University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

—A sumptuous tent belonging to Octavian. Enter from the tent Octavian, who meets Acilius entering the stage from
Acil.
Good morrow to the bridegroom! What a smile
The day puts on to greet you!

Oct.
Ay, it smiles
But not, like us, to ruin. We shall make
A noble woman wretched.

Acil.
Thine the fault then!
After the sacred rite that made you one,
I held discourse with Norma, and to her
Art thou indebted for a scheme that falls
Within my perfect favor: she will use
Her power to make of Gaul a Roman province,
And thou, since I've the power of delegation,
Shalt be proconsul.

Oct.
Proconsul! I proconsul?
O, my dear lord, this tasks my gratitude
Beyond all utterance.

Acil.
Thank thy wife alone.

Oct.
Wife! But that word sounds strangely.

Acil.
Cherish it.
Though, marrying in the service of the state,
Thou canst throw off the yoke, (if yoke it be,)
Yet do I trust, of thy own choice thou wilt
Accept her as thy honorable wife.
Then, ruling her, 'twill be an easy thing
To rule thy province.

Oct.
Yet remember this:
'Tis as a virgin priestess that she sways
The people: let the whisper go abroad
That she is wedded, shame and opposition
Might be upon her track.

Acil.
Then leave to time
The publication: wait till you are stronger,
The people more enlightened: then divulge it.

Oct.
Yet do I fear that stealthy renegade,
Arnulf, the Gaul.

Acil.
We'll pack him off to Rome
Among the prisoners. He's of no more use.
We love the treason, but we hate the traitor.
(Enter Norma from the tent.)
Norma, good morrow! and accept, I pray thee,
A soldier's homage.

Nor.
'Tis a joy to know
That you're my friend.

Acil.
We'll carry out thy scheme;
We'll leave Octavian here to rule in Gaul.

Nor.
And Gaul shall be as free as now she is?

Acil.
Gaul shall be Rome; and we of Italy
Complain provincial Rome is more befriended
Than we the central people.

Nor.
Do not think
I would betray my country. Never! Never!
But merged in Rome she springs to higher life;
No more a camp—a fluctuating tribe—
Rent by intestine broils and border wars—
Open to despot ravage and dominion—
But part of a great nation—part of Rome.
If in these words I show a swift conversion,
And if to love I owe it, do not think
'Tis fixed on aught less firm than my persuasion.

Acil.
I heartily trust thee, lady. Fare thee well.
Prize thy high fortune at its worth, Octavian!
'Tis time our scouts were in. We'll meet anon.

[Exit
Nor.
So soon a dreamer? Whither stray thy thoughts?

Oct.
On to the future, Norma, the fair future!
On to the heights to which thy hand has beckoned—
The heights proconsular!

Nor.
The way is clear;
And, though the Druid faction may oppose,
The people will be with us. Long enough
Has priestly craft degraded them and plundered:
O! we will raise them, liberate, enlighten.
Walking by early light on yonder terrace
I saw the sun yet crimson smite the mist
Surging up from the valley: fold on fold
Rose the thick vapor threatening to obscure
The golden dawn,—yet see the laughing day!
So shall Truth mount, and pour its blazing shafts
Through Error's mist, changing each murky cloud
To a white wreath of glory. We, Octavian,
We will speed on the time shall bring that light.

Oct.
Enthusiast! with thy guidance I shall need
No new Egeria.

Nor.
Ah!

Oct.
What thought was that?

Nor.
If I have lost my gift of divination!
If the clairvoyant vision has departed!
O! then, Octavian, these bright fantasies
Are but the lure to ruin. I must leave you—
At once—before my absence can be noted.

Oct.
I go to see the litter is prepared.
Keep thy brave heart from drooping. Courage, Norma!

Nor.
Ay! 't was a passing mood. Go now.

Oct.
The future
Shall to glad memories turn our present doubts.

[Exit
(Enter Arnulf.)
Arn.
(Aside.)
As I surmised, 't is she! safe in the snare!
How as her lover moves he bears along
Her very soul in fond attendance on him!
O, lady fair! brief—brief shall be thy joy!
At risk of his displeasure I'll accost her.
I'll seize revenge while the brimmed cup is sparkling
Close at my lips,—lest it be dashed away
Forever.— (Approaches her.)
Greeting to the priestess!

Nor.
Ah!
What man art thou?

Arn.
Hast thou forgotten Arnulf?
Come now, I feel the slight.

Nor.
This tone of insult!—
(Goes up and calls.)
Octavian!

Arn.
Hush! Learn but how much thou ow'st me,
Thou'lt patiently attend.

Nor.
For good thou com'st not—
So much my heart assures me. Memory gropes
In vain to join to some past act thy features.

Arn.
An officer of rank among the Arverni
Fell into poverty and debt, for which
The army's tyrant, Ambron, would disgrace him.
Norma could save from ruin—from despair—
But she repelled him—sanctioned his abasement—
And gave him up to frenzy.

Nor.
I remember:
But let me tell the tale. An officer,
Bearer of a dead soldier's little store
Of money for that soldier's family,
Staked it at play, and, to the last denarius,
Lost it. But did he labour to redress
The wrong he had inflicted? He ignored it;
Spurned from his pathway the beseeching widow,
Laughed and caroused while those whom he had plundered
Were common beggars. Now the gods pursue me
With every wo, if I not use my power
To reach and deal perdition on the caitiff
Who, trusted with another's means which are
His life, his children's future, perils them
For his own gain or need.—Away with thee!

Arn.
O! I've not told thee half.

Nor.
And thou hast added
Desertion to thy other baseness. Why
Do I behold thee here in the enemy's camp?

Arn.
Why do I see thee here?

Nor.
Slave! I am Norma—
High priestess, and accountable to none
Of mortal mould.

Arn.
And yet, methinks, a priestess,
Pledged to a vestal life, who seeks a husband
Within the enemy's lines—Ah! Not at random
Was that shaft sent!

Nor.
(Dismayed, goes up and calls.)
Octavian!

Arn.
Wilt thou lose
The best of all I have in store for thee?
I spake of what thou owest me; thus it is:
My instigation sent yon charming youth
To play the lover—cheat thee of thy heart—
And crown thy treasonous passion with a marriage.
A marriage! A mere stratagem of war!
Binding while state necessity may prompt,
Then—flax in the fire! Rome's object was to gain
Time to ward off the battle thou wert urging,
Till her new levies should arrive.

Nor.
Ah no!
'Twas not a plot! Only thy base construction
Would wrench it that way.

Arn.
'Twas my plot, I tell thee—
Mine, Norma! that I might approach thee thus,
And ask, are we not quits?

Nor.
Thy plot! 'Tis well.
I thank thee for the assurance, as it takes
The blame from one whose honor word of thine
Should have been impotent to cast a doubt on.

Arn.
'Tis pity from thy refuge of delusion
To drive thee thus; but know, the Roman scouts
Are in, and bring report, a reënforcement
Is near at hand. Rome asks no more delay;
(Enter Octavian from the tent.)
And Norma, who has used her potency
To ruin Gaul—Rome's purpose being served—
Is now in the enemy's hands a prisoner,
And soon shall be the common scoff of the camp.

Oct.
(With drawn sword.)
Out, renegade!—I'll not profane my sword
With thy foul blood.—O! gentle wife, forgive me
That thou wert so unhedged by care of mine
Such rude accost befell thee.

Nor.
But I knew
'Twas false—false—false, Octavian. Sheathe thy sword.
Nay, thou shalt not so soon resist me. Sheathe it. (He obeys.)


Arn.
(Aside.)
Caresses! Blandishments! As I do live,
Both are enamored! O, the yielding fool!
The shallow milksop! In his own noose caught!
And, after all my diligence of hate,
Have I so blundered that my enemy
Finds the bright crown of her felicity
Wrought from the deadly substance of my curse?

Oct.
And didst thou think to make me the blind tool
Of thy revenge?—Against a woman, too?
A prisoner she? Thou liest! Unfaithful I?
Again thou liest!

Arn.
The end's not yet, my lord.
The time may come—

Oct.
If thou canst bring it—ay!
We'll circumscribe thy means.
(Beckons off. Enter Soldiers, who arrest Arnulf.)
The air of Rome
Shall ventilate thy temper till 'tis sweeter.

Arn.
Rome! Well, dear friends, should we ne'er meet again,—

Oct.
We shall not languish. No more words! Away!

[Exeunt Arnulf and Soldiers.
Nor.
Alas! that hate should be as strong almost—
Almost as love!—No! Not as ours, for that,
Attainment but makes stronger.

Oct.
And more strong!
Come, Norma, all is ready for thy journey.
I'll walk beside thy litter to the outposts,
And we'll discuss the future. True it is
An army of assistance is approaching.

Nor.
Therefore shall it be easier to make peace,
And give to Gaul a ruler in Octavian.

Oct.
Who shall owe all—all to the hand beloved!

[Exeunt