Olive Tilford Dargan

“ The power of Cordiaz is in my whip,
And back of that is iron Hudibrand!
Kill me to-night, to-morrow you shall die,
Each dog of you,—you know it!
[Men come in with fibre]
Throw the stuff
Against the hut. There, pile it up. More, more!
Now, Coquriez, the gentle, you've refused
To ruffle your fond dove,—here's sweeter work,
And for no hand but yours. Put her within,
Then fire the hut. [Utter silence]
What terror's on you, beasts?
Coq. In God's name, sir, you dare not!
Meg. In the name
Of all who know how power is kept, I dare! ”

“ Do you not know me, Vigard?
Vig. Nay,
I knew a Vairdelan—you are not he.
Bion. If Oswald means no harm to Charilus,
Let him pass on. Jerusalem awaits
His savage sword.
Char. My son, that Oswald thus
Compels me to him is to me but proof
That hearts may greet above long years of hate.
In this I see Love beckoning Man across
The wastrel lands of war to fields unwet
With blood, to days——
Vig. Unhearted cowards then!
Praise Allah, we yet live where rapiers thresh
The fields of men and leave the bravest standing!
Is 't not the Prophet's word that Paradise
Lies 'neath the shade of swords? ”

“ Ard. Oswald betrayed us.
Vig. O, my sword, 'tis thou
Shalt split his heart, though every spear in Suli
Then pierce my own! [Going]
Bion. Stay, Vigard!
Vig. Earth is fire!
Can you be still upon it? Where is Bertrand
With his deep oaths? O, coward! I will seek him——
Ard. No need. He'll come to you.
Bion. He'll keep his oath,
You think?
Ard. I know he will.
Vig. So knew you too
That Charilus was safe. Call him to life,
And we'll believe you yet!
Bion. How died our father?
[Ardia weeps]
No matter now. And Oswald cast you out? ”

“ Barca. God gave her eyes, and Sir Vairdelan is good to see. When I look at him I feel somehow as if the sun were just up and everybody had another chance.
Gaina. A man who lets his sword rust at home while he goes about tootle-de-rooling on a flute! And she could be the princess of Avesta if she'd look in the right place. Well, if she had my eyes!
Barca. What! You would have your mistress marry Banissat? An unbeliever?
Gaina. A prince is a prince,—and I'd say the same if my mistress were my own daughter.
Barca. And you a Christian!
Gaina. A Christian of Corinth, I'd have you know. ”

“ Or wert all hers who made gray Corinth young,
The love that feeds behind a sheltered door
Must be unroofed and take its bread of stars
Ere it may answer to its holy name.
The heart must build no walls——
Ard. I build them not,
But find them risen about me. You are here,
Guardful and best, fending my eyes,—there stands
My Biondel,—there Vigard brave,—and there....
Char. And there, my daughter?
Ard. Hark! 'Tis Vairdelan's voice!
[Singing heard below]
O fires that build upon the sea Till wave and foam of ye are part, And burn in mated ecstasy, Ye build again within my heart. ”

“ The bond that shall be cut with sword of dawn,—
So close no seer may tell which shall bleed most,
Athens or her lost son.
Pyrr. Art low at last?
Bia. Dun, dun, my Pyrrha, as a Barbary pigeon!
So low not all my pride can vaunt me up.
Then let me have my wine,—the draught of eyes,
Of music and of smiles, till I be drunk
And sleep.
[Enter six Athenian youths, led by Clearchus, all disguised as Persian dancers. As they dance before Biades his pleasure quickens to abandonment]
Bia. Ah, Pyrrha, you've denied my heart
All noble love, but here's a pleasure left. ”

“ Dear Hernda——
Her. Come!
I love you, Chartrien. Let us have an hour
As light as joy, as sweet as peace, and call
Your friend to share it. He shall smile for me.
I vow it, by his most ungentle frown!
Cha. 'Twill take your deepest magic, for his heart
Holds naught that smiles are made of.
Her. Bring him here.
I'll make that heart my wizard bowl and mix
Such sweet and merry potions in 't, his griefs
Must doff their gray for motley. You shall see!
Cha. Art such a witch? [Exit, upper left]
Her. What's this I do? My soul
Leans shameward, but I'll trounce it up. ”

“ Each day brings its own sun, and by that light,
No other, men must walk. If this our time
Be dark to you, 'tis in your vision, not
In the lit heavens, from whose shoreless depth
No hook of prayer or prophecy may draw
One star before its hour. Pray you be done
With this moon madness. Banissat will meet
The force of Oswald. With the morn he comes
To seal his troth with Ardia——
Char. By no word
Of mine. If you have given him pledge, your honor
Shall dip to dust and drudge your forfeit out,
Ere virgin bondage pay it. Hark, Biondel,
And hear me, Vigard! I alone shall meet
Earl Oswald. ”

“ Should wander down and on and lay in gold
The valleys of the world, moved by no hand
We see or name, but know, but know!
[Biondel, Vigard, and Banissat re-enter]
Ard. He lives!
Bion. He lives. Speak the conditions, prince.
Ban. [To Bertrand] Your life
Is spared that she whose name is lost
May wear your own. You shall remain on Kidmir peak,
And make her yours by every priestly rite
With open, fair observance. Then Earl Oswald
Must greet as daughter one he vilely mocked
From his proud door, and far and wide acclaim her
Princess of Suli. Will his love for you
So bow his heart? ”

“ That's one day short its time?
[Enter, lower right, Hudibrand, Megario, and Borduc]
Cha. [Drawing Hernda aside] To-morrow, love!
Her. To-night!
Hud. You've won your suit, Megario.
If by our presence in your Goldusan
We can advance that sister country's peace.
The journey's naught. We'll count it done.
Meg. My lord,
All revolution will dispel as air
Before your eye. Our Cordiaz is great,
But his familiar subjects are too near
To take his height, while you they know to be
Of giant measure; and when once they see
Your majesties are brothered, Cordiaz
Will grow your twin in stature. ”

“ Bion. [To Ardia] Our lives shall thank you.
Vig. Thanks?
You speak her part.
[Ardia leaves her father and moves to edge of parapet]
Bion. [Following her] Dost know a better way?
Ard. I pray you, leave me.
Vig. Princess of Avesta!
Ard. Your supper waits.
Vig. [Starting right] Come, brother!
Char. Though I've supped,
I'll sit with you, my sons. Discourse is ever
The best dish at the board.
Bion. We thank you, sir.
[Exeunt Biondel, Vigard, Charilus, right]
Ard. And am I wooed and won? Dreams of a dream,
Where are ye now?... A lover with no song. ”

“ You shall not bleed for me.
[Enter Ardia from chamber midway right]
Ard. Alone, my father?
Char. Never alone, and yet
My wish was calling thee. [Sits, and draws her beside him]
Ard. Ah, not one guard
About thee?
Char. The only guard is always near,—
A fearless heart.
Ard. Then I have none. My heart
Is made of fears.
Char. No charm but love will lift
Our gates of rock.
Ard. But who knows love from hate
In days like these? Some foe with friendship's eyes,
Some secret knife of Oswald's——
Char. None may tread
The guarded pass save our knight Vairdelan
And your two brothers. ”

“ And Oswald's knights?
Vig. Sleep in Avesta's dungeons.
Bion. Banissat,
Avesta's golden prince, speak you the doom
Of Bertrand——
Ard. Doom? O——
Ber. Do not waste the breath
A kiss may save. A thousand times, your lips!
Ard. [To Biondel] Let him not die!
Vig. You'll pray soon that he may!
Speak, noble prince.
Ban. I, lord of conquered Suli,
Condemn the son of Oswald unto death
By crucifixion. Be his body nailed
Upon the cross now raised on Kidmir peak,
That Oswald may behold his groaning son,
And every Christian dog look up and see
How dies the Prophet's enemy. ”

“ To meet and match the dawn. So wept my thoughts,
Forgetting that you are no wanderer,
But kingly housed will rule a tamèd realm.
Or should a harvest come of spears, not grain,
Yet is your princess brave and beautiful,
And bears, may be, a mating heart. Love then
Will come to you——
Ber. My princess?
Ard. Berenice.
Your father's choice ... and yours.
Ber. My Ardia! Mine!
Could such a lie creep to your soul and find
No lances at the door? [Kneels, kissing her hands]
My love, my love, my love!
Let honors fail, and stars forget my name,
'Tis thou shalt walk beside me, thou my chosen! ”

“ Shall flash with God-rift, and the dawn be his.
Ber. O, bravest, bow thy head——
Ard. Nay, nay, my lord!
Lock up your spirit, let mine rule this hour,
Or be with me the flame of faith that leaps
To deed in God. For we do help him, dear.
Our parcelled strength is whole and new in His,
A power born that touches us again,
Breeding our greater self that yet gives back
His own increase, until the way is strewn
Even with his miracles and ours. So works
The unending drama out, where every act
Begets an act yet greater than itself. ”

“ As Stesilaus,—I, with no more color
Or shade of reason than that you deny me,
Would make her bride. The ephors gave their word,
And what I win I'll wear!
First Ephor. We'll see you do.
Content you, Stesilaus. None will weep
To know your bluff soul matched. To place! To place!
[They wrestle. Pyrrha loses. Silence, then applause for Biades]
A Lord. My heart upheld him, for I know him brave.
Another. I saw his dripping sword on Theban plain
Cut through the knotted fray and make two fields
O' the combat.
Another. He can pray too, Delphi knows! ”

“ The sun unwelcome as he golds desire,
The warm mist-flower where we lie its heart!
Unbrace thee here, my courage! Valiancy,
First god and last in man, unbuckle here!
... How meet Famette? Smile on her smiles? Deceive
Her love? She'll lay her head upon my heart
And hear it crying "Hernda!".... Hernda lost!
I must not dream here open to the risk
Of her unanswered eyes. Their lure would make
Dishonor, that on wreck feeds rampant, spring
Unshamed in me. I would forsake Famette.
[Goes right, upper path. Hernda comes from house and crosses rapidly to him]
Her. Chartrien! Come! ”

“ Lift not your eyes.
[Stands behind Phania and Sybaris and makes the incantation an ardent address to Pyrrha]
Spirit of Fate, what mystical wooing May win thee to pause where we pray? Misers of Dream their locks are undoing,— Mistress of Keys, wilt thou stay?
Priestess, thyself, O fairer than dreaming, Art deity's answer to prayer! Dusk in thine eyes is the seer-burthen gleaming, And moon-wands at rest in thy hair. ”

“ Rooted life is best.
I am not one to make my bed on winds,
Or stroll the earth for fortune's grudgèd scraps
Snatched from a rapier's point.
Ard. Know this. My hand
Shall never lie in Banissat's. Give up
A hope so barren. There's better pasturage
For wits so bold as yours. Now Oswald holds
The breadth of Suli plain, the heights of Tor,
Winged by the sea from Ilon to Ramoor—
A principality whose circuit leaves
Avesta as a fly pinned to a wall.
Vig. What's Oswald's fief to us? We are no sons of his.
Ard. Lord Bertrand holds the princedom here
While Oswald goes to wars in Palestine. ”

“ Enter Pelagon, much ruffled, from street]
Pel. Where's Stesilaus? Stesilaus, ho!
Find Stesilaus!
[Stesilaus returns, upper left]
O, my friend, they're mad,
And you must fly! I never was so battered!
The senators cry out you played with them
As though their stationed honors were a row
Of last year's weanlings,—first to say you bore
Full power to treat, then at their open answer
To cover and prefer the opposite,
Declaring that their noble terms must cool
On th' road to Sparta! As I speak your comrades
Are driven through the gates. You must not stay. ”

“ Avesta's prince, the gracious Banissat,
Is now your sworn defender.
Ard. [Turning] And asks no price?
Bion. No more than your fair self, my sister.
Vig. [As Ardia stands silent] You doubt?
'Tis true. He'll make you princess!
Ard. He is old....
Bion. What call you old? He's in the fairest top
Of manhood.
Vig. Old!
Ard. And cannot sing....
Vig. Not sing!
Ard. What need have we of him? Can Oswald scale
These rock-barred heights?
Vig. Starvation can.
Ard. We've food
Will last three harvest moons.
Bion. And Oswald camps
Where plain and sea will feed ten thousand men
As many years. ”

“ To hover over Athens! Save the name!
She's from a briar-patch, not Heaven! Her wings
Are full of burrs!
Bia. [Holding Pelagon] Stand to! A scuttled ship
Has no choice deck. There's nothing to be saved
But dignity.
Pel. Nay, that's for Stesilaus! [Breaking away]
My life, my life!
[Noise mounts without. The wall is broken through, rear, and the breach reveals the street filled with angry Spartans]
Amen. Peace!
Gir. Give us Stesilaus!
Voices. And Pelagon! The traitors! Give them up!
Amen. You see them. There they stand.
[Misses Pelagon]
Where's Pelagon? ”

“ Senators. It is.
Bia. Then I am dumb. Words on your heat
Would fall as snow,—and I am not a man
To let my scars speak, though my body bears
Enough to cry you shame.
Amen. We know your valor,
But with it goes a pride no State could bear
But that it must. Make your escape, my lord.
The people pressed us, and we save your life
By this decree.
Bia. O, Athens that did love me!
Amen. And now repents that love, for know you, sir,
Though men may be irreverent as they choose,
They'll follow only who revere their gods.
[Exeunt senators]
Cre. But you were meek! ”

“ Mornings seven have we sung At thy maiden door; Now the seventh morn is rung, And we come no more. [Door opens and Ardia comes out. Gaina follows]
Ard. A kiss to all! Who's happier here than I
Shall have my place.
Mirimond. We'll ask Lord Bertrand that.
Thou'rt no more mistress of your yeas and nays.
Ard. O, but I am! I have a votary now
Who'll make my words his wishes and himself
Bring them to pass.
Mylitta. No doubt. You'll cough
In oracles. He'll puzzle o'er your sneeze
That he may do its meaning. I have heard
Such husbands do inhabit a green moon,
And one may come to earth. ”

“ Entrances right and left of parapet. Midway down, right, the door to a chamber.
Charilus stands on parapet and looks down toward Avesta. Barca waits within the hall.
Char. O, sea-washed city, must the hail of fire
Crimson thy milky walls, and salt winds strive
In vain to sweeten ditches dark with blood
From thy tapped heart? Come, Barca, be my eyes,
Who climbs the heights?
[Barca advances and looks over]
Barca. Lords Vigard and Biondel
Are on the pass.
Char. My sons so soon returned!
No other?
Barca. Farther down, my lord, I see
The knight, Sir Vairdelan. ”