University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

The Presence Chamber. Courtiers, &c., Bertram, Bertolo, Lenette, Jacinta, Antonio, &c.
BERTRAM.

Will they not come? Who'll go a voyage for tidings?

JACINTA.

I for on.

BERTRAM.

And I; one and one make two.

BERTOLO.

An thou dost so readily multiply, one and one shall make three.

ANTONIO.

Nay, he was ever quick at numbers,—'tis his vocation.

BERTRAM.

Heed them not, Jacinta.

JACINTA.

I!—I speak with my cheeks.

ANTONIO.

Aye, so they grow roses; may a man touch at these, and defy rain.

JACINTA.
(striking him).

So he fear not the thunder.

BERTRAM.

Ha! ha! by my lute, well stormed!

ANTONIO.

Swearest thou by cat-gut?

BERTRAM.

Aye, a string of oaths, that of thee spake the wise Arnaultz:—

More foolish than fat,
And more feeble than that.

(He thrums his guitar.)
ANTONIO.

Hast thou more of like matter?

BERTRAM.

Needs it?

ANTONIO.

Aye, to sing thyself into a fever with—then if thou lackest leech, I will blood thee.

BERTRAM.

Wilt thou? thy fee shall be the fee-simple of thy length in land.

LENETTE.

Sirs, my lady cometh, let this end.

BERTOLO.

Certes! it were ill brawling, and she so gentle.

ANTONIO.

I sheathe my tongue.

BERTRAM.

And I:—are they at hand?

LENETTE.

Do you not see the people how they press her for a smile? They have but one voice for her name, and one heart to bless it.

ANTONIO.

Yet she smileth little.

LENETTE.

For the very good cause meseems, that she hath none.

JACINTA.

Thou sayest it!—the Marquis looketh but ill pleased.

LENETTE.

He hath nought in this greeting, and liketh it nought; but they enter.

Enter Marquis, Griselda, and Attendants, amid the rejoicing of the people.
OMNES.
Health to the lady Griselda!

[Pietro kneels.
GRISELDA.
Why kneel'st thou, good Pietro?

PIETRO.
To lay in loving words the people's greeting
At thy kind feet.

GRISELDA.
(raising him).
Thus let me lift it then
As high as to my heart. (To Frederigo, a Courtier)

And wherefore thou?

FREDERIGO.
Long time ago I spake ill things of thee,
Which sin thy gentle pity punished most,—
I sue for pardon, where these have thy love.

GRISELDA.
Thanks for thy bettered thought, if thou lack'st mine,
Keep thy heart light, good friend!

OMNES.
Long live our lady!

MARQUIS.
Lords and leal hearts, my lady hath no phrase
To stead her gratefulness, but she doth mind,
Some half-score summers back this very day,
Fair Sirs! how stiffly your joints bent to her:
Sweet dames! how scornfully ye crown'd the braids,
Whose tiring-women were but Health and Youth:
Sith she stands better; let this late-got grace
Make a late-given thing not less a gift.

OMNES.
Long live lord Walter!

MARQUIS.
to Griselda.
I prithee play the clerk;
Thou bad'st me tell thee my last news from Rome.

BERTOLO.
(aside).
A revel, I warrant ye.

LENETTE.
Or a tourney.

ANTONIO.
Three days' fiesta, and the fountains to run wine.

BERTOLO.
Nay 'tis a bull; mark but the broad sigil of it.

BERTRAM.
Baccho! what cometh?

ANTONIO.
Hold thy peace! she reads.
[Griselda first glances at the paper and extends it doubtfully to the Marquis, who signs command. She descends slowly from her throne, and taking off her crown lays it at Walter's feet.

GRISELDA.
Good friends! our Holy Father,
Who hath on earth the keys to bind and loose,
Doth herein freely
Loose our most noble lord and this fair state
From an unworthy wife and unfit lady.
(They raise a confused murmur of discontent.)
Nay, let me end;—and lest this palace lack
A queenly presence, and Saluzzo's house
For lack of young ones fail—

MARQUIS.
Canst not thou read?

GRISELDA.
Aye, Sir!—it granteth leave and faculty
Of a fresh spousal and new wedding vows,
None other hindrance letting than the old.

(She returns the paper.)
MARQUIS.
Why so? ye scowl upon me, and your hands
Play with your dagger-hilts; ye bade me wive,
I took a wife; ye held her all too base
To breed you kings, I sent them otherwhere
Those that she bore: now will I for your loves
Marry me royally, what would ye else?
[To Griselda.
Certes, Griselda, it was pleasance dear
To call thee wife, not I from what I chose
Sunder my heart; but what a serf holds safe
A king must love and lose,—and, sooth to say,
She that shall have thy place is distant hence
Only a two-days' stage.

GRISELDA.
The high God guard her!
It shall be void! (After a pause.)
It may be that a queen
Should speak a braver speech to keep a crown,
But I—ah memory! I think not on that,
Something I need to say. Thou ledd'st me here;
In show thy equal wife, in heart thy servant,—
Thy mindful servant. And so have I been;
And so I thank thee now for thy long love,
And so—I yield it.

MARQUIS.
Why then! this goes well!
As thou art patient-hearted, take with thee,
I give it of my grace, what dower ye brought me.

GRISELDA.
Thou wottest, Walter, that I brought thee none.
My lord, why sayest thou that? this ring is thine,
Ah, the good God! how gentle and how kind
Thou wert that day; these braveries be thine,—
Rich gifts of lost love, here I render them,—
And this,—and these; they have no lustre less,
'Tis love that is not old, as when 'tis new.
The remnant of your jewels ready be,
I kept them safe, as I kept all sweet words,
And looks, and thoughts of thine; only these last
Are heart-stores, and I cannot render them;
The others thou shalt have, for with them all
Ye decked me of your grace; but for the dower,
Sooth of my bringing, there is none to take;
For faith, and first-love, and my maiden name,
And what poor praise my village beauty had,
Came with me here, and I shall leave them here;
And beside these, I had not—save the weeds
They stripped me of, long lost: my robes are there,
(She takes off her velvet gown and mantle.)
But these are thine, I am so wholly thine
That thou canst shame me, taking what is thine;
Yet out of pity, for dear honour's sake,
Give one gift more, and let me not go hence
Smockless. They are not here to speak for me,
Yet I did bear thee children. Ah, good lord!
It cannot be thy will,—though 'tis thy word,—
To send their mother gazed at from thy gate,
Naked and shamed.

MARQUIS.
The smock upon thy back
Let it rest there, and bear it forth with thee.

[Exit Marquis.
PIETRO.
By our lady, this shall not go thus!

OMNES.
No, no!

LENETTE.
Madam! Madam! take again thy crown.

OMNES.
Aye, it shall not off!

ANTONIO.
Oh! thou noble patience, oh my idle blade!
Good lady! let me draw it.

OMNES.
Out blades all,
She shall be only queen!

GRISELDA.
Good people, peace!
Thou wearest that steel to guard thy lord, Antonio.
Lenette take these, and see the jewels safe.
I thank you all, I thank you much. Farewell!

[Exit Griselda, the people following.