 | The Scarf and the Flower |  |
ACT II.
SCENE I.
—A GARDEN.Enter PONLEVI and ENRICO.
PONLEVI.
You appear extremely happy.
ENRICO.
Yes, I am extremely so:
And the spirit of contentment
Ever wears the hues of joy.
PONLEVI.
Does it cost so much, a lady's
Saying, I would speak with thee:
Go, Enrico, to the garden?
ENRICO.
Lisida will speak, I fear,
Angrily, for my addresses,
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When the Scarf and Flower contended—
Jealousy and love opposed—
I have been declared her lover,
Angry glances I can meet.
Enter LISIDA and CELIA.
LISIDA.
Ah! Enrico!
ENRICO.
Not in vain,
Seeing, ere his own Aurora,
One hath risen, waits the sun—
Saying, doubtless, day hath wandered
From his pathway in the east:—
Since without his light—'tis morning.
LISIDA.
Let not flatteries, Enrico,
Cloak the feelings of your heart,
Imitating honest silence,
Simple truth should naked live:
And as it is my intention
Now at length to put an end
To our mutual misconception,
Listen to me: you retire:
[To Ponlevi and Celia, who withdraw.
Thou, Enrico, ere your journey
Into Spain (and if I thus
Recollect, 'tis for this reason
That the breast is bronze to keep
Ever fixed the soul's offences),
Chloris' lover seemed to be......
ENRICO.
Stay, for I am not desirous
If by silence, we confess,
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What is ruin to myself,
No, not Chloris was the day-star
Lucent load-stone of mine eyes,
No, they ever drank unsated
Ray by ray a brighter sun—
Flame by flame, a fairer fire-world.
LISIDA.
But how can you then deny
What my very eyes were seeing?
ENRICO.
By denying what they saw.
LISIDA.
Were you not the very shadow
Of her dwelling in the street?
ENRICO.
Yes.
LISIDA.
A statue on her terrace,
Did the dawn not find you still?
ENRICO.
It is true.
LISIDA.
Have you not written
To her?
ENRICO.
I do not deny
Having written.
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And the night-time
Was it not the dusky cloak
Of your stolen loves?
ENRICO.
That sometimes
I did speak to her at night,
I confess.
LISIDA.
This scarf you carry,
Is it not hers?
ENRICO.
I think that hers
Once it was.
LISIDA.
What contradiction!—
If to see, to speak, to write,
If to wear her scarf around you,
If to follow, and to watch,
Be not love, I ask, Enrico,
That you tell me what it is;
Leave me ignorant no longer
Of a thing so simply told.
ENRICO.
Let an illustration answer:
The skill'd sportsman, who would make
Of a seeming speck of plumage,
Borne along in rapid flight,
The swift mark at which he aimeth—
Aims not at the bird itself,
But beside it; understanding
That to gain the wind's sure aid,
He must cheat the wind a little:
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Who, the sea, that fierce and foaming
Prodigy of nature, rules,
Doth not turn his prow directly
To the port he seeks to gain,
But by tacking through the billows
Wiles their wrath and comes to shore.
The commander, who, a fortress
Means to gain, doth first pretend
That his call to arms is sounded
'Gainst another fort, and thus,
By all sounds of martial clamour,
So deceives the place, that he
Hopes to find it unprotected
'Gainst the true attack: and thus
Wins it less by force than cunning.
The deep mine, that in the entrails
Of the earth, begins far off,
Like an artificial Etna—
A volcano formed by skill—
Does not, where its pregnant caverns
Hold concealed a dread abyss
Of immense and hidden horrors,
Take effect, but then deceives
Even the very fire that lights it—
Here 'tis lightning—thunder there—
Here conceives, and there travaileth.
If, then, in the fields of air,
Is my love that wily hunter;
If it be the mariner
On the inconstant sea of fortune;
If in the wars of jealousy
It appears the victor leader;
If in the bosom's mine it proves
The fire so hard to be resisted,
Is it a wonder then that I
Have kept disguised my heart's true feelings?
But let this scarf my witness be,
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Commander and volcano wild,
On land, in air, in fire and water,
Would win, would come, would strike, would reach to
Victory, ruin, aim, and port.
[Gives her the scarf.
LISIDA.
You conceive that my resentments,
Weakly flattered in this way—
Will remit for your injustice
The atonement of my wrong.
No, Enrico, I'm a woman
Proud enough to scorn the love
That is only felt through vengeance
Of another's slighting scorn:
He who loves me, he must love me
For my own deserts alone,
He must love me for no object
But the guerdon of my love:
If, indeed, when Chloris thought you
Her devoted lover, when
Thou wert soul unto her body,
You declared herself to me;
Then, I think, perchance, Enrico,
That with not ungrateful trust,
That with heart but gently cruel,
That with slightly scornful eyes,
I might have esteemed...... No further
Will I say—I've said enough—
This alone I will acknowledge
Briefly, that if thou hadst been
Her received and favoured suitor,
I suspect I had heard thee then,
Not as now when thou'rt rejected:—
For to love one whom we know
Is the accepted of another
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But when rejected, is dishonour:
So, Enrico, I advise
That you neither seek nor ask for
Remedy, because I think
That the remedy will kill thee
Soon as the disease: what gain
By the remedy to perish
When the disease will kill as sure?
ENRICO.
Oh! but stay! delay thee! hear me!
LISIDA.
What do you say?
ENRICO.
That I, please Heaven!......
Enter CELIA and PONLEVI.
PONLEVI.
Chloris comes, postpone your swearing,
And so please Heaven a better way.
ENRICO.
While she passes, these close jasmines
Will conceal me.
LISIDA.
How is this?
Why so dread that she will see you
Here with me?
ENRICO.
Ah! no, I fear
It may trouble you: this only
Is the cause why I should hide;
But if it doth not concern you,
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Here I stay, I may see Chloris,
Since 'tis you that I adore.
LISIDA.
This you do to make her jealous:—
No, you stay not here with me.
ENRICO.
If I hide me, I offend you,
If I do not, 'tis the same,—
What then must I do?
LISIDA.
What? Neither
Hide thee, nor yet stay with me.
ENRICO.
What then?
LISIDA.
Go.
ENRICO,
retiring hastily.
Yes, I will do so.
LISIDA.
Stay! you go not in this way,
But quite slowly, for my object......
ENRICO.
Say it.
LISIDA.
Is that you should go
And not fly, Enrico, frightened.
ENRICO.
In this manner you will see
That I go, and thus obey thee.
[In taking off his hat, the flower falls out unperceived.
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aside.
Were there stakes or palisadings,
This would lead to a tournament.
Enter CHLORIS and NISE; ENRICO goes before them bowing formally, and exits with PONLEVI at one side of the stage, as LISIDA and CELIA do at the other.
CHLORIS.
Nise, what a sight is this?
What is this my vision sees?
NISE.
Troubles, pains, and jealousies—
All thy shattered hopes of bliss:—
If I tell thee a device
Still to keep their loves apart,
And thus tranquillize thy heart
By a simple artifice,
Tell me, Chloris, what thou'lt say
If this stroke their love arrests?—
CHLORIS.
That you would with sportive jests
Wile my serious griefs away.
NISE.
The sweet beauteous pink, which we
Feel the garden's pomp doth make,
Yieldeth poison to the snake,
Even as honey to the bee,
[She perceives the flower and takes it up.
And this verdant flower, that here
Timely fell, for illustration,
From the hat's strict salutation
Of some courteous cavalier,
Yields the same results to thee—
To the bee of love, its hue
Honey gives, and poison too
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Take and place it in thy hair.
CHLORIS.
This was Lisida's—the root
And fertile source of our dispute.
NISE.
To this flower and to my care
Trust thy remedy: the way
Is to do what I tell thee.
CHLORIS.
Since I hope no remedy,
I am willing to obey.
NISE.
Let thy earliest lesson be
This, that howsoe'er love's sting
Jealously thy bosom wring,
There is no necessity
That it be at all confest,
But dissembling thy true sorrow,
Thou the mask of laughter borrow.
CHLORIS.
Strange expedients you suggest.
NISE.
Even to bid her love him, though
You to Lisida should say.
CHLORIS.
I?
NISE.
Yes, you, and in a way
That...... but presently thou'lt know:
Here Enrico comes.
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Ah, me!
NISE.
Now begins thy simulation:
Let thy look and conversation:
Be as if it were not he.
Enter ENRICO.
ENRICO,
aside.
Quickly back, the flower that fell
Here I hasten to regain.
CHLORIS
to NISE.
Ah! how can I learn to feign?
NISE
to her.
Feign you must, or not be well.
CHLORIS.
Why return so expeditious,
Don Enrico, to these bowers?
ENRICO.
Who would care to seek for flowers
When the Spring forestalls his wishes?—
All who to a garden come
Bring not flowers, but bear them thence;
I alone with this dispense,
Having brought this orange bloom.
CHLORIS.
What you mean, I cannot say,
But I think some other passion
In a very cautious fashion
You attempt to serve this way,
By this flower. Adieu!
312
She goes!
Beauteous Chloris, think......
Enter LISIDA.
LISIDA,
aside.
That she
May behold this scarf on me
I return here now..... my rose
Chloris wears!
ENRICO,
not perceiving LISIDA.
This crimson glow—
Speck upon a sun, so bright—
Which presumes to blend its light
With thy forehead's gold and snow,
Is not in its proper place,—
Guardian thorns did once enclose
With their fence this beauteous rose,
Still from out their strict embrace
It was taken: wouldst thou then—
With thy bright eyes' glances try
To replace them, so that I
Ne'er could get it back again?
For though traitor thorns we meet—
Your bright looks would ne'er betray it,
Let my hand approach and lay it
As a trophy at thy feet.
LISIDA,
aside.
Can my sight or hearing err?
NISE
to CHLORIS.
Lisida has seen thee.
CHLORIS
to her.
True;
Tell me, then, what I must do.
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You must leave him here with her.
CHLORIS.
Leave him here with her?
NISE.
Rely
On this feigning for thy cure.
CHLORIS.
Be it so.
NISE.
But mind be sure,
Show the flower in passing by.
CHLORIS.
That I'll do with little sighing,
Since I wish she see me bear it:
But, my scarf, she still will wear it.
NISE.
Go retiring, but not flying.
CHLORIS.
Love! obedience thus I show.
NISE.
My experienced skill obey.
CHLORIS.
With the scarf that she should stay!
LISIDA,
aside.
With the flower that she should go!
314
ENRICO,
aside.
Who before did ever prove
Such misfortune?
LISIDA.
Knighthood's stain,
Base, inconstant, treacherous, vain,
Fickle, faithless, without love,
Canst thou an excuse prefer
For thy love's hypocrisy,
Since you gave the scarf to me,
But to give the flower to her?
ENRICO.
Hear me!......
LISIDA.
Wherefore hear thee, pray?
ENRICO.
See!......
LISIDA.
Perchance some new deceit,—
Said you not, that at her feet
You would lay it?
ENRICO.
'Twas to say
Though from her I would receive it,
'Twas not for her head designed.
LISIDA.
Canst thou think me then so blind
As, this falsehood, to believe it?—
315
I the truth have told to thee.
LISIDA.
Would to God that it were so!
ENRICO.
If my love doth die or no,
Hangs now on thy cruelty.
LISIDA.
Then 'twill die, if heaven above
Works no miracle for thee.
ENRICO.
O unfounded jealousy!
LISIDA.
O too ill-requited love!
[Exeunt.
316
SCENE II.
—A ROOM IN THE DUKE'S PALACE.Enter the DUKE with a letter in his hand, and OCTAVIO.
DUKE.
But only this denial
Needed my love for its extremest trial.
OCTAVIO.
And do no sparks of hope appear?
DUKE.
Octavio, none: since Heaven doth interfere,
It every hope prohibits.
OCTAVIO.
To-day dread Love his vengeful power exhibits,
Making us proudly understand
How like Heaven's bolts can fall the arrows from his hand,
Since like the lightnings dashing wildly by—
The proud they humble and make low the high.
DUKE.
Rather, Octavio, in coward mood
His rage o'erwhelms the prostrate and subdued,
The tower, the proudest front that rears,
Must feel at length the heavy weight of years;
If it declines or falls,
'Tis not a building then, but ruined walls—
A mark unworthy of that flame august
Which crumbles mightiest pinnacles to dust.
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Think not, my lord, a building so decayed,
Although no more its mouldering walls are made
A place where slowly preys
The venom'd fang, the poisonous tooth of days,
Time, to allow thy griefs to pass,
Makes of thy years a basilisk of brass.
DUKE.
I hope not now for their duration.
OCTAVIO.
Would I could give thee joy or consolation!
DUKE.
Who has just entered? Hast thou been observant?
OCTAVIO.
It is Enrico.
DUKE.
And who else?
OCTAVIO.
His servant;
Who the licence that you gave, doth use
To enter here at times.
DUKE.
'Tis true, he doth amuse
My sorrows; but now leave me, I desire
To speak here with Enrico.
Enter ENRICO and PONLEVI.
OCTAVIO,
aside.
On the wings of fire
Speed, heart, to Nise, seize the luck befalls thee,—
Fly! it is Love—the wingéd god that calls thee!
[Exit.
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How many thoughts doth musing sorrow trace!
PONLEVI.
Let me kiss, this instant, please your Grace,
Sovereign ruler of this land,
Your royal foot, which I would take by the hand.
DUKE.
To-day my heart is so oppressed with evil
It cannot jest.
PONLEVI.
Then I may go to the devil!
Forced laughter now is treason,—
Women and jests please only when in season.
[Exit.
DUKE.
Until now, to speak to Chloris fair,
Made my love rest, my star bright promise wear,
Dividing with the day
The sweet delusions she at night would say;
But since, at length, no more appears this gleam
Of comfort, anguish reaches the extreme
Of grief, despair, and discontent:—
Hear this letter which to me she has sent:—
[Reads.
“My lord,
The continual visits of your Highness
have awakened more than one malicious suspicion:
and my father being absent, that which, at one time
would have been to him an honour, will now be the
cause of double calumny. I expect him soon, and
so I beseech your Highness to excuse my requesting
that you will not come to see me”—
This wrong, at length, my long-tried patience ends;
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This scorn does more than all her cruelty,
More than her frowns, which once could prove
Sweet prison chains that bound my captive love:
And so, Enrico, I desire
That for this evil, this consuming fire,
You will this day a remedy procure me,
And so thus swiftly kill me, or thus cure me;
You must find out for me without delay
What Chloris really thinks: behold a way
To reach the ungrateful fair one's bosom, for
Love hath its stratagems as well as war:—
Thou knowest Nise, her fair cousin, who
Is, as it were, the soul of her I woo;
If then on her attentive you would wait
And publicly her favours celebrate—
I do not doubt that you will soon be loved:
Your gallantry, Enrico, has been proved;
Besides, a maiden, when she feels you mean
Marriage, allows her inmost thoughts be seen;
Thus having gained unto your aid
With love the cousin, and with gifts the maid
Who waits upon her, you will be possess'd
Of the approach to the snowy mine of her breast,
Which by a counter-mine of snow,
Soon thou wilt make to burst with fiery glow:—
And thus between the flames and snows
My love the truth shall gain, and I, repose.
ENRICO.
My lord, although to-day had sought
My hope, some way of serving you in aught—
Octavio will from Nise sooner learn
The secrets that your love would thus discern.
DUKE.
If to Octavio I had meant to unfold
My secret, I Octavio would have told;
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From thee I wish my cure of jealousy:—
And not Octavio.
ENRICO.
I may first inquire
Of Lisida, my lord.
DUKE.
Neither do I desire
That Lisida should be aware of it,
Since in continual rivalry of wit
And beauty, the two sisters ever live,
And this being known to one, would therefore give
Her the advantage, and would make her be
The suspicious witness of my jealousy.
ENRICO.
Since you will listen unto no excuse,
Think of the inconvenience 'twill produce;—
Octavio wooeth Nise, it will be
A wrong to him.
DUKE.
I have more claims than he.
ENRICO.
'Tis true, my lord, but I too woo a dame
To be my wife, of noble name and fame,
From whom I must forego my suit sincere:
Grant me then leave......
DUKE.
It is an idle fear,
And wrong to me, as equal things to blend
The displeasure of a mistress and a friend,—
321
Thanks, for effecting thus his undeceiving,—
But if it more concerns thee, I resign
My claim: 'twere wrong to force your wish to mine.
ENRICO.
My lord......
DUKE.
No more address me.
ENRICO.
Will you refuse my service?
DUKE.
Do not press me.
ENRICO.
It was to warn thee......
DUKE.
Do not speak a word.
ENRICO.
I feel you doubt my loyalty, my lord.
DUKE.
And with good reason, since you thwart my will.
O vain, vain love! and friendship vainer still!
[Exit.
ENRICO.
Can the world show in all its scenes of wrong
A maze more subtle, or a knot more strong,
Than that which friendship, loyalty, and love—
Friend, mistress, lord, have round about me wove?
If I refuse to woo fair Nise, then
I leave the duke complaining; if again
322
If I watch Chloris, she is wronged in turn;
If I proclaim the truth, it will appear
I break my trust; and if I persevere,
I run the risk in Lisida's dear eyes
Of seeming Nise's favours but to prize;
Her too I wrong, and all the others so,—
Lisida, Chloris, and Octavio:—
Ah, me! then whither shall I go?
How thus divided meet each separate woe?
Serving the duke, Octavio not offending,—
Wronging not Nise, Chloris none intending—
Nor causing Lisida one jealous fear—
Heavens! there's enough of complication here!
[Exit.
SCENE III.
—THE GARDEN OF FABIO'S HOUSE.Enter LISIDA and CELIA.
LISIDA.
You're sure you saw him, then?
CELIA.
Unless
Sure sight could err.
LISIDA.
And that the favour
Which Chloris wore, 'twas Nise gave her,
After Enrico lost it?
CELIA.
Yes;
For in the garden as I loitered,
Listening to many an idle sally
Spoken by Pónlevi his valet,
323
Had I an opportunity
As now, I would have sooner said it.
LISIDA,
aside.
Since I must die else, shall I credit
This doubtful witness, Jealousy?—
Yes, for through design, nor chance,
Nor sly collusion, could it be
That his excuse could so agree
With this, in every circumstance;
Ah, me! how soon, when weak with woe,
[Aloud.
Whate'er we wish we seem to view—
It does not need a thing be true,—
It is enough it may be so:—
Alas! unhappy undeceiving!
Too late you come the wound to heal,
For now, my Celia, now I feel,
How harsh I was in not believing:
God! how his generous heart must swell
To think we parted severed friends,—
But I will make him full amends.
Await me here.
CELIA.
Consider well
What you ought now to do.
LISIDA.
To write
A letter free from every sting,
Which, my dear Celia, you must bring
Unto his hand, as swift as light:—
Whose gentle influence stealing o'er
His heart, will all its joys renew—
Love and the sun when breaking through
Quarrels and clouds shine out the more.
[Exit.
324
PONLEVI.
Scarcely have I, in the palace,
Left my lord, ungrateful Celia,
When you see me here returning—
The lightning of the cloak and sword—
To embrace you, like the lightning.
CELIA.
Without speaking, would'st embrace me?
PONLEVI.
Yes; I better know the practice
Than the theory of wooing.
CELIA.
And of wit, neither:—but, misfortune!
Woe is me! here cometh Chloris,
Walking thither through the garden;
If she sees thee, 'tis my death-stroke.
PONLEVI.
Therefore, you enjoy the pleasure
First of seeing me: but tell me
What am I to do?
CELIA.
To hide thee
Underneath these boughs.
PONLEVI.
Through terror
I my feet am scarce uplifting,
Like as in a comic drama,
In the dwelling of his lady
Is the king found by her father,
Tottering-footed and large-bearded.
[Conceals himself.
325
CHLORIS.
What has brought thee hither, Celia?
CELIA.
I am waiting till my lady
Lisida would leave her chamber
And come hither.
CHLORIS.
It is better
That within the house you wait her.
[Exit Celia.
Nise, ah! my friend, my cousin,
Little can you feel my anguish,
Since for such a time you leave me!
NISE.
Speaking through the trellised windows
Of these gardens, with Octavio
Have I been.
CHLORIS.
A proper reason
Hast thou given for thy detention,
If you truly love each other.
NISE.
Neither loving nor forgetting,
Thus at times his hopes I humour;—
But with thee, how art thou speeding
With the lesson?
CHLORIS.
I have studied
It so well, that I need only
An occasion to employ it.
326
LISIDA.
Was not Celia here this moment?
CHLORIS.
Here but now was Celia waiting;
I have just desired her enter
There within.
NISE.
I go to call her.
'Tis an excellent occasion
[Aside to CHLORIS.
Now to open the campaign—
Jealousy to blind and baffle.
[Exit.
CHLORIS
to LISIDA, who is retiring.
Lisida, awhile detain thee,
For I have many things to say.
LISIDA.
Then the consequence is certain
That I have many things to hear:
Begin.
PONLEVI,
peeping.
Now comes a mighty battle.
CHLORIS.
Lisida, we are now together,—
Thou art my sworn friend and sister,
As to a friend's and sister's bosom
Will I lay bare my secret soul,
Two years have flown, thou must remember
Since in my gardens, seemed Enrico
A living statue—so alive—
That all the plants were more indebted
Unto his eyes for tearful dew-drops
327
Then came his absence, and as Heaven
Varies so often our condition,
That the bright day of love forerunneth
Often the fickle eve of change,
Easily thus, the scattered ashes
Died in the fire but just enkindled,
And in the chilling air of absence
Vanished the flame of love itself.
Shortly the duke became my suitor,
And though my honour and good fame
Offered resistance, I acknowledge
Not with complete success; for some
Gentle impression such uncommon
Proofs of affection must have caused:
On his returning home, Enrico,
Jealous to see the duke's attachment,
Or having now become enamoured
Once again through jealousy's cause,
Striveth now to wreak his vengeance
Vainly through thee for my disdain:
Let this garden be a witness—
Whither in spite of all his anguish—
Lest I should be in plaintive mood
For having given the scarf thou'rt wearing,
He back returned to give this flower—
Type of the hope he still doth nourish.
If you are then my friend and sister,
As I have said; if thou wouldst share
Part of my joy as all my sorrow,
Do then this single act for me:—
Love thou Enrico much—repaying
With a firm faith and true affection
His faith and love which are so false,
Do not in any way exhibit
Your knowledge that he feigns and hides
Through thee his vengeance: to awaken
Love, 'tis enough to think he loves:—
328
For being jealous, thus Enrico
Feel full security in love,
And in his lord's recovered favour,—
I will gain quiet—you a spouse,
And all more joy and less disquiet.
LISIDA,
aside.
She thinks that me she is deceiving,
When 'tis herself that is deceived:—
Certainly, Chloris, when I saw thee
Making such prefaces and prologues,
I thought the affair was very arduous
That should be done by me for thee:—
Do you not ask me more, my sister,
Than to deceive a man? Was never
Anything easier? Insufficient
Is it to know that I'm a woman?
Needed it then to urge me so?—
But notwithstanding all, to serve thee
This I will say, that though I thought
Never to speak to thee more, obedient
Will I be now to thy commands;
From this day thou'lt see me with him—
Ever from dusky night till dawn—
Ever from dawn till night descendeth—
And ere upon that starry pyre
The sun renews his life, consuming
His golden plumes in silver fires—
I will despatch to him a letter,
Filled with a thousand fond entreaties,
Telling him come to see me, so
Worded, that you will be persuaded
Even yourself that it is true:—
Or at the least, no clear distinction
Will you be able to discover
Betwixt these feigned and false endearments:
Do you wish more?
329
Not even so much.
PONLEVI,
aside.
Did ever I hear a trick more artful
Than this they have planned to fool Enrico?—
Never in all my days: I'll slip
Out of this place, while they are speaking;—
I burst—I burn to tell him all:
[While they converse together, PONLEVI slips out unperceived.
LISIDA.
Lose all anxiety, and trust me
All shall be right.
CHLORIS.
Adieu then: [aside]
cursed
Be the revenge that turns to love,
As well as the love that turns to vengeance!
[Exit.
LISIDA.
If Chloris bids me for Enrico feign
Love that the sooner he might her forget—
Then with her sorrows would my eyes be wet,
While I should feel my own love's sharp disdain:
But if she thus my fondness would restrain,
Snaring my love within this subtle net—
Oh! it were doubly wrong in me to let
Action and thought attempt a risk so plain:
And since the mark at which her arrows fly
Is pictured in this green-girt rose's hue—
Gathered by stealth and speedily to die—
Heedless I may, her jealous efforts, view—
For he who once is guilty of a lie,
Is always doubted though he speaketh true.
330
ENRICO.
You are lying.
PONLEVI.
No; I lie not.
ENRICO.
That this happened?
PONLEVI.
As I told you.
ENRICO.
What, that Chloris doth forget me,
And that Lisida deceives me?
PONLEVI.
Yes, my lord, for both the ladies
Are two super-cunning sly ones.
ENRICO.
I will prove this.
PONLEVI.
In what manner?
ENRICO.
Lisida herself will prove it;
When we parted, she was angry,—
If I find, upon our meeting
All her jealous wrath abated,
Ere I've made her satisfaction,
It is true.
PONLEVI.
Then wait a little
For a letter she will write you,
331
Who could ever have such patience?
LISIDA,
advancing.
Welcome mayest thou be, Enrico,
For it seems my soul advanceth
Ere my tardy words to call thee,
Falsifying thus the slowness
Of thy absence.
ENRICO.
Why wait longer?
[Aside.
Stay, thou false ungrateful siren,
[Aloud.
Cunning crocodile, delay thee,
If you weep, your tears destroy me,
If you sing, your songs are fatal,
Proved too well by all your changes:
Since to-day your jealous weeping
Gave me mortal anguish, tyrant,
And the strains that speak forgiveness
Also give me death; Oh! leave me,
Since of thee I am not certain,
Whether tears or songs you give me.
LISIDA.
Neither to-day was feigned my weeping,
Nor is my laughter false, Enrico,
Opposite though they be, the twain
Born of the soul are twin affections,
If I, to day, wept jealousy's sorrows,
I, to-day, sing praises to love;
Joyously thanking all his unravellings,
Since from Celia, secretly listening,
Full explanation I have received!—
Then it is not a siren that calls thee,
Feigning tenderness, to her arms,
Nor a crocodile is it that wrongs thee
With the show of false flowing tears;—
332
Singeth or weepeth equally true,
When he weepeth and when he singeth.
ENRICO.
Dost thou think, that I am ignorant
All the words that now thou art speaking
Are but feigned?
LISIDA.
And can this letter
Be also feigned I was going to send?
[Gives him the letter.
ENRICO.
Peace! peace! for even this letter
Is a witness stronger than all
The other grounds of my unhappiness,
Since you promised Chloris your sister
That you would write a letter like this:
This is not love; it is a stratagem
Planned by you two.
LISIDA.
And who so speedily......?
PONLEVI,
aside.
Now I enter into the dance.
LISIDA.
Could have told you that we were speaking
Lately together?
PONLEVI,
aside.
Oh! what matter?
Leave me under the cloud, I pray.
333
Pónlevi here, who was carefully listening,
Secretly hidden under the boughs,
Heard what you and Chloris were planning,
Cruelly planning against my peace.
PONLEVI.
I, my lady, said nothing about it;
My master, begging his pardon, lies;
Not a word of all he has uttered
Has he ever been told my me.
[PONLEVI seems disposed to retire through fear of LISIDA.
LISIDA.
Do not fear: say where was I speaking
When you o'erheard me?
PONLEVI.
If I must speak,
Since it was you yourself that ordered me,
It was here.
LISIDA.
How long is it since?
PONLEVI.
But an instant.
LISIDA.
That is sufficient,
Since if I did not go away
Out of this spot, nor here was it written,
It is clear, the cause of it is,
My being undeceived in my jealousy,
Not what Chloris has said to me.
PONLEVI.
Cleverly is the problem proven.
334
So that it seems I am bound to believe
You spoke falsely then to your sister,
Now you are speaking the truth to me.
LISIDA.
Saw you never, Enrico, a table,
Which when placed in one light presents
A perfect form of exquisite beauty,
And in another a monster feigns?
For the figure is so indebted
Unto the pencil's magical art,
Opposite things it represents:—
So is my love: in the light of Chloris
It a monster of terror seems,
But in that of Enrico, perfect
Beauty becomes; and this alone
In the soul is the only difference
'Twixt true love and one that is feigned.
ENRICO.
I know not how thy words are so potent,
Notwithstanding my being deceived,
That they make me credit you: let me
At thy feet my gratitude show,
Kissing the flower that their touch produces,
Not to say, upon which they tread.
LISIDA.
Are not, think you, my arms more near thee?
ENRICO.
No, for they are a sphere too high.
Enter CHLORIS and NISE.
CHLORIS,
aside to NISE.
We have come at an evil moment.
335
to ENRICO.
Lest this tiresome couple delay,
And weary us waiting, take thy departure
But for a little while, 'till they pass,
And then return.
ENRICO.
Yes: I will do so.
[Exit.
LISIDA.
Truly you owe me much, my sister,
What would you more? I have embraced him,
Merely to do what you command.
[Exit.
CHLORIS.
Ah! you have given me death, my cousin,
You from my hands have ta'en my arms,
And given my weapons, even the weapons
With which she strikes the deadly blow.
NISE.
It is quite true; yes, this deception
Has turned out badly; but let us see
If we may not strike out another.
Have you some paper in your sleeve?
CHLORIS.
None but this, which is some trifling
Bill or other.
[Gives her a paper.
NISE.
'Twill do quite well;
Leave me now for awhile: the issue
You, concealed, can easily see.
[Exit Chloris.
Ponlevi!
PONLEVI.
Your will, Señora?
336
Listen to me.
PONLEVI.
What do you command?
NISE.
This.
[She strikes him.
PONLEVI.
Good Heavens! you're going to strangle me!
NISE.
Caitiff vile! is it thus you dare
To wrong my sense of honour?
PONLEVI.
What honour?
NISE.
Thus with blushless face of assurance
So to dare?
PONLEVI.
But what have I dared?
NISE.
Wretch, be silent!
[Strikes him again.
PONLEVI.
You are stabbing me
With ten tapering daggers of crystal
Bearing ten mother-of-pearl points.
NISE.
Thou to me?
[She tears the paper.
337
LISIDA.
What meaneth this outcry?
What has happened, cousin?
NISE.
'Tis nought:—
Hence, thou scoundrel, infamous pander,
Ere from a window out you fly;
Thus I scatter the torn pieces,
Numerous as spotted butterflies here,
Of the letter you dared to bring me.
PONLEVI.
I?
NISE.
Presume not to answer a word.
Hence!
PONLEVI.
Please Heaven.....
NISE.
Come, no replying.
PONLEVI.
That.....
NISE.
What, still dost thou dare to talk?
Off with you!
PONLEVI.
Yes, I will do so.—Masters,
[Aside.
This lady has taken a drop too much.
[Exit.
LISIDA.
Will you not tell me what has happened?
338
Why, this fellow, before my face,
Had the insolence to inform me
That his master.....
LISIDA.
Speak!
NISE.
Desired
Him to offer to me this letter;
As he saw that he could not give
Jealousy through thy means to Chloris,
Now his hopes had turned to me.
LISIDA,
aside.
This is another stroke of cunning;
She must not carry her point in this.
[Lifts up the pieces of torn paper.
NISE.
What are you doing, Lisida?
LISIDA.
Raising
Merely the paper which you have torn.
NISE.
To what purpose?
LISIDA.
To this purpose,
Nise, that as you once upraised
A certain flower, which was Enrico's,
Even from this very ground, to give
It to Chloris, as if from Enrico,
So do I, for a similar cause,
Raise these pieces of torn paper.
339
aside.
Bless me! what unfortunate days
Have been these for my efforts at lying.
[LISIDA reads the fragments which she has collected.
LISIDA.
This says here, some lavender water—
Here, a fresh egg—and here again,
Powder of sublimate. This is sufficient—
It showeth more concern than love;
Since Enrico takes such precautions
That you should wash your face so well,
You must not have appeared to him thoroughly
Neat, my Nise.
NISE.
Who can prevent
The air from playing with pieces of paper?
One it wafts, and another brings back;
This, of course, cannot be the letter
That I tore.
LISIDA.
It may be so: think
How unhappy has been the issue
Of all thy stratagems, all thy wiles.
NISE.
What are the wiles, and what the stratagems?
LISIDA.
These:—
NISE.
But do not compel me to say
The many days that with passionate eagerness
Unto me has Enrico paid court:—
340
Tiring me out with his ceaseless suit.
You yourself may hear him addressing
To me the language of love, if you
Hide for a little.
LISIDA.
I do not desire
To take upon thee a greater vengeance,
Than to convict thee of this lie;
And since he will return, protected
By these jessamines, I shall see
If he writes to you, if he speaks to you.
NISE.
Heavens! Lisida dear, how quickly
Thus you are taking me at my word!
Do you not see I was only jesting?
LISIDA.
No, your object was to deceive.
NISE.
I but meant a little to rally thee;
That was the object,—nothing more.
LISIDA.
Whether or no, I soon shall see it.
[Conceals herself.
NISE.
Who e'er saw a more difficult pass?
With the falsehood, Lisida holds me
As within the jaws of a trap,—
For in all his life, Enrico
Scarcely a word to me has said.
341
PONLEVI.
Why like a bee around a hive,
Do you circle this garden?
ENRICO.
'Tis my centre;
If now and then I did not enter,
It were impossible to live.
CHLORIS enters at the side scene, where she remains listening.
CHLORIS,
from her place of concealment.
Here my attention I can give.
LISIDA,
from hers.
From this spot the whole can be heard.
ENRICO.
Lisida promised not to have stirred
Out of that spot.
PONLEVI.
She is not there,
But in her place is Nise the fair.
NISE,
aside.
Ah! he departs without saying a word.
ENRICO,
aside.
Good God! here is Nise alone,—
No one sees me, no one is near,
If I could only conquer my fear,
Opening the mine as the duke hath shown,
I could serve his love and secure my own:—
For a love that is secret and occult
Should always a secret hour consult:
I am alone and invisible here
To Lisida, so I need not fear
342
Fair seraph of this sweet Paradise,
[To NISE.
This beautiful garden, love's bright bower,
Since thou art both the guard and the flower,
At once the protectress and the prize,
Sheath the flashing sword of thine eyes,
Hear the delicious sounds divine—
Hear the trembling wishes that pine
In the lover's bosom like prisoned doves,
Accept this spoken homage as love's—
And not, fair Nise, as if it were mine.
NISE,
aside.
What is this that I hear?
CHLORIS,
aside.
Ah, me!
LISIDA,
aside.
Death my confidence doth reward.
PONLEVI.
Recollect this is Nise, my lord,
And not Lisida.
ENRICO.
I saw thee,
Therefore I love thee: so it should be:
From that moment dazzled and blind,
Heart and soul to thee I resign'd,—
Motes that no other sunbeam know,—
For thy form of beautiful snow
Lives in a sphere of fire confined.
Ever since then, my love to tell
Day after day, an occasion I seek.
PONLEVI.
Think, my lord, 'tis to Nise you speak.
ENRICO.
I am not blind,—I know it well.
343
aside.
As love lives! it was truth that fell
From Nise but now, whom he doth adore!
CHLORIS,
aside.
Heavens! can there be a miracle more?
It is for Nise that now he sighs!
PONLEVI,
aside.
All in a moment for Nise he dies!
NISE,
aside.
It must be love that but now he swore:—
Who ever saw such a strange confusion!
What was spoken in jest but now
Turns out true one knows not how:
Let me favour the new illusion.
ENRICO.
Though I have lived so long in delusion,
Now undeceiving, at least, I die.
NISE,
aside.
Never in all my life have I
Seen a man more in love:— [aloud]
But you
Paid court to Chloris a time?
ENRICO.
'Tis true,
My will a slave at her feet did lie.
CHLORIS,
aside.
Ah! the traitor, how soon it fled.
NISE.
Then it seems your affection is turn'd
To Lisida, and for her you burn'd?
344
My spirit was chain'd where her feet would tread:—
This is the only true word I have said!
[Aside.
LISIDA,
aside.
Ah! how cruel!
NISE.
And now to me
You offer your heart, the last of the three.
ENRICO.
In you my glory is all complete.
NISE.
Never in all my life did I meet
A Florentine more Portuguese-like.
ENRICO.
To be
Attached to two others will not be deem'd
Any loss to the third, if you'll recollect.
NISE.
Why, can there be a greater defect?
ENRICO.
Rather a merit. No one has dream'd
That anything should be less esteem'd,
A book or a painting, a statue or blade,
Because the artist perchance hath made
Some others before it: no, it is thought
Better fashion'd, more skilfully wrought,
From his greater experience in art or trade.
Thus I infer, in my love for you,
It doth redound to its credit more,
My having loved two others before;
Not through election now I woo,
Force, as God knows, I yield me to.
345
All that my love, my fortune can do—
All the experience over me gone—
Is to make a perfect work in one
Of what I but learn'd in the other two.
CHLORIS.
This must I hear?
LISIDA.
This must I see?
[NISE goes and takes LISIDA by the hand, and leads her where CHLORIS is standing.
NISE.
To back a palpable sophistry,
You must reply, dear cousin mine,
See if thou wilt thy claim resign.
LISIDA,
to ENRICO.
Tell me again to trust to thee.
PONLEVI.
What could hither our steps allure?
ENRICO.
Help me, Heaven!
NISE,
to CHLORIS.
You are now secure.
CHLORIS.
Not altogether:—
NISE.
What can it be
That you now require?
346
To be sure of thee,
Who will secure me?—so that the cure
Worse than the old disease may prove.
NISE.
I have brought a doubt on his love,
That was all I wish'd to produce.
[Exeunt NISE and CHLORIS.
LISIDA,
to ENRICO.
What have you now to say in excuse?
Have you no tongue?
ENRICO.
It cannot move.
LISIDA.
Defend thy contract.
ENRICO.
'Twere vain to try.
LISIDA.
Explain the cause.
ENRICO.
No power have I.
LISIDA.
Deceive me again.
ENRICO.
'Twere little use.
LISIDA.
Speak.
ENRICO.
'Tis fear that my words repress.
347
Whose is the falsehood?
ENRICO.
Mine, I know.
LISIDA.
Whose is the truth?
ENRICO.
'Tis mine also.
LISIDA.
Then what you said was a falsehood?
ENRICO.
Yes.
LISIDA.
This is not an evasion?
ENRICO.
No.
LISIDA.
No new deception has enter'd thy brain?
ENRICO.
Sincerity never has need to feign.
PONLEVI.
Did I not tell you over and over,
That this was not the place for a lover?
You wouldn't believe me, now all is vain.
LISIDA.
Such a false deceiving lover may die.
348
Firm in his faith he means to live.
LISIDA.
What proofs of your firmness do you give?
ENRICO.
My silence, and my constancy.
LISIDA.
You are easy to melt.
ENRICO.
A diamond, I,
LISIDA.
Jealousy, anger, cloud my sense.
ENRICO.
Ah! upon what a slight pretence,
Can the little sly god with wiles
Turn into frowns the sunniest smiles,
And make of love itself an offence.
| The Scarf and the Flower | |