Miss Sara Sampson — Act 5
Sara (_reclining in an armchair_), Betty.
BETTY.
Do you feel a little better, Miss?
SARA.
Better--I wish only that Mellefont would return!
You have sent for him, have you not?
BETTY.
Norton and the landlord have gone for him.
SARA.
Norton is a good fellow, but he is rash.
I do not want him by any means to be rude to his master on my account.
According to his story, Mellefont is innocent of all this.
She follows him; what can he do?
She storms, she raves, she tries to murder him.
Do you see, Betty, I have exposed him to this danger?
Who else but me?
And the wicked Marwood at last insisted on seeing me or she would not return to London.
Could he refuse her this trifling request?
Have not I too often been curious to see Marwood.
Mellefont knows well that we are curious creatures.
And if I had not insisted myself that she should remain with me until his return, he would have taken her away with him.
I should have seen her under a false name, without knowing that I had seen her.
And I should perhaps have been pleased with this little deception at some future time.
In short, it is all my fault.
Well, well, I was frightened;
nothing more!
The swoon was nothing.
You know, Betty, I am subject to such fits.
BETTY.
But I had never seen you in so deep a swoon before.
SARA.
Do not tell me so, please!
I must have caused you a great deal of trouble, my good girl.
BETTY.
Marwood herself seemed moved by your danger.
In spite of all I could do she would not leave the room, until you had opened your eyes a little and I could give you the medicine.
SARA.
After all I must consider it fortunate that I swooned.
For who knows what more I should have had to hear from her!
She certainly can hardly have followed me into my room without a purpose!
You cannot imagine how terrified I was.
The dreadful dream I had last night recurred to me suddenly, and I fled, like an insane woman who does not know why and whither she flies.
But Mellefont does not come.
Ah!
BETTY.
What a sigh, Miss!
What convulsions!
SARA.
God!
what sensation was this---- BETTY.
What was that?
SARA.
Nothing, Betty!
A pain!
Not one pain, a thousand burning pains in one!
But do not be uneasy; it is over now!
Scene II.
Norton, Sara, Betty.
NORTON.
Mellefont will be here in a moment.
SARA.
That is well, Norton!
But where did you find him?
NORTON.
A stranger had enticed him beyond the town gate, where he said a gentleman waited for him, to speak with him about matters of the greatest importance.
After taking him from place to place for a long time, the swindler slunk away from him.
It will be bad for him if he lets himself be caught; Mellefont is furious.
SARA.
Did you tell him what has happened?
NORTON.
All.
SARA.
But in such a way!
---- NORTON.
I could not think about the way.
Enough!
He knows what anxiety his imprudence has again caused you.
SARA.
Not so, Norton; I have caused it myself.
NORTON.
Why may Mellefont never be in the wrong?
Come in, sir; love has already excused you.
Scene III.
Mellefont, Norton, Sara, Betty.
MELLEFONT.
Ah, Sara!
If this love of yours were not---- SARA.
Then I should certainly be the unhappier of the two.
If nothing more vexatious has happened to you in your absence than to me, I am happy.
MELLEFONT.
I have not deserved to be so kindly received.
SARA.
Let my weakness be my excuse, that I do not receive you more tenderly.
If only for your sake, I would that I was well again.
MELLEFONT.
Ha!
Marwood!
this treachery too!
The scoundrel who led me with a mysterious air from one street to another can assuredly have been a messenger of her only!
See, dearest Sara, she employed this artifice to get me away from you.
A clumsy artifice certainly, but just from its very clumsiness, I was far from taking it for one.
She shall have her reward for this treachery!
Quick, Norton, go to her lodgings; do not lose sight of her, and detain her until I come!
SARA.
What for, Mellefont?
I intercede for Marwood.
MELLEFONT.
Go!
(_Exit_ Norton.
) Scene IV.
Sara, Mellefont, Betty.
SARA.
Pray let the wearied enemy who has ventured the last fruitless assault retire in peace!
Without Marwood I should be ignorant of much---- MELLEFONT.
Much?
What is the "much?"
SARA.
What you would not have told me, Mellefont!
You start!
Well, I will forget it again, since you do not wish me to know it.
MELLEFONT.
I hope that you will not believe any ill of me which has no better foundation than the jealousy of an angry slanderer.
SARA.
More of this another time!
But why do you not tell me first of all about the danger in which your precious life was placed?
I, Mellefont, I should have been the one who had sharpened the sword, with which Marwood had stabbed you.
MELLEFONT.
The danger was not so great.
Marwood was driven by blind passion, and I was cool, so her attack could not but fail.
I only wish that she may not have been more successful with another attack--upon Sara's good opinion of her Mellefont!
I must almost fear it.
No, dearest Sara, do not conceal from me any longer what you have learned from her.
SARA.
Well!
If I had still had the least doubt of your love, Mellefont, Marwood in her anger would have removed it.
She surely must feel that through me she has lost that which is of the greatest value to her; for an uncertain loss would have let her act more cautiously.
MELLEFONT.
I shall soon learn to set some store by her bloodthirsty jealousy, her impetuous insolence, her treacherous cunning!
But Sara!
You wish again to evade my question and not to reveal to me---- SARA.
I will; and what I said was indeed a step towards it.
That Mellefont loves me, then, is undeniably certain.
If only I had not discovered that his love lacked a certain confidence, which would be as flattering to me as his love itself.
In short, dearest Mellefont--Why does a sudden anxiety make it so difficult for me to speak?
--Well, I suppose I shall have to tell it without seeking for the most prudent form in which to say it.
Marwood mentioned a pledge of love; and the talkative Norton--forgive him, pray--told me a name--a name, Mellefont, which must rouse in you another tenderness than that which you feel for me.
MELLEFONT.
Is it possible?
Has the shameless woman confessed her own disgrace?
Alas, Sara, have pity on my confusion!
Since you already know all, why do you wish to hear it again from my lips?
She shall never come into your sight,--the unhappy child, who has no other fault than that of having such a mother.
SARA.
You love her, then, in spite of all?
MELLEFONT.
Too much, Sara, too much for me to deny it.
SARA.
Ah, Mellefont!
How I too love you, for this very love's sake!
You would have offended me deeply, if you had denied the sympathy of your blood for any scruples on my account.
You have hurt me already in that you have threatened me never to let her come into my sight.
No, Mellefont!
That you will never forsake Arabella must be one of the promises which you vow to me in presence of the Almighty!
In the hands of her mother she is in danger of becoming unworthy of her father.
Use your authority over both, and let me take the place of Marwood.
Do not refuse me the happiness of bringing up for myself a friend who owes her life to you--a Mellefont of my own sex.
Happy days, when my father, when you, when Arabella will vie in your calls on my filial respect, my confiding love, my watchful friendship.
Happy days!
But, alas!
They are still far distant in the future.
And perhaps even the future knows nothing of them, perhaps they exist only in my own desire for happiness!
Sensations, Mellefont, sensations which I never before experienced, turn my eyes to another prospect.
A dark prospect, with awful shadows!
What sensations are these?
(_puts her hand before her face_.
) MELLEFONT.
What sudden change from exultation to terror!
Hasten, Betty!
Bring help!
What ails you, generous Sara!
Divine soul!
Why does this jealous hand (_moving it away_) hide these sweet looks from me?
Ah, they are looks which unwillingly betray cruel pain.
And yet this hand is jealous to hide these looks from me.
Shall I not share your pain with you?
Unhappy man, that I can only share it--that I may not feel it alone!
Hasten, Betty!
BETTY.
Whither shall I hasten?
MELLEFONT.
You see, and yet ask?
For help!
SARA.
Stay.
It passes over.
I will not frighten you again, Mellefont.
MELLEFONT.
What has happened to her, Betty?
These are not merely the results of a swoon.
Scene V.
Norton, Mellefont, Sara, Betty.
MELLEFONT.
You are back again already, Norton?
That is well!
You will be of more use here.
NORTON.
Marwood is gone---- MELLEFONT.
And my curses follow her!
She is gone?
Whither?
May misfortune and death, and, were it possible, a whole hell lie in her path!
May Heaven thunder a consuming fire upon her, may the earth burst open under her, and swallow the greatest of female monsters!
NORTON.
As soon as she returned to her lodgings, she threw herself into her carriage, together with Arabella and her maid, and hurried away, at full gallop.
This sealed note was left behind for you.
MELLEFONT (_taking the note_).
It is addressed to me.
Shall I read it, Sara?
SARA.
When you are calmer, Mellefont.
MELLEFONT.
Calmer?
Can I be calmer, before I have revenged myself on her, and before I know that you are out of danger, dearest Sara?
SARA.
Let me not hear of revenge!
Revenge is not ours.
--But you open the letter?
Alas, Mellefont!
Why are we less prone to certain virtues with a healthy body, which feels its strength, than with a sick and wearied one?
How hard are gentleness and moderation to you, and how unnatural to me appears the impatient heat of passion!
Keep the contents for yourself alone.
MELLEFONT.
What spirit is it that seems to compel me to disobey you?
I opened it against my will, and against my will I must read it!
SARA (_whilst_ Mellefont _reads to himself_).
How cunningly man can disunite his nature, and make of his passions another being than himself, on whom he can lay the blame for that which in cold blood he disapproves.
--The water, Betty!
I fear another shock, and shall need it.
Do you see what effect the unlucky note has on him?
Mellefont!
You lose your senses, Mellefont!
God!
he is stunned!
Here, Betty.
Hand him the water!
He needs it more than I. MELLEFONT (_pushing_ Betty _back_).
Back, unhappy girl!
Your medicines are poison!
SARA.
What do you say?
Recover yourself!
You do not recognise her.
BETTY.
I am Betty,--take it!
MELLEFONT.
Wish rather, unhappy girl, that you were not she!
Quick!
Fly, before in default of the guiltier one you become the guilty victim of my rage.
SARA.
What words!
Mellefont, dearest Mellefont---- MELLEFONT.
The last "dearest Mellefont" from these divine lips, and then no more for ever!
At your feet, Sara----(_throwing himself down_).
But why at your feet?
(_springing up again_).
Disclose it?
I disclose it to you?
Yes!
I will tell you, that you will hate me, that you must hate me!
You shall not hear the contents, no, not from me.
But you will hear them.
You will----Why do you all stand here, stock still, doing nothing?
Run, Norton, bring all the doctors?
Seek help, Betty!
Let your help be as effective as your error!
No, stop here!
I will go myself---- SARA.
Whither, Mellefont?
Help for what?
Of what error do you speak?
MELLEFONT.
Divine help, Sara!
or inhuman revenge!
You are lost, dearest Sara!
I
too am lost!
Would the world were lost with us!
Scene VI.
Sara, Norton, Betty.
SARA.
He is gone!
I am lost?
What does he mean?
Do you understand him, Norton?
I am ill, very ill; but suppose the worst, that I must die, am I therefore lost?
And why does he blame you, poor Betty?
You wring your hands?
Do not grieve; you cannot have offended him; he will bethink himself; Had he only done as I wished, and not read the note!
He could have known that it must contain the last poisoned words from Marwood.
BETTY.
