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Home  »  A Blot in the Scutcheon  »  Act I

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

Act I

Scene II

A Saloon in the Mansion

Enter LORD TRESHAM, LORD MERTOUN, AUSTIN, and GUENDOLEN

Tresham.I welcome you, Lord Mertoun, yet once more,

Mertoun.Thanks!

Mertoun.I thank you—less

Guendolen[apart to AUSTIN]. Why, this is loving, Austin!

Austin.He’s so young!

Guendolen.Young? Old enough, I think, to half surmise

Austin.Hush!

Guendolen.Mark him, Austin; that’s true love!

Tresham.We’ll sit, my lord.

Mertoun.But you, you grant my suit?

Tresham.My best of words

Mertoun.I … I … our two demesnes, remember, touch,

Guendolen[aside to AUSTIN]. Note that mode

Tresham.What’s to say

Mertoun.I thank you.

Tresham.In a word,

Mertoun.No more—thanks, thanks—no more!

Tresham.This matter then discussed…

Mertoun.—We’ll waste no breath

Tresham.With less regret ’tis suffered, that again

Mertoun.We? again?—

Tresham.So soon

Mertoun.You cannot bind me more to you, my lord.

Tresham.So may it prove!

Mertoun.You, lady, you, sir, take

Guendolen and Austin.Thanks!

Tresham.Within there![Servants enter. TRESHAM conducts MERTOUN to the door. Meantime AUSTIN remarks,Well,

Guendolen.That way you’d take, friend Austin? What a shame

Austin.Here’s Thorold. Tell him so!

Tresham[returning]. Now, voices, voices! ’St! the lady’s first!

Guendolen.He’s young.

Tresham.What’s she? an infant save in heart and brain.

Guendolen.There’s tact for you!

Tresham.Well?

Guendolen.—With lacking wit.

Tresham.He lacked wit? Where might he lack wit, so please you?

Guendolen.In standing straighter than the steward’s rod

Tresham …”To give a best of best accounts, yourself,

Guendolen.Austin, how we must—!

Tresham.Must what? Must speak truth,

Guendolen.Witchcraft’s a fault in him,

Tresham.What’s urgent we obtain

Guendolen.Ne’er instruct me!

Tresham.Come!