 | The complete works of N.P. Willis |  |
5. ACT V.
SCENE I.
[Same scene in the garden. Enter Bianca.]
Bianca.
Come anything — I will not! He is gone
To bring me flowers now, for he sees I'm sad;
Yet, with his delicate thought, asks not the reason,
But tries to steal it from me! — could I kill him!
His eyes grew moist this morn, for I was pale —
With thinking of his murder! could I kill him!
Oh Sforza! I could walk on burning ploughshares,
But not kill pitying Giulio! I could starve —
Or freeze with wintry cold — or swallow fire —
Or die a death for every drop of blood
Kneeling at my sad heart, but not kill Giulio!
No — no — no! no!
(Sforza comes in dejectedly.)
Sforza.
Give you good day, Bianca!
Bianica.
That you should drop your words so sorrowfully?
Sforza.
I am not ill, nor well!
Bianca.
Not well?
Sforza.
Beats on sometimes, when the heart quite runs down.
I'm very well!
Bianca.
The priest said so — to share both joy and sorrow.
For the last privilege I've shed sweet tears! —
If I'm not worthy —
Sforza.
For many proofs of gentle disposition,
Which, to say truth, I scarcely looked for in you —
Knowing that policy, and not your choice.
United us!
Bianca.
My lord!
Sforza.
For this, to see my heart — if you could do so,
But there's a grief in't now which brings you joy,
And so you'll pardon me!
(Giulio comes in with a heap of flowers, which he throws
down and listens.)
Bianca.
That can not be!
Sforza.
That I had trained, till, in the sky above him,
He was the monarch of all birds that flew.
I loved him next my heart, and had no joy,
But to unloose his feet, and see the eagle
Quail at his fiery swoop! I brought him here!
Sitting one day upon my wrist, he heard
The nightingale you love, sing in the tree,
While I applauded him. With jealous heart
My falcon sprang to kill him; and with fear
For your sweet bird, I struck him to my feet;
And since that hour, he droops. His heart is broke,
And he'll ne'er soar again!
Page.
Were worth a thousand nightingales.
Bianca.
He utters his own doom!) (To Sf.) My lord, I have
A slight request, which you will not refuse me.
Please you, to-day sleep in your chamber. I
Will give you reason for't.
Sforza.
The noon creeps on apace, and in my dreams
I may forget this heaviness. (Goes in.)
Bianca.
Strong heart! and think on Sforza! Giulio!
Page.
Madam!
Bianca.
This opiate in his cup, and from his sound
And sudden sleep he'll wake in Paradise.)
Giulio, I say! (She mixes an opiate.)
Page.
I dreamed I was in heaven, and feared to stir
Lest I should jar some music. Was't your voice
I heard sing, `Giulio?'
Bianca.
Let him not love me most, when I would kill him.)
Drink! Giulio!
Page.
Is it sweet?
Bianca.
You'll drink in this world!
Page.
I can make it sweeter —
And how?
Page.
With your health in it!
Bianca.
Not my health! Drink what other health thou wilt!
Not mine — not mine!
Page.
That Sforza told us of! Would you not kill
The nightingale that broke his spirit, madam?
Bianca.
Oh Giulio! Giulio! (Weeps.)
Page.
You loved your singing bird so well, dear lady!
Bianca.
(He'll break my heart!)
Page.
Must pine unless the nightingale were dead,
Would you not kill it?
Bianca.
I must do so!
Page.
If I had fed the nightingale, and loved him;
And he were innocent, as, after all
He is, you know — I should not like to kill him —
Not with my own hands!
Bianca.
Must I be struck with daggers through and through!
Speaks not a mocking demon with his lips?
I will not kill him!
Page.
May I sleep there, sweet lady, in his place?
Bianca.
No, boy! thou shalt not!
Page.
Then will you?
Bianca.
I would I could! and have no waking after!
Come hither, Giulio! nay — nay — stop not there!
Come on a little, and I'll make thy pillow
Softer than ever mine will be again!
Tell me you love me ere you go to sleep!
Page.
With all my soul, dear mistress! (Drops asleep.)
Bianca.
This mantle for his pall — but stay — his shape
Looks not like Sforza under it. Fair flowers,
(Heaps them at his feet, and spreads the mantle over all.)
Pure spirit and sweet fragrance! So — one kiss!
Giulio! my brother! Who comes there? Wake, Giulio!
Or thou'lt be murdered! Nay — 'twas but the wind!
(Withdraws on tiptoe, and crouches behind a tree.)
(Brunorio creeps in, followed by Sarpellione at a distance.)
Sarpellione.
Strike well, and fear not!
Bianca
(springing forward as he strikes).
Ah God!
(She drops on the body, the murderer escapes and Sforza
rushes in. As he bends over her the scene closes.)
SCENE II.
[A road outside the walls of Milan. Enter Sarpellione and
Brunorio, flying from the city, and met by Pasquali.]
Pasquali.
(As they attempt to pass him without answer, he steps before
Sarpellione.)
Sarpellione.
Stand off, and let me pass!
Pasquali.
One single word!
Sarpellione.
And loose my bridle! I'll be there o' the instant!
(Brunorio hastens on.)
Pasquali.
Tolling in Milan, that is never heard
But at some dread alarm.
Sarpellione
(pressing to go on).
Is that all?
Pasquali.
I met a flying peasant here just now,
Who muttered of some murder, and flew on!
Sarpellione.
Slave! let me pass!
(Draws, and Pasquali confronts him with his sword.)
Pasquali.
To tempt me to a murder. Something tells me
That this hot haste has guilt upon its heels,
And you shall stay till I know more of it.
Down with your point!
Sarpellione.
Villain! respect my office!
Pasquali.
They've soldiers' law, and if your skirts are bloody,
You'll get small honor for your coat, ambassador!
Bear back, I say!
(They fight, and Sarpellione falls, disarmed on his knee.)
Sarpellione.
In mercy, spare my life!
Pasquali.
And meet the news! If you are innocent,
I'll ne'er believe a secret prompting more.
If not, I've done the state a worthy service.
On, on, I say!
(Drives Sarpellione out before him at the point of his sword.)
SCENE III.
[A room of state in the palace. Enter Rossano ana a
Priest.]
Rossano.
Will she not eat?
Priest.
Since the boy died!
Rossano.
Nor slept?
Priest.
Nor closed an eyelid!
Rossano.
What does she?
Priest.
Goes through the page's murder — makes his couch
As he lay down i' the garden — heaps again
The flowers upon him to eke out his length;
Then kisses him, and hides to see him killed!
'Twould break your heart to look on't.
Rossano.
That she must crown him?
Priest.
Of any duke of Milan, the succession
Fall to a daughter, she may rule alone,
Giving her husband neither voice nor power
If she so please. But if she delegate
The crown to him, or in extremity
Impose it, it is not legitimate,
Save he is crowned by her own living hands
In presence of the council.
(Enter Sforza, hastily, in full armor, except the helmet.)
Sforza.
Ho! Rossano!
Rossano.
My lord!
Sforza.
To see the crown imposed! Bianca dies!
My throne hangs on your speed! Fly!
(Exit Rossano.)
Despatch a hundred of my swiftest horse
Toward Naples! Bring me back Sarpellione!
Alive or dead, a thousand ducats for him!
Quick!
(Exit sentinel, re-enter Rossano.)
Rossano.
(Enter a messenger.)
Lady Bianca prays your presence with her!
Sforza.
With my choice troops! Post them at every gate!
Send for the Milanese to scout or forage,
I care not what, so they're without the wall!
And hark, Rossano! if you hear a knell
Wail out before the coronation peal, —
Telling to Milan that Bianca's dead,
And there's no duke — down with the ducal banner,
And, like an eagle, to the topmost tower
Up with my gonfalon! Away!
(Re-enter the messenger from Bianca.)
Sforza.
I come! I come!
Pasquali
(without).
In, in!
(Enter Sarpellione, followed by Pasquali.)
Sarpellione
(aghast at the sight of Sforza).
Alive!
Sforza.
Have you come back to get some fresher news?
Alfonso'd know who's duke! While you are hanging,
I'll ride to Naples with the news myself!
Ha! ha! my star smiles on me!
(Bianca rushes in and crouches at the side of Sforza, as if
hiding from something beyond him.)
Bianca.
Come! come! Brunorio! — If you come not quick,
My heart will break and wake him!
(Presses her hand painfully to her side.)
Nay, think on Sforza! Think 'tis for his love!
Giulio will be an angel up in heaven,
And Sforza will drink glory from my hand!
Come! come! Brunorio! (Screams piercingly.)
Ah, who murdered Giulio!
Not I! — not I! not I!
Sforza
(watching her with emotion).
Are bought the proudest triumphs of this world!
Bianca.
Will the bell never peal!
Priest
(to an attendant).
Her mind plays truly now. Her life hangs on it!
The waiting for the bell of coronation
Is the last link that holds!
Sforza
(raising her).
My much-loved wife!
Bianca.
Is it thee, Sforza? Has the bell pealed yet?
Sforza.
You'll kill me this way!
Bianca
(dashing down the cup).
Think you I'll drink
fire!
Sforza.
Then taste of this! (Offers her a pomegranate.)
Bianca
(laughing bitterly).
The fruit of hell has ashes at the core!
Mock me some other way!
Sforza.
My poor Bianca!
Bianca.
And you're a devil, and can mock his voice,
But Sforza never spoke so tenderly!
You overdo it! Ha! ha! ha!
Sforza.
I would her brother had been duke in Milan
And I his slave — so she had lived and loved me!
Bianca.
Of a soul's agony in hell to see
The blest afar off? Can I not see Giulio?
(Struggles, as if to escape something before her eyes.)
Sforza.
(Struggles with himself a moment.)
Nay, then, 'tis time to say farewell Ambition!
(Turns to the Priest.)
But I have heard, the sacrifice of that
Which the repenting soul loved more than heaven,
Will work a miracle!
(Takes his sword from his scabbard, and proceeds in a
deeper voice.)
As never mother loved her rosy child!
My heart is in its hilt — my life, my soul,
Follow it like the light! Say thou dost think
If I give that up for a life of peace,
Heaven will give back her reason —
Priest
(eagerly).
Doubt it not!
Sforza.
Then — take it!
(Drops the hitt into his hand, and holds it a moment.)
Sarpellione
(in a hourse whisper).
Welcome news for King Alfonso!
Sforza
(starting).
I'll follow in its gleaming track to Naples
If the world perish!
(Enter Rossano.)
Now, what news, Rossano?
Rossano.Consent to see the crown imposed in private,
Three delegated lords will presently
Attend you here!
Sforza
(energetically).
To look forth from his tower and watch this window!
When he shall see a handkerchief wave hence
Let him peal out. (Attendant goes out.)
My gonfalon shall float
Over St. Mark's before Foscari dreams
There's a new duke in Milan! Let Alfonso
Look to the north!
(Enter attendant.)
Attendant.
Wait to come in!
(Sforza waves his hand, and they enter.)
1st Lord.
Health to the noble Sforza!
Sforza.
Must cut off ceremony, Milan's heiress
Lies there before you failing momently,
But holds in life to give away the crown.
If you're content to see her put it on me
Let it be so as quickly as it may!
Give signal for the bell!
(The handkerchief is waved and the bell peals. Bianca
rises to her feet.)
Bianca.
Where am I? Bring some wine, dear Giulio!
(Looks round fearfully.)
Am I awake now! I've been dreaming here
That he was dead! Oh God! a horrid dream!
Come hither, Sforza! I have dreamt a dream,
If I can tell it you — will make your hair
Stand up with horror!
Sforza.
Tell it not!
Bianca.
Was, in my dream, my brother! how I knew it
I do not now remember — but I did!
And loved him — (that you know must be a dream)
Better than you!
Sforza.
What — better?
Bianca.
Being my brother, he must have the crown!
Stay! — is my father dead — or was't i' the dream too?
Sforza.
He's dead, Bianca!
Bianca.
And Giulio did — and somehow you should hate me
If he were duke; and so I killed him, loving me,
For you that loved me not! Is it not strange
That we can dream such things? The manner of it —
To see it in a play would break your heart —
It was so pitiless! Look here! this boy
Brings me a heap of flowers! — I'll show it you
As it was done before me in the dream!
Don't weep! 'twas but a dream — but I'll not sleep
Again till I've seen Giulio — the blood seemed
So ghastly natural! I shall see it, Sforza,
Till I have passed my hand across his side!
(Turning to the attendants.)
Sforza.
Will you not drink?
(She drops the cup in horror.)
Bianca.
Had liquid fire in't when the deed was done —
A devil mocked me with it!
(Another cup is brought, and she drinks.)
Thank God, I wake now!
(She turns to an attendant.)
Is in the garden?
Strike the bell once more?
Bianca.
He kissed me ere he slept — wilt listen,
Sforza?
Sforza.
Tell me no more, sweet one!
Bianca.
The very flowers he brought me, at his feet,
To eke his body out as long as yours —
Was't not a hellish dream?
(The bell strikes again, and she covers her ears in horror.)
'Tis no dream — now I know — yes — yes — I know
These be the councillors — and you are Sforza,
And that's Rossano — and I killed my brother
To make you duke! Yes, yes! I see it all!
Oh God! Oh God!
(She covers her face, and weeps.)
Sforza.
Little by little. With this flood of tears,
Her brain's relieved, and she'll give over raving.
My wife! Bianca! If thou ever lovedst me,
Look on my face!
Bianca.
For thy dear love, the eyes I had to see it,
The ears to hear it. I have broke my heart
In reaching for't.
Sforza.
The life-drops in my heart are less dear to me!
Bianca.
You did not know the price of! Had you spoken
But one kind word upon my bridal night!
Sforza.
Forgive me, my Bianca!
Bianca.
With thirst now, and my eyes grow faint and dim.
Are you here, Sforza! mourn not for me long!
But bury me with Giulio! (Starts from him.)
Hark! I hear
His voice now! Do the walls of Paradise
Jut over hell? I heard his voice, I say!
(Strikes off Sforza, who approaches her.)
Who upon earth had no heart! Can you take
No shape but that? Can you not look like Giulio?
(Sforza falls back, struck with remorse.)
He prays for poor Bianca! And look, see you!
The portals stir! Slow, slow — and difficult —
(Creeps forward with her eyes upward.)
I come! (Falls on her face.)
(Sforza drops on his knee, pale and trembling.)
Sforza.
What heard I then? “Sforza, give up thy sword!”
Was it from heaven or hell!
(Shrinks as if from some spectre in the air.)
(Holds out his sword as if to the monk, and Sarpellione, who
has been straining forward to watch Bianca, springs
suddenly to her side.)
Sarpellione.
She's dead! Ha! ha! who's duke in
Milan now?
(Sforza rises with a bound.)
Sforza.
Sforza!
(He flies to the window, and waves the handkerchief. The
bell peals out, and as he rushes to Bianca, she moves, lifts
her head, looks wildly around, and struggles to her feet.
Rossano gives her the crown — she looks an instant smilingly
on Sforza, and with a difficult but calm effort places
it on his head. All drop on one knee to do allegiance,
and as Sforza lifts himself to his loftiest height, with a
look of triumph at Sarpellione, Bianca sinks dead at his
feet.)
[Curtain falls.
THE END OF BLANCA VISCONTI.
| The complete works of N.P. Willis | |