Part 1 / Act 6 — SCENE VI

SHOCKERWICK HOUSE, NEAR BATH [The interior of the Picture Gallery. Enter WILTSHIRE, the owner, and Pitt, who looks emaciated and walks feebly.]

WILTSHIRE [pointing to a portrait] Now here you have the lady we discussed: A fine example of his manner, sir?

PITT It is a fine example, sir, indeed,— With that transparency amid the shades, And those thin blue-green-grayish leafages Behind the pillar in the background there, Which seem the leaves themselves.—Ah, this is Quin. [Moving to another picture.]

WILTSHIRE Yes, Quin. A man of varied parts, though rough And choleric at times. Yet, at his best, As Falstaff, never matched, they say. But I Had not the fate to see him in the flesh.

PITT Churchill well carves him in his “Character”:— “His eyes, in gloomy socket taught to roll, Proclaimed the sullen habit of his soul. In fancied scenes, as in Life’s real plan, He could not for a moment sink the man: Nature, in spite of all his skill, crept in; Horatio, Dorax, Falstaff—stile ’twas Quin.” —He was at Bath when Gainsborough settled there In that house in the Circus which we know.— I like the portrait much.—The brilliancy Of Gainsborough lies in this his double sway: Sovereign of landscape he; of portraiture Joint monarch with Sir Joshua.... Ah?—that’s—hark! Is that the patter of horses’s hoofs Along the road?

WILTSHIRE I notice nothing, sir.

PITT It is a gallop, growing quite distinct. And—can it be a messenger for me!

WILTSHIRE I hope no ugly European news To stop the honour of this visit, sir! [They listen. The gallop of the horse grows louder, and is checked at the door of the house. There is a hasty knocking, and a courier, splashed with mud from hard riding, is shown into the gallery. He presents a dispatch to PITT, who sits down and hurriedly opens it.]

PITT [to himself] O heavy news indeed!... Disastrous; dire! [He appears overcome as he sits, and covers his forehead with his hand.]

WILTSHIRE I trust you are not ill, sir?

PITT [after some moments] Could I have A little brandy, sir, quick brought to me?

WILTSHIRE In one brief minute. [Brandy is brought in, and PITT takes it.]

PITT Now leave me, please, alone. I’ll call anon. Is there a map of Europe handy here? [WILTSHIRE fetches a map from the library, and spreads it before the minister. WILTSHIRE, courier, and servant go out.] O God that I should live to see this day! [He remains awhile in a profound reverie; then resumes the reading of the dispatch.] “Defeated—the Allies—quite overthrown At Austerlitz—last week.”—Where’s Austerlitz? —But what avails it where the place is now; What corpse is curious on the longitude And situation of his cemetery!... The Austrians and the Russians overcome, That vast adventuring army is set free To bend unhindered strength against our strand.... So do my plans through all these plodding years Announce them built in vain! His heel on Europe, monarchies in chains To France, I am as though I had never been! [He gloomily ponders the dispatch and the map some minutes longer. At last he rises with difficulty, and rings the bell. A servant enters.] Call up my carriage, please you, now at once; And tell your master I return to Bath This moment—I may want a little help In getting to the door here.

SERVANT Sir, I will, And summon you my master instantly. [He goes out and re-enters with WILTSHIRE. PITT is assisted from the room.]

PITT Roll up that map. ’Twill not be needed now These ten years! Realms, laws, peoples, dynasties, Are churning to a pulp within the maw Of empire-making Lust and personal Gain! [Exeunt PITT, WILTSHIRE, and the servant; and in a few minutes the carriage is heard driving off, and the scene closes.]