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 | The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers |  |
Scene II
(A beautiful flower-gemmed Bower on the Island. Ianthe is discovered playing with her fawns. Enter Ostenee, bearing in his hand flowers, shells and Swan Down, unobserved by her.)Ostenee
Celuta!
Celuta
How you frightened me!
14
Here are
Some shells, my love! I found them on the shore
Beside the Lake. Just put this to your ears
Does it not sing?
Celuta
Just like my Dreams last night.
Ostenee
Its breath is like your sighs, Celuta! Songs
Of birds are sweet, but this is sweeter far.
It speaks as you did when you spoke to me
The White-Man's speech. Oh, speak to me again!
I think my brother's soul lives in this Shell!
Celuta,
offering it to him
Here—there is magic in the sound! Its sound
Is like the memory of departed joys!
Here—take it, Ostenee—it makes me sad!
Ostenee
No, it is thine, Celuta. Here's some fruit,
As yellow as the White-Man's gold. See how
The honey-drops ooze from its pores, like dew
Upon fresh flowers. Its sweetness makes me think
Of thee!
15
offering it again
Here—take the Shell—I cannot have
It any more! It makes me think of home—
Of one I dreamed about last night.
Ostenee
Will you
Not keep the cradle of my brother's soul,
While it is rocked to peace?
Celuta
No, take it back—
I cannot keep it now. Nay, do not frown;
But take it back. Take back the Shell—the flowers—
And be not angry with your friend.
Ostenee
My friend?
Are you my friend? Then keep the Shell—the flowers—
And take the Swan-Down that I bring to thee.
Celuta
But if I take them you will call me yours.
Ostenee
I will—you are my love—my life—my Heaven!
Then take them all. I love you as my soul!
Celuta
No, Ostenee! You keep them all for me—
16
Ostenee
Then you are not my friend?
Celuta! Can you lie?
Celuta
I cannot lie;
But would, were I to take your Shells. So, keep
Them all to prove Celuta cannot lie.
Ostenee
By Hell! You love me not! You hate me now!
My father gave you unto me!
Celuta
I dreamed
Last night your brother's soul came down from Heaven!
Ostenee
What! from the Land of Souls?
Celuta
The Land of Souls!
His face was white as snow!
Ostenee
As snow? His face
Was dark. He would not have the White-Man's face!
I have been looking for Yanassa long.
What said he in thy dream? spoke he of me?
17
Celuta
He was not happy with his friends, the dead—
But bade me tell you he must come again,
Lest Ostenee should do me wrong.
Ostenee
What! said he so?
When he will come again to claim my love!
Thou art my wife, Celuta! but take not
The Shell! It was soul that spoke to thee!
For often have the souls of mighty men
Come back at midnight to their native land,
To rest by moonlight in the Ruby-bells.
It was no dream! Was he not beautiful,
If he had thus the White-Man's face?
Celuta
His soul
Was brighter than the Morning Star!
Ostenee
As bright
As thine?
Celuta
More beautiful than aught on earth!
18
If thou canst bring my brother's soul from Heaven;
Canst thou not bring my father back from death?
Celuta
I can—he will be here tomorrow morn.
I think thy brother will return with him.
Ostenee
My soul will love thee then as it does now.
The Shell I brought thee in my love has broke
My heart! How knew the Shell of this? I hear—
It speaks not so to me. There—lie on earth!
I—though I love Yanassa as my life,
Yet, he shall never have Celuta's love.
No—he must go back home again without
That heavenly being's love—ay, that he must!
For none but spirits should with spirits dwell.
Celuta! will you be Yanassa's wife?
Celuta
The Great High Spirit says it must be so!
Ostenee,
in rage
Then, by deep Hell! though he be white as snow—
Swifter than Roe-buck on the Sunny Hills—
Stronger than mighty thunder—he shall die!
19
Brave Ostenee! his spirit cannot die.
A spirit has the strength of many men!
Yanassa's arm could kill a thousand such!
Ostenee
Then he must kill! Where is my locust-bow?
My quiver? knife? It must be ground. I have
A Spirit from the Land of Souls to fight!
I knew his strength before he died. He was
The mightiest warriour of my father's tribe!
He comes tomorrow morn! My father comes
With him. I must be ready for him then.
Celuta! Thou art mine! You know you are!
And, by yon Big Light in the sky I swear
Never shalt thou be made Yanassa's wife
(Exit Ostenee)
| The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers | |