University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Savonarola. Candida.
CANDIDA.
Your blessing, Father!

SAVONAROLA.
Daughter, it is yours,
Though you bring blessing with you; for each door
Through which you pass, invisibly becomes
Door of humility. What can I do for you?

CANDIDA.
There is a maiden nestled in my heart,
And whose uncounted tenderness is spent
On one who, though of worthy elements,
Is with the mundane enemies allied
Of you and Florence.

SAVONAROLA.
Doth that come between
Him and her love?

CANDIDA.
No! She is like the moon,
That never turns but one face to the earth,
Being so true a satellite.

SAVONAROLA.
And you
The centre of his orbit fain would shift,
Hers keeping fixed?

CANDIDA.
That, Father, is my prayer,
Which you alone can grant! Sometimes I fear
That passionate love hath twisted them awry,
Like trees that help each other out of shape,
And lose their heavenly perpendicular
By too close interlocking of their boughs.
Yet separate them not; but only lift
Their love more heavenward!

SAVONAROLA.
How may that be done,
Not done already? See how many souls
Are sliding to perdition, whom my hand
Might yet pluck back! Yes, I must preach, I must,
Though thousand Borgias bid me to be mute.
Daughter, I may not preach, so cannot save.
There is an interdict upon my tongue.
Yet, if I preach, bring this revolted soul
Unto the Duomo!

CANDIDA.
May that quickly be,
Lest he grow hardened in rebellion.
I thank you, Father.

[She turns to go.]
SAVONAROLA.
Tell me, my child, how fares
Valori's suit with your reluctant heart?

CANDIDA.
I willingly had been the bride of Heaven,
Had you not banned that nuptial; wherefore, now,
I linger in perplexity, my will
Petitioned by two hearts, I know not why,
Being of each unworthy.

SAVONAROLA.
Doubt not, child,
Which is the worthier. Tornabuoni plots
Against the liberties of Florence, whilst
Valori still upholds them.

CANDIDA.
These are things
Beyond my ken; though, Father, it hath seemed
To my scant vision that a valiant arm,
Committed to the State, needs all its nerve
For that tough task, and I should hamper it
With my small needs and weak defencelessness.

SAVONAROLA.
Weakness like yours may double a man's strength;
And so, my child, discourage him no more.
Men, when they love, see angels in a dream,
As Jacob did. Be you the stair whereby
Valori's earthlier aspirations may
Communicate with Heaven.

CANDIDA.
I were content,
Could I to such celestial use be put,
To learn the purport of this earthly love,
Which seems the native language of mankind,
Though I was born a mute.

SAVONAROLA.
'Tis not amiss,
Where such a tongue is spoken, maidens should
Be dumb, provided that they are not deaf.
So when Valori whispers you, give ear
Even to accents of the earthliest sound,
And from the heights of Heaven reply to him.

[Enter a Lay-Brother.]
LAY-BROTHER.
Signor Valori, Father, awaits without.

SAVONAROLA.
Admit him.

[Exit Lay-Brother.]
CANDIDA.
But not—not—

[Savonarola opens a side-door in the garden-wall.]
SAVONAROLA.
Dear child! pass through
Into the outer world, and take with you
The cloister of your purity.

[Exit Candida. Enter Valori from interior of the Convent.]