Scene III
The interior of a prison. Alvino and Leoni are
lying asleep, from the effects of the narcotic
which they have taken. A noise, as from a crowd,
is heard without.
Leoni
(Slowly recovering.)
So, twilight visions gather round my soul,
And Angels play about my couch tonight.
Where is Alvino? Was it he that spoke?
If it were Heaven, Alvino would be here.
There are no sounds in Heaven—there Angels sing.
There Angels' songs are heard. There Alvino sings!
Alvino
(Slowly waking.)
Leoni, darkness gathers round my soul.
What gloom is this that overhangs my head?
Oh, there are heavy things upon me now.
Leoni, gentlest of revengeful loves,
Look at these manly hands, all chained, yes chained
As if my soul found music in their links!
Oh, how they sing the requiem of my death!
Leoni
(Rising.)
Thou hast redeemed me unto death with thee,
The sweetest death that ever mortal died!
To live without thee would be living death,
To die with thee will be eternal life!
This is the gate through which we pass to Heaven.
We are not dead until we pass this gate.
Alvino
(Rising.)
Oh, for the carol of that heavenly bird!
The Nightingale that has complained so long—
Pouring the sweetness of her plaintive song
To the deaf ears of an offending world.
Sing on, sad bird, for those shalt sing no more!
(Noise without.)
Leoni! 'Tis too dark for Heaven—'tis Hell!
Leoni
Look here, thou dost not see this precious thing?
This was an Angel's gift. 'Twill couch all pain!
Through all the fibres of thy manly heart,
Send sleep—immortal sleep! Send night—dark night!
And wake thy morrow in another world!
(Noise without again.)
Alvino
What sound was that? The summons! We must part!
Leoni
We part? We will not sever in this world.
I have a tale to tell too sweet for that!
'Twill send an anthem through thy very soul.
It is too deep to fathom in this world!
(Raising the dagger.)
Here is one chapter thou hast never read.
Alvino, this shall drowse away all life.
'Tis warm with that which it shall turn to ice!
Alvino
A little moment more, Leoni, then—
Leoni
I, who have been thy pathway to the tomb,
Will be thy partner through the shades of death.
This is the marriage banquet of our loves!
Alvino, thou hast never known me yet.
This world has never known fond woman's love.
This is the place that lesson shall be taught,
That he who ever knew Leoni's love,
May love her that her love is woman's love!
(Noise at
the door without.)
Alvino
They come, Leoni—hold, thou canst not kill!
Leoni
What, cannot kill? The strength of death too weak?
A lion's strength is weak to this—now, come!
(She stabs herself, hands him the dagger, and falls.)
Alvino
Now, that her own dear blood is on the blade,
And she is waiting at Heaven's Gate for me,
I cannot bear to stay so long from her!
Leoni
Alvino! (Dies.)
Alvino
Ha, she calls me—I must go!
(Stabs himself and falls.)
Leoni, see! Alvino comes to thee!
(Dies.)
(Enter Don Carlos in haste.)
Don Carlos
Gods, are they dead? Yes, they are dead, dead, dead!
And I have come too late to save my friend!
Oh, my Alvino, Carlos was your friend,
And yet you died believing him your foe!
Great powers above, where is my comfort now?
Here, with Alvino, poor Leoni—dead!
The Curtain Falls.
