University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Private park of the palace. A garden, planned in an arbitrary but ingenious style, and rich in contrasting objects. A group of trees on each side. To the left, statues and beds of flowers; to the right, a bower of roses with seats. Time, near sunset. Music is heard behind the scenes. Towards the end of the symphony enter Floretta. She looks around, then goes out at back.
Enter Donna Diana in an ideal and very exquisite dress, a coronet on her head. She carries a lute. Donna Laura and Donna Fenisa follow, with other instruments. Re-enter Floretta, meeting them.
Donna D.
[To Floretta.]
Have you observed Don Cæsar here?

Flo.
No, madam.

Donna D.
Watch. Should he enter, tell me instantly.

Flo.
I will, your highness. [Aside.]
There's some mystery here.

[Goes to back.
Donna D.
[To Laura.]
Though he were granite, I would make him bend.

Donna L.
That dress must take effect.

[Donna Laura and Fenisa enter the bower.
Donna F.
[Aside.]
'Tis very hard
That we should be detained thus from our partners.

Flo.
[Approaching hastily.]
Don Cæsar comes, your highness, also Perin.

Donna D.
Sit quickly, cousins, and, as we arranged,
Begin as he approaches.

Flo.
[Aside.]
I'm not curious;
But I should dearly like to know their plot.

Enter Don Cæsar and Perin.
Perin.
[To Don Cæsar.]
Be calm. Forewarned, forearmed.

Don C.
[Gazing on Diana.]
How can I see her,
Arrayed in all her splendour, and be calm?

Perin.
[Apart to him.]
Be firm, or you are lost.

[Diana's music is begun with her cousins.
Don C.
'Tis vain to reason.
Though I foresee my doom, the lovely sorceress
Still draws me on.

[Advancing towards Diana.
Perin.
[Following him, and speaking apart to him in a low tone.]
You'll drive me frantic; stay,
You've heard enough. [Seizing his arm.]
Look to your helm, prince, quick,
Or you're within the rapids.

Don C.
[Recklessly.]
True! I know it.

Perin.
Strain hard! [Leading him off to a group of trees.]
That's well; we've just escaped the vortex.

[Perin continues to speak to Don Cæsar eagerly aside.
Donna D.
[Who has several times watched Don Cæsar, and now speaks with a little irritation.]
Does he not turn this way? You put me out;
I'll play alone. Observe if he looks round.

[She plays a soft melody. Perin leads Don Cæsar nearer to her. Don Cæsar appears to examine the garden attentively.
Donna D.
[Aside to Floretta.]
Has he yet turned?

Flo.
No more than yonder trees.

Donna F.
[To Diana.]
He has taken root. You'll have to dig him up.

Donna D.
He can't have heard me, then. I'll make him hear.

[She betrays increasing impatience while playing, and at length strikes the chords violently. Don Cæsar continues to look at the garden.
Don C.
[In front, loudly to Perin, his face turned from Diana.]
Perin, this park is well laid out; the effect
Is bold and rich. Yon group of trees tells finely
In contrast with the lawn.

Donna D.
[Stopping the music.]
What do I hear?
Talks he of trees and lawns, while here I sit
And play the lute unnoticed? Has the man
No touch of feeling?

Don C.
[Loudly to Perin.]
I'm especially
Delighted with the flower-beds. Those carnations
Are most superb.

Donna F.
[Aside.]
Carnations! He's a fool!
Praise silly flowers, and let us bloom unheeded!
[To Laura.]
Don Gaston is a different sort of man.

Donna L.
So is Don Luis.

Donna D.
[Very much irritated.]
O, he can't have seen me.
Floretta, go; tell him I'm in the garden.

Flo.
[To Don Cæsar, who still appears lost in contemplation of the flowers.]
Are you aware, Don Cæsar, that the princess
Is in the garden?

Don C.
[Without altering his position.]
The garden, child, is lovely;
Most lovely, I confess. That bed's unique.
'Tis exquisite!—one mass of living colour!

[Floretta stands astonished for a moment, then returns to Diana, but says nothing. Diana, who has heard Don Cæsar's reply, rises enraged, and seems on the point of leaving the bower. Don Cæsar, still looking at the garden, approaches her, upon which Diana turns back.
Perin.
[Pleased, apart to Don Cæsar.]
I trembled for you.
Now I can breathe again. You're born to craze her.

Don C.
[Apart to him.]
You guess not what I suffer.
Ah!

[Approaching closely to Diana.
Perin.
[Apart to him.]
Fall back.
What want you here?

Don C.
One glimpse of her—but one!

Perin.
I can't allow it. Pass her, but don't look.

[Don Cæsar passes Diana with emotion, but without looking at her.
Donna D.
[Beside herself, to Laura.]
Pass me, and never deign a look! 'Tis monstrous!

Donna L.
It seems incredible.

Donna D.
Go to him, Laura!
He'll answer you. Tell him that I have seen him.

[Laura approaches Don Cæsar, who is admiring a statue.
Donna D.
I'm very faint.

[She takes her lute, and sits.
Donna L.
Don Cæsar! [He stands absorbed.]
Are you deaf? [He turns.]
Were you not told
The princess now is here, and has observed you!

Don C.
[As if rousing himself from a reverie.]
How, beauteous Laura? What! the princess here,
Resenting my intrusion? You knew, Perin,
Of her approach? Why was I not informed?
[To Laura.]
Pray you, excuse my trespass to her highness.
My error was unconscious; but I pay
The penalty at once, and so withdraw.

[He bows to Laura, and turns as if to go. Laura stands amazed. Donna Diana starts up passionately, and throws the lute upon the ground.
Perin.
[Aside to Don Cæsar.]
That was a masterstroke.

[Don Cæsar is going.
Donna D.
[Aside, advancing.]
O heaven! he's going! [Calling aloud, angrily.]
Don Cæsar! Prince! Remain!

Perin.
[Laughing apart to Don Cæsar.]
She must come to,
Twist how she will.

Donna D.
Draw near.

Don C.
[Who has stopped, now advances a few steps.]
Was it to me
Your highness spoke?

Donna D.
Trembling with rage.]
To you, prince!—yes, to you!

Don C.
[Approaching.]
What is your pleasure?

Donna D.
[With some composure.]
Why have you presumed
To venture here? I deemed myself alone,
And free from witnesses.

Don C.
[Pointing to Perin, with pretended embarrassment.]
'Twas Perin's fault.
He led me to this spot. If Ihad guessed
That you were present, I had bent my steps
Some other way. I humbly ask forgiveness.

Donna D.
But, prince, you heard our music.

Don C.
[Affecting to ruminate.]
Music? No.

Donna D.
[Excitedly.]
O, that's impossible!

Donna F.
[To Laura.]
Too bad! Too bad!

Don C.
[Feigning perplexity, to Diana.]
Have I again displeased you? Then I know not
How to avoid offending. Lest I fall
Into worse error, and provoke you more,
I choose the lesser evil—banishment.

[He bows respectfully, and goes out quickly.
Perin.
[Aside, delighted.]
Bolder at every step! He'll do, he'll do!

[He pretends to be perplexed, and stands beside Donna Diana with a sympathising look. She is perfectly stunned.
Donna L.
The monster! He's not human.

Donna F.
No, he's metal,
And moves by springs.

Flo.
He's even worse than Perin.

Donna D.
[Roused from her stupor.]
Is it all true? Has this indignity
Indeed befallen me? Despised, avoided,
Humiliated! I, Diana, I!
[To her cousins and Floretta.]
Why do you follow me with curious eyes?
Fall back: I'd be alone.

Donna F.
[Apart to Laura, as they retire.]
Is she in love?

[Fenisa, Laura, and Floretta go out, with arch looks and gestures.
Donna D.
[To Perin, who is also about to go.]
Perin, approach!
Speak! Did you bring him here as I desired?

Perin.
I did; with much ado.

Donna D.
He must have heard me
Play on the lute. What said he? [Perin remains silent as if embarrassed.]
Well?

Perin.
[Affecting to hesitate.]
Your highness—
He said—. You mean Don Cæsar?

Donna D.
Yes, Don Cæsar.
What did he say?

Perin.
He said—he said. I beg
Your highness to excuse me.

Donna D.
[Much irritated.]
I will know.

Perin.
He fancied that—I really can't repeat it.

Donna D.
Speak, I insist.

Perin.
[Retreating.]
He asked me then what children
Were they who gingled thus upon the lute?

Donna D.
Gingled! Not gingled?

Perin.
Gingled was the word,
And then he stopped his ears thus to shut out
The frightful discord, as he called it.

Donna D.
[Almost weeping.]
Slanderer!
I cannot bear this. Wretch! Barbarian!

[Walks excitedly to and fro.
Perin.
[Following her.]
Ay, and a fool to boot. A shallow, brainless,
Dull, pert, conceited—

Donna D.
[Stopping short.]
Silence, Perin!
How dare you rate him thus—a gentleman
Of noble parts, accomplished, brave—Go to!

Perin.
A thousand pardons, but I never dreamed
Abuse of him could wound you.

Donna D.
Wound me, sirrah!
What means that word—that look of pity? Think you
I am already fall'n? No; once engaged,
I'll never quit this conflict. He shall feel
I am Diana yet—scorned, not subdued,
I'll crush his pride, or in the effort die!

[Goes out.
Perin.
[Repeating her words in a tone of tragic burlesque.]
I'll crush his pride, or in the effort die!
Well, it's my firm opinion you'll do neither.

[He rubs his hands, and runs round the stage in elation. Laura, Fenisa, and Floretta reenter, and crying,—“Perin, is she in love?” “Do tell us, Perin!” “Is she in love?” &c. At length they surround and intercept him, still repeating their questions.
Perin.
[Extending his hands, with an air of great mystery.]
Hush!