 | The sons of Usna |  |
ACT III.
SCENE I.
A Private Apartment in the Palace of the King of Duntrone. Enter Eogan Mor to the King.EOGAN MOR.
Great King! we have most joyful news for you.
KING.
What news?
EOGAN MOR.
We have just captured that rare queen—
Naisa's wife.
KING.
Naisa's wife?
40
His wife.
[Aside.
Now will I take revenge upon them all!
KING.
How was it done? In battle?
EOGAN MOR.
No—at sea.
KING.
At sea?
EOGAN MOR.
At sea—far out upon the waves.
It seems she had grown jealous of her lord,
For kissing your own daughter, so she says.
KING.
My daughter?
EOGAN MOR.
Your Darthula, so she says;
And so had started back for Erin's Isle.
KING.
My daughter, did she say?
EOGAN MOR.
Thine own fair child.
KING.
Why jealous of my daughter? Bring her forth.
But stay; relate to me the circumstance.
EOGAN MOR.
It seems she had grown jealous of her lord,
And, growing weary of her outdoor life,
Had started back for Erin's eastern shore—
Perhaps to soothe King Conor with her charms;
So, when she rowed out far upon the waves,
She looked like Thetis, in her Nautilus Shell,
Going to marry Peleus in her Halls
Of Pearl—the Tritons, with their trumps marine—
Heralds of her felicity—blowing so loud,
Old Neptune, in his chariot of pure gold,
Reined in his great Sea-Horses, where he paused,
Listening, entranced, to their immortal strains
Poured forth in salutation to their queen;
While Nereus rode upon his spouting whales,
Driving his Ships of Dolphins on to join
Old Proteus herding his Sea-Bulls, until
They came where Doris with her daughters stood
On the bare sands, solacing the sorrows of the Sea—
Making such heavenly music, that the souls
Of all who heard were ravished with the bliss of Heaven.
Like an Egyptian Pharos, seen far out
At sea, translucent all along the coast
Of Alexandria, towered she to our eyes,
Sailing along, soothing the troubled waves
To quiet with her beauty, as she went.
KING.
Then bring her forth to me.
EOGAN MOR.
I will, great King.
[Exit.
KING.
So she is caught at last. Being so full
Of jealousy, can I not win her now
With ease? She shall be mine. But here she comes.
Re-enter Eogan Mor, bringing in Daidra.
Come, my Atlanta! Apples of pure gold,
In pitchers of rich silver, shall be thine.
DAIDRA.
Would you make me a Goldfinch?
KING.
No, my love;
A Bird of Paradise, whose golden tones
Shall ravish Angels' ears with heavenly songs;
For who has gold has power, as heavenly thoughts.
Thy face is like the full-orbed Moon, seen when
There are no clouds in Heaven.
DAIDRA.
It may be fair,
But it resembles her in nothing else—
I never change.
KING.
But thou art always full—
Yet, ever new.
DAIDRA.
Yet, always old to all
Except my husband.
KING.
Ever new in love;
In beauty never old. But then the Moon
Is never full till farthest from the Sun.
DAIDRA.
Then I am not like her, for I do shine
The brightest nearest to my lord—the spring
And fountain-head of all my light.
KING.
Then you
Are not his Moon—he, therefore, not your Sun;
As you resemble her in nought but light,
And he in nothing—
DAIDRA.
More than Majesty.
41
Silence is golden.
DAIDRA.
Silver speech is praise
Sweeter than golden silence to the good,
Whose ear can only hear immortal songs.
KING.
Therefore so rare.
DAIDRA.
Costly as rare; therefore
Called golden.
KING.
Woman's tongue was never charmed.
DAIDRA.
Never to silence—(Sirens were not men,
But women)—only when her lord is nigh—
When golden adoration speaks his praise,
Louder than silver speech.
KING.
But still it charms.
Thou art, indeed, the Gift of God.
DAIDRA.
Unbought—
Unsold—but given away of God—to Heaven.
KING.
A perfect saint.
DAIDRA.
Married forever more;
Dead to the world, but still alive to Heaven.
KING.
Where thou wert born to live—the Heaven of Heaven.
When Jupiter wooed Danae with his shower,
It was an Emblem of his purity—
His love being like an April rain, poured out
In bounty on her.
DAIDRA.
Jupiter was false—
A God-chameleon—who took all shapes
To gain the object of his love.
KING.
Because
His love was only equalled by his will.
DAIDRA.
Kings can command gold, but not love. That which
Is not the slave of will, cannot be willed.
KING.
I, who can command gold, can give thee love
No gold can buy—two of the greatest things
On earth—Emblems of highest things in Heaven—
The City of God being built of pure gold;
Therefore, is full of love—God being love.
DAIDRA.
Having all I want, I wish no more—my want
Ending where it begins.
KING.
But I will put
A Diadem upon your brow, whose gems
Shall sparkle like the Pleiades on some
Dark night.
DAIDRA.
I cannot wear two crowns—the one
Now glorifying it, being my husband's love;
This starred with brilliants of immortal deeds—
His mind being a mine of glories.
KING.
Well,
You speak his praises well!
DAIDRA.
The good should be
Well praised—blown through a trump of virgin gold—
Touched by the Altar-coal of Heaven.
KING.
Thy lips
Are gold enough—thy breath Apollo's lute—
Sweeter than perfumes from the fairest flowers—
As Hybla bees had made thy mouth their hive—
The rosiest Rose that ever bloomed on earth—
Blowing thy praises through the world to Heaven.
DAIDRA.
You Kings have nothing else to do but love.
KING.
We know better than Plebeians how to love;
Therefore, the more deserving of the fair.
Cupid they teach to sport with Venus' Doves,
As once Adonis did in Paphian Bowers—
Feeding rich Beauty on the Bread of Heaven.
Thy voice has stolen the music of the skies—
Making melodious all my thoughts; thy tongue,
Striking the rosy bell of thy sweet mouth
Jewelled with priceless pearls, to heavenly tones,
Above all music, save the Saints in Heaven.
But what is your Naisa, my dear queen?
DAIDRA.
An evergreen—green as the eternal Spring
42
A living Paradise.
KING.
Does this green tree
Bear yellow fruit?
DAIDRA.
It is the Angels' food;
His leaves are medicine that can heal the world.
KING.
'Tis Angels' food if thou dost eat the fruit.
DAIDRA.
Would you make flowerless Winter Lord of May?
KING.
No! but sumptuous Summer husband Spring.
DAIDRA.
Why, thou art old enough to be my sire!
KING.
Yet young enough to take good care of thee.
DAIDRA.
I fear your age would cause me too much care.
KING.
I will make thee the happiest queen on earth.
Glorious as the Sun—bright as the Moon!
The Heralds of thy felicity shall be
Bright-shining Pleiades of fairest Maids;
Thy Servitors, like rich Orion's bands,
Princes of noblest blood.
DAIDRA.
But what are these
To the bright Constellations of pure thought
Which people the cloudless Heaven of my true soul,
Of which Naisa is the god? Mere nought.
KING.
What is this powerless God compared with me?
DAIDRA.
A Cedar Tree standing on Lebanon—
On whose ambrosial boughs grow that sweet fruit,
Which mortals, feeding on, shall turn to Gods—
Adding new Æons to the Angels' lives.
Give me the crystal waters of his love,
Melted from snows on the Aonian Mount,
And you may have the Ruby Springs you vaunt.
While you drink wine, he drinks from Helicon.
KING.
A Hell-I-Co-ny-an drink, no doubt.
DAIDRA.
Such waters flow out of the throne of God;
But never wine—which flows from thrones of Kings;
Therefore, the difference between you two.
As wine to water, so are you to him.
KING.
Which is the better, pray?
DAIDRA.
The wine for you—
Water for him.
KING.
Which costs the most?
DAIDRA.
The wine—
Therefore the worse. That which is really good,
Costs nothing—being above all price.
KING.
Most true—
Applied to you—but not to wine.
DAIDRA.
All things;
For what is really good, we cannot buy,
Because essential to our being; this
We give away as God does life to man—
Freely—unasked—because we love—for love
Is giving—born not of the will, but lives
Whether we will or not—just as we do.
Who loves will give, as he who gives will love.
KING.
Most true; therefore, I give myself to thee.
DAIDRA.
For whom I cannot now exchange myself,
Because I am not mine to give—but his.
KING.
Thou art more beautiful than that fair queen
Who won the Apple prized on Ida's Mount—
The heavenly Queen of Beauty, as of Love.
I am the Paris who will crown thy head
With diadems of conquered worlds. Be mine,
And thou shalt be the Queen of Scotland's King.
DAIDRA.
I am Naisa's queen—who is thy King,
Because, by Nature, greater than thou art.
KING.
Alas! “Non omnia possimus omnes;”
Not all who possess, can possess all things.
My name is Capricorn.
43
Not Capricornia mine.
KING.
Thou art my Tree of Heaven, on whose white boughs
Sit Angel-thoughts, like heavenly Nightingales,
Singing immortal songs.
DAIDRA.
None but my mate
Can rightly understand; for they are couched
In Love's celestial tongue—golden with truth.
KING.
A heavenly Tree must bring forth heavenly fruit—
Like the rich Orange flowering while it bears.
Let me but taste those bursting buds through which
Thy perfumed breath doth waft thy sighs of love,
Like prayers of Saints exhaled with joy to Heaven—
Edening my soul!
[Attempting to kiss her.
DAIDRA.
Take care! Art thou a King?
KING.
Therefore I wish to kiss my queen.
DAIDRA.
If so,
Then show the dignity of a King. You know
A true King will protect his subjects; do
So now to me—thrown suddenly in your power.
I am a woman—as you truly know—
A married woman, who does love her lord.
The courtesy that you would have him show your wife,
Were she alone, as I am now, show me,
And I will bless you in my grave.
KING.
Fear not;
But then your beauty tempted me.
DAIDRA.
Be not
Thus tempted—like poor silly Eve, who brought,
Thereby, such woe upon the world; but live
Above temptation. Kings, who have the power
To conquer others, should subdue themselves.
He who can do this is the only king.
KING.
Have I not done so, that I stand thus far,
Seeing the heavenly fruit, yet touch it not?
DAIDRA.
You do, great King—you do. Had Eve but done
As you do now, looked at the fruit, not touched,
The world would have been saved from Death by Sin—
And Christ would not have died upon the Cross!
Your fortitude is worthy of all praise.
Were I Daidra—not Naisa's wife—
Seeing thee this majestic thing thou art—
I would not husband this Forbidden Tree,
But let thee taste one apple from its boughs.
KING.
Would it were so. Indeed it must be so.
DAIDRA.
For the Forbidden Tree in Paradise,
What was it, but an emblem of myself?
As it belonged to God, so I to him.
As he forbade the eating of its fruit,
Because it had been planted there by Him,
So does he every man from touching me;
Therefore, because of thy great fortitude,
Who, being tempted, yet refused to sin,
After thy death—if thou shouldst ever die—
I will have graven upon thy tombstone—King!
KING.
The richest Epitaph that ever graced
A Tomb, or sung the virtues of a King.
The more I see of thee, the more I love,
Which, loving, only makes me long the more
For thy sweet Beauty, which to me is Heaven!
DAIDRA.
Thus does the Christian diadem the King—
Towering above the valley-lands of Time,
Like the twin peaks of Ararat above
The Deluge that destroyed the world—the first
And last resting-place of the light of Heaven.
KING.
Thou art the Incarnation of God's love—
Meeker than Mercy—gentler than sweet Sleep—
And sinless as Religion.
DAIDRA.
Thou the Alps,
Above the Oberlands of other men.
KING.
Thy feet are here on earth—thy head in Heaven
Among the stars—too high for me to reach—
Beside whose golden throne the Angels sit,
Singing eternal praises on thy name.
Nothing can make me happy but thy love;
I would be Adam—thou my Eve with me
In Paradise, didst thou but only love.
[Exeunt
44
SCENE II.
A beautiful Flower Garden. Enter Ardan and Darthula as in conversation.ARDAN.
But, love! the beauty of thy heavenly face
Makes me forget what I had come to do.
DARTHULA.
Then you had other business here besides
Thus meeting me?
ARDAN.
And glad am I I had.
My brother's wife is here?
DARTHULA.
She is—confined
In strict seclusion by my father's power.
ARDAN.
Alas! alas! but were you so confined?
DARTHULA.
May God forbid I ever shall be so.
ARDAN.
But were you so, what would you do to be
Released?
DARTHULA.
Do anything.
ARDAN.
Would you not bless
The hand that had released you?
DARTHULA.
That I would.
ARDAN.
Then why not set her free?
DARTHULA.
But how? how can
I set her free? My father's wrath would take
My life.
ARDAN.
No, he would not; he would not have
The chance—for I would save you from all harm.
Can you not set her free?
DARTHULA.
I can but try.
ARDAN.
Then do, for God's dear sake, do all you can!
Naisa is deranged about his wife.
Although he is thy father, set her free,
And fond Naisa will reward you with
Eternal gratitude.
DARTHULA.
It shall be done.
ARDAN.
Do it for my dear sake. Go, now—yes, now!
Nothing but this would urge me to say—go!
But, for her sake—for his—for mine—go now!
DARTHULA.
I will. Farewell.
ARDAN.
Farewell! God guard thy steps.
[Exeunt severally.
SCENE III.
The interior of a Druidical Temple. Caffa discovered alone. Enter Lavercam.CAFFA.
Blest Lavercam! you are most welcome here!
LAVERCAM.
I come to get the golden Hook to cut
The Mistletoe bough.
CAFFA.
Well, you shall have it soon.
A glorious Reaper thou hast ever been
To me—reaping that rich reward on earth
Which thou shalt reap again in Heaven.
LAVERCAM.
God grant
I may.
CAFFA.
So do the Saints above now reap
Eternal joys—Slessama walking with
Naomi's Ruth, reaping the Fields of Bliss.
LAVERCAM.
So do I hope to gather golden grain
Into the Adamantine Pyramid Bins
Of Heaven.
CAFFA.
Then thine inheritance is hope
In the fruition—not the faith that points
To things unseen—that being buried in
A golden coffin in the silver grave
Of thy good works. Thy Tree is full of fruit.
Thy voice is like the Autumn of the year
In Paradise.
LAVERCAM.
Why not the Summer-time?
CAFFA.
Because the rich perfection of the Spring,
As Autumn is of both.
LAVERCAM.
Thy voice doth sound
Like Summer in the Spring-time of my love.
45
What good time of the year is this?
LAVERCAM.
'Tis Spring.
CAFFA.
I thought it our first Sabbath-day in Heaven.
LAVERCAM.
'Tis always Sunday to the souls who love.
CAFFA.
Because Eternity is in their time.
All years to them being but one long day of love—
That day the immortal Sabbath of their souls.
LAVERCAM.
You talk as one who knew the mysteries
Of Heaven.
CAFFA.
And thou the Ænigma of the grave.
For he who goes to God's school will come back learned
In all the infinite riches of the skies.
A perfect lover is the only King—
Love being the only Kingdom come on earth.
LAVERCAM.
Because the Incarnation of God's will—
True marriage being the life to come in this.
CAFFA.
Then we are wedded in the life to come;
For we do live a life of perfect love.
Then we are one in heart as one in soul—
Cemented by that talismanic Seal of Love
Engraven with the Magic Name of God—
Elohim-Ben-Rooakh all around;
For whichsoever way you turn the stone,
Like Solomon's connubial ring, it will
Reveal celestial beauties ever new.
LAVERCAM.
Thy tongue has touched the Altar-coal of Heaven—
Wearing Ezekiel's inkhorn by thy side,
Thy soul is plumed for early flight to Heaven.
CAFFA.
Is not memory the essence of our life,
Through which we live our halcyon days again?
Man has two Edens; one, his youth in time—
The other in Eternity in Heaven.
Midway between these two now stand our souls;
The first is our sweet Youth when near to Heaven;
The other our old Age, when nearer still.
LAVERCAM.
Then why lament the loss of our sweet youth,
When we have promises from God that we
Shall have far richer ones in Heaven, from which
There never shall be any going out?
CAFFA.
Thy words are sweeter far than life to me.
LAVERCAM.
I am most glad they taste sweet to thy lips;
They are forbidden fruit to all besides.
We are instructed to be pure as God.
In hoping to be pure, we grow more so—
Growing the more like Him, the more we hope.
CAFFA.
It is not, then, in any place on earth,
We are to find the Eden that we seek,
But in the Edenic lives of our own souls;
For he who lives the heavenly life on earth,
Will be in Heaven, for Heaven will be in him.
As Paradise was known but by its flowers,
So can we judge the quality of a man,
By the rich fruit he bears. Come in.
LAVERCAM.
I will.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
A Private Apartment in the Palace of the King of Duntrone. Enter King.KING.
Eogan Mor! come forth to me!
Enter Eogan Mor.
EOGAN MOR.
My lord!
KING.
Where is Darthula? bid her come to me.
[Exit Eogan Mor.
By my immortal soul! I will not rest
Until I know the truth.
Enter Darthula.
Come close to me.
Who set Daidra free? tell me the truth!
For by my hopes of rest in Heaven! it were
Eternal death in Hell for you to lie!
Who set her free?
DARTHULA.
Father! you are not mad—
Not angry with Darthula—your dear child?
KING.
No—I'm not mad, but wish to know the truth;
Now tell it me! I left her in your care—
And you must know who let her out.
DARTHULA.
I do.
46
Then tell me who? for, by my soul! he shall
Not live an hour!
DARTHULA.
Even were it your own child?
KING.
Not even mine own dear child. This I have sworn!
DARTHULA.
Then, father! I can never tell.
KING.
Why not?
Now, by my soul! I know who let her out!
Thou didst thyself! thou most ungrateful child!
Speak! tell the truth! tell me if thou didst not!
DARTHULA.
I cannot, father! for my life!
KING.
Base child.
Is this the thanks you give me for your life?
DARTHULA.
No, father! not for that.
KING.
What then? what then?
DARTHULA.
The same that thou didst put her there—for love.
KING.
Didst love her better than thy father then?
DARTHULA.
Not half so well—the thousandth part so well.
But father loves her better than his child—
Else she would not be doomed to die for her!
Is it not strange a father should so love?
Oh! father! do not look upon me thus,
But love me that I set her free.
KING.
Ah! ha!
Then thou didst set her free? Then, by my God!
Nothing but thy quick death can please my soul!
Eogan Mor! come forth!
Enter Eogan Mor.
Conduct this wretch
Back to the place from whence she let Daidra out;
After which bring me back the key—Away!
[Exeunt omnes.
SCENE V.
A Druidical Grove. Enter Caffa attended by Lucifer.CAFFA.
But tell me, Lucifer—answer me this:
Who was the greatest in the Angel-World,
Great Lucifer, or Man?
LUCIFER.
The Angel-Man—
He was the greatest in the Spirit-World.
CAFFA.
But how did all men fall when Adam fell?
LUCIFER.
Just as the Angels fell with Lucifer.
Men are to Adam as they were to him.
No Angel has been honored with his name.
The highest title ever given to Man,
Was given to Christ when He was called God-Man.
CAFFA.
Indeed, a most unblushing flatterer.
LUCIFER.
I tell thee this to show thee what thou art—
What thou couldst never know till after death.
Thine origin is very great—for thou
Wert made in God's own image—pure.
CAFFA.
How low
We are compared with what we were.
LUCIFER.
Although
This earth is far from Heaven, yet, thou art far
From being wise in saying so. Thou art
As ignorant of the earth as of the place
From whence you fell. Was not the form of Christ
Man's form? It was Man's body glorified.
Why was it glorified? To show what he
Was formerly—what he must be again,
When he returns back to the Eden-World.
CAFFA.
The difference between what thou hast been—
What thou art now—how great!
LUCIFER.
It is the same
With Man.
CAFFA.
If Lucifer was placed so far
Beneath the Angel-Man in Heaven, why is
His wisdom greater here on earth?
LUCIFER.
Because
Man's body stands between his soul and God.
47
Thou art not corporeal then?
LUCIFER.
When thou
Hast learned sufficient wisdom, thou wilt know
That there are different bodies in the world.
CAFFA.
If Man was made above great Lucifer,
Why does he not subdue him in this world?
LUCIFER.
Because he has forgotten what he was.
CAFFA.
You are inferior to the Angel-Man,
That you would tempt him to be like yourself?
LUCIFER.
Oh, no—I do it but to see how much
A noble Spirit will degrade itself.
CAFFA.
Which makes
The Devil laugh.
LUCIFER.
Would you not laugh were you
The Devil?
CAFFA.
Rather weep.
LUCIFER.
That shows again—
Although you may not think of it—how high
The Angel-Man is over Lucifer.
The one was made to weep, the other—smile.
CAFFA.
But tell me, why was Man turned out of his
Jerusalem above?
LUCIFER.
That he might pass
From his probation back to Heaven again.
It was by wisdom that the worlds were made;
By wisdom shall he be restored to joy again.
Ignorance has been the curse of all mankind.
It is enough to make the Devil laugh,
To think his shoulders are so broad. He is
The scapegoat of the sins of all mankind!
CAFFA.
But Lucifer would reign against God's will.
LUCIFER.
God's will! How could he reign against His will?
God made his soul to reign against His will?
This is absurd.
CAFFA.
That is upon the Scroll.
LUCIFER.
I cannot will against God's will. Will is
An attribute of soul.
CAFFA.
But it is free.
LUCIFER.
Most true. But freedom is to do God's will.
My life is but the breath of God in me.
Then tell me how he fell?
CAFFA.
He fell this wise:
By willing to abuse God's will in him.
LUCIFER.
But this were making it God's will to sin;
That he should will to do just what he did—
No more—else he had been God's equal long
Ago.
CAFFA.
Satan, you mean.
LUCIFER.
This will is Satan in
The Man. What is thy will, but this—to be
Superior to all men? I know you wish
To doubt my word, but it is true; for though
The Devil should speak truth as true as Heaven,
Yet, still he would not be believed—although
A truth on earth is but a truth in Heaven.
Is not the sun a symbol of God's love?
The bright expression of His love for Man?
Show me the Man who does not love his light.
It is by wisdom that we know this truth,
Which is to Man what light is to the earth.
What are the spheres in Heaven, but God's deep love
For Man, expressed in syllables of worlds?
He who can gaze upon the stars, at night,
And read not in them God's eternal love
For Man, in wonderful display, is not
The being God intended him to be.
CAFFA.
But when did Satan first appear to Man?
LUCIFER.
After the Sabbath of celestial rest.
CAFFA.
Oh! Satan! Satan! thou art wondrous wise!
LUCIFER.
It is long suffering that has made me so.
Those who believe that Man was made of earth,
May take a different ground—perhaps in Hell—
48
And, knowing, speak the truth.
CAFFA.
Ah! now we change
Our natures, for I laugh, while you should weep.
LUCIFER.
Yes, in thine ignorance, in knowing not
What you desire to know—what now thou art—
What thou hast been. He who does not believe
He was not made of earth, can never be
Above what he is now—but shall be less.
CAFFA.
I know Man's spirit is a part of God.
LUCIFER.
Now thou hast spoken right.
CAFFA.
But tell me, where
Didst thou receive thy form? will it decay?
LUCIFER.
This form?—It is a duplicate of thine.
I am the shadow of thyself.
CAFFA.
Now, you
Astonish me!
LUCIFER.
Not more than you do me.
CAFFA.
How long before we shall begin to go
Back to our former state again?
LUCIFER.
When earth
Is purified to what she was before.
CAFFA.
Then Satan will be chained.
LUCIFER.
Be sent again
Back to his former state from whence he fell.
CAFFA.
God send that hour!—then Man will be at rest.
LUCIFER.
He suffers more from Man than Man from him.
CAFFA.
No man believes that Satan will be saved.
LUCIFER.
But did not Shiloh say he meant to put
All things under His feet? The last that He
Will conquer will be Death. Man, then, will die
No more. Sin, then, will have an end—which is
But saying Satan then will die. This proves
That Lucifer will be restored. For how
Can Satan live, if Sin, his wife, be dead?
Although this is not written on your Scroll,
Deny it, if you can!
CAFFA.
Then you betrayed
The very pride which caused your fall!
LUCIFER.
It is
A noble pride that speaks the truth. So you
Accuse not me, but Him who is all truth;
For that is part of Him, as I am part.
As gold is purified by fire, so is the soul
By wisdom—wisdom is the soul's pure fire.
CAFFA.
Ah! hadst thou not deceived mankind, there would
Have been no need of being restored.
LUCIFER.
If this were not a temporal state,
Could that be an eternal one in Heaven!
We are to change in this, that we may be
Like what we were in that—that we may know
The difference between that state and this.
CAFFA.
When will the curse be taken from the earth?
LUCIFER.
In the beginning here on earth of rest.
Then will the Jubilee of joy begin,
So long expected here on earth, to last
A thousand years. Then will all things be changed,
And made most perfect, as they were the day
That Satan entered Paradise. He who
Has not the linen garments on of truth
And holiness, will, at that hour, appear
Before their Master, as the Virgins did
Who had no oil within their lamps, therefore,
Appeared before the door too late at night
To see the marriage rite performed, or eat
The Banquet long made ready for the wise.
CAFFA.
Will Satan be restored with Man, or on
Some future day with other sinful souls?
LUCIFER.
No—afterwards. The highest spirits will
Be made partakers first.
CAFFA.
The Sabbath then
Will end on earth.
49
To be continued in
A new rejoicing in the Heaven of heavens.
[Exeunt severally.
SCENE VI.
A beautiful Grove in the vicinity of the Palace of the King of Duntrone. Enter Eogan Mor, bringing in Darthula.DARTHULA.
Oh! good Eogan Mor! what shall be done?
EOGAN MOR.
What done? You heard your father's dread commands?
DARTHULA.
I did. But would you, in cold blood, do what
He had commanded in the heat of passion?
EOGAN MOR.
That I must do, or die!
DARTHULA.
Then I must die!
Can you not save me from this cruel fate?
EOGAN MOR.
I would do anything to save your life—
Lay down my own!
DARTHULA.
Then save me from this death?
EOGAN MOR.
But what good turn will I receive?
DARTHULA.
Thanks—thanks—
Eternal thanks! deep gratitude through life,
And blest remembrance after death!
EOGAN MOR.
Fine pay.
But one thing can resist a King's commands.
DARTHULA.
Yes, there are two,—the love of innocent truth.
EOGAN MOR.
Nothing but love could brave his dread commands.
This love I feel for thee—long, long have felt!
For thou art dearer to my soul, than is
The ruby stream that waters this sad heart!
DARTHULA.
Then you will set me free?
EOGAN MOR.
Then I must die!
For to resist his dire commands, is death!
This I would do for thee, because I love!
Which makes me know my love is not returned.
DARTHULA.
Alas! save me from this impending fate!
And I will love you all my life till death!
EOGAN MOR.
There is but one way I can save your life—
By your becoming mine—then you are safe.
DARTHULA.
Where will you go?
EOGAN MOR.
Fly—fly to some far land,
Where we will live until the King relents.
DARTHULA.
Suppose we join with Usna's Sons?
EOGAN MOR.
No—no!
Better unite with Ulster than the Sons.
DARTHULA.
No, let us join great Usna's Sons; they will
Protect us, with the prowess of their arms,
Forever from the fury of his wrath!
EOGAN MOR.
No, I would rather join with Ulster's troops;
For Usna's Sons I hate as I do Hell!
DARTHULA.
Then follow his commands; perhaps, at some
Less passionate hour, he may relent.
EOGAN MOR.
Relent!
A word not found in the whole Book of Kings.
DARTHULA.
Then what am I to do?
EOGAN MOR.
Do as I say?
DARTHULA.
No, if you love me, as you say you do,
Join, then, with Usna's Sons.
EOGAN MOR.
Well, then, come on.
[Aside.
Now will I start, but never to return!
Nor will I ever join with Usna's Sons.
50
Come, my Darthula! fairest flower on earth!
I will not prove unworthy of thy love.
Now, then, for the Tent of Usna's noble Sons.
DARTHULA.
Remember, that I pledge myself to go,
Only on this condition,—that you bear
Me quickly from this Palace to their Tents?
EOGAN MOR.
I will. Come on. We must not tarry here;
For you must know our fate, should we be found
Loitering in conversation here.
DARTHULA.
I do.
Farewell, my father! most unkind—farewell!
I go to join my fate with Usna's Sons.
When we do meet again, I hope to find
Thine iron hate turned into softest down of love.
EOGAN MOR.
Farewell, old Palace! never more will thine
Old walls echo again the footsteps of
Eogan Mor!—farewell! a long farewell!
Now, then, that you have promised me to go,
I know your heart was in your mouth. Come on.
DARTHULA.
Eogan Mor, one thing I wish to know:
Why do you hate the Sons of Usna so?
EOGAN MOR.
Because they killed my father—brothers too—
The wolf of my revenge howls for their lives!
Like to a new-dug grave, as deep as wide,
My soul now hungers, thirsting for their souls.
For, know, I would be broken on the wheel,
Or suffer any torment under Heaven,
But to have full revenge upon their lives!
DARTHULA.
But was it not in battle they were slain?
EOGAN MOR.
It was—fighting for Conor's noble lives.
DARTHULA.
But were they not defending their own lives?
EOGAN MOR.
Just as you will—if you compare such lives
As theirs with my dear father's—brothers slain!
They are but plebeians at the best—mere slaves—
Aping to be what they can never be;
Living in tents, yet wishing to be Kings.
DARTHULA.
You only see the outside of their Tent—
Within sits Royalty divinely arrayed.
EOGAN MOR.
The David who has stolen Uriah's wife.
I left old Eman for thy father's house—
Waiting as vigilant as the Eye of Heaven,
Watching while shedding light on his great flock
Of Stars, peopling the unfenced Fields of Heaven,
Night after night, with pyrotechnial joy—
The day when Conor should exile them hence—
Throwing them in my power. That day has come—
Which I will make a Day among all days—
More noted than the rest of all the year—
Baptizing it, in name of kindred dear,
In the black blood of Usna's murderous Sons.
DARTHULA.
Eogan Mor! you frighten me with talk of blood!
EOGAN MOR.
What would you have me do? Submit to them?
Live tamely under mountain-loads of crime,
Piled on my soul as high as Heaven? foul deeds,
That cry from this high Mountain-top to God—
Revenge! revenge! revenge! What is this life,
Without the lives of those most dear to me?
Shall I walk earth—the same blest earth they walked—
Left desolate now that they are gone—baptized
In their most precious blood! they walk here too?
No! no! I tell thee—never! they must die!
The Earth lifts up her hands to Heaven in prayer,
Rethundering back God's Judgment,—Blood for blood!
The Heavens pour down their lightnings on my head,
Eternally, by day as by the night, in one
Immortal deluge of imperious wrath—
“Revenge! revenge thy father's—brothers' death!”
The prompting killing me with daily death,
Because I do not scourge them from the earth—
Usurping lives long forfeited to Heaven!
Enter Lavercam, unperceived.
LAVERCAM.
Beware of false Eogan Mor! Go not
To Ulster. Ardan waits for thee. Farewell.
[Exit.
51
What voice was that which spake to me? What? gone?
I hope I do beware of him.
EOGAN MOR.
I heard no voice.
What is the matter now? Thinking of Usna's Sons?
Is Ardan in thy soul? or Ainli? which?
[Aside.
If either, by the God of Heaven, or Hell,
Thou wilt repent that he was ever there!
For I do nourish scorpions in my soul—
Nestled in hot Hell-fire—to think of them!
[Alarums without.
What noise was that? the voice of Usna's Sons?
DARTHULA.
The voice of battle! my dear father's troops!
Coming to take revenge on his dear child!
Come, let us fly!
EOGAN MOR.
We will—to Erin's Isle.
Come on—we must not tarry here! Come—come!
[Exeunt.
SCENE VII.
The Highway. Enter Daidra attended by Lavercam. Loud alarms without.DAIDRA.
Oh! God! thou art a ministering Angel sure!
What noise was that?
LAVERCAM.
The noise of men of war.
Come—let us on; the Sons of Usna wait,
With most impatient fear, for our return.
DAIDRA.
Oh! God! then take me straight to them.
LAVERCAM.
This way.
DAIDRA.
Oh! what a simple thing I was to leave
Their Tent of Blessedness for this great woe!
LAVERCAM.
That you never should have done.
DAIDRA.
I know—
I know I never should; but then I did;
How sorry now! But will Naisa see
That I am sorry as I am—therefore,
Forgive me for the sin? this is my grief—
My greatest grief, for fear that he will not!
LAVERCAM.
Then fear no more—thy sins are all forgiven.
DAIDRA.
Then let us haste to him! for I do long
To pour my soul out at his feet in tears
Of penitential sorrow! Come—away!
Enter Eogan Mor attended by Darthula.
Oh! God! who do I see? Eogan Mor?
Darthula! is this you?
DARTHULA.
My dearest friend!
Whom have you here?
DAIDRA.
My dearest friend—as thine.
Whence are you bound?
DARTHULA.
To go with thee.
DAIDRA.
Then come.
EOGAN MOR.
No, she shall not—but go with me—you too—
Whence we are bound—to Erin's Isle. So, come.
DAIDRA.
No, never will we go with thee. How came
You with this man? He is our deadliest foe—
As well as Usna's Sons.
DARTHULA.
I know that well—
Nor would have come with him, had he not sworn
To take me straight to them.
EOGAN MOR.
By Hell! will you
Betray your traitorship to me! Then die!
[Attempts to stab her, but Lavercam wards off the blow.
DAIDRA.
Vile monster! we are proof against thy steel!
Alarums without. Enter Ardan in haste.
ARDAN.
Oh, God! Daidra! My Darthula here?
Thank Heaven! for this has been a blessed day!
[Embraces her.
EOGAN MOR.
But thou hast only looked upon the Morn!
The Evening has just risen upon high noon!
Look up above thy soul into my face,
And read thy night! Eogan Mor is here!
ARDAN.
Eogan Mor! I look upon thy Æthiop face,
And read the Mystic Characters of Death
And Hell.
52
That is the Scripture of thy doom!
ARDAN.
Thou art an Incarnation of black Hell!
EOGAN MOR.
That is the thunderous judgment of thy doom—
Welling down out of Heaven on thy damned soul!
Knowest thou who killed my father—brothers too?
For that black deed, the Sons of Usna all shall die!
ARDAN.
But on the ebon wall of thine own house,
I see engraven thine own fierce doom of death!
EOGAN MOR.
Thou dost behold awry thine own! Come on!
ARDAN.
No Son of Usna yet was ever born
To die by thee! We wear the Angels' robes.
EOGAN MOR.
Woven of sackcloth of the damned in Hell!
ARDAN.
Of golden tissue in the loom of Heaven.
EOGAN MOR.
Then I will tear the lamb's wool from thy back,
And show thy wolfish back to all Hell's dogs!
ARDAN.
The sight of naked Truth would strike thee blind!
As well attempt to look the noonday sun
Full in the face, as naked Truth.
EOGAN MOR.
Come on!
No more of parley now! Thy sun has risen
For the last time on earth—to set in blood!
ARDAN.
The Sun doth only rise, but never sets;
So man when seeming dead, but only lives—
There being no death unto the virtuous soul—
But one eternal Morn that knows no night.
EOGAN MOR.
Thy logic cannot save thee from thy doom!
The hour that I have prayed for now is come!
This hour thou hast to die! So, now, come on!
ARDAN.
I come—to crown thee with an iron crown,
And, after, set thee on thy throne in Hell!
[They fight desperately. Eogan Mor falls.
Exeunt Lavercam and Daidra.
EOGAN MOR.
Oh! God! oh! Hell! where are thy fiends? rise! rise!
And pour thy fiery thunders through my soul,
That I may blast this murderer from the earth!
[Striking in every direction at Ardan.
ARDAN.
Eogan Mor! I would not have thee die
With hatred in thy soul! I hate thee not—
Though thou wert sent by Conor for our lives!
Thou wilt not tarry long in Hell, before
Thy King will follow after thee. If thou
Wilt be as faithful there as here, he will,
No doubt, reward thee well—better than he
Could do on earth—for he will have more power—
Surrounded by so many faithful friends.
EOGAN MOR.
Oh! damnéd Fiend! thy steel was cold as ice!
But it has let Hell-fire in through the wound,
That scorches all my inward soul of life!
I go before! but thou shalt follow soon!
Oh, Conor! take revenge upon them all!
Remember thy last promise made to me!
I die—cursing them as I die—damned Fiends!
[Dies. Alarums without.
ARDAN.
Now will I on! Come, my Darthula! come!
[Exit.
SCENE VIII.
Naisa's Tent. Enter Daidra to Naisa. They sit down to play chess. A distant call is heard.NAISA.
Hark! hark! I heard a cry!
DAIDRA.
I heard no cry.
NAISA.
The cry, too, of a mighty Man of Chase!
Hark! the voice of a man of Erin calls!
DAIDRA.
That was no man of Erin called.
NAISA.
It was—
I know his voice!
53
Some man of Alba called.
NAISA.
That was some man of Erin cried!
DAIDRA.
Oh, no—
Rather a man of Alba, to my ear.
Let us play on.
NAISA.
No—that was Fergus' voice!
I know it well. Four times has he cried now,
And every time it sounded like his voice!
Enter Ardan.
Go, Ardan—see if Fergus has not come.
ARDAN.
I will—I think it was his voice.
DAIDRA.
Why does
He come?
NAISA.
Perhaps to visit us—or win
Us home again.
DAIDRA.
I knew it was his cry,
But would not say.
NAISA.
Why not, dear queen? Why not
Reveal your thought to me?
DAIDRA.
Because of that
Dread Vision which I saw last night in sleep!
NAISA.
What Vision, love? tell me thy dream.
DAIDRA.
I thought
I saw three Blackbirds fly in haste to me
From Eman of Macha, bearing in their beaks
Three cups of Honey, which they left with us,
Taking away with them three cups of Blood
From our rent hearts!
NAISA.
But how interpret you
This dream, dear love?
DAIDRA.
This wise,—That Fergus comes
With overtures of peace from Conor's Court.
For peace is sweet, though sent from vile men's lips—
As honey is made out of bitterest flowers.
If this be so, then we are surely lost!
NAISA.
Nay—Fergus would not bring such ruin to us.
He comes, perhaps, with Conor's overthrow,
And may have been long time in port. If so,
Ardan will bring him safe to us, when we
Will learn his object for this visit here.
DAIDRA.
Mind what I say—my dream foreboded ruin
To Usna's Sons!
NAISA.
Nay, think not so, dear love!
You make me sad to see you so. Dreams are
But dreams—to waking-hours like drops of dew
At noontide, fading into clouds of mist.
Come, be more cheerful; you will make me sad.
DAIDRA.
I would be if I could—but cannot be.
Would it had been a man of Alba's voice.
NAISA.
Is this the reason why you said it was?
DAIDRA.
It was.
NAISA.
I knew it was; then I was not
Deceived.
DAIDRA.
I did not mean you should.
NAISA.
Oh! God! how much I love this Perfect One,
Is only known to Him who is all love!
Come, let us go into our tent again,
And there make ready to receive our guest.
Re-enter Ardan with Fergus, his two Sons, and Callon, his Shield-bearer.
Friends of my soul! most welcome are you here!
Not Jove, by Hermes tended, was more welcome
To Philemon's fair home, than those dear friends
To Alba's happy land. Come, sit you down.
FERGUS.
We are most glad to see you well.
NAISA.
What news
From Erin? Tell us Tales of other times.
FERGUS.
We cannot tell you Tales of other times,
54
Shall divertise our time—making us glad.
DAIDRA.
That news should rather make us weep. It is
Not meet that we should go to him. There is
No good in anything he does; the worst
Thing that he ever did is sending for us here;
For greater is our sway in Alba here,
Than Conor's sway in Erin ever was.
FERGUS.
But cheerless is the soul of any man
Whose life is spent so far away from home—
Our nativity being dearest of all things.
DAIDRA.
Your words sound sweet, but sadder far than sweet
To those who love, but cannot see their homes;
Like Siren's Songs to the rapt Mariners' ears,
Luring them down to speedy death! Then heed
Them not, Naisa; like the wise Ulysses did,
Put wax into thy ears, until we pass
This place—this Paradise of heavenly songs.
FERGUS.
Though prosperity equalled our power,
Unless we exercised it at our home,
It would be only utter want misused.
NAISA.
Most true; for I have realized it here,
As King of this fair Country, long ago;
For dearer far than Alba Erin is,
Should Alba have ten times more wealth in gold.
FERGUS.
Then go with me to Erin. Alba has
No charms for one in Erin born.
DAIDRA.
She has
A thousand times more charms for me, though one
In Erin born.
FERGUS.
Daidra doubts my word;
But you may place firm confidence in me;
For though the whole wide world were armed against
Your lives, I would be for you to the last.
NAISA.
We have strong confidence in you—so strong
That we will go with you to Erin now.
DAIDRA.
Then you will go without consent of mine.
Alas! that ever I was born to see
What I shall see!—to know what I shall know!
Put you no confidence in dreams, my love?
I tell you that I saw three Birds of Night
Flying from Eman, bearing in their beaks
Three cups of Honey, which they gave to us
For three drops of our heart's most precious Blood!
NAISA.
But there is no reality in dreams.
They are but shadows of our light of life,
Which flit about our spirits in the night,
Led on by Memory of our waking hours.
DAIDRA.
I grant you they are shadows of our lives;
But what are shadows, but the ghosts of Forms
That bask in substance; just as these three birds
Were Phantoms of the Forms of Conor's thoughts—
Black Vultures, which shall feed upon our lives!
FERGUS.
I pledge you my most solemn word, your fears
Are all ill-founded; for, should all the hosts
Of Erin rise against you, they would not
Avail against the power that I can wield
For your protection—Conor's guarantee.
NAISA.
Then I will go with you to Erin.
FERGUS.
Come.
DAIDRA.
Alas! alas! what is to be our fate?
God only knows I truly know too well!
Farewell, dear Alba! Most delightful land!
My grief is only equalled by my love!
Thy Harbors are delightful as thy Bays,
Whose silver waters shingle golden sands,
Weaving sweet music there forever more!
Farewell! farewell! I have to leave thee now!
As Eve sighed when she left her Paradise,
So I now sigh with tears to go from mine.
Then thy dear beauteous plains with verdure clad,
As soft as velvet, or as down of Swans;
And thy green-sided hills of gentlest slope,
Down which the fugitive streams in wildness leap,
Like Roebucks, hastening to embrace the Sea;
And many other things most dear to me—
How hard it is for me to leave you now!
But it must be—for where Naisa goes,
There I must go—though it should be to death;
Which I believe, nay, know, will surely be,
If I now leave thee for dear Erin's shore!
55
From Draynoe's lovely Isle, the Wood of Kone,
Where Ainli did resort to kill the deer—
Sweet Vale of Massan! Urchay's lonely Vale!
The Vale of Eti! seat of loftiest Hills!
The Vale of Roes, near Draynoe's sounding shore!
Where the great King of Day did build his House!
Farewell! farewell! I have to leave you now!
[Exeunt omnes.
Curtain Falls.
End of Act Third.
| The sons of Usna | |