University of Virginia Library

Scene IV.

—The Gardens of the Convent of St. Conon.— The Monk Balbinus and an Acolyte.
Balbinus.
The hour is nigh; anon the Count shall come,
And if, as I am bid believe, alone,
He shall return no more. Take thou this scroll;
'Tis for the Captain of the Fort; stand close
Behind yon statue of St. Isidore;
Observe us well, and should I cross myself
Fly with it to the Fort; but should I bend
And clasp my hands, slink through the thicket hence
And meet me at the sacristy. Stop, stay;
Not that way or you meet him. This way; see.

[Exeunt.
Enter Comnenus.
Comnenus.
Midnight is past; yon western rim of light
Is sunken and obscured: not gone though yet:
The brow of night is pale—pale, but how lovely!
Quieter far than life, than death less dark;
A voiceless revelation of the things
Which lost their names when Eden was no more.

Balbinus.
(behind).
Cherub and Seraph be your blessing here!

Comnenus.
But lo! the names are left; oblivion gulfed
The nature, essence, notion—not the name;
So honoured be the all that earth lost not.
I, willing that all words should have their use,
Accepted these for watchwords.—Peace, come forth.

Balbinus.
Cherub and Seraph—

Comnenus.
Bring thy body forth,
So I may deem that heavenly voice incarnate;
Come, come, thou know'st me.

Enter Balbinus.
Balbinus.
Holy Mary Mother!
My Lord, you're louder than the bell for matins!
You'll rouse the brotherhood.

Comnenus.
Which it did never.

Balbinus.
To come amongst your enemies alone!
It is mere madness, so I bade him say;
Perilling alike yourself and me that screen you.

Comnenus.
Thy counsel whether I should come or not,
Was never asked; I sent to bid thee hither
And finding thee am satisfied. Alone
I have not come, save for the last half mile;
Seest thou yon upland; in the dell beyond
A hundred horse are browsing.

Balbinus.
Gracious Powers!
You do not purpose an attack?

Comnenus.
Not yet;
Unless perchance my person were betrayed.

Balbinus.
Surely, my Lord, you question not my faith.

Comnenus.
I cannot doubt that it behoves thee keep it.

Balbinus.
Pardon me there! though plighted faith still binds,
The rashness of a chief might cast in doubt
Which side is safest.

Comnenus.
Not a whit, Sir, no;
By whichsoever is espoused, by that
'Tis safest to abide. Be thou aware
It were a fatal error shouldst thou dream
That thou couldst secretly espouse my cause
And change thy mind at will as things fall out.
Thou stand'st committed to the issue; yea
My good or evil fortunes thou shalt share.

Monk.
My Lord, have I desired or more or less?

Comnenus.
And if, the while, cross tides shall run me hard,
And then some subtle spirit in thine ear
Whisper “Change sides,” with this thou shalt make head
Against that subtle spirit,—thou shalt say,—
“Count Isaac, in his cunning malice, bent
That none be left unscathed if he be smitten,
May have bethought him to leave proof behind
Of all our dealings—proof whereof the tithe
Were all-sufficient in the Patriarch's hands
To doom me to that peace his Church accords
To her false brethren.”—In the hour of trial
Thus shalt thou fortify thy better mind.

Monk.
My Lord, a cruel stratagem is yours,
If I must needs believe this done, to fix
Your follower's faith; but I am yours till death,
Though sorely wronged.

[Bending low and clasping his hands.
Comnenus.
Invidious it were
To justify to thee the cutting off
Of that safe second turn which should insure,
Lose they that might, a winning game to thee.
To justify is not my present need;
To have explained suffices.—By the night,
The compline has been done this hour, and now
My cousin might come forth.

Monk.
Not here, my Lord;
The trees are ranker to the left, where now
She doubtless waits you: in the cloister near
Your sister will keep watch; on this side I.
The path is at your hand.