 | The White Pilgrim and Other Poems |  |
45
ACT III.
Scene.—The same. Evening. Horns heard.Enter Hugo, Sigurd, Leofric, and Frioth.
Hugo.
A goodly capture, and a goodly day!
Where is our host, that he breaks faith with us,
And will not share in the sport?
Leo.
Faith, 'tis his loss.
He is the foremost hunter of us all,
And makes me feel a bungler at his side.
Fri.
(to Leofric).
I fancy that he's hunting somewhere else,
And means to run his game down for himself.
Leo.
(to Frioth).
Ah, but his oath?
Fri.
(to Leofric).
Oath! pshaw! a drunkard's vow!
When was it that he swore? A month ago!
What was it that he swore? I quite forget!
It is the noble privilege of wine
To give full license to our memories
To play us fast and loose as best we please.
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Which makes a man bad company for his kind.
Sig.
I am ashamed, Sir Hugo, of our host;
But he lacks breeding.
Hugo.
No, you do him wrong;
He is a right good gentleman at heart.
Our courtly polish lends a fair outside,
But often rubs away the sterling worth,
Which is too rough of mould to take it well.
Sig.
(aside).
Has he turned coward? Is he shrinking still
From his sworn purpose, that but now his hand
Was armed to work on? Or has Isabelle
Drugged all his senses into impotence?
A curse upon a woman's apron-strings!
Their knots are far too intricate to play with.
Hugo.
Here comes the laggard, and my wife!
Fri.
(to Leofric).
You see!
He brings his bag with him.
Enter Harold and Isabelle.
Isa.
Returned at last!
(Aside).
Thank Heaven for this!
[She goes to Hugo.
Har.
(aside).
She seeks her husband's side!
Has she been fooling me?
Sig.
(to Harold).
Where have you been?
Have you forgot again?
Har.
(to Sigurd).
I shall forget
Just what I please, and when!
47
(aside).
Nay, then, by Heaven
I'll shame him to the proof! I will tell Hugo
His wife is wanton, and call up the devil
Of jealousy to aid me!
Hugo
(to Isabelle).
Isabelle,
Why do you tremble so?
Isa.
(to Hugo).
Oh, my dear lord,
If you but knew how I have looked for you!
My eyes are happy in your safe return.
Hugo
(to Isabelle).
My safe return! Am I so poor a hunter
That you fear danger for me?
Isa.
(to Hugo).
Yes, I do!
I would we were far hence, with all my heart!
Hugo
(to Isabelle).
You were not wont to be so fearful, child.
Sig.
(aside).
The lover and the husband! rare dissembler!
Why, what a brazen thing a woman is!
Har.
(aside).
She hangs about his neck! her lips are his—
Only her promises are mine! (to Isabelle).
Take care;
The price you offered must be paid in full.
Hugo.
Lord Harold, answer for this trembler here.
What have you said to her?
Sig.
(aside).
Ay, tell him that!
And if you don't, I will, before to-morrow!
Isa.
(aside).
I dare not tell him! Did I breathe the truth,
Then my lord's life were forfeited indeed.
Would Rolf but tell me all!—My noble husband,
48
Whispering wild tales of witchcraft.
Hugo.
Is that all?
We'll match them with some legends of our own
Over the wine-cup.
Fri.
Come to it at once, then!
I am as dry as a bookworm!
Enter Rolf from the Castle.
Rolf.
My Lord Harold,
The supper waits.
Fri.
Oh, blessèd messenger!
Be all your sins forgiven you for those words!
Harold, my Harold, you were slack in the chase,
And if you have not gained an appetite,
I'll eat for both of us—and drink, if need be,
For all the party!
Har.
Gentlemen, come in.
Fair lady, will you grace us with your presence,
As is your wont?
Isa.
(to Harold).
Spare me your witchcraft, then.
Har.
(to her).
You have not spared me yours.
Fri.
Make haste, make haste.
[Exeunt into the Castle all but Sigurd and Rolf, the former stopping the latter as he is following.
Sig.
A word with you. Is it your doing, knave,
That the strong wings of opportunity
Flit thus unheeded by, when we should clip
49
Again between this Norman and his fate,
And with your scruples cooled your master's courage,
As water drenches wine? You love him not, then?
Rolf.
I love him better than I love my life,
Better than all the world (except, perhaps,
One foolish little woman, whom I miss
More than discretion). 'Tis you love him not,
But only love your malice and yourself!
Why do you hate the Norman?
Sig.
For his youth
And for his fairness, as I hate the world,
The light, and whatsoever power it is
That brings men such as I am into being,
And vents its spite on me, who will give back
As much—and more. For I have but the space
Of a short life to circumscribe my spleen,
While it may fashion others like to me,
And spit its venom out to the end of time.
I love that boy, though—or I think I do—
And he shall keep his word; I know a spell
To set those two at one another's throats.
[Going in, Rolf stands between him and the door.
Rolf.
You shall not say it, then!
Sig.
(advancing).
Ha!
Enter Gerda.
Ger.
Rolf!
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Who is that?
Gerda! Now all goes well, all must go well,
Gerda, my life, my angel!
[Crosses to her.
Ger.
Touch me not,
Thou worthy slave of an unworthy lord!
Sig.
(aside).
Well done, propitious stars! I called upon
The devil of jealousy, and he sends me here
His own familiar.
[He stops behind and listens.
Rolf.
Why, what have I done?
Ger.
Oh, I don't know. You best can answer that.
Rolf.
I'll tell you everything.
Ger.
No. Such a tale
Were little fitted for a maiden's ear.
Oh, you abominably wicked man!
Faith-breaker, light-o'-love, pagan!
Rolf.
That's enough!
Such ugly words ill suit such pretty lips.
Ger.
How dare you pay a compliment to me?
Rolf.
I couldn't help it, and I never can.
Ger.
You never spoke a truer word than that.
Little you care to whom you pay them, though;
You offer them, you know, with such a grace,
So prettily, so daintily, so—Ah!
My very fingers tingle to the tips
To think of all the hussies you've been courting
In the same language that you talked to me!
Little you care for that, though, I suppose;
All women are alike, sir, are they not,
Mere pegs to hang a compliment upon?
51
All women like? Well, if they talk like that,
I hope they are not, for the sake of men.
And as for pegs, pray Heaven that some of them
Abide more quietly in their holes than you,
Nor creak so harshly.
Ger.
Oh, how dare you come
Here to insult me?
Rolf.
Gerda! I declare
This is too much.
Ger.
Too much, am I? No doubt,
You've had enough without me. Have I lived
To hear I am “too much!”
Rolf.
Not you—not you.
I didn't say so.
Ger.
But you thought it, sir.
I saw you think it, and I see you now.
Rolf.
You don't.
Ger.
I do.
Rolf.
You can't, for no such thought
Was in my mind.
Ger.
Your mind! I dare say not.
I know that I can see farther than most,
But not even I can look into your mind,
Because it isn't there to look into.
Sig.
(aside).
Now, this is very meat and drink to me.
Rolf.
Hear me!
Ger.
Good heavens! how you interrupt!
Haven't I heard you quietly all this time?
Rolf.
Oh! have you finished?
52
Finished—no, indeed!
I've scarcely yet begun.
Rolf
(gloomily).
Then I believe
I shall not be alive to hear the end.
Ger.
So much the better for the female sex.
Sig.
(aside).
And with this sort of goods men fall in love.
(Coming forward).
Good even, gentle creature!
Ger.
Who are you?
Lord Sigurd?
Rolf.
I forgot him. (To Gerda).
He has heard
All you've been saying.
Ger.
(to Rolf).
All you said to me
Is more to the purpose; what he thinks of you
I can't imagine; me you heard him call
A gentle creature.
Rolf
(to Gerda).
That was irony.
Ger.
Don't let him try his “irony” with me,
I'll not endure it. Pardon me, my lord,
(quieting herself)
I am not smooth enough in speech for you,
But come as fair Thordisa's messenger.
Sig.
And speak in fair Thordisa's gracious tones.
Rolf
(to Gerda).
That's irony again.
Ger.
(to Rolf).
Then I will match him
With his own weapons. Oh, my courteous lord,
My handsome, kind Lord Sigurd, I am come
To Harold, from Thordisa! We have heard
Much of his Norman visitors—his fine lady
And—all her women.
53
On my life and love,
There's not a woman with her! Is that all
That made you jealous?
Ger.
Jealous! what, of you?
How dare you call me jealous?
Rolf.
If you're not,
I don't know what a woman is.
Ger.
Indeed!
You ought to, by this time.
Rolf.
Again, I swear
There's but one woman here!
Ger.
A harem of them!
I've heard about your dainty Southern dames;
They want six maids to put their hair in curl,
As many more to take it out again;
Some fan them when they're hot, more fan the fire
When they are cold—a harem, sir, I swear!
Rolf.
Lord Sigurd, tell her that I speak the truth.
Sig.
She'd not believe me.
Ger.
Very likely not.
When I believed his promises, I believed
A man just once too often. They are made
All of the self-same kidney. Where is Harold?
What are my wrongs to my lady's? Where is he?
That I may ask him in whose ear he whispered
Here, in this place, a few short hours ago,
The very words with which he won the heart
That he has broken. Oh, how could he do it?
Sig.
And—those words were?
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Thro' Life to Death—thro' Death
To Life!
Sig.
Indeed, a very pretty text!
Thank you—I'll ask him.
Rolf.
Mischief! I forgot.
[Going to the door. Sigurd passes before him mockingly, and on the threshold crosses Isabelle, who enters from the Castle. He bows to her and goes in.
Isa.
Hist! Rolf, where are you?
Ger.
(starting).
There, I told you so.
One of your women wants you.
Rolf.
Gerda, hush!
Ger.
Why should I hush? I shan't!
Rolf.
This is the lady
Of whom you spoke just now—
Isa.
Where are you, Rolf?
Come here to me; I have no friend but you.
Ger.
Oh, you abandoned person!
Isa.
(with dignity).
This to me?
Who are you? You mistake.
Ger.
(looking at her).
I think I do.
Your face is gentle, but why are you here?
Are you that Norman that has stolen away
A false heart from Thordisa?
Isa.
I know not
Of whom you speak, nor who Thordisa is,
Or you! But you are woman, and I pine
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Since first I reached this fatal place till now.
Rolf
(to Gerda).
I told you so.
Ger.
Are you quite sure of that?
Isa.
'Tis Heaven's own truth.
Rolf
(to Gerda).
There!
Ger.
(to Rolf).
I forgive you, then,
For all your falsehood and your violence.
Isa.
Do not turn from me; be not harsh with me;
Woman ne'er needed woman's counsel more.
Listen! My fears have overmastered me;
I am a stranger on your northern coast,
Save for my husband, friendless and alone!
He has no thought of fear, nor will believe
The dangers that surround us. I know not
Or what they are, or whence! But in all eyes
I read imagined terrors every hour;
I cannot bear it. (To Rolf).
Make your warnings clear,
And shape the horrors we must cope withal,
Or—I—
[Fainting.
Ger.
Bring water, she has fainted. Quick!
[Exit Rolf.
Enter Thordisa.
She has a fair face!
Tho.
(coming forward).
Let me look at it;
Yes, a fair face; and fairer far than mine.
56
It is not true.
Tho.
He thinks so; that's enough.
And yet—what is there, Gerda, in these lines,
That they should so cross and disfigure mine,
As leave no trace of them?
Ger.
Ay, what, indeed?
Why, they are poor and pale.
Tho.
Yes; so they are.
But then the blood has left them for a while;
And when it courses from the heart again,
And in full channel overflows the veins,
Gives redness to the lip, bloom to the cheek,
And lustre to the eye, then you shall see
How tempting ripe she is. What if I stole
Blood from her arm, think you that it would warm
And make me wanton? He might love me then.
Ger.
Oh, do not speak like that!
Tho.
No; she is fair.
Re enter Rolf.
Rolf.
My lady! oh, my lady! ere she wakes
Give me your counsel; only you can help
My master in his sorest need.
Tho.
You jest!
I am nothing to your master; here is she
That shall advise him.
Rolf.
No; you do him wrong.
You know not in how terrible a strait
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I sought you in the morning—you were gone!
That night! that awful night! Do you remember
The legend that I told you, Gerda?
Ger.
Ay;
Earl Olaf's vow. I never was so frightened
In all my life.
Tho.
I know that legend well.
What of it now?
Rolf.
That very night, my lord,
Goaded by Sigurd past endurance, took,
In all its terrible solemnity,
That oath upon him.
Tho. and Ger.
What?
Rolf.
And scarce had sworn,
Before these Normans came—this woman here
And her brave husband.
Tho.
Husband! Yes, go on.
Rolf.
The month expires to-morrow. Ere that time,
With his own hand, his own guest he must slay,
Or pay the forfeit.
Ger.
Ah!
Tho.
Be still; she wakes!
Isa.
(recovering herself).
Where am I? Was I dreaming? Did I see
A woman's face just now? (Seeing Thordisa.)
It was not yours.
Hugo!
Tho.
Fear nothing for him.
58
What are you
That are so sad and stern, and yet so sweet?
I dread you, yet I trust you. Oh, your eyes
Have all the depth of Heaven in their blue,
And all its truth; and you are very fair.
Tho.
Do you think so?
Isa.
Yes.
Tho.
You are no scholar, then,
And read to little purpose. Let your glass
Tell you what beauty is, or what men think
That beauty should be. Gerda, you and Rolf
Take charge of her, and lead her to my house.
Isa.
Your house?
Tho.
You wonder? Well, perhaps you might
If you knew all. But doubtless you have heard
Lord Harold speak of a poor slighted thing,
A woman called Thordisa?
Isa.
No.
Tho.
Indeed!
That's passing strange. But now, go to my house,
You will be safe from danger there—not here.
Isa.
My husband—
Tho.
Do you love him?
Isa.
From my heart!
Tho.
Then what of Harold?
Isa.
He is but a boy.
I did but sport with him, and he with me.
Tho.
Sport! I can bear no more! Take her away!
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He shall be safe with you. Oh, do not touch me!
Isa.
I cannot understand you. I have done
No wrong to any; there's some error here.
You will not save my husband?
Tho.
I have said
I can, and will; and you may trust me.
Isa.
Yes;
I see I can. Heaven bless you!
Tho.
Mock me not!
[Exeunt Isabelle, Gerda, and Rolf.
Earl Olaf's vow! What is a vow to him
That he should keep it—he, who swore to me
One short year's fealty one long month ago,
Then, with a lip still wet with kiss of mine,
And in the very words my folly lent him
To snare a woman with, could pawn again
His counterfeit of love yet unredeemed,
And lie his soul away? But then that oath,
Of which Rolf told me? If he break his faith
With me, a woman, penalty is none
For such a trifle; but Earl Olaf's vow!
How runs the legend? If he keep it—murder!
And if he break it—death! Well, what then?
Why, I have seen and spoken with it. Oh,
The ground is holy where thy feet have trod,
Thou mystery of beauty and of love!
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And teach the falsest, truth. Death! Let it take him.
[Shouts and sounds of quarrel from within.
What noise is that?
[She falls back and listens.
Enter Harold, Hugo, Sigurd, Leofric, and Frioth.
Hugo.
By Heaven, I'll have from you
Your answer to this charge! What, play the traitor
To your own guest, that trusted you as fully
As brother trusts to brother! Is it true
That Sigurd hints?
Sig.
Nay, nay, I hinted nothing.
Be gentle with him, Harold; he has drunk
Too much for wisdom. Good Sir Hugo, see,
Harold is mad with wine—it were not well
To press him now.
Har.
I will not talk with you
While you are heated thus.
Hugo.
I say you shall.
Sig.
Oh, that my innocent words should work such ill!
It was a jest, Sir Hugo, but a jest!
Thro' Life to Death, thro' Death to Life! a pledge
Of little meaning! I but bade you ask him
To whom he gave it—
Hugo.
He shall answer that.
Does he speak truly? Did you say those words
To a woman—here—but now?
61
(aside).
It works, it works!
Let me against each other arm those two,
And I will look to it which of them shall fall.
Hugo.
Answer him, answer! Did you speak those words?
Har.
Yes, I did speak them. Fall my sins on me
And all who cross me. I did speak those words,
And I will answer for them with my life,
My life, or yours! There is no man in the world
That shall dare question me!
Hugo.
Before all here,
In full arraignment, you shall plead to this:
To whom were those words spoken? Say, to whom,
And damn thyself!
Tho.
(coming forward).
He spoke those words to me.
The Curtain Falls.
A lapse of Twenty-four Hours.
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