Willow. Claude, Claude, you will not leave your poor old mother? She does not disown you in your sorrow no, not even in your guilt. No divorce can separate a mother from her son.
Pauline. This poor widow teaches me my duty. No, mother,--no, for you are now my mother also!--nor should any law, human or divine, separate the wife from her husband's sorrows. Claude--Claude--all is forgotten forgiven--I am thine for ever!
Mme. Deschap. What do I hear?--Come away, or never see my face again.
M. Deschap. Pauline, we never betrayed you!--do you forsake us for him?
Pauline. [going back to her father]. Oh no--but you will forgive him too; we will live together--he shall be your son.
M. Deschap. Never! Cling to him and forsake your parents! His home shall be yours--his fortune yours--his fate yours: the wealth I have acquired by honest industry shall never enrich the dishonest man.
Pauline. And you would have a wife enjoy luxury while a husband toils! Claude, take me; thou canst not give me wealth, titles, station--but thou canst give me a true heart I will work for thee, tend thee, bear with thee, and never, never shall these lips reproach thee for the past.
Damas. I'll be hanged if I am not going to blubber!
Mel. This is the heaviest blow of all!--What a heart I have wronged!-- Do not fear me, sir; I am not all hardened--I will not rob her of a holier love than mine. Pauline!--angel of love and mercy!--your memory shall lead me back to virtue!--The husband of a being so beautiful in her noble and sublime tenderness may be poor--may be low born;--(there is no guilt in the decrees of providence!)--but he should be one who can look thee in the face without a blush,--to whom thy love does not bring remorse,--who can fold thee to his heart, and say,--"Here there is no deceit!" I am not that man!
Damas. [aside to MELNOTTE]. Thou art a noble fellow, notwithstanding; and wouldst make an excellent soldier. Serve in my regiment. I have had a letter from the Directory--our young general takes the command of the army in Italy,--I am to join him at Marseilles, I will depart this day, if thou wilt go with me.
Mel. It is the favor I would have asked thee, if I dared. Place me wherever a foe is most dreaded,--wherever France most needs a life!