Chatterton
Date: 2020-09-28T00:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Poets -- Drama; Chatterton; Thomas; 1752-1770 -- Drama

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chatterton

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Chatterton

Author: Ernest Lacy

Release date: September 28, 2020 [eBook #63327]
Most recently updated: October 18, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Jessica Hope

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHATTERTON ***

CHATTERTON

by

Ernest Lacy

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

- Thomas Chatterton, "the marvelous boy"
- Henry Burgum, a rich Bristol pewterer
- Bertha Burgum, his daughter
- Mrs. Angell, keeper of the lodging house
- Two Ribalds, man and woman

CHATTERTON.

SCENE.

—A Garret in Brooke Street, London. Casement at back C. opening on the street; door, L. 3. E.; rough bedstead R. of window; rude chairs and table, with candle, manuscripts, and writing materials on it, L. C.; old washstand, on which are a glass, a basin, and a broken jug of water, R. 2. E. The Garret is in the house of Mrs. Angell, and is the lodging of the Poet Chatterton. It is the night of August 24th, 1770. Music on rise of curtain. A distant bell is heard tolling the hour.

Mrs. Angell. [Knocking from without.] Mr. Chatterton! [Knocking.] Mr. Chatterton! [Knocking.] Mr. Chatterton!

Enter Mrs. Angell with lamp. Lights up.

Mr. Chatterton, a gentleman—[Looking around.] Alack! the boy is out. [Places lamp on table, and goes back to door.] Come in, sir.

Enter Burgum and Bertha.

Mr. Chatterton is not in. Will you wait, Mr.—, Mr.—

Burgum. [Pompously.] Mr. de Burgum, Madam. I trust that I shall have a more honorable title soon;—eh, daughter?

Bertha. There is no more honorable title, father.

Burgum. Bah! romantic.

Mrs. Angell. He surely will return soon: he is seldom out in the evening.

Burgum. I'll await his coming. I must see him on a matter connected with the de Burgum Pedigree, which he was fortunate enough to discover. I say "fortunate enough," since otherwise some one else would have discovered it—birth, like murder, will out.

Mrs. Angell. Pray be seated, sir. [Burgum sits R. of table; Bertha, L.]

Burgum. [Looking around the room.] The rewards of poetry, my dear.

Bertha. The rewards of poetry, father, only poets know.

Burgum. Another romantic speech! If you must worship a poet, worship my collateral ancestor, Master John de Bergham, a Cistercian monk, one of the greatest ornaments of his age—so the Pedigree reads—and a translator of the Iliad. This boy never can be a poet: he knows no Latin and Greek.

Bertha. He is not writing Latin and Greek.

Burgum. I regret that I permitted you to come. You are a sentimental girl likely to fall in love with such a vagabond as Chatterton.

Bertha. Do not call him a vagabond, father: you owe so much to him.

Burgum. For what?

Bertha. Your Pedigree.

Burgum. He has been paid.

Bertha. Yes—a crown.

Burgum. Hem! He shall have more after the College of Heralds has passed upon my claims—not before.

Bertha. In the meantime he may starve.

Mrs. Angell. Indeed, lady, he is starving now.

Burgum. Nonsense! One-half the troubles in life are due to gorging. Besides, I heard before we left Bristol that he had sent his mother some china and dress patterns—even British herb-tobacco and a pipe for his grandmother. Starving?—nonsense!

Mrs. Angell. That was over a month ago, sir. Then he always was telling of what he was going to do for his mother; but now he seems so hopeless, and still he writes so hopefully to her. I do not believe he has had a morsel of food these two days. He is too proud to take anything from me. He says he is not hungry, and yet he looks almost famished.

Bertha. Poor Chatterton!

Burgum. Why does he not work?

Mrs. Angell. He does work, sir—all night sometimes—writing, writing, writing.

Burgum. I mean at something profitable—looking up pedigrees, for instance,—the boy has a genius for pedigrees.

Mrs. Angell. I believe he is trying to get an appointment as a surgeon's mate. My husband, good man, offered to secure him a place as a compter; but Mr. Chatterton stormed about the house.

Burgum. A poet's gratitude.

Bertha. A poet's indignation 'gainst a clown.

Mrs. Angell. My husband is no clown, lady.

Bertha. I beg your pardon, Madam.

Burgum. [To Mrs. Angell.] Pay no attention to her: she is as crazy as Chatterton.

Bertha. I would I were.

Burgum. Bah! You are half in love with the beggar already.

Mrs. Angell. If he had a chance, sir, I think he would make something great.

Bertha. I am sure of it!

Burgum. You never met him.

Bertha. But I have seen him, and have read his poems.

Burgum. That doggerel in the "Town and County"? [Taking a paper from table.] Here is more of it. [Glances at paper.] What's this? [Reads.]

"Gods! what would Burgum give to get a name
And snatch his blundering dialect from shame?"

The ingrate!

"What would he give to hand his memory down
To time's remotest boundary—a crown.
Would you ask more, his swelling face looks blue;
Futurity he rates at two pounds two."

Zounds! this of a de Burgum—a descendant of Simon de Seyncte Lyze, a companion of William the Conqueror!

Mrs. Angell. Be not angry with him, sir; he is not like one of us.

Enter Chatterton, who pauses near doorway.

Burgum. Thank heaven for that! I will not longer brook
The impudence of this ungrateful boy,
Who mutters, rants, and doth himself opine
One of the brooding darlings of the world.
By what right is he moody and revengeful?

Bertha. He is as nature made him: full of pride
And fierce resentment 'gainst a callous race.
Give him but patience to endure neglect—
Quell his rebellious spirit, and you take
From his tossed soul God's gift of poesy.

Chatterton. [Coming forward.]
Lady, were I the poet of my dreams,
Instead of Chatterton, I could not word
My gratitude to you.

Bertha.  'Tis Chatterton!

Chatterton. Well, Burgum, what's the news?

Burgum. [Aside.]  Impertinence!

Mrs. Angell. [To Chatterton.]
Be seated, sir; you must be very tired;
You have not been at home since ten o'clock.
The day—

Chatterton. [Sinking upon a chair.]
Clouds, sunshine, rain—I'll sleep to-night.

Mrs. Angell. Is there not something I can get you, sir?

Chatterton. Ah, yes: go purchase me another heart;
The world has worn this out—'tis like my shoes.

Mrs. Angell. When through with business you must dine with us:
I have some sheep tongues I would have you try.

Chatterton. What use are sheep tongues when I needs must roar?
I'd eat a lion's litter.

Bertha. [Aside.]  O, how strange!

Mrs. Angell. [Aside.] The boy talks very wildly.

Chatterton. [Impatiently.]  Madam, go!
You'd make a helpless invalid of me. [Exit Mrs. Angell.]
She is a noble woman and a bore.
Now, Norman blood, what's wrong in Bristol that
Brings you to town?

Burgum.  Let us be serious, sir.

Chatterton. First let me borrow Lord North's goggle eyes,
And have the modish stare: my fiery orb
Disquiets men of birth. Go on, go on.

Burgum. My pedigree—

Chatterton.  Should antedate the flood:
I'll read your partner's brother's silly book
On the Noachian Deluge, and report
What I can glean.

Burgum. [Aside.]  Did I not need his help,
I'd cane the rogue. [To him.] I've brought my quarterings
And pedigree that you did kindly trace
To be examined and attested by
The Herald's College.

Chatterton. [Aside.]  George!
He'll find 'tis all a hoax!

Burgum.  They have them now.
I must solicit you to go with me,
And answer certain questions. I'll pay you well.

Chatterton. Not for the wealth of Soho Square, my lord.
I am the Duke de Garret: they must come
To interview me here.

Burgum.  Impossible!

Chatterton. Then let them nose among their dusty tomes
To solve the riddles.

Burgum. [Indignantly.] 'Tis an outrage, sir!
I am a lineal descendant from—

Chatterton. [Laughing.] I copied that, and know it all by rote.
Your ancestor, in reign of Henry Sixth,
Obtained a royal patent to transmute
All the inferior metals into gold;
And now, while George the Fat squats on the throne,
You, by that charter, deal in pewter, sir.
From gold to pewter—'tis a fearful fall;
And yet you glory in it. O for shame!

Burgum. Remember that my daughter's here.

Chatterton.  Forgive me.
If I could aid you, I do vow I would,
But 'tis beyond my power. [Aside.] I do regret,
For her sweet sake, I played the prank.

Burgum.  Well, well;
I fear your going would not further me.

Chatterton. [Aside.] You'll learn that soon enough.

Burgum. [Taking coin from purse.]  Here is a shilling;
Your landlady asserts you are in need.

Chatterton. [In anger.] 'Tis false!—a lie.

Burgum.  Well, Bertha, was I right?
And, Chatterton, I'll give you this advice.
You eat too much or too irregular.
A much disordered stomach is a rot
From which young imps, bred like to maggots, rise,
And pester sore the brain. Could I destroy
The miseries by bad digestion blown,
I'd be the benefactor of the age—
Yea! of all time. The world is gone astray:
Your melancholy bard o'erloads his paunch,
And thinks it is poetic pregnancy.

Chatterton. Few poets have a chance to overfeed.

Enter Mrs. Angell.

Bertha. O father, you are cruel.

Mrs. Angell. [To Burgum.]  Pardon, sir.
There is a gentleman below, who says
He must see you at once. Shall he come up?

Burgum. No, no: I'll go to him.

Mrs. Angell.  I'll tell him so.
[Exit Mrs. Angell.]

Burgum. He may bring news about the Pedigree.
[To Bertha.] Wait here; I shall return. [Exit Burgum.]

Chatterton. [Going to table.]  Fair advocate,
For your defence my thanks must be the fee.
You come from Bristol—is my mother well?

Bertha. I really do not know.

Chatterton.  No, no, of course:
My head is heavy.

Bertha.  O, you do need aid!

Chatterton. Perhaps; yet more I need another mind
That turns not giddy on this whirling sphere.
But that is naught to any one save me—
Who cares for Chatterton?

Bertha.  There's one at least:
One who beheld him roam the Bristol streets
Beset by dangers of a forward youth—
Misunderstood, unhappy; one who knows
All that he must have suffered here from want,
From loneliness, and hopes unrealized;
One who for him will offer up her prayers.

Chatterton. Have mercy, lady, do not make me weep.
You do not know me: I am harsh indeed.
I have a most unlucky way of raillery,
And when the fit of satire is upon me,
I spare not friend nor foe. Your father's duped.

Bertha. Why then we shall be happier; so 'tis well.

Chatterton. Part of this wretchedness that seethes within
Is due to damned, unconquerable pride,
And part from hot imagination flows.—
My brain's afire.

Bertha.  I pity you the more:
Imaginary woes are real to him
Whom they oppress, and hardest to dispel;
And if you truly do deserve your fate,
Then have you more to bear.

Chatterton.  You came in time;
To-morrow—to-morrow might have been too late.

Bertha. My father soon will come, and I would ask—

Chatterton. My life, and it is yours.

Bertha.  No, not your life;
But that you nobly live.

Chatterton.  I'll try, I'll try.

Bertha. Give me some token; let it be a verse
In your own hand.

Chatterton.  I have none worthy you.

Bertha. Have you not one among your papers there?
I know 'tis much to ask.

Chatterton.  No: it is yours.
[Taking up a sheet of paper.]
On melancholy—that will scarcely do.

Bertha. Read it to me, and I shall be the judge.

Chatterton. [Reads.]

When silent are the chambers of the mind
To rippling laughter and to whispering love,
When Hope hath whirred away, a mourning dove,
And bats dart in and out, and moans the wind,
Then Melancholy comes, to night consigned,
And haunts the moonlit windows. Perhaps above,
Not on this earth, can shadowy thoughts that rove
Like troubled ghosts a sweet oblivion find.

O like some cindered orb that shineth not,
Yet holdeth still its planets as a sun,
Is one burnt out by sorrow and o'erfraught
With that mute anguish of a life undone—
That sinking of the heart, that deadly thought
That all is lost and would be worthless won.

[Handing paper to her.] I would that it were better.

Bertha.  'Tis so sad.

Chatterton. I wrote it on the midnight of the day
I fell into a new-made grave.

Bertha.  O, sir,
Yield not to gloom; for you are rich in mind.
Of all the boons the Fates propitious grant
I'd choose the golden branch of poesy.

Chatterton. Each man doth pay a price for what he has.
The very qualities of mind and heart
That make a poet make a sufferer.
The keenness of perception, which unfolds
A realm of beauty hid to other eyes,
Unmasks the world: shows him indifference
Behind the flimsy guise of courtesy,
The shallowness of friendship, the alloy
Of self, debasing charity to trade.
The vividness of his imagination,
Which, in a garret, gives him trees and flowers,
The cool salt sea and heaven's blue expanse,
Enlarges troubles, and creates such fears
He trembles at the possible in life.
The sensibility, which treasures up
Each word or look of kindness as a gem,
Makes bitterer the haughtiness of birth,
The vulgar swelling of a pompous purse,
The slur, the slight, the mockery of fools.
Beyond he sees a spiritual sphere,
Where, by unselfishness, the terrible
Becomes a valued teacher—where the power
To wound through self is lost; yet cannot reach it.
He is a medium through which all things speak:
The human passions wrack his nervous frame;
Each thing in nature makes his heart its pulse.
Who would aspire to wear the laurel crown?—
It is a crown of thorns! [Sinks back upon chair.]

Bertha. O you are faint from hunger!

Chatterton.  'Tis not so:
A giddiness—be not afraid—'t will pass— [Faints.]

Bertha. [Going to him and raising his head.]
O Chatterton, look up! He's dead! He's dead!
O world, behold your deed! His eyelids move!

Chatterton. [Recovering.]
'Tis gone. O I would die to wake like this.

Bertha. I'll get a glass of water.
[Goes to washstand and brings water back.]
Here, drink this.

Chatterton. [After drinking.]
I have these spells—they are not serious.

Bertha. You are not well, you are not well.
[An increasing noise outside is heard.]

Enter Mrs. Angell in great excitement.

Mrs. Angell. Fly, Chatterton, fly! fly!

Chatterton.  Have you gone mad?

Mrs. Angell. Fly! Mr. Burgum swears he'll murder you—
He is enraged.

Chatterton.  I would fly only one
Who had the power to extend my lease of life:
I am aweary of the premises.

Mrs. Angell. He's foaming at the mouth.

Chatterton.  Then let him foam.
Each petty wave upon the mighty sea
Foams at its pleasure—why not he? I say
Then let him foam.

Enter Burgum in a fury.

Burgum. [Waving his cane.] I'll murder him!

Bertha. [Interposing.] You shall not harm him, father.

Mrs. Angell. [To Chatterton.]  Come away!

Chatterton. Nay; he is harmless as a bottled bee:
He can but buzz.

Bertha. [To Burgum.] What is the matter, sir?

Burgum. That knave! that knave!—the pedigree is false!
What can you say, you villain?

Bertha.  He is ill.

Burgum. I care not for his illness, let him speak!—
You swindler, speak!

Bertha.  You gave him but a crown.

Burgum. Peace, peace; or I shall drive you from the room.
[To Chatterton.] Now answer me!

Chatterton. [Rising.]  Were it not for your age
And for your daughter whom I do respect,
I'd answer not in words.

Bertha.  O Chatterton!

Mrs. Angell. O gentlemen, I beg you both forbear.

Chatterton. [To Bertha.]
Have no fear, lady; did he bear a knife
To stab me here, I would not parry it,
If by such action I should frighten you.
Stand not between.

Burgum.  In King's Bench you shall lodge!

Chatterton. Then I shall fatten at the town's expense.
Now, look you, Burgum, I'll no more of this,
Unless the lady bid me, so take heed.
This room doth show my poverty and needs,
Yet 'tis my castle, sir!

Burgum.  I am undone;
And Bristol will clap hands upon her sides
And roar with mirth. Why did you dupe me so?—
'Twas not for money, for 'twas but a crown.

Chatterton. 'Twas not for money, or you should have paid
A thousand crowns. You will remember, sir,
That when a pupil at the Bluecoat School,
Poor, lonely, friendless, with a thirst for lore,
I came to ask of you the loan of books,
You mocked my poverty, jeered at my verse,
And sneering bade me learn the cobbler's trade.
I knew your passion was for gold and birth;
And gold you had. In bitter sport
I wrote your pedigree, scarce thinking it
Would be received with credence; yet it was.
I should have told you then, but you did swell
And treat me with disdain. I tell you now
That, since you are the father of this girl,
I'd give my life to undo what is done;
Yet, were you not her father, I do swear
I'd give my life to do it o'er again.
I made a fool of gold, for it had made
A fool of me so long.

Burgum.  The whole is false:
My ancestor was not of Norman blood,
And John de Bergham never lived at all.

Chatterton. He habited a world within a world—
This globe of fancy, where strange creatures live,
And all the business of existence moves
Unrecked of, as though on some distant orb.—
Thank heaven! that, being a poet, he dwelt not here.

Burgum. [Despairingly.] What shall I do?

Bertha. [To Chatterton.]  Can nothing be contrived
By which my father may derision 'scape?

Chatterton. [To Burgum, after a thoughtful pause.]
You are not known in London; what is done
Will ne'er to Bristol come: you can give out,
Anent the pedigree, 'twas all your joke.
Play your cards slowly, and with that same tact
With which you bargain for your tin and lead;
And, sir, the game is yours.

Burgum. [Chuckling.]  To turn the laugh
Upon the laughers—good—that is the trick.
Come, daughter, come.

Mrs. Angell.  'Tis dark: I'll go before.
[Exit Mrs. Angell followed by Burgum.]

Bertha. Good-by.

Chatterton.  O lady, when I said good-by
To my dear mother on the cloudy night
I took the coach for London, I did feel
As though that word were fully charged with grief;
But 'twas not so.

Bertha.  O, sir, do not despair;
And should we never meet again, believe
My thoughts will ever wander back to you.

Chatterton. We shall not meet again.

Burgum. [Calling from without.]  Come, Bertha.

Bertha. [To Burgum.]  Yes!
[To Chatterton.] Why so?

Chatterton.  If Barrett recommend me strong,
I sail for Africa as surgeon's mate.

Bertha. Indeed!—but then you will return.

Chatterton.  Perhaps.

Bertha. I will not say good-by—good-night.

Chatterton. [Kissing her hand.]  Farewell.

[Chatterton sinks upon chair, his elbows resting on table, his face upon his hands. Bertha pauses at doorway, looks back pityingly, and then goes out.]

Chatterton. [Raising his head.]
Alone, again alone, yet more alone
Than e'er I was before. [After a pause.] The hope is vain.
O there is consolation in the thought
That though a puppet in the hands of fate
A man is born and lives—made now a king,
And now, the sport for mocking enemies,
He has the power when evils hedge him round,
And joy and love and hope have fled for aye,
To laugh! ring down the drop, and end the play.

Enter Mrs. Angell.

Mrs. Angell. Here is a letter, sir, that came to-day.
[Hands letter to Chatterton.]

Chatterton. [To himself.]
This is in Barrett's hand: it seals my doom.
[Opens letter and reads to himself.]
I cannot recommend you for the place
Of surgeon's mate—you know too little physic.
[Tears up letter and throws pieces on floor.]

Mrs. Angell. Bad news?

Chatterton.  Good news—a warrant for my death.

Mrs. Angell. How pale you look! but I have that will bring
The color to your cheek. The lady begs
That you accept this as a loan. [Gives a purse to Chatterton.]

Chatterton.  She's kind.
Heaven grant her happiness. [Throwing up purse.]
This yellow god
Distributes favors with a curious hand.
The kings of his creation are so low
Of forehead that their crowns sit on their eyebrows.
They have, for motley fools, wise men—so called
(Not wise enough to live within their age),
Who feed upon the bones their masters throw
Beneath the table. 'Tis the voice of fate,
Exclusion's cruel law, that he who carries
In the clouds his head shall stumble on the earth.
Here, take the trash—I am no pauper yet. [Gives purse to her.]

Mrs. Angell. [Aside.] The boy is surely crazed.

Chatterton.  There, go at once.
I cannot, with these artificial words,
Show the brain busy, and keep out the thoughts
That knock to be admitted. No more—go!

Mrs. Angell. [With emotion.] I meant not to offend.

Chatterton.  I am too rude.
I needs must take a tenderer farewell.

Mrs. Angell. Farewell? Why how you talk! You will not leave?

Chatterton. I may, perhaps.

Mrs. Angell.  Where are you going, sir?

Chatterton. To sea; but vex me not at present, please;
And, should my mother come to you, tell her
How hard I worked; but 'twas of no use—no use.
Good-by, dear Mrs. Angell. [Kisses her.]

Mrs. Angell.  I'll leave the lamp.

Chatterton. No: take it—'tis too brilliant.
[Lights candle and hands lamp to her.]

Mrs. Angell.  You will feel
Much better in the morning.

Chatterton.  Pray I may.

Mrs. Angell. [Aside.] I'll ask my husband what is best to do.
[Exit Mrs. Angell with lamp. Lights lowered.]

Chatterton. And should I reach ambition's goal at last—
My brain would not hold out. Why, even now
I feel rebellion 'gainst the reason strong
And frenzy coming on. No, not that fate—
Confined within a mad-house! there to sit,
Perchance for years—long years—with vacant stare
And slabber dripping from the fallen lip;
Or with a maniac's eye to see such things
As hell doth not contain; to hear loud shrieks
And clanking chains—O God, not that, not that!
[After a pause.] I'll do it, and to-night.
[Goes to door and locks it. The click of the lock is heard.]
There Hope, stay out:
Come not to me when life is past recall.
[Comes back to table.]
They shall not have the poems which they spurned,
But Rowley shall with Chatterton expire.
[Draws out box from under table, and takes out manuscripts.]
O how these papers plead with me for life!
All my young thoughts and all my early dreams—
I cannot do it! O I cannot do it!
[Weeping, he lets his head fall upon his arm.]
[After a pause.] Here fools may thrive; and I—why I lack bread.
[Firmly.] It must be thus.
[Tears up papers, and throws pieces fluttering into the air.]
O turn to white-winged gulls, and fly away:
This is no place for you. And now the end.
[Takes a vial from his pocket.]
I feel much calmer. [Looking at vial.] It is better thus:
A bullet tearing through my fevered brain
Seems so abhorrent to me. Yet 'tis sad
To send this ghostly messenger to bid
My troubled heart be still—and then these hands,
These faithful, willing hands that even now
Obey me to the death.
[Coarse laughter of a man and woman far off in the street is heard.]
What noise is that?
[The ribalds come nearer and nearer, singing the following song, with occasional bursts of mirth. Chatterton goes to window, throws open casement. The moonlight streams in.]

Voices. [From street.]

Say'st thou it is a lawless love
That lusts within mine eye?
Know thou there is no lawless love
Beneath the love-lit sky.

Female Voice. I'm out of tune; give me another drink.
[Laughter.]

Both Voices. [Singing.]

Man maketh law, but Nature, love;
And in the court above
Love's cast for only fickleness—
But then it is not love.

[Laughter and singing die away in the distance. Chatterton comes from window, laughs wildly, and then suddenly checks his mirth.]

Chatterton. O, what an unction for the closing eye,
And what a chant to fill the parting ear!
[A distant clock again strikes the hour.]
A signal! be it so. [Drinks poison.] The deed is done.
O, my poor mother!—peace, my anguished soul.
Have mercy, heaven, when I cease to be,
And this last act of wretchedness forgive.
[A look of agony passes over his face; he staggers to the bed and sinks upon his knees; then he rises and speaks deliriously.]
The coach!—
The coach is coming! I can hear its wheels!
Good-by, my friends; and mother, have no fear:
I shall succeed. I'll write you all from London!

[Falls in the moonlight upon the pieces of his manuscripts, and dies. Slow curtain. Curtain rises. Lights up. It is morning. Chatterton is discovered lying on the floor as before. A discussion among voices is heard without. Loud knocking.]

Mrs. Angell. [From without.] Mr. Chatterton! [Knocking.] Mr. Chatterton! [Knocking.] Mr. Chatterton!

CURTAIN.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHATTERTON ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™

Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Table of Contents

- CHATTERTON
- DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
- SCENE.
- THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE