The Last of the Stuarts; A Dramatic Poem in Five Acts

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ...My thought up in a cushion's lap to hear A thing quite new. It was not new, I grant, For long before I had known two others Louisa. You loved them all? h! Their minds I quite despised. Louisa. Despised their minds? Hay-ho! I understand: Tis not Count Alfieri, poet, that You speak of He will some day wed a bride With brains for dower. The gods should send her soon Louisa. The woman?--she that was the last--where now?--(With a shrug)----married--in a convent. Louisa. Indeed. Far removed Ri. 'm t J Wrte Some verses-Yes, my first. m unforg-1Ven still. I wasted them--o her I wrote--upon a barren ledge. Louisa. Goon. You wasted them. Duke of M. L.--(Entering)--Ah, here you are. The players sent me for you. Louisa. Presently. Tell them I'll slay them all when I begin. Duke Of M. L.--Your pleasure. (Exit.) t Louisa. Come--you wasted them. Alfieri. I did; But even waste has uses--feeds a root, Perhaps. And so with me. Ambition mossed The rest, and that was all. Louisa. Have you no verse About you?--some thrice used, perhaps, that you May waste on me? Al, fieri--(Rummaging in his pocket)--I have--no verses. Louisa--(Not to be deceived)--Come. Alfieri. They have not been thrice seen, nor twice, nor once, By other eyes than mine. A sonnet. New. Louisa. Ah, do not waste it, then. Alfieri. That could not be. I would not waste your hearing on it. (Produces a paper.) Louisa. Read. Wait. I must look--(Reads to himself.) Duke Op M. L.--(Entering)--Importunate! They say No longer. Louisa. Quick! Go say I'm coming. Duke Of M. L. Good! (Exit.) Louisa. Well? Read. Alfieri--(Destroying manuscript)--Imperfect! Travesty upon Too fair a poem! Louisa. Stay--oh! Murder! Oh! (Gathers up scraps of manuscript.) I slew only a counterfeit. No crime To stab pretense. Loui...