University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Another Apartment.
Yamos and Idda.
Yamos.
Alas, dear Idda, wherefore would'st thou shun me?
The time was once that I was all to thee—
The blossom breathing to the mid-day sun,
Its bosom's fragrance, never was more faithful
Than thy sweet love, the fragrance of the heart,
Was wont to meet me; but how art thou chang'd!
Ah me, how chang'd! looking askance upon me,
As at some hateful reptile that you fear'd—
And yet to thee I am entirely love.

Idda.
I know not, Yamos, why I should be thus,—
I would be to thee what I was before,
But some foul vapor hath beset my brain,
And stain'd the wonted substance of my thoughts.

Yamos.
Since good Antonio has not yet been able
To turn again thy far-reverted love
Back to its proper course; but still the more
This woeful change works to increas'd dislike,
I have sent Arak to the old Orooko,
To bring him with his genial simples here,
That we may try their power.

Idda.
I'll none of them.
Leave where he lives that petulant old man;
What would he here, but fret, as he was wont,
Against Antonio, and with searching eyes
Make still more irksome my unquiet heart.

Yamos.
Does he too, Idda, grow displeasing to thee?
Once that old man was to thee as a God;
And God-like was his fault, for it was kindness.

Idda.
But is he not Antonio's enemy?

Yamos.
He has refused to take the Christian faith—
But there's no enmity in his kind nature.
I'd think as soon Antonio bad and false,
As I could think Orooko would molest.

Idda.
But wherefore bring him here?—I need him not,
And he may vex Antonio with his prying.

Yamos.
Unhappy Idda, to what strange conceits
Thy thoughts and fancies turn. Why should he pry?
Nor from the freedom of a good old man
Can there be aught Antonio would conceal.
But thou art ill at ease; fair Mora droops,
And all our wonted medicines have fail'd.
Alas, poor Mora! solitary—still
With hopeless wishes must she ever pine.
Antonio has rejected her.

Idda.
Rejected!

Yamos.
He will not marry; constant to the bent
Of the great purpose that exalts his mind
Above our nature, he will never join
His fate to any woman's.

Idda.
Did you ask?

Yamos.
Even now I did.

Idda.
And wherefore did you that?

Yamos.
Can it offend you, Idda, that I sought
To make him happy, who has blest my people?

Idda.
Had you no other motive?

Yamos.
Ah what other?

Idda.
But he rejected her, and will not marry?

Yamos.
Why should that lighten up your eyes with joy?
When you might grieve to think ill-fated Mora
Must hopeless sigh in unrequited love.

Idda.
Love! said you love! (aside.)
Ah now I know the cause
Of her averse and fearful diffidence.

Yamos.
My dearest Idda, my once gentle Idda,
Why should this news such angry looks excite.
Yes, Mora loves the excellent Antonio.

Idda.
O not to love him were almost a sin—
But my fit comes—O Yamos, o'er my head
Methinks some hideous and unholy thing
Hath perch'd itself, and feeds upon my brain—
I would I were not what I am, or could
Again the fondness of thy love return.

[Exeunt.