 | The Secret in Words |  |
SCENE II.
—A HALL IN THE PALACE OF THE DUCHESS.Enter LAURA and ARNESTO.
ARNESTO.
No, Lisardo's fault, dear Laura,
Is not of so grave a kind,
That he may no solace find,
If he humbly speak his sorrow;—
Faults that have the strong defence
Of love, can give no very great offence—
And so, I wish you speak to him more kindly,
Since the long-expected dispensation
Any hour may reach its destination.
LAURA.
I will obey thee blindly,
Since it is better (O strong power of fate!)
To do thy bidding than provoke thy hate—
And so, submissively I say,
That I will take the state
That is to me presented by my fate—
And bind myself to-day,
To set all further doubts at rest,
And wed the spouse that doth deserve me best.
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I am pleased at thy obedience;
Lisardo, you may enter:—
Laura, stay.
Enter LISARDO.
LISARDO.
Señora, if I venture,
It only is to offer my allegiance:
And at thy feet my life to lay—
The price of that sweet pardon that I pray.
LAURA.
Lisardo, this permission
My father's liberal wish dispensed.
To-day my acts are influenced
Not by election, but submission,
And so, you need not thank me for a hand—
Another's hand, and given thee through command.
LISARDO.
It is enough to make my joy divine
To know, Señora, that I have thy hand;
How or why I need not understand,
If it is only mine;
The happiest destiny is this
That seeks not out, but finds the road to bliss:
O slow and sluggish sun,
Quicken thy course, or shorten thy career,
And bring the happy moment near
To which my swift hopes run.
Enter FLERIDA.
Arnesto! Laura!
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To thy chamber speeding,
Laura, my lady, was with us proceeding.
FLERIDA.
Lisardo, I congratulate you truly,
That you are pardoned 'spite of Laura's shyness.
LISARDO.
Such favour makes my dying hope bud newly.
ARNESTO.
She acts as doth become my child.
LAURA.
Your highness,
How do you find yourself in health to-day?
FLERIDA.
You know the grief that on my heart doth pray.
LAURA.
Some aid, some remedy you should procure.
FLERIDA.
Ah! what are vain attempts at healing,
That but increase the anguish of my feeling;
My sorrow being an ill that doth augment by cure.
But that it never may be said,
That solitude or pining struck me dead,
Do you my friends invite,
Unto a festival I shall prepare
To-morrow, all the noble and the fair
Of Parma:—thus I may bring forth to light
[Aside.
The murderous fair that kills this heart of mine.
ARNESTO.
Thine is my every wish.
[Exit.
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My life is thine.
[Exit.
FLERIDA.
Ah! Laura mine, how blest thou art
To be the happy wife of one
Who loves thee so.
LAURA.
Ah! yes indeed, I own
The joy, the rapture of my heart,
(If truth is to be said)
That he who loves me is with me to wed.
FLERIDA.
Ah! more unhappy far
Is she who, with the impossible at strife,
Subdued, must yield her life!
But no, my evil star
Shall find my resolute will
Enough to curb her baneful influence still.
LAURA.
That remedy can fail not in effect;
But tell me of the mode to be pursued?
FLERIDA.
In such a dangerous ill as mine, I should
The gentlest means select.
LAURA.
And what are they?
FLERIDA.
To own the hopes that thrill me.
LAURA.
Is that to conquer?
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Yes.
LAURA,
aside.
It is to kill me!
FLERIDA.
To yield to fate
Is but to gain a subtler victory;
But Laura, shall I be
The first, who in the married state
Wedded unequally?
LAURA,
aside.
My death is near!
FLERIDA.
Frederick is a noble cavalier.
LAURA.
To that indeed you have my full consent.
FLERIDA.
Since we have touched upon this theme at all,
Ah! Laura, let us now recall
The singular event
Of his portrait which your quickness won;
What explanation have you?
LAURA.
I have none:
Because, as I no interest then had
In the affair, it vanished from my mind:—
Jealousy doth drive me mad!
[Aside.
FLERIDA.
What secret motive could there be behind
His earnest wish to keep his picture hid?
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I know not: but to give it as you did,
Back to his hands, before the case I viewed
Minutely—I could scarcely so have done—
If he had other reasons, doubtless one
Was that it held his lady's too.
FLERIDA.
And so I must conclude.
O jealous love! that every thought doth scare!
LAURA.
No doubt it was his lady's face was there.
Enter FREDERICK and FABIO.
FREDERICK.
Must it take an hour to find you?
FABIO.
With that question I reply,—
Since I have been looking after
You, the livelong day till now—
FREDERICK.
Hush! the duchess!—be in waiting—
I shall want you presently.
FABIO.
Yes: although I do not want you
[Aside.
Presently nor futurely.
FREDERICK,
aside.
Trembling, fearful of her anger,
Do I come before her.
FABIO.
Why?
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Owing to a strange adventure.
FABIO.
Recollect the little story
That I told you, and you'll see
With what ease and expedition
You will get through all you fear.
FREDERICK.
How?
FABIO.
By saying a thanksgiving
For Macárandón in turn.
LAURA,
to Flerida.
Pause ......
FLERIDA,
to her.
My pain I must acknowledge
Now.
LAURA,
aside.
And I to suffer mine.
FLERIDA.
Frederick!
FREDERICK.
Most illustrious lady.
FLERIDA.
How is it, that through the day
You have not appeared, and only
Seek the court when night comes on?
FREDERICK.
Because when I am near thee, lady,
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A noontide glory shines from out thee,
And the departing sun appears
Endiademed with lovelier splendour—
Encircled with a rosier light;—
Because whatever hour we see thee,
It doth appear resplendent noon.
FLERIDA.
What flattering words!
FREDERICK.
These words, believe me,
Are not mere flattery.
FLERIDA.
What are they?
FABIO.
Mere Macárandónas, lady.
FLERIDA,
aside to Laura.
Do you not perceive, my Laura,
That he clearly understands
My inclination?
LAURA.
He does well.
FREDERICK.
Another good excuse remaineth,
Which I can state.
FLERIDA.
And what is that?
FREDERICK.
As I judged you were offended
With me, I deferred awhile
Thus appearing in your presence.
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I offended?—for what cause?
FREDERICK.
It were foolish to recall it,
If you do not recollect.
FLERIDA.
It is not that I do not know it.
FREDERICK.
Then how?
FLERIDA.
I do not wish to know.
FREDERICK.
By so much is my good fortune
Greater, that you thus forget
From the best of motives—pity—
He, this virtue only knows,
Who forgets the wrong he suffers.
FLERIDA.
I am doubtful what you mean.
LAURA.
If you grant me your permission,
I, methinks, can make it plain.
FLERIDA.
Do so, and in such a manner,
That he understand.
LAURA.
I shall.
[Takes out her handkerchief.
I—that any mind is generous,
Am—convinced of, when its owner,
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Of jealousy—disdain and love.
FREDERICK, aside, taking out his handkerchief.
You have—only proved the major,
Laura—of your proposition,
No grounds—for the minor giving:—
For it—find some argument.
LAURA.
Yes, I will:—That this were certain!
[Aside.
“That I had no grounds for it.”—
Then—if silence is true courage,
[Aloud.
I will come forth—proving all.
FREDERICK.
If you come forth—thus victorious
I will meet you—with the wreath.
LAURA.
This being granted, now I prove it
Evenly by opposite:
Since the querulous complainer
Cannot be called generous:
He who stifles his complainings
In his breast, must then appear
Generous by the very contrast.
FREDERICK.
Thine—must be the laurel, Laura;
I am—to lay it at thy feet.
LAURA.
Thine—is the praise—'twas thine idea—
I will be—found that praise to give.—
“Thine I am,” he said;—what rapture!
Aside.
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aside.
“Thine I will be,” she said—what joy!
FABIO,
aside.
'Gad! I believe they're both Freemasons,
And understand each other well.
FLERIDA.
Then it seems the whole conclusion
I can draw from what you say
Is, that he who hoards his feelings
Is the liberal person.
THE TWO.
Yes.
FLERIDA.
Then supposing that I tell thee,
Frederick, that I do not know
What I know, and you know also,
Do not fear to see me then;
Come and see me at all moments,
Being sure that there is naught
That can waken my resentment
Or resuscitate your fear.
Half is said, and half is silent—
'Tis sufficient;—Laura, come.
[Exit.
LAURA.
Frederick!
FREDERICK.
Speak, divinest Laura!
LAURA.
What is said is said.
[Exit.
244
'Tis well:
Fabio, tell me how it happens,
When I thought to meet her frowns,
Fair Flerida smiled upon me?
FABIO.
Think now what it is to find you
Passionate and peevish, when
I expected all good humour;
'Tis a case in point: but I
Can an other reason offer.
FREDERICK.
Do so.
FABIO.
That Macárandóna
Of the sun and rosy light
Which you told her of.
FREDERICK.
A truce
Now to idle jests; get ready
Horses for two persons, quick!
FABIO.
This appears to me but right:—
Now that you have celebrated
At Macárandón, to go
And say mass at Ageré.
FREDERICK.
Cease! and have the horses waiting
Near the path:—Flerida, fair—
[Aside.
May your haughty soul forgive me—
Noble lady, pardon, pray;—
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Is exposed, who doth avow
Love for any man she knoweth
Doth another lady love.
[Exit.
FABIO.
To-day, that I have so much news,
Must I be compelled to practise
More than usual silence? no:
For it were a cruel pity
Thus to let a secret rot
In the bosom, being therefore
Of no use to man or beast.
For a secret done in secret,
As doth sing the Cordován,
Must have vent, and by confinement
Smelleth bad and does no good;
Therefore will I seek Flerida.
But there is no need of that,—
She returns:—
Enter FLERIDA.
FLERIDA,
aside.
Although I wholly
Trust to Laura, I have left her
That I may achieve the conquest
Of this cruel love alone:
But I see that Frederick is not
Here.
FABIO.
And do you wish to know
Why he is not here, Señora?
FLERIDA.
Yes; why so?
FABIO.
Because he's gone.
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Where?
FABIO.
To Ageré, I fancy.
FLERIDA.
I don't understand you:
FABIO.
I
Shall not speak Macárandóna
Clearly, if you give me naught.
FLERIDA.
I desire no information,
Since this knowledge only serves
But to make us feel more keenly.
FABIO.
How! not know it? say for what
Have I been this blessed morning
More than two good hours or three,
Like a cat in ambush?
FLERIDA.
I
Only say, that you must leave me.
FABIO.
Give me nothing: listen gratis—
Only hear.
FLERIDA.
I have no heed.
FABIO.
Well I will not burst, a Dios;—
Some one I must seek, to whom
I can say that my good master
Means to give the slip to-night.
[Going.
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Stay! what's this you say?
FABIO.
'Tis nothing;
FLERIDA.
Stay, and tell me what it means:—
FABIO.
I don't wish it.
FLERIDA.
See this diamond:
Take and tell.
FABIO.
Well, why should we
Be so very coy about it?
If I am a valet, and
You a woman, one is dying
To be told, and one to tell:
My master and his unknown lady
Have agreed, to-night ......
FLERIDA.
Oh! what?
FABIO.
To play the truant or the devil.
FLERIDA.
How?
FABIO.
By going; but of course
Not on foot:—for he has ordered
That I have two horses ready
Near the bridge from out the park.
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At the bridge, you say?
FABIO.
The same.
FLERIDA.
This revives the old suspicion,
That his mistress must be one
Of my ladies; has he said so?
FABIO.
No, Señora, but his guest,
Who is duke of Mantua—
Gives them shelter in his kingdom.—
Glory be to God! I now
Can repose from all my labours:
Let who pleases now come hither,
I have been before him here.
[Exit.
FLERIDA.
Help me, Heaven! What's this I've heard?
Who has seen a fate more cruel?
Enter ARNESTO.
ARNESTO.
In thy name have I invited
All the noble and the fair
'Mong our cavaliers and ladies
For to-morrow.
FLERIDA.
It is well:
And your are, yourself, Arnesto,
Truly welcome, for I need
All this night your faithful service.
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I am ever at your feet;
What do you command?
FLERIDA.
It seemeth
Frederick is now involved
In a very serious trouble.
ARNESTO.
And with whom?
FLERIDA.
I have not heard;
Since my only information
Is, that love has been the cause;
And that the offended party
Has to him a paper sent,
Saying, that he would await him.
Where I know not: you know well
How I value him.
ARNESTO.
And also
How he merits being so.
FLERIDA.
Should I show that I had knowledge
Of the meeting, it would only
Make the matter public.
ARNESTO.
Yes:
What, then, do you order?
FLERIDA.
Simply,
That you seek him, and without
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Leave him not the whole night through;
And when he is bent on going
Forth, go forth along with him;—
If his proud impatient spirit
Should object, arrest him then,
Taking with you for that purpose
Force enough if there be need,—
So that he, until the morning,
Be kept safe the whole night through.
ARNESTO.
I shall go this very moment,
And, Señora, seek him out;—
Not an instant shall I leave him.
[Exit.
FLERIDA.
You shall learn to-day, ungrateful!
What a wild extreme of daring
Can a jealous woman reach.
[Exit
| The Secret in Words | |