University of Virginia Library

SCENE II

Scene.—A hall in the palace of the Gonzaga. There is a sound of mutiny outside, and as the curtain rises Anselmo breaks in accompanied by others of the troops, while sullen shouts are heard from outside.
Anselmo.
He is not here, he spends the hours with her;
Sirs, let us force these doors and slay the man
Who has betrayed us for a woman's eyes.
My sword is drawn!

Another.
And mine.

Another.
We'll follow you.

[Enter Pietro.
Pietro.
Now, sirs!

Anselmo.
Pietro Tornielli, we
Have heard a rumour thro' Siena flying
That not alone the sister's life is spared,
But that, in hot desire for her, the brother
Too you have spared whom we all heard condemned
Out of your own mouth! So, then, we must fight,
And follow you through peril and through death,
Only at last to be confronted thus;
Our swords are nothing 'gainst a lady's eyes,
Our faith is nothing 'gainst our leader's lust,
[Angry murmurs.
Our services as air against her kiss.
Thus then I speak, and speaking speak for all—
Either we slay thee or we leave thee here
To riot and to passion and to wine.
But if I cannot for old memory
Plunge in thy heart this sword, I'll never draw
In such a cause again. I'll not be fooled,
[Angry shouts.
To fight and find all lost at last for lust.
So, Tornielli, fare you well for ever.

[He is about to exit when Luigi, after much commotion, bursts into the hall, followed by a retinue of followers.
Luigi.
Now, Pietro Tornielli, face to face
We stand. I owe my freedom to your will;
I am set free—no cause assigned, but freed.
Why then? My sister's honour!
[Pointing to his sister.
And do you think
That for the madness of a night with her
Whom I have worshipped like the blessed saint,
Whose very tears were holy water, her blood
The very wine we drink not if we sin—
You think I'll take my life for such a fee?
Oh, I was craven, I deny it not;
Here was the chance, then, here the basest lure
Ever proposed within a woman's ear—
She should submit to you and I go free!
No, death a thousand times, and death again!
I'll not contaminate the air henceforth,
And all shall cry “See, Luigi walks abroad
Freed by his sister's soil!” If you will fight,
Then let us fight and without pause, and now;
If not, I give myself again to death.
[A door is thrown open and Gemma comes in, Pietro taking her hand.
You, Gemma, though some may applaud this act,
I loathe you for it and for evermore.
Ah! but perhaps it was no martyrdom!
Perhaps the sacrifice came easily,
Perhaps—

Pietro.
Enough is said. Now I will speak.
Luigi Gonzaga and Anselmo there,
It is most true that what you here have charged
Against me I did plan and did intend.
[Murmurs.
That fault is in my blood. But here I make
A holy oath, before all saints in heaven,
That she, this lady, stands by me untouched,
That she is pure as ever without spot.
Rather would she have killed me or herself
Than so submitted even for such a cause;
But I, who have so played the game of love,
Am won to something nobler at the last:
To-day I make this lady my true wife.

Gemma.
Luigi, I should have died ere this I did.

[Murmurs of astonishment.
Pietro.
Her brother, who has thus refused his life,
Knowing the truth will not refuse it more.
A golden morning on us all descends,
And I foresee a golden morning wax
Into a deeper life between us two,
Bringing not bloodshed nor old enmity,
But on our houses and Siena peace.