The Old Lord of Ventnor

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The Lord of Ventnor, despite his beautiful estates and vast wealth and many vassals, is a rather ridiculous old person in many ways. In fact, he has, in the parlance of to-day, passed into his second childhood. The first scene of the comedy shows us a street in one of the villages of his exceedingly picturesque domain. A village peasant dance is in progress, and the mirth runs high among the carefree young people. It chances that the old lord passes the group of dancers, catches sight of a beautiful girl among them, is infatuated by her pretty face, proposes a union of autumn, personified by himself, with spring, symbolized by the rural belle, is readily accepted, and carries his bride to her new and wonderful home, his castle. The bride soon becomes disdainful and irreverent to the old lord, who has given her so much, while his affection is so great that he does not reprimand her. Before long war is declared against the old lord and he is forced to depart at the head of his troops. During his absence, his wife, to divert her mind, goes to her old companions in the village and joins in their dances. The husband returns during the festivities, sees his lady dancing with a peasant, orders her arrest, has her taken to the castle, tries her ease before a burlesque jury, decides on execution by beheading as just punishment for her inconstancy, and arranges the courtyard for the awful deed. Now, by a clever piece of magic, the madam substitutes for her own head that of a dummy and when the old husband is grief stricken because of her supposed death, she shows him the secret and is forgiven.