University of Virginia Library

Scene III.

Stairway of the tower, where Emilia sits. weeping at the door of the astrologer's laboratory, a small lamp beside her.
Emilia.
Though he should kill me, I will wait for him.
To die were easy, if to die would stay
His hand from wrong. Alas! too sure it is,
Alive or dead, I nothing am to him.
Who is it comes? Say, is it you, Uberto?

Gelosa comes up the stairs.
Gelosa.
Oh, mother, it is I, your little one!
Friends, husband, wealth, all that life hath to give,
Are mine to-day. Come to my Tuscan home.
The flowers you love watch for you on the hills.
My children shall be yours. My good lord waits
Our coming at the gate. Leave, leave this man.

Emilia.
I cannot, child.

Gelosa.
Then will I talk with him.
For this we came from Florence. Once again,
I would be sure his will is as of old.
Beside the tower my good lord waits for me.

Emilia.
Vain is your errand, child.

Gelosa.
Yet must I try;
(Aside.)
The equal years give me at last my turn.
(Aloud.)
Is the door barred?

Emilia.
Nay, but I dare not enter.

Gelosa.
Not long the thing you fear shall vex your soul.
Come with me. Spill the cursèd cup, or wreck
With wholesome fire this chamber of your fear.

Emilia.
Who has betrayed his secrets?

Gelosa.
He himself.
Hid by the ilex hedge I heard it all.
Wept with you, for you; heard your tender plea.
Of other make am I. Give me your ring.
You used to say I had your sister's voice,
Twin to your own.

Emilia.
What would you say to him?
What do to him? You cannot mean him ill.

Gelosa.
Not I, indeed. Hark! there's a voice without.
Trust me a little. Quick! the ring, the ring!
No other hope is left. Give me the ring!

Emilia.
You will not harm him? I shall have it back?
He gave it me the day we were betrothed.

Gelosa.
A goodly half of this world's misery
Is born of woman's patience. Could you live
From that to this?

Emilia.
What can a woman else?

Gelosa.
What else? Naught now. The ring, and have no fear!
[Takes her hand and removes the emerald ring, which is yielded reluctantly.
Alas, poor withered hand! how dear thou art,
And sweet with use of bounty!
Quick, the lamp:
And wait for me upon the upper stair.

[Urges her hastily.
Emilia.
Nay, tell me more. I am afraid, Gelosa.

Gelosa.
Of me who love you? There, a kiss; goodby.
And stir not, if you love or him or me.
[Gelosa opens the door, and with the lamp in her hand enters the room. Emilia ascends the upper staircase.
There may be too much sweetness in a woman.
A little soured on the shadowed side
My Tuscan peaches are.
Now what a den!
A winter wealth of kindling in old books.
Bones, and a skull—gay vipers, slimy things,
A crocodile that hath an evil eye.
[Crosses herself.
And dust, ye Saints! but here's a long day's work.
[Lifts a bell glass from a small Venice goblet containing a transparent fluid.
Around the rim twin serpents writhe in coils.
[Reads the inscription below them.
Ex morte vitam. Life is child of death.
Is this in truth the draught shall make man young?
Now should I drink, it were a merry jest
To find myself a baby tumbling round,
Athirst for mother's milk. Not I, indeed.
[Empties cup on the floor, and refills it with water. Blows out the light and veils herself.
The moon is quite enough. Will he be long?
Now, kindly uncle, for this pretty play.

[She conceals herself in a corner. Enter Uberto.
Uberto.
At last, 't is near. The stairs my constant feet
Have worn with many steps more toilsome grow.
The hounds of time are on their panting prey;
I wait no longer. No man owns to-morrow.
To-morrow is the fool's to-day. Ah, soon
I shall go gaily tripping down the hill,
Glad as a springtide swallow on the wing,
A man new born.—Nay, this is like to death.
Why should I falter here? We both are old.
Soon in the common way our steps would part.
And to be young; to feel the sinews strong,
Eye, ear, and motion quick, the brain all life,—
The visions of my manhood round me whirl,
White limbs, red lips, and love's delirious dream,
The passion kiss of wine, the idle hours
Unmissed from youth's abounding heritage.
Off, off, ye brutal years that gnaw our age!
Come, joy! come, life!—life at the full of flood!
[Pauses.
Birth is not ours. We are, and that is all.
Death is not ours. We die, and that is all.
This stranger birth that waits upon my will,
Ay, this is mine alone. The herd of men
Are born and die. One sole ignoble lot
Awaits them all. This none can share with me.
Auspicious planets shine upon the hour.
[Takes the hour-glass.
Swift waste the sands. So much of age is left.
Uncounted memories of things long lost
Leap to my view, as if to one who stands
Beside the waif-thronged surges of the deep,
And sees its dead roll passive to his feet,
Its pearls, its weeds, its wrecks.
So let it end.
[Fills up the glass with wine.
Nor fear, nor friend, nor love shall hinder me.
[Drinks.
Will it be swift? or will the change be like
The wonder work of spring?
[Lights a small lamp, and examines his face in a mirror.
A ghastly face!
Is this the earthquake agony of change?

[Gelosa, still veiled, advances.
Gelosa.
Change that will never come. You that would cheat
A life-worn love of company to death,
Take the stern answer of a tortured soul.
You drained my cup of life, and cast aside
The poor mean vessel. I, Emilia, stole
Your cup of life. Mine is the youth you craved,
Mine the gay dream of girlhood's rosy joy,
Mine once again the wooing lips you kissed
When you and I were young. Ah, sweet is youth!
Go, thieving dotard, to a loveless grave!

[Uberto staggers forward, with the lamp in his hand.
Uberto.
My wife, Emilia? No, not my Emilia.

Gelosa.
Nay, touch me not! And is your memory dead?
Why, even I some dim remembrance keep.
Take back this ring, this pledge of endless love.

[Uberto receives it.
Uberto.
Her ring—your ring—Emilia!—Lost, lost, lost!
Life, honor, fame, and youth. Emilia, wife,
Speak kindlier to me. Speak, oh, speak again!
Your voice is like an echo from the past.—
What devil taught you this?

[Advances.
Gelosa.
Off, off, old man!
What has a girl to do with palsied age?
I'll be a daughter to your feebleness,
And fetch your crutch, and set you in the sun,
And get me lovers kin to me in years.

Uberto.
Black Satan take your kindness! Yet have I
The strength to kill you! You shall die for this!

[Seizes her.
Gelosa.
What?—feeble fool!

[Pushes him away; he falls and remains on the floor.
Uberto.
This is not my Emilia.
Help, help, without there! Help!

Gelosa.
Come in,—come in!
Well have I paid a fool with folly's coin.

Emilia enters and runs to lift her husband.
Emilia.
Ill have you done, and cruel I have been.
Oh, you have slain my love!

Gelosa.
Not I, in truth.

Uberto.
Out, lying baggage! Now I know you well.

Gelosa.
Come you with me, dear mother of my love.
Leave we this base old man. My husband waits.

Emilia.
Get hence! I never loved you. He knew best.
Pray God I see no more the wicked face
That cheated him and me. Begone, I say!

[Exit Gelosa.