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    Do you wish to strip all comedy from the part ? Open the doors . " That the husband should be the head of the family , and that he should control affairs M . Legouve never doubts ; but he insists that this authority should not be absolute and irresponsible . A general is responsible , a minister is responsible , a Icing is responsible ; but a husband suffers no court of appeal ! M . Legouve , therefore , suggests the institution of a court of appeal—a family council : —

    " Then let the legitimate defenders of the principle of authority ( for that is the point used to oppose all reform ) cease to alarm themselves . Far from weakening the rule of order , the thing wanted is to render it more just , more wholesome , more legitimate and consequently stronger , by control . All control is the salvation of the authority it limits . By the side , then , of the marital power over the actions of the wife , let us create a family council as inspector and protector . Called together with prudence , in grave cases only , and animated with

    feelings of affection , this tribunal would have none of the dangerous and irritating publicity of public decisions . It would patiently penetrate into details which necessarily escape justice . The wife , feeling herself supported , would have fewer temptations to rebel ; the husband , feeling himself watched , would have fewer arbitrary fancies ; the morality , as well as the happiness of both , would be encreased by it , and the creation alone of this tribunal might suffice , perhaps , to prevent most of the abuses which would have led to its formation . " An admirable suggestion ! There are more topics in the book , and we may return to them .

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    MAESTON ' S PHILIP OF FRANCE . Philip of France and Marie de Mcranie . A Tragedy , in Five Actsf ( as performed at the Royal Olympic Theatre ) . By J . Westland Marston , Author of The Patrician ' s Daughter , &c . C . Mitchell . Goethe somewhere says that the Dramatist does historical personages the honour of borrowing their names and nothing more . We forget whether he says it in sarcasm , or as an excuse for the necessary imperfection of all historic dramas considered as historic . But the result of our experience in historical novels and historical plays is unequivocally adverse to the propriety of

    admitting known personages except in what a painter would call the " middle distance " ; to bring them into the foreground—to make them heroes and principal actors—is a wanton sacrifice of history to the purposes of fiction . Scott has given us models of what should be done , in his James the First and Louis the Eleventh ; and models of what should not bo done , in Cromwell and Occur do Lion . The misdirection given by novelists and dramatists is a serious evil : their art makes their representations so much more vivid than the historian ' s , that from them , properly , one ought to demand the strictest veracity ; but , in point of fact , they bend truth to the caprices of their subject , and plead " poetic licence" in

    excuse . " We have already expressed our opinion of Mr . Marston ' s deviation from history , and are , therefore , sorry to sec him in his preface , putting forth claims to historic exactitude which must provoke criticism that otherwise would willingly have allowed him any licence he chose to assume by the divine autocracy of a poet ' s pleasure . Frankly , if ho means his Philip of France to be accepted as a portrait of Philip Augustus , we must deny that any resemblance exists ;

    nay , more : not only is Philip unlike the king who sat on the throne of France , but he is not decidedly like any human being . We do not say that he is untrue to nature , but we say that he is superficially presented—deficient in those sharply defined markings by which wo recognize a likeness oven in a sketch . The character is drawn in generalities . It is x \\\ antithesis rather than a portruit . Mario tie Mernnic is more . substantive , and is , in one or two Xxissages , delicately touched . Fontaine , though but a sketch , is vigorously drawn .

    In reading the play we are more sensible of the pains bestowed upon it , and of the poetry which brightens ir , tlmn wo wore during the performance ; but we also become more distinctly conscious of its essentially modern and oven feminine tone . There is also an uniformity \\\ its versification which tires the ear and gives an impression of weakness . We

    nnss the rhythmic freedom and variety of dramatic blank verse ; probably the reason of this is that the play was written some years ngo , before the author had acquired sufliciont mastery of this important and little-understood portion of his art . But , although austere criticism finds these things to blame in the now play , it also finds many things to applaud . O ' ompnro the lines quoted last week from one of our

    old dramatists ( Nabbs ) , descriptive of fortitude , with this modern variation : — " Marie . l avish of life ! The panther is so when he gnaws the javelin , The wild boar when he rushes on the spear . — No ; he who loves his being , in whose eyes The world is beautiful , who clings to life , And then for justice , freedom—for the wronged And helpless—if need be—adventures it , Yea , loses it , contented—he ' s the hero I The man ' s not brave who never feared to die ! " The following explains itself , and is sweetly written : — " Enter Marie .

    Anne { aside , regarding her ) . Beneath pride ' s robes grief hides its throbs in vain : The fluttering- folds betray the heart beneath . Marie { suddenly turning and observing her ) . Well , mistress ! What offence ? Anne . Madam ! Offence ? Marie . Ay ; where ' s the flaw ? Where fails my tire-woman See ' st thou my robe awry , or hair unbound 1 From head to foot , where ' s my defect ? Anne . Indeed , I mark none , Madam .

    Marie . What has made me , then , So curious in your sight—Lucien ' s and yours 7 Why meet and follow me , your constant eyeB ? My face is not a dial . If it were , It lacks the sunshine ! Anne . They who seek its face In sunshine use the dial ; but who bends O ' er it in cloudy hours is won to gaze By gratitude alone .

    Marie { sitting ) . A fair conceit ! My footstool!—And who taught my joyous Anne These grave moralities 1 Be blithe , my girl ! Thought comes with sorrow ; sorrow comes with years . Alas ! sometimes with few!—For me , I ' m vowed To mirth so deeply , no calamity Shall e ' er make me less happy than I am . " True and pathetic also is that passage wherein Marie is exhibited as sorrowing for Ingerburge , on hearing of the divorce : she does not triumph in her rival ' s downfal , but feels her kindred sorrow awaken , kindred sympathy : — " T have a partner in calamity

    In this -wronged Queen . I could not weep till now . " Philip comes to her—comes after having divorced his wife—hoping to find a willing bride in Marie . This portion of their interview we extract : — Marie . Comprehend me , Sir . I do not feign that you have used me well , Or that I have not suffered . But the wrong Heaven strengthened me to bear , it bids me pardon . As tlicse are parting-words , believe their truth . Philip . Speak'st tliou of parting 1 Mario . To my Father ' s land Tin . ' morrow lights me .

    l'liilip . Soonnr be it quenched ! I conic to jitone the madness which awhile Shut out thine image . To the throne of Franco I bear thee . There no haughty rival towers : Jler chains are rent for thee . '—Why beams thine eye With such stern comment ! Marie . King ! One woman's heart Glows not with triumph at another ' s fall ; But shivers ' ncatli the warmest robe of lovo Kent from a sister freezing in her woe , And naknrl to the insult of the world !

    I'hilip . She loves me not : our differing wills recoil . A grant in land to compensate her dower Will medicine all her grief . Besides , in this , Count me the Church ' s echo . Can thy voice Cancel our prelates'judgment , or recal Whom they have exiled ? No : on me alone Thy vengeance falls . Alns ! I have deserved Thou shouldst forget or scorn me ! Marie . I forget !

    / scorn , whose memory hath no other wealth Than those blest hours which , diving in the past , She bears me back—ilear relics of Hope ' s wreck ! [ Aside . J scorn ! No , Philip I It will make my pulse Bent quicker in its silence , when I hear Thnt you are hnppy ; and , should perils come , The faltering prayer your ear will never know May yet reach Heaven ' s . —And so we do not part In jinsror . From my inmost heart I bless you !

    J'liilip . What words arc these that bless me in their sound , And curse me in their sense 1 Oh , Mario , hear me ! Thy love is not alone my fortune ' s crown ! M'is Nature ' s need ! not to my branch of life An lidded blossom ; but the vital essence liopleniflhiiig the root!—You changed my being ! I measured glory once by daring deeds , Extended empire and prostrate foes . You taught mo , first , to think JJrliremr A holier name than J'ictor— Tlnit the rod

    Of tenor rules but shrinking clay , while Love Sits throned in living hearts ! ' 1 thought of thee , And from the captive dropped his chain—of thee , And , pardoned , rose the t » nitor at my feet—Of thee , and bade the tyrant-stricken serf Look up and greet a Father in his King- ! Oh , Smut of Mercy , 1 have built thee shrines By happy henrths through Franco ! It is thy life That tlirills in every pulse , thy soul thnt floods F . ae . h artovy of my own ! Each thought of good Is but thyself reflected ! Spurn not , crush not

    That which thou didst create ! [ Sinking on his knee . Marie . My feet are fixed . I would depart , but cannot . [ Aside . Philip { rising ) . Listen , heed!—Thou seest me contrite , —pardon;—weak , —sustain ; Erring , —direct me ! Snatch me from the toils Of selfish brains , the chill of frigid hearts , The infected air that stifles and corrupts The soul that pants to live !—TJnpitying still , Still silent ! Then , farewell ! But when the years Of woe unshared , of struggles with the base

    Who taint even what resists them , aims unguided , Have frozen impulse into apathy , Mercy to rigour ; when the man whom once You might have raised , bless'd , saved—becomes—Well , well , Whate'er I might become , think what I was , And what I might have been , had Marie loved me ! Marie . Had Marie loved thee ! Philip . And I dreamed she did . Marie . Oh , Philip , I am thine ! [ Throwing herself into his Philip . Mine ! 'Tis a sound { arms . I could repeat for ever . Mine , mine , mine !"

    The great scene in the third act must also be given : — " { Enter Philip with Attendants . He ascends the throne . ) Philip . Greeting kind to all . * T is late ; but ever should a people ' s need Make a king's season . To the issue , friends ; I know that peril threatens . Bishop of Paris . It may strike . Sire , while we plot to shun it . Let the knell Of Rome ' s dread wrath but eound , and France is lost ! Her guardian saints desert her ; in her streets

    A curse alights on labour ; in her plains Withers her harvest ; warps her policy ; In war makes her sword edgeless , and her shield 'Gainst the first lance to break ; chokes in her fanes The very breath of prayer ; unto her dying Denies the xites and solace of the Church , And burial to her dead ! Sweet Providence—When da ily sent by Heaven to bless the world-Shall make her pilgrimage circuitous Rather than cross this kingdom ! Wrath divine . Like doom , hangs o'er the realm , upon whose broir Earth shall write infamy , and God—despair !

    Philip . 'Tis we ll : the woes ye so much lay to heart Ye will be prompt to remedy . Arcbbishop ofRheims . Alas , With us no succour rests ! Bishop of Paris . 'T is the King's task . Phi li p . The King ' s and yours . The marriage ye annulled Upon your oaths—the Pontiff" would enforce By spiritual menace . —He commands ; Obedience rests with you . Disown his sentence ; Abjure his unjust vengeance ; let the Church Through you her holy offices dispense Spite of his edict ! Harmless falls liis ban ; The kingdom is your debtor , and ourselves Will through your sacred functions bear ye safe ! Bishop of Paris . We may nut question Home ' s prerogative .

    Philip . Ye may not palter with your sworn allegiance . — Your oaths !—I have your oaths . Bishop of Paris . All bonds arc void That Home annuls ; allegiance self is void In this behalf . ArchbisJiop of Rheims . Sire ! Your late union—[ hesitating . Bishop of Paris . Yovr cancelled union with the Lady Maries—Philip . Paris!—The foe has oeen held bold who broke His lance on Ph ilip's buckler ; yet he's bolder Who'd snatch from Philip ' s arms the love he clasps Unto his naked breast !

    Bishop of Paris . Even that love Must thou renounce ; 'Tis Rome that speaks through me . Archbishop of Rheims . My Liege , the Pope—Philip . The Pope , my Lords ! Four letters!—things , not names ! The Pope ! Did earth receive him from the stars ; Or 8 prang he from the ocean ? Did the sun Wake earlier on his birthday ?—Will clipse Turn the skies sable at his death ? He came Into this world by nature's common road , Needs food to succour life , is chill'd by cold , Relaxed by heat , would drown in a rough sea Soon us a serf would!—Let him ban the fields , — The grass will grow In spite of him ! Bishop of Paris . Impiety 1 Bar ' st thou thy front so boldly 1

    Philip . * w * « speak . Man ' s love—the growth of heaven—of nought below Admits control . Heaven ' s ministers should know it ! First A ' oble . True ; by the Orirlaminc ! Second Noble . Upon my knighthood . We shame ourselves to see this lady shamed ! Third JVoble . Than whom did none moie gracious e ' er tread the earth . My lords , you are miscouncell'd ! [ Toihe Bishops . Biahop of Paris . What are ye Rcvolters too ? Then— [ Belts are heard to toll .

    Hark ! The time is past , The time for duty . —King ! Those sounds declare Thy land cursed for thy sake . With it and thee The heavens break oft' their league . Whereof on earth We lay the sacred symbol of our faith lu token of the gracu profaned and lost ! [ They lower the crucifix . Submission and repentance—deep , entire—Are all that now remain . [ . lung pause during which the tolling vf the bell is alone heard . An Officer . Way there ; the Queen ! Enter Mauig , fallotted by her Ladies . Marie . Philip ! My Lord ! What mean those fearful sounds ?

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    8 io ®!> e & $ aitet . [ Sawrhay , ^ L

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 16, 1850, page 810, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1859/page/18/