starting eyes? So amazed, conqueror of the world? You have thrown off the mask--I will do the same. [Pause].

Young man, you are too weak to take a grain of this power; a single grain is sufficient to destroy you.--Will you implore my forgiveness, and bind yourself to eternal silence? Then quit the country, and I will forget.

_Philip._ No!

_Chancellor._ Man, who gave me half an hour's delay, I now give it to you. Answer me; will you submit, or never see the day-light more?

_Philip._ Thy banishments, thy imprisonments, will avail nothing, as long as thy sworn enemy lives.--Murder is thy only security, and on that thy coward heart dares not venture.

_Chancellor._ Thou art in my hands, worm! Who cares if I trample upon thee? Who dares to rise up against me, possessed, as I am, of the chief authority of the State, and of the confidence of the Prince? What remains to thee, thou poor wretch?

_Philip._ My heart.

_Chancellor._ Go, grovel in fetters; there wait thy fate, while thy wiser brother laughs at thee.

_Philip._ My brother? my brother? Hah! perhaps now--[going towards the door, followed hastily by the Chancellor, who locks it]. Lewis, Lewis!

_Chancellor._ Frantic villain!

_Philip._ Lewis! Lewis! brother! help!

_Chancellor_ [rings the bell and calls]. Stop him, stop him!

_Lewis_ [from without]. I will go in!

_Philip._ Lewis! Lewis! for the last time, I call, help, help!

_Lewis_ [from without]. I come [forcing the door. Constables from the other side. Counsellor and Clerk, with Lewis, enter]. What is the matter?

_Counsellor._ You villain! To a.s.sault me, to accuse your brother, to seek his life!--[To the constables] Off with him! [they seize Philip.]

_Philip._ No! No! Lewis! [throws a pocket-book to him] Take this book [Couns. s.n.a.t.c.hes the book]. Lewis, your uncle--remember, remember.

[Exit with constables.]

_Lewis_ [attempting to follow him, withheld by the Chancellor and the Counsellor]. Let me go.

_Chancellor._ For G.o.d's sake, do not approach him; he seeks your ruin, your life; he is dangerous. [They lead Lewis into the Chancellor's Room.]

END OF THE FOURTH ACT.