For once, whate'er your motives you're my friends. It had been arrogance, had I, before so many gallant knights, proposed myself; but now I swear, living or dead, to bring this fell destroyer to your presence, or in the forest he inhabits, leave this form a worthless token of his victory.
(Pantomime Music.)
Valentine takes a respectful Leave of the King, and an affectionate one of Eglantine, who seems to reproach Henry and Haufray with causing his departure—Valentine goes off with the Peasants; the King, &c. on the opposite Side——The Scene closes.
SCENE IV.—An Apartment in the Palace.
Enter Hugo, furbishing Valentine's Shield.
There—I have made Lord Valentine's shield so bright, that if the wild man does but see his face in it, he may haply take fright at his own ugly features. It's monstrous unlucky that though I have been armour-bearer and armour-maker to the young knight from the time of his first campaign, yet something has always happened to prevent my going with him, and now when so handsome an opportunity offers, I'm sadly afraid I shan't be able to find an excuse for staying behind. I've been ill of every thing I could think of, in turn, and have obtained more certificates of bad health, than would have paid for the cure of real sickness.—Let's see—what can I think of next?
Enter Agatha.
Agatha.
So, Mr. Hugo, your poor master is going again, I fear?