Charles Di Tocca: A Tragedy. Rice Cale Young
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is – (Turns away from her.)
Helena: Is what? Antonio?
Antonio: Nothing: I who must ebb with you and flow
A little was moved.
Helena: Not you, not you! I'll change
My tears to laughter, if but fantasy
May so unmettle you! Not moved, indeed!
Not moved, Antonio?
Antonio: Well, let us off,
My Helena, with these numb awes that wind
About our joy.
Helena: Thy kiss then, for it can
Drive all gloom out of the world!
Antonio: And thine, my own,
On Fate's hard brow would shame it of all frown!
Helena: Yet is thine mightier, for no frown can be
When no more gloom's in the world!
Antonio: But 'tis thy lips
That lend it might. If I pressed other —
Helena: Other!
You should not know that any other lips
Could e'er be pressed; I'll have no kiss but his
Who is all blind to every mouth but mine!
(Breaks from him.)
Antonio: Oh? – Well.
Helena: "Oh – well?" – Then it is well I go!
Antonio: Perhaps.
Helena: "Perhaps!" (Makes to go.)
Antonio: Good-night.
Helena (returning): Antonio – ?
Antonio: Ah! still – ?
Helena: There's gloom in the world again.
Antonio (kissing her): 'Tis gone?
Helena: Not all, I think.
Antonio: Two for so small a gloom?
(Kisses her again.)
Helena: So small!
Antonio: And still you sigh?
Helena: The vainest glooms
To-night seem ominous – as cloud-flakes flung
Upward before the heaving of the west.
(In fright) Oh!
Antonio: Helena!
Helena: See, see! 'tis Agabus!
Agabus: O – lovers! lovers! Lord have none of them!
Antonio: Good monk —
Agabus: O – yes, yes, yes. You'd give me gold
To pray for your two souls. (Crossing himself.) Not I! Not I!
Know you not love is brewed of lust and fire?
It gnaws and burns, until the Shadow – Sir,
(Searching about the air.)
Have you not seen a Shadow pass?
Antonio: A Shadow?
Agabus: Silent and cold. A-times they call him Death:
I'd have him for my brain – it shakes with fever.
(Goes searching anxiously.
Helena: Antonio —
Antonio: You're calm?
Helena: Yes, very calm —
Of impotence – as one who in a tomb
Awakes and waits?
Antonio: He is but mad.
Helena: But mad.
Antonio: Yet fear you? still?
(A shout is heard.)
Helena: Who is it? soldiers come
From Arta?
Antonio: Yes.
Helena: And by this road! – They must
Not see us!
Antonio: No. But quick, within this breach!
(They conceal themselves in the breach. The soldiers pass across the stage. The last, as all shout "di Tocca!" strikes a column near him. It falls, and Helena starts forward shuddering.)
Helena: Fallen! Ah, fallen! See, Antonio!
Antonio: What now!
Helena (swaying): It is as if the earth were wind
Under my feet!
Antonio: Are all things thus become
Omen and dread to you?
Helena: O, but it is
The pillar grieving Venus leant upon
Ere to forget she leapt, and wrote,
When falls this pillar tall and proud
Let surest lovers weave their shroud.
Antonio: Mere myth!
Helena: The shroud! It coldly winds about us – coldly!
Antonio: Should a vain hap so desperately move you?
Helena: The breath and secret soul of all this night
Are burdened with foreboding! And it seems —
Antonio: You must not, Helena!
Helena: My love, my lord —
Touch me lest I forget my natural flesh
In this unnatural awe! (He takes her to him.)
Ah how thy arms
Warm the cold moan and misery of fear
Out of my veins!
Antonio: You rave, but in me stir
Again the attraction of these dim portents.
Nay, quiver not! 'tis but a passing mist,
And this that runs in us is worthless dread!
Helena: But ah, the shroud! the shroud!
Antonio: We'll weave no shroud,
But wedding robes and wreaths and pageantry!
And you shall be my Sappho – but through joys
Such as shall legend ecstasy about
Our knitted names when distant lovers dream.
Helena: I'll fear no more, then —
Antonio: Yet?
Helena: My lord, let us
Unloose this strangling secrecy and be
Open in love. My brother, Hæmon, let
Our hearts betrothed exchange and hope be told
Him and thy father!
Antonio: