University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

—The Palace of the Comneni. The board spread as for a feast. Macrinus, Numerian, and others. Leaders and Soldiers of the faction dressed as revellers, musicians, attendants, etc. Arms appear occasionally underneath the dresses.
Enter Comnenus.
Comnenus.
What! friends, the board is spread, and ye abide
The coming of the host? Much grieved is he
His noble guests should wait. But how is this?
Rich smell the viands; whence these grave regards?

Macrinus.
My Lord, we have not all the art, like you,
To cast aside perplexities and cares:
But though our looks be grave, our hearts are staunch.

Comnenus.
Well, then we'll all be grave. Be seated, friends:
But pledge me first in this; 'tis Samian wine,
And of the innermost; it quickens counsel,
And makes it bolder, which with us is better.
Your toast, Sir; you are practised much in toasts.

Numerian.
I am, Sir, and in things of more concern.
“The double dyeing of the royal purple.”

Comnenus.
I pledge not that: we're drinking wine, not blood.
Success to us: say nothing of the rest.
[They drink.
My Lord Macrinus—to the head of the board;
I shall be but a listener.

Macrinus.
Sir, I thank you;
But there are worthier of that place than I.

Comnenus.
None, none, Macrinus, that I know of, none;
And if there be they'll pardon me the choice.
Sit close about the board and speak not loud.

[They sit.
1st Leader.
My Lord, my thought
Was humbly this; that could we seize some post
Within the walls, 'twould profit more our cause;
Since flight doth alway with the vulgar sort
Give token of defeat or loss, and thence
Their spirits swell with triumph.

2nd Leader.
But, my Lord,
In my mind it were good they do thus swell;
For as despair may oft avert men's ruin,
So causeless exultation brings it on;
The one emboldening reason, the other folly.

3rd Leader.
Besides, supposing we could win this post,
'Twould make the times of action cross; for look,—
Wait we your brother's coming, we're too late;
The news is theirs as soon as ours; not wait,
And should he be delayed, we're premature;
For you'll observe, my Lord . . .

Comnenus.
Enough, enough;
I see your point, Sir, and I hold it good.

1st Leader.
Yet, Sir, there are some reasons we o'er-look . . .

Comnenus.
There are, Sir, many; which I overpass,
Not wholly overlook; for should I stop
To weigh the grains of reason one by one
We are to gather and glance o'er, good Sir,
'Twould hold us here till morning; not to add,
That so we multiply the chance of error.
We'll hold this matter, with your leave, arranged.

1st Leader.
My Lord, you would not pass Numerian's toast,
Yet would I deem it over-lenity
To spare another's blood and stake our own.
One death or ere the strife began, my Lord,
Might save some thousands.

Comnenus.
But not salve the sin.
My friends, God knows too lenient am I not,
And to my nature 'tis less opposite
To be the cause whereby a thousand bleed
Than purposely kill one to save the rest;
And there is reason for it, howe'er we gloze.
This once for all, him hold I a false friend,
(Which signifies I hold him worse than foe,)
Who strikes at any life save in fair fight.

Enter Attendant.
Attendant.
Sir, there's one waiting at the gate to see you.

Comnenus.
One—what one, who?

Attendant.
I know not, Sir; he's muffled in his cloak,
In fashion more a Latin than a Greek.

Comnenus.
My friends, await me there within.

Macrinus.
You're armed?

Comnenus.
From head to foot.

[They withdraw.
Enter Theodora.
Comnenus.
When I shall know my guest to be a friend,
I'll give him welcome.

Theodora.
You may give it then.
[Discovering herself.
You might have known her for a friend long since,
She proffers you but one proof more.

[Giving her hand.
Comnenus.
A fair one.

Theodora.
You well may wonder, and I think you do,
Although you show it not.

Comnenus.
Not much; not much;
Ten years are gone since I have felt surprise
Save at my own existence and the stars.

Theodora.
If not surprise, what else then can you feel?
Oh Count, I ask it not in bitterness,
But can you see me here, almost, I own,
A supplicant—me, me a supplicant—
A woman and a princess at thy feet
Beseeching thee—

Comnenus.
Oh, say no more—stop there.

Theodora.
Beseeching thee to save thyself and me,
And feel nor pity, gratitude, nor love?
Thy life thou scarce canst deem so little worth
As I do mine; but it is worse than death
To bear a dead heart in a living body;
And when I tell thee death is at thy door,
The doom pronounced, the warrant out, the axe
Already in the headsman's hand, I say
Not only fly from death, but waken life
In thy dead heart. Be but a living man
And we will fly together.

Comnenus.
Princess, no—
It cannot be; but yet misjudge me not;
I am not reckless, as you think, of life;
I am not thankless, as you think, for love:
Your countrymen, the Thracians, held of old
Their counsels o'er their cups in night carouse,
Perpending them next morn: even such has been
My session of to-night. My head, I think,
Will keep the headsman waiting. For my heart,
It is a sad and solitary heart,—
So sad that it must needs be solitary,—
And though not dead, disordered unto death,
And though not thankless, pitiless, or proud,
Yet inaccessible to love.

Theodora.
Then, Count,
Know that I hold thy head from this time forth
As worthless as thy heart—and weak and fond
And tender as I would have been and was,
Or e'er these drops are dried upon my cheek
I'll see it rolling bloodily in the dust
With triumph and with joy. Till then, farewell.

Comnenus.
It is but in thy passion and thy heat
Thou speak'st so wilderedly.

Enter Attendants.
1st Attendant.
My Lord—

2nd Attendant.
My Lord—

Comnenus.
Soft! see you not this lady? One at once.

1st Attendant.
Sir, the Varangian guard is at the gate,
With two officials of the Church.

Comnenus.
What say they?

1st Attendant.
They claim admittance on a royal writ,
Citing you to attend a Synod.

Comnenus.
Good.
Admit them.

1st Attendant.
What! the Churchmen, Sir?

Comnenus.
Ay, all;
Open the gates; let all who will come in.
Thou staring idiot, do my bidding; go.
[Exit First Attendant.
Here, Porgius—thy wit runs deeper—hark!
When all are in, look that the gates be shut.
[Exit Second Attendant.
And, Macer, call Macrinus hither. See!
[Exit Third Attendant.
Your warning, Lady, would have come but late.

Enter Macrinus.
Comnenus
(meeting and speaking aside to him).
Macrinus, we have talked enough. Thou seest
The wordy time is past.

Macrinus.
Indeed, my Lord,
This end was little looked for.

Comnenus.
Not the less
I bid it welcome. They but give their hands
To fashion our devices. As they will.
Make speed, Macrinus, to the southern gate
With but such numbers as may make it sure
Yet not alarm the town; close by it stands
The cloister of St. Conon; send some friend
To bid my sister and my cousin there
Hie them to sanctuary. Within an hour,
If all be well, I mean to pass the gate.
That will not press you?

Macrinus
Ample time, my Lord.

Comnenus.
Send Hertius round to draw our scattered friends
To the same spot,—within the hour. Till then
I will amuse the Emperor and his court.

Macrinus.
But for these guards?

Comnenus.
Hark! now they pass the gates.
When all are in, disarm and bind them. Yes,
They shall along with me, by their good leave.
[Exit Macrinus.
Your father's action, Princess, with a bound
O'ertakes our tardy talk.

Theodora.
So sudden! oh,
So madly sudden! Count, there still is time—
Say you recall the past—say you repent,—
And I may yet find means—

Comnenus.
Nor now nor ever
Will I make bargains for a lady's love.
Enter Two Apparitors.
What is your errand, Sirs?—say on; no form.

1st Apparitor.
Lord Count, our errand is to take thee hence
By virtue of this power.

Comnenus.
Nay, keep the scroll;
Your tone's so lofty you must needs have powers.
But should I ask indulgence for an hour
To be prepared?

2nd Apparitor.
My Lord, it cannot be.
The conclave waits.

Comnenus.
Ay, doth it? then I come.
I pray you first to pledge me in this wine:
'Tis juice might soften Churchmen.

1st Apparitor.
No, my Lord:
Our orders are to bear with no delay.

Comnenus.
To bear with none!
[A disturbance without.
Oh! be at ease, Sirs: hark!
'Tis but disputes between my guards and yours
Which shall become my escort to the court.

Enter Attendant.
Attendant.
My Lord, your orders are obeyed.

Comnenus.
'Tis well.
Confine these Churchmen in the cells below.

1st Apparitor.
My Lord, beware how you maltreat the Church.

Comnenus.
We leave them there, and on our march be sure
No voice be heard nor any leave their ranks.

1st Apparitor.
I say, the thunders of the Church shall peal
Against this outrage—

2nd Apparitor.
Hush! it will but goad him;
'Tis plain he's master.

Comnenus.
Order thus the march:
The royal guard within, unarmed and bound,
My own surrounding them, myself will lead,—
This lady with me. Now, Sirs, we must part.
[To the Apparitors.
Keep your own secret: it is safe with me.

[To Theodora.
1st Apparitor.
Lord Count—

Comnenus.
Nay, on, Sirs; you will suffer nought
Save mild restraint till morning.

2nd Apparitor.
God be praised!

Comnenus
(to Theodora).
Give me your hand. Not so?
then walk by me,
And doubt not my protection. You came here
In no such friendly guidance. There— [As they go out]
—just so.
All as I wished, Macrinus: fling the gates wide,
And sound the trumpets of the Royal Guard.
Out, out, friends, out.