Act I. Scene I. Browning, Robert. 1909-14. A Blot in the ’Scutcheon. The Harvard Classics

Fiction > Harvard Classics > Robert Browning > A Blot in the ’Scutcheon

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Robert Browning (1812–1889). A Blot in the ’Scutcheon.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Act I

Scene I


The Interior of a Lodge in Lord Tresham’s Park. Many Retainers crowded at the window, supposed to command a view of the entrance to his Mansion.

GERARD, the Warrener, his back to a table on which are flagons, etc.

First Retainer AY, do! push, friends, and then you’ll push down me!
—What for? Does any hear a runner’s foot
Or a steed’s trample or a coach-wheel’s cry?	5
Is the Earl come or his least poursuivant?
But there’s no breeding in a man of you
Save Gerard yonder: here’s a half-place yet,
Old Gerard!
Gerard. Save your courtesies, my friend. Here is my place.	10
Second Retainer. Now, Gerard, out with it!
What makes you sullen, this of all the days
I’ the year? To-day that young rich bountiful
Handsome Earl Mertoun, whom alone they match
With our Lord Tresham through the country-side,	15
Is coming here in utmost bravery
To ask our master’s sister’s hand?
Gerard. What then?
Second Retainer. What then? Why, you, she speaks to, if she meets
Your worship, smiles on as you hold apart	20
The boughs to let her through her forest walks,
You, always favourite for your no-deserts,
You’ve heard, these three days, how Earl Mertoun sues
To lay his heart and house and broad lands too
At Lady Mildred’s feet: and while we squeeze	25
Ourselves into a mousehole lest we miss
One congee of the least page in his train,
You sit ’o one side—“there’s the Earl,” say I—
“What then?” say you!
Third Retainer. I’ll wager he has let	30
Both swans he tamed for Lady Mildred swim
Over the falls and gain the river!
Gerard. Ralph,
Is not to-morrow my inspecting-day
For you and for your hawks?	35
Fourth Retainer. Let Gerard be!
He’s coarse-grained, like his carved black cross-bow stock.
Ha, look now, while we squabble with him, look!
Well done, now—is not this beginning, now,
To purpose?	40
First Retainer. Our retainers look as fine—
That’s comfort. Lord, how Richard holds himself
With his white staff! Will not a knave behind
Prick him upright?
Fourth Retainer. He’s only bowing, fool!	45
The Earl’s man bent us lower by this much.
First Retainer. That’s comfort. Here’s a very cavalcade!
Third Retainer. I don’t see wherefore Richard, and his troop
Of silk and silver varlets there, should find
Their perfumed selves so indispensable	50
On high days, holidays! Would it so disgrace
Our family, if I, for instance, stood—
In my right hand a cast of Swedish hawks,
A leash of greyhounds in my left?—
Gerard. —With Hugh	55
The logman for supporter, in his right
The bill-hook, in his left the brushwood-shears!
Third Retainer. Out on you, crab! What next, what next? The Earl!
First Retainer. Oh Walter, groom, our horses, do they match.
The Earl’s? Alas, that first pair of the six—	60
They paw the ground—Ah Walter! and that brute
Just on his haunches by the wheel!
Sixth Retainer. Ay—ay!
You, Philip, are a special hand, I hear,
At soups and sauces: what’s a horse to you	65
D’ye mark that beast they’ve slid into the midst
So cunningly?—then, Philip, mark this further;
No leg has he to stand on!
First Retainer. No? that’s comfort.
Second Retainer. Peace, Cook! The Earl descends. Well, Gerard, see	70
The Earl at least! Come, there’s a proper man,
I hope! Why, Ralph, no falcon, Pole or Swede,
Has got a starrier eye.
Third Retainer. His eyes are blue:
But leave my hawks alone!	75
Fourth Retainer. So young, and yet
So tall and shapely!
Fifth Retainer. Here’s Lord Tresham’s self!
There now—there’s what a nobleman should be!
He’s older, graver, loftier, he’s more like	80
A House’s head.
Second Retainer. But you’d not have a boy
—And what’s the Earl beside?—possess too soon
That stateliness?
First Retainer. Our master takes his hand—	85
Richard and his white staff are on the move—
Back fall our people—(tsh!—there’s Timothy
Sure to get tangled in his ribbon-ties,
And Peter’s cursed rosette’s a-coming off!)
—At last I see our lord’s back and his friend’s;	90
And the whole beautiful bright company
Close round them—in they go! [Jumping down from the window-bench, and making for the table and its jugs.] Good health, long life,
Great joy to our Lord Tresham and his House!
Sixth Retainer. My father drove his father first to court,
After his marriage-day—ay, did he!	95
Second Retainer. God bless
Lord Tresham, Lady Mildred, and the Earl!
Here, Gerard, reach your beaker!
Gerard. Drink, my boys!
Don’t mind me—all’s not right about me—drink!	100
Second Retainer [aside]. He’s vexed, now, that he let the show escape!
[To GERARD.] Remember that the Earl returns this way.
Gerard. That way?
Second Retainer. Just so.
Gerard. Then my way’s here. [Goes.	105
Second Retainer. Old Gerard
Will die soon—mind, I said it! He was used
To care about the pitifullest thing
That touched the House’s honour, not an eye
But his could see wherein: and on a cause	110
Of scarce a quarter this importance, Gerard
Fairly had fretted flesh and bone away
In cares that this was right, nor that was wrong,
Such point decorous, and such square by rule—
He knew such niceties, no herald more:	115
And now—you see his humour: die he will!
Second Retainer. God help him! Who’s for the great servants’ hall
To hear what’s going on inside! They’d follow
Lord Tresham into the saloon.
Third Retainer. I!—	120
Fourth Retainer. I!—
Leave Frank alone for catching, at the door,
Some hint of how the parley goes inside!
Prosperity to the great House once more!
Here’s the last drop!	125
First Retainer. Have at you! Boys, hurrah!

CONTENTS · BOOK CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD · DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

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