Scene V
(The Bower of Bliss. Count Julian is discovered
sitting alone reading. Enter Canondah.)
Canondah
My son! Yanassa from the Land of Souls!
Your brother Ostenee is mad with you,
And means, if you can die, to take your life!
Lamorah says: Return into his House,
And bring with you Celuta—Endea, too.
Count Julian
Well, he is welcome to as much of it
As he can take. Go, mother! tell him so.
Tell my old father I will not return.
(Exit Canondah. Count Julian falls asleep.
Enter Ostenee with cautious steps. Count Julian
wakes.)
Count Julian
(sitting up)
Who are you, going at me so, with eyes
As red as Hell? What business have you here?
Ostenee
(indignantly)
Why, from the garb you wear, you ought to know.
Count Julian
I know you not—nor do I care to know.
Ostenee
(sarcastically)
They tell me that you are my father's son—
His young Yanassa from the Land of Souls!
But, then, you seem to me far too pale
To be my brother, or my father's son!
Count Julian
All souls are pale face in the Land of Souls!
Ostenee
But you are not now on the Land of Souls!
Count Julian
I should dispute with you were you not here.
Ostenee
Where is Celuta?—tell me where she is!—
My brother has been most unkind to me—
To take Celuta—Endea from me too!
Do they have traitors in the Land of Souls?
Do they make liars in Manitoline?
For, if they do, may Ataensic's arm
Forever save me from that cursed place!
Where is my Endea? Tell me where she is!
Or, by Manito! I will take your life!
Count Julian
(springing on his feet)
What mean you by such angry words as these?
What mean you by such words, you copper snake?
You talk as though you were the Lord of life,
And had all power to take mine when you please!
But know, Yanassa cannot die by you!
If any one must die, you are the Man!
Ostenee
Then give me Endea! tell me where she is,
Or I must die!
Count Julian
Then you must die, indeed,
For I shall never tell. So, go your way.
Ostenee
Give me my Endea! tell me where she is—
Or I will tear your heart out with my hands,
And dash it to the dogs! You know, too well.
She was my Playmate—sister of my heart—
And cousin of my soul!—Give me my wife!
(Enter Ianthe rushing into Count Julian's arms)
Ianthe
Oh, Julian! Julian! This is Ostenee!
Beware of him! he comes to take your life!
Ostenee
Ah! “Julian! Julian,” did she say? She did!
It is—“Julian!” By Hell's everlasting King!
I thought you were my father's oldest son—
His young Yanassa from the Land of Souls!
Instead of that—you are the White-Man's child!
The murderer of Yanassa for his clothes!
This was his dress. I know Yanassa's clothes.
But “Julian!”—that was not my brother's name.
Now I see the serpent in your eye!
Now can I take revenge upon you good!
But by Hell's most infernal King! I know
Not how to muster up sufficient words,
Red hot from Hell, to curse thy damned soul!
What! murder my own brother for his clothes?
Then cheat my father in them to his face?
Coming upon this Isle to steal my wife!
This is the White-Man's game! this is his sport!
You cannot play this game on me! You fooled
My father—but you cannot fool his son!
No, “Julian!” pale face chicken hearted brat!
You cannot fool my father's son! Come on!
(Exit Ianthe in affright. Ostenee seizes Count Julian.
They fight manfully for some time. Count Julian,
grasping him by the throat, at length conquers him,
leaving him lying on the ground as if dead, from
which, after a little, he springs up and runs for
his life. Reenter Ianthe).
Ianthe
Oh! Julian! Julian! Are you hurt my love?
Count Julian
No! Let us follow him. See how he runs—
Leaving a blue streak after him in flight!
Ianthe
No, let us go into our cave. Come, love!
(Exeunt)
