Baron Alfred Tennyson Tennyson

“ When he was a little one, and I put the bitters on my breast to wean him, he made a wry mouth at it, but he took it so kindly, and your ladyship has given him bitters enough in this world, and he never made a wry mouth at you, he always took you so kindly—which is more than I did, my lady, more than I did—and he so handsome—and bless your sweet face, you look as beautiful this morning as the very Madonna her own self—and better late than never—but come when they will—then or now—it’s all for the best, come when they will—they are made by the blessed saints—these marriages. ”

“ Here has our master been a-glorifying and a-velveting and a-silking himself, and a-peacocking and a-spreading to catch her eye for a dozen year, till he hasn’t an eye left in his own tail to flourish among the peahens, and all along o’ you, Monna Giovanna, all along o’ you! ”

“ Antonius,
If you had found him plotting against Rome,
Would you have tortured Sinnatus to death? [79]
Antonius.
No thought was mine of torture or of death,
But had I found him plotting, I had counsell’d him
To rest from vain resistance. Rome is fated
To rule the world. Then, if he had not listen’d,
I might have sent him prisoner to Rome.
Synorix.
Why do you palter with the ceremony?
Go on with the marriage rites.
Camma.
They are finish’d.
Synorix.
How!
Camma.
Thou hast drunk deep enough to make me happy.
Dost thou not feel the love I bear to thee
Glow thro’ thy veins? [80]
Synorix. ”

“ You wrong him surely; far as the face goes
A goodlier-looking man than Sinnatus.
Phœbe (aside) .
How dare she say it? I could hate her for it
But that she is distracted.
[A flourish of trumpets.
Camma.
Is he crown’d?
Phœbe.
Ay, there they crown him.
[Crowd without shout, “Synorix! Synorix!”
Camma (rises) .
[A Priestess brings a box of spices to Camma, who throws them on the altar flame.
Rouse the dead altar-flame, fling in the spices,
Nard, cinnamon, amomum, benzoin.
Let all the air reel into a mist of odour, [66]
As in the midmost heart of Paradise. ”

“ Sinnatus (reads) .
“To the admired Camma,—beheld you afar off—loved you—sends you this cup—the cup we use in our marriages—cannot at present write himself other than
“A Galatian serving by force in the Roman Legion.”
Serving by force! Were there no boughs to hang on,
Rivers to drown in? Serve by force? No force
Could make me serve by force.
Synorix.
How then, my lord?
The Roman is encampt without your city—
The force of Rome a thousand-fold our own. [22]
Must all Galatia hang or drown himself?
And you a Prince and Tetrarch in this province——
Sinnatus. ”

“ Synorix (half rising) .
Throne? is it thou? the Fates are throned, not we—
Not guilty of ourselves—thy doom and mine—
Thou—coming my way too—Camma—good-night.
[Dies.
Camma (upheld by weeping Priestesses) .
Thy way? poor worm, crawl down thine own black hole
To the lowest Hell. Antonius, is he there?
I meant thee to have follow’d—better thus.
Nay, if my people must be thralls of Rome,
He is gentle, tho’ a Roman.
[Sinks back into the arms of the Priestesses.
Antonius.
Thou art one [84]
With thine own people, and tho’ a Roman I
Forgive thee, Camma.
Camma (raising herself) . ”

“ Antonius coming, or at least shall find him
There in the camp.
Camma.
No, not one step with thee.
Where is Antonius? (Louder.)
Synorix (advancing towards her) .
Then for your own sake,
Lady, I say it with all gentleness,
And for the sake of Sinnatus your husband,
I must compel you.
Camma (drawing her dagger) .
Stay!—too near is death. [49]
Synorix (disarming her) .
Is it not easy to disarm a woman?
Enter Sinnatus (seizes him from behind by the throat) .
Synorix (throttled and scarce audible) .
Rome! Rome!
Sinnatus.
Adulterous dog!
Synorix (stabbing him with Camma’s dagger) . ”

“ Camma and all the Priestesses kneel, raise their hands to the Goddess, and bow down.
[Shouts, “Synorix! Synorix!” All rise.
Camma.
Fling wide the doors, and let the new-made children
Of our imperial mother see the show.
[Sunlight pours through the doors.
I have no heart to do it. (To Phœbe) . Look for me!
[Crouches. Phœbe looks out.
[Shouts, “Synorix! Synorix!”
Phœbe.
He climbs the throne. Hot blood, ambition, pride
So bloat and redden his face—O would it were
His third last apoplexy! O bestial!
O how unlike our goodly Sinnatus. [65]
Camma (on the ground) . ”

“ Synorix.
Surely—yet
These are strange words to speak to Artemis.
Camma.
Words are not always what they seem, my King.
I will be faithful to thee till thou die.
Synorix.
I thank thee, Camma,—I thank thee.
Camma (turning to Antonius) .
Antonius,
Much graced are we that our Queen Rome in you
Deigns to look in upon our barbarisms.
[Turns, goes up steps to altar before the Goddess. Takes a cup from off the altar. Holds it towards Antonius. Antonius goes up to the foot of the steps, opposite to Synorix.
You see this cup, my lord.
[Gives it to him. [74]
Antonius. ”

“ Camma.
I have no fears at this my second marriage. [67]
See here—I stretch my hand out—hold it there.
How steady it is!
Phœbe.
Steady enough to stab him!
Camma.
O hush! O peace! This violence ill becomes
The silence of our Temple. Gentleness,
Low words best chime with this solemnity.
Enter a procession of Priestesses and Children bearing garlands and golden goblets, and strewing flowers.
Enter Synorix (as King, with gold laurel-wreath crown and purple robes) , followed by Antonius, Publius, Noblemen, Guards, and the Populace.
Camma.
Hail, King! [68]
Synorix. ”

“ Count.
Pray, pardon me!
[Lady Giovanna crosses, and passes behind chair and takes down wreath; then goes to chair by table.
Count (to Filippo) .
What is it, Filippo? [114]
Filippo.
Spoons, your lordship.
Count.
Spoons!
Filippo.
Yes, my lord, for wasn’t my lady born with a golden spoon in her ladyship’s mouth, and we haven’t never so much as a silver one for the golden lips of her ladyship.
Count.
Have we not half a score of silver spoons?
Filippo.
Half o’ one, my lord!
Count.
How half of one?
Filippo.
I trod upon him even now, my lord, in my hurry, and broke him.
[115]
Count. ”

“ To warm the cold bounds of our dying life
And, lest we freeze in mortal apathy,
Employ us, heat us, quicken us, help us, keep us
From seeing all too near that urn, those ashes [51]
Which all must be. Well used, they serve us well. ”

“ Filippo.
No, my lord, I never spare your lordship to your lordship’s face, nor behind your lordship’s back, nor [96] to right, nor to left, nor to round about and back to your lordship’s face again, for I’m honest, your lordship.
Count.
Come, come, Filippo, what is there in the larder?
[Elisabetta crosses to fireplace and puts on wood.
Filippo.
Shelves and hooks, shelves and hooks, and when I see the shelves I am like to hang myself on the hooks.
Count.
No bread?
Filippo.
Half a breakfast for a rat!
Count.
Milk?
[97]
Filippo. ”

“ Shouts (from the distance) , “Synorix! Synorix!”
Camma.
Synorix, Synorix! So they cried Sinnatus
Not so long since—they sicken me. The One
Who shifts his policy suffers something, must
Accuse himself, excuse himself; the Many
Will feel no shame to give themselves the lie.
Phœbe. ”

“ Exit, followed by Filippo.
Elisabetta.
I knew it would come to this. She has beggared him. I always knew it would come to this! (Goes up to table as if to resume darning, and looks out of window.) Why, as I live, there is Monna Giovanna coming down the hill from the castle. Stops and stares at our cottage. Ay, ay! stare at it: it’s all you have left us. Shame upon you! She beautiful! sleek as a miller’s mouse! Meal enough, meat enough, well fed; but beautiful—bah! ”

“ Camma.
But that might bring a Roman blessing on us. [76]
Antonius (refusing cup) .
Thy pardon, Priestess!
Camma.
Thou art in the right.
This blessing is for Synorix and for me.
See first I make libation to the Goddess,
[Makes libation.
And now I drink.
[Drinks and fills the cup again.
Thy turn, Galatian King.
Drink and drink deep—our marriage will be fruitful.
Drink and drink deep, and thou wilt make me happy.
[Synorix goes up to her. She hands him the cup. He drinks.
Synorix.
There, Camma! I have almost drain’d the cup—
A few drops left. [77]
Camma. ”

“ Synorix.
Our Antonius,
Our faithful friend of Rome, tho’ Rome may set
A free foot where she will, yet of his courtesy
Entreats he may be present at our marriage.
Camma.
Let him come—a legion with him, if he will.
(To Antonius.) Welcome, my lord Antonius, to our Temple.
(To Synorix.) You on this side the altar. (To Antonius.) You on that.
Call first upon the Goddess, Synorix.
[All face the Goddess. Priestesses, Children, Populace, and Guards kneel—the others remain standing. [70]
Synorix. ”

“ Antonius (stopping) .
A moment! If you track this Sinnatus
In any treason, I give you here an order
[Produces a paper.
To seize upon him. Let me sign it. (Signs it.) There
“Antonius leader of the Roman Legion.”
[Hands the paper to Synorix. Goes up pathway and exit.
Synorix.
Woman again!—but I am wiser now.
No rushing on the game—the net,—the net.
[Shouts of “Sinnatus! Sinnatus!” Then horn.
Looking off stage.] He comes, a rough, bluff, simple-looking fellow.
If we may judge the kernel by the husk, [14]
Not one to keep a woman’s fealty when
Assailed by Craft and Love. ”

“ Enter Filippo with bowl of salad, which he places on table.
Filippo.
Here’s a fine salad for my lady, for tho’ we have [124] been a soldier, and ridden by his lordship’s side, and seen the red of the battle-field, yet are we now drill-sergeant to his lordship’s lettuces, and profess to be great in green things and in garden-stuff.
Lady Giovanna. ”

“ Elisabetta (folding up cloth and going) .
And me too! Ay, the dear nurse will leave you alone; but, for all that, she that has eaten the yolk is scarce like to swallow the shell.
[Turns and curtseys stiffly to Lady Giovanna, then exit. Lady Giovanna takes out diamond necklace from casket.
Lady Giovanna.
I have anger’d your good nurse; these old-world servants
Are all but flesh and blood with those they serve.
My lord, I have a present to return you,
And afterwards a boon to crave of you. [135]
Count. ”

“ Music. Two Priestesses go up the steps before the shrine, draw the curtains on either side (discovering the Goddess) , then open the gates and remain on steps, one on either side, and kneel. A Priestess goes off and returns with a veil of marriage, then assists Phœbe to veil Camma. ”

“ Lady Giovanna.
I see, Filippo!
Filippo.
And I have small hope of the gentleman gout in my great toe. [131]
Lady Giovanna.
And why, Filippo?
[Smiling absently.
Filippo.
I left him there for dead too!
Elisabetta.
She smiles at him—how hard the woman is!
My lady, if your ladyship were not
Too proud to look upon the garland, you
Would find it stain’d——
Count (rising) .
Silence, Elisabetta!
Elisabetta.
Stain’d with the blood of the best heart that ever
Beat for one woman.
[Points to wreath on chair.
Lady Giovanna (rising slowly) .
I can eat no more! [132]
Count. ”

“ Here, or else well in Heaven, where all is well.
[Elisabetta clears table of bird and salad: Filippo snatches up the plate of prunes and holds them to Lady Giovanna.
Filippo.
But the prunes, my lady, from the tree that his lordship—— [133]
Lady Giovanna.
Not now, Filippo. My lord Federigo,
Can I not speak with you once more alone?
Count.
You hear, Filippo? My good fellow, go!
Filippo.
But the prunes that your lordship——
Elisabetta.
Filippo!
Count.
Ay, prune our company of thine own and go!
Elisabetta.
Filippo!
Filippo (turning) .
Well, well! the women!
[Exit. [134]
Count. ”

“ ACT II. Scene.—Interior of the Temple of Artemis.
Small gold gates on platform in front of the veil before the colossal statue of the Goddess, and in the centre of the Temple a tripod altar, on which is a lighted lamp. Lamps (lighted) suspended between each pillar. Tripods, vases, garlands of flowers, etc., about stage. Altar at back close to Goddess, with two cups. Solemn music. Priestesses decorating the Temple.
Enter a Priestess.
Priestess.
Phœbe, that man from Synorix, who has been
So oft to see the Priestess, waits once more
Before the Temple. [55]
Phœbe. ”