Cale Young Rice

“ By the castle door, to the front, and elsewhere, are stone seats. Hassan is standing moodily by the screen, left, looking out the portcullis. He starts, hearing steps, and as the old leach Tremitus enters, motions him silently into the castle; then muttering "the old blood-letter," stands as before, while Civa, Maga, and Mauria are heard in the garden, and enter gaily bearing water-jars to the fountain. Civa sees his look and breaks into a twitting laughter. The other two join her.
[46] Civa. Look at him! Maga! Mauria! behold!
Was ever sight so sweet upon the world? ”

“ Berengere. Yolanda!
Yolanda. Mother, mother!... Ah, his eyes!
Berengere. What brings you here—to spy upon me?
Yolanda. Listen!...
Think not of me—no, hush—but of the peril
Arisen up.... Your husband!
Camarin. Renier?
Yolanda. Was at that grating—heard. And from its sheath
Drew forth a dagger!—Ah!
Berengere (weakly) . What does she say?
Yolanda. Find calmness now, and some expedient.
[She struggles to think.
Berengere. I cannot die.
[40] Yolanda. No, no.
Berengere. My flesh is weak,
Is poor of courage—poverished by guilt,
As all my soul is! But, Yolanda, you—! ”

“ Vittia. None?
Yolanda. Your tone ...!
(Realising.) The still insinuation! You would do it!
This is the beast then of the labyrinth!
And this your heart is!
Vittia. No, not ever: no.
But now, if you deny me.
Yolanda. Speak as a woman,
If there is womanhood in you to speak.
The name of Berengere Lusignan must
Go clean unto the years, fair and unsullied.
Nor must the bloody leap
Of death fall on her from lord Renier's sword,
[25] A death too ready if he but suspect. ”

“ Is evil mad enchantment come upon
The portals of this castle?
Hassan. I would serve you.
Yolanda. With murder? no. But if you would indeed,
As oft you have——
Hassan. Lady, I will.
Yolanda. Then watch
The Venetian, and when Amaury comes
Find me at once. What sound was that?... A bugle?
It is! it is! Alessa! (Overjoyed.) Do you hear?
His troop! Amaury's! O the silver chime!
Again I breathe, I breathe!
My heart as a bird of May!
[52] Amaury!... Come! we'll go to him! we'll go!
Before any within Lusignan—!
Alessa. Lady!
Yolanda. At once! it rings again! again! we'll go!
Alessa. ”

“ How, Olympio!
Stay you, and hear!—May never virgin love him!
Gone as a thistle! (turns) .
Mauria. Pouf! (laughs) .
Alessa (to Civa) . Now what have you?
Civa. Verses! found in the garden. Verses! verses!
On papyrus of Paphos. O, to read!
But you, Alessa—!
Alessa (takes them) . In the garden?
Civa. By
The fountain cypress, at the marble feet
Of chaste Diana!
Maga. Where Sir Camarin
And oft our lady—!
Civa. Maga, will you prattle?
Read them to us, Alessa, read them, read.
They are of love!
Maga. No, sorrow.
[8] Civa. O, as a nun
You ever sigh for sorrow!—They are of love! ”

“ Or death.
Yolanda. Then have you not, unshameable!
A help for it or healing? you who know
So well the world and its unwonted ways!
A man would have, a man.
Camarin. And I am barren.
[66] My brain an arid waste under remorse.
Only one thing it yields—the love of her
My love has made unholy.
Yolanda. While to me
The shame is left, and silence—no defence,
When it is told Amaury, "See her you
Blest with betrothal and the boon of faith,
Chose as the planet-mate of your proud star!
While, in the battle,
You with the weal of Cyprus on your brow
Dared momently peril,
We found her".... ”

“ Smarda. I've erred; she's not asleep.
Vittia. Who?—Ah! Yolanda?
Smarda. Yes; she is coming!
Renier. Ha!
Vittia. My lord——!
Renier. I'll stay,
Stay and confront her.
Vittia. Ignorantly? No.
Renier. I'll question her.
Vittia. Blindly, and peril all?
Renier. I will return. You put me off, and off.
[By the loggia, with Moro, he goes; the slave slips out. Yolanda enters, sadly, her gaze on the floor. She walks slowly, but becoming conscious starts, sees Vittia, and turns to withdraw.
Vittia. Your pardon—
Yolanda. I can serve you?
[22] Vittia. If you seek
The women, they are gone. ”

“ And this Venetian Vittia Pisani——
[18] Moro. Distrust her!
Renier. She has power.
Moro. But not truth.
And yesterday a holy relic scorned.
Renier. She loves Amaury. Wed to her he will
Be the elected Governor of Cyprus.
The throne, then, but a step.
Moro. But all too great.
And think; Yolanda is to him as heaven:
He will not yield her.
Renier. Then he must. And she,
The Venetian, has ways to it—a secret
To wrench her from his arms.
Moro. Sir, sir?—of what?
Renier. I know not, of some shame.
Moro. Shame!
Renier. Why do you clutch me?
Moro. I—am a priest—and shame——
Renier. ”

“ Now slave! Scythian!
Why do you linger?
Smarda. I am bidden— (snarls) by
My mistress.
Hassan. Spa! Thy mistress hath, I think,
Something of hell in her and has unpacked
A portion in this castle. Is it so?
Smarda. My lady is of Venice.
[15] Hassan. Strike her, God.
Her smirk admits it.
Smarda. Touch me not!
Hassan. I'll wring
Your tongue out sudden, if it now has lies.
What of your lady and lord Renier?
Smarda. Off!
Renier enters behind, with Moro.
Hassan. Your lady and lord Renier, I say!
What do they purpose?
Smarda. Fool-born! look around.
Hassan. Not till——
Smarda. ”

“ Berengere (sits) . No:
For think, Yolanda's look when by the cypress
We read the verses! And my dream that I
Should with a cross—inscrutable is sleep!—
Bring her deep bitterness.
Camarin. Dreams are a brood
Born of the night and not of destiny.
She guesses not our guilt, and Renier
Clasps to his breast ambition as a bride—
Ambition for Amaury.
[12] Berengere. None can say. ”

“ Berengere. Christ, save me ... Christ!
Yolanda's innocent, and I ... 'twas I.
Amaury. What? what is it she says?
Berengere. Camarin! Ah!
[She shudders and dies, amid low uttered awe. Renier bends, lays his hand a moment on her breast, then, with a cry of rage, springs from her and draws, and rushes on Camarin, who awaits him, desperate.
[131] Amaury (confused, as they engage) .
Yolanda; what is this?
Yolanda. Amaury, in!
Compel lord Renier back! he cannot live,
You only could against Camarin now! ”

“ The Hall and loggia of Act I; but toward sunset, and afar, on the flushed sea, are seen the fisher-boats returning pale-winged to shore. In the left distance, also, a portion of Famagouste is visible above the waves—its orient walls and towers, white domes and houses, interspersed with tall palms. The interior of the Hall is the same; only the divan is placed to the front and left, the lectern near the balcony leading to the sleeping apartments and to the chapel. Smarda is lying lithely on the divan, beguiled with her charms and amulets, and from time to time giving a low, sinuous laugh. ”

“ He supports her—with Alessa—slowly up steps and off. Yolanda covers her eyes. Hassan returns with Moro, then, and with Amaury, whose look seeks Vittia.
Yolanda (as all stand silent) . Speak, speak, and tell him!
Renier. Yes, Amaury ... you
Are sent for to behold Yolanda wed,
As you commanded,
Here unto Camarin. Shame has till now
Withheld her, but ... what ails you?
Amaury. On; go on.
The sudden blood up to my wounds.
Renier. It has,
I say, withheld her. But she now has chosen.
Amaury. So; and ... it is well. ”

“ Not faithless, hear! it is not true! not true!
But only this——
Camarin. Yolanda!
Yolanda. I——
Camarin. Yolanda!
[A moment, then she sinks down, her face in her hands. Amaury groans; then starting goes fiercely to Hassan, and taking his sword recrosses trembling to Camarin.
Amaury. The day you first set step in Lusignan
An image of the Magdalen within
The chapel yonder fell—presaging this.
Only your death, your death or mine stands pale
[77] Between us now, awaiting silently.
Draw, and at once.
Camarin. Amaury, I will not.
Amaury. Out, quickly.
Camarin. Do your will. ”

“ Good father!
[Enter Moro.
Ah, you were
There in the sacristy.
Moro. Yes, Your desire?
Alessa. The acolytes summoned from Famagouste
To aid your rites before her burial
Have come, and wait.
Moro. Send hither two.
[Looks closely at her.
Alessa. At once.
[Is going. He stops her.
[119] Moro. Woman, this passes silence. There must be
Some question. Do you understand this wedding?
The evil that has risen in this house?
Do you?
Alessa. I may not speak.
Moro. And wherefore may not?
Alessa. I may not. It is best.
Moro. As says Yolanda,
Who is to-day impenetrable in all. ”

“ I lay that it is wiser never to foul
The dead, even in thinking,
For they may hear us, none can say, and once
My mother saw a dead man who had gone
Unshriven start up white and cry out loud
When he was curst. ”

“ Holy Magdalen, defend him!
[Renier falls back.
Now, now defend him, if to chastity
Thou'rt vowed in heaven.
Vittia. Fool!... Camarin, strike!
Yolanda. He's wounded!
Camarin. Oh!... Berengere! ... treachery!
[He staggers and sinks back heavily toward the pillar. There is breathless, strained suspense. Then the image above, unsettled and shaken by his fall, sways, totters and crushes upon him. A cry, "The Magdalen!" goes up around.
[132] Hassan (hurrying to him; after awe and silence) .
He's dead.
Alessa. The Magdalen!
Hassan. No breath in him. ”

“ Who came last night at dusk, as well you know.
[They face, opposed.
What have you told him?
Vittia. Ha!
Yolanda. Insolence, false
And feigning! But no matter; lies are brief.
I'll go myself to him.
[55] Vittia. To be repelled?
Berengere enters.
Yolanda. If he could trust you—but he could not.
Vittia. Knowing
A Paphian ere this has fondled two?
Yolanda. You hear, mother? (To Vittia) . Out of my way at once.
Berengere. Stay, stay! She has not told him! nothing!... Yes,
I too have been aware and kept you blind.
For he was overworn, and still is, much.
But now his wound——
Yolanda. ”

“ You dote on—lady Yolanda!
Alessa. Shame!
Mauria. Some guilt
Of one, then, in this castle!—See, her lips
Betray it is.
Maga. No, Mauria! no! no! (holds her) hush!
[Forms appear without.
Mauria. O, loose me.
Maga. There, on the loggia! Hush, see—
Our lady and Sir Camarin.
Alessa (fearful) . It is....
They heard us, Maga?
Maga. No, but——
Mauria (to Alessa) . So? that mouse?
Alessa. You know not, Mauria, what thing you say.—
He is troubling her; be still.
[Stepping out as Berengere enters.
My lady?
[10] Berengere (unwillingly) . Yes. ”

“ Boy, Halil, who?
Halil. Up, up!
Perhaps lord Renier—No: I will learn.
[He runs to curtains and looks.
It is Olympio! Olympio!
From Famagouste and lord Amaury!
Mauria. Ah!
And comes he here?
Halil. As he were lord of skies!
To lady Yolanda, by my lute!
Maga. Where is she?
Alessa. I do not know; perhaps, her chamber.
Mauria. Stay:
His word may be of the Saracens.
Halil (calling) . Oho!
[He admits Olympio, who enters insolently down. All press round him gaily.
Mauria. Well, what, Olympio, from Famagouste?
What tidings? tell us.
[6] Maga. See, his sword!
Olympio. Stand off. ”

“ The women go by the steps. Berengere follows.
Hassan (staring after her) . The reason of this mood in her? the reason?
Something is vile. Lady Yolanda weeps
In secret; all for what? By God! the Paphian?
Or she of Venice? (sees Smarda) . ”

“ Alessa. We have
But put away the distaff and the needle.
Camarin enters.
Berengere. The distaff and the needle—it may be.
And yet you do not seem——
Alessa. My lady—?
Berengere. Go.
And send me Hassan.
[The women leave.
Camarin—you saw?
They were not as their wont is.
[11] Camarin. To your eyes,
My Berengere, that apprehension haunts.
They were as ever. Then be done with fear!
Berengere. I cannot.
Camarin. To the abyss with it. To-night
Is ours—Renier tarries at Famagouste—
Is ours for love and for a long delight!
Berengere. Whose end may be—
Camarin. ”

“ In the rear, on either side, are guled lattice windows, and in the centre an open grated door, looking upon a loggia, and, across the garden below, over the moonlit sea. Seats are placed about, and, forward, a divan with rich Turkish coverings. A table with a lighted cross-shaped candlestick is by the door, left; and a lectern with a book on it, to the front, right. As the curtain rises, the Women, except Civa, lean wearily on the divan, and Halil near is singing dreamily:
[4] ”