Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-27
A Scene from Tennyson's Play.

q stage point OF view III mas the ulsauNan-
tage OF presenting two centres OF interest,
between which there is no genuine connec-
ton, one being the great historical or his.
torico-fabuous scene OF Rosamund visited
BY Queen Eleanor in the Bower, and called
upon TO say whether she will die by the dag
ger or by the bowl; the other the great his.
torical scene Of Becket's murder in the tran
sept Of Canterbury Cathedral. This, how
ever, is how they are conuected-in a man
ner which we cannot but consider forced
and artificial. Summoned 10 choose be-
tween poison and mortal stab, poor Rosa
mund rejects both alternatives, and pro.
longs discussion on the subject, until sud-
denly the Queen and Fitzurse, her accom-
plce and slave, are surprised 10y Beckett,
who arrests Eleanor's hand. and after up
braiding her for the crime she has so nearly
committed, advises her TO retire to
convent. Beckett having saved the life
OF ROsamund, the latter seeks in re-
turn TO rescue him from the men who
have sworn his destruction; and the pre-
sence OF fair Rosamund in the cathedral is a
fiji counterpart TO that OF Beckett In the
maze, II is not,sof course. from love for
Rosamund but from devotion to King
Henry that the Archbishop watches over the
Kings mistress-who is represented as be-
lieving herself to be bis lawful wife-and
the monarch's ingratitude 10 his powerful
counsellor is thus made all the blacker. He
prompts the murder OF the man who has
saved the woman be loves from being MUIR
dered. The finest scene in the
play, that between Rosamund and the
Queen, Is too long to quote in its entirety.
Here, however, are some portions OF 1t:
ELEANoE.
pray Won then to take my sleeping draught.
But II you should not care 10 take it-see!
iDrGDs u ddg0er.l
What have scared the red rose from your face
Into your hearth Bnt This VIII find IL there.
And Dig II from the root forever.
RosAMUND.
Help. help
ELEANOR.
They say that walls have ears; but these, II seems
Have none ana have 1one-to pity thee.
RosA&CSD.
l do beseech yOu-mv child is 80 young,
so backward too; I cannot leave him yet.
| am not 90 happy could not lie myself.
And mine is the Kings chiid; so, If you love him
Nay, II you love hiIh, there Is great wrong done
somehow; bat n you do not-there are those
" no say YOU do not love him-let me go
with my young boy. and will hide nv face,
Blacken and gipsity IL more shall know me-
The King shall never hear of me again;
With my young how, and God Will be our guide.
| never meant YOU harm IN any way.
zee, can say 10 more.
ELEANOR.
VIII YOU not sav yOu are not married TO him?
RosAMUND.
Aye, Madam, can say II, II you will.
ELEANOR.
Then IS Thy pretty boy bAstard'
RosAMUND.
No.
ELEANOR.
And thou tnyself proven wanton?
ROsAMUSD.
am noue such. Inever loved but one.
have e.aTd OF such tnai range from love 10 love,
Like the Wild hcast-if you can call ~ love.
hay. hea' d OF such-yea, even among those
Who sit on ihrones-l never saw any sucn,
| Never knew any such. and howsoever
| Non do misname me, matchdwth any such
| | am snow 10 mud.
The more the pity then
! Thatihy true home-the hcavens-cry out for thee
| Who art 90 purc for earth.
| Fiizurse. 1.-THE Judas traitor in our
Passion Play" as the Queen calls him.
then comes liz, aud proposes to elope with
Rosamund. on which she eXclaims
.Give me the poison; set me free OF him."
Eleanor offers the wal, but Rosamund re-
jects II. Then" says Eleanor, "tbis
other"
The wiser choice, because my sleeping drlusht
| Nav hloat Thy beauty out OF shape, and make
| Thy body lsaihsome even 20 Thy child;
| While this but leaves thee with broken heart,
! 4 doil f,ce hlanch'd sud bloodle>s, over which
| ~ pretty Geonrey DO net break his own,
| II nust be broken for him.
RosAMUND.
! OIL see now.
Your purpose is TO fright me-a troubadour.
You play WIN words. You had never used so
Not II you mean, 1t, l am sure. The child f.
No mercy MOL tKaeels.l
ELEANOR.
piaxf that I,oou, r.vor
ilesyed under the Kings hand with such true pas.
zion
As at mis- loyeess knife which stirs the riot,
Which u viii quehch In blood Slave, II he Low.
thee.
Thy NE is worth the wres,le for it; arise.
And dash thvslf against me that may STAY thee
The worm! shall let her eos But ha' what's
by very God, the cross gave the Kingi
| Ills village darling ia some rude cares,
| Has wheedled Il of the Kings neck 10 her own.
| BY thy leave. beauty. Ay, the same! warrant
| Thou hast sworn on this my cross hundred times
Never 10 leave him-and that merits death,
| fslfe oath on holy cross-for thou must leave him
day. es, no. aS,ss YET; My goSs hszsr no,
Ey'n than the death. Who knows bu, that thy
Nav plead so pitifully tina, may spare ,heeS
Come hifher, man sand there. I IT, Rosa,aHRd.J
| Take thy one chsnce;
Catch at the last straw. Kneel TO thy Lord fflz-
Crouch even because ,hou hates, him; fswn upon
For Thy life and thy sons
Rosamund Is about to die, but TO die with
courage, when suddenly Beckett appears !;
and Rcsamund having now been saved. the
interest Is concentrated In Beckett alone,
who In the next act that depicting his
DEATHS altogether the leading figure.
This may be said 10 Justify the name given
to the play, which, nevertheless, deals
much more with the fortunes OF fair Rosa-
| mund than with the fate OF the great arch
bishop.