 | Paolo & Francesca |  |
Scene I.
—The shop of Pulci, late evening. The walls and ceiling are hung with skins, sharks' teeth, crucibles, wax figures, crystals, charms, &c. A counter, at which Tessa stands. As the scene opens figures are seen leaving the shop. Three Peasant Girls and a Lady's Maid remain.Tessa.
I must ask you to choose quickly. It
is past the hour for closing the shop.
Ist Girl.
And will this syrup keep Antonio
faithful?
Tessa.
Two drops of this in anything he
drinks, given every seven days, and he will have
no eyes but for you.
Ist Girl.
But will it keep his thoughts true
while I am away?
Wherever he may be his thoughts will
be for you.
1st Girl.
Ah, but you don't know Antonio.
He is so easily led off—any face if it is fresh—
any fool with bright eyes.
Tessa.
These drops will keep even Antonio
faithful.
1st Girl.
I'll take it, then: it must be a
wonderful syrup.
Tessa.
[To Maid.]
And you?
Maid.
I wondered how long I was to be made
to wait for these common chattering wenches. I
want another packet of that face-bloom for my
mistress, and a darker shade. The other makes
her appear hectic.
Tessa.
This, then, has a darker tinge.
Maid.
And you are to tell your father that the
dye he sent withers her hair. He must add
more oil.
Tessa.
I will tell him. Good-night.
Good-night to you.
2nd Girl.
[Holding out charm.]
What is this charm?
Tessa.
It will ensure you against ague, fever,
or infection, and not only this, but against peril
of any kind. It is worn round the neck, and
at the approach of danger it will tremble and
give you a sign.
2nd Girl.
O, I must have that. Will this
money be enough to-day if I bring the rest next
week?
Tessa.
If the charm is not paid for soon it will
lose its power. Take it, and remember.
[Exit 2nd
Girl.
Now you—quickly, please—what do you want?
3rd Girl.
I want a cure for love. Are they
very expensive?
Tessa.
We have some that will cure of love in
a few hours; but these will cost you a great
deal.
It is terrible not to be able to sleep
at nights.
Tessa.
Here is one that will bring you back
sleep, and cure you entirely in a few weeks—
one that you could afford.
3rd Girl.
I don't think I want to be cured
entirely—and yet one never knows what one may
come to when it grows late and there is music and
dancing. It is hard to resist under the moon.
Tessa.
Come, now—will you take it?
3rd Girl.
[Taking phial.]
I think I'll have it,
and take it very slowly.
Tessa.
There, then!
3rd Girl.
There's money saved for six weeks.
Ah, well!
[Exit 3rd Girl. Tessa, after barring up door, goes to glass.
Tessa.
Now I can play for awhile.
[She puts
some bloom on her face.]
O, but this bloom is
beautiful! And how it makes one's eyes
is just what I lacked. My lips are too pale—but
now! Where is that pencil? Here. Shall I
lengthen my eyebrows, curving them so? No:
I will only deepen them. There, then! [She walks up and down before a glass, then sits dejectedly.]
Yet what is the use of all this? I
am never seen, may not stir into the streets.
And I want to be seen, and hear music
and—
Pul.
[Entering down the stairs with a lighted brazier.]
Tessa!
Tessa.
Yes, father.
Pul.
Have I not forbidden you to touch
these powders?
Tessa.
Ah, but look at me, father. Am I
always to stay shut up here, where no one
comes but maids of fine ladies and girls from
the shops?
Pul.
My child, we must be patient a little
then we will fly Rimini, and far from here we
will have a palace— [A knock.]
Tessa, go to
your room instantly.
Tessa.
[Lingering.]
May I not stay and see
who it is?
Pul.
It is only some lady's-maid.
Tessa.
No, father, I think it is a gentleman.
Pul.
Quickly! quickly!
[Exit Tessa. Pulci puts out light and lights a lamp; he slowly unbars the door. Enter Giovanni, masked and cloaked. Pulci closes door after him.
Pul.
Has no one seen you enter, sir?
Gio.
No one.
Pul.
Softly! What do you seek?
Gio.
Some dreamy potion
That can enthral a woman's wandering heart
And all her thought subdue to me.
[Producing phial.]
This poured
In her night drink will woo her to your arms.
One amorous night at least it will procure.
Gio.
One night!—what use of that? Each day, each night
Must she be mine.
Pul.
But one more drug I have—
[Searches for another phial.
Gio.
[Aside.]
I must beguile, it seems, my wedded wife,
And lure into my arms what is my own.
Pul.
[Offering another phial.]
This, then will purchase some infatuate days.
Gio.
Some days!
Pul.
No tincture longer holds the blood.
Gio.
Here is a purse.
[Throws purse of coins.
Pul.
Ah! get you quickly gone.
[As they approach the door a knock is heard.
See! I will slowly now unbar the door,
Into the night.
Gio.
[Stops Pulci.]
I must not meet a stranger.
[Takes off mask.
Hither! look on my face.
Pul.
[Falling on his knees.]
Mercy, great Lord!
Take not my life—this commerce after hours
Is for my child.
Gio.
Hide me, and instantly.
Pul.
[Hiding him behind the arras.]
Here, then. [Another knock.]
And, sir, secrets of Rimini
And unsuspected movings of your subjects
You can o'erhear. I'll draw him on to speak—
Only stir not. [Unbars door; enter Paolo.]
Warily, sir.
Pao.
Old man—
Gio.
Paolo's voice!
Pao.
What is that sound? This business
Is for no ear but yours.
If any stirred
It was my child preparing her for bed.
Pao.
If any hear me, it were ill for him!
Old man, there is within this purse a calm
Decline for thee to death, and quiet hours.
Take it, and give me in exchange some drug
That can fetch down on us the eternal sleep,
Anticipating the slow mind of God.
Pul.
Is this thing for thyself, or for another?
Pao.
'Tis for myself!
Pul.
I will not sell to murder.
But unto any weary of their life
I sell a painless issue out of it.
Yet you are young!
Pao.
Think you the old would die?
At any cost they would prolong the light.
'Tis we, in whose pure blood the fever takes,
Newly inoculate with violent life,
'Tis we who are so mad to die.
Pul.
'Tis true
What hath so early ruined you?
Pao.
Old sir,
I am on my death-bed, and to you confess,—
Love, where to love is extreme treachery—
Love for another's wife.
Pul.
Nothing so strange.
Pao.
Yes, for she is my brother's wife—my
sister.
Gio.
[Aside.]
Thou hast said it!
Pao.
O, I cannot near her bide
But infinite her lightest whisper grows.
There's peril in the rustling of her dress.
Pul.
And are you, too, beloved?
Pao.
She hath said no word,
But should I stay, she would catch fire from me.
Pul.
Why all's before you—yet you yield up
breath.
Pao.
I cannot go from her; I must not stay.
To die is left!
For such a drug the price—
Pao.
Usher me to oblivion!
[Shows purse with gold.
Pul.
[Reaching down phial.]
This drunk off
Within an hour will terminate thy woe.
Pao.
[Taking phial which Pulci hands him.]
Unbar the door! How the night rushes in!
[Exit Paolo.
Pul.
[To Giovanni.]
I'll follow him. If suddenly he drink
He must not fall and lie too near my door.
[Exit Pulci.
Gio.
[Coming from behind arras.]
All doubt at last is o'er! He hath said it out!
Almost I had my dagger in his heart!
Yet sooner than betray, he is gone to death.
[Wildly.]
I cannot have thee die, my Paolo!
Perhaps even now he drinks: even now the phial
Touches his lips—ah, brother, dash it down!
Not yet enough—I know—for death? Which way
Went he—I'll follow him. [Rushes to door, then pauses.]
Yet, O my God!
It must be so! How else? He is so bound
To her, he cannot fly!—he must not stay!
He has gone out upon the only road.
And this is my relief! O dread relief!
Thus only am I pure of brother's blood!
I must be still while he goes out to die!—
And yet be still—while he who is most dear
Drinks poison—yet I must be very still!
Re-enter Pulci.
Pul.
I watched till he was mingled with the night.
Gio.
Tell me! Is he that's gone so sure to die?
Within an hour, so potent is the drug!
[Fawning on Gio.]
You on more pleasant business came to me.
We who are older at such madness laugh.
Gio.
I stifle here!
Pul.
Tyrant of Rimini!
You will not kill me?
Gio.
Till to-morrow night
I stay my hand. Which way went he—that fool?
Pul.
Straight on; he never turned until I lost him.
[Exit Giovanni.
Tessa!
Tessa.
[Running in.]
Yes, father.
Pul.
Now you have your wish;
To-morrow must we run from Rimini.
Tessa.
To-morrow night the world then—the bright world!
[Pulci pours the gold out on the counter.
| Paolo & Francesca | |