The Mortal Gods and Other Plays - LightNovelsOnl.com
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_Fam._ The Gringo's had no fish.
_The man._ Then give me his.
He doesn't care. Has run already from The smell.
_Fam._ I'll give you half. The rest I'll take to him.
_Coq._ He'll come for what he wants.
_Fam._ No, he is sick, poor devil! [_Goes to Chartrien_]
_Coq._ Humph!
_Fam._ [_To Chartrien_] You'll take The chance? There is no other.
_Cha._ It's a trap.
You risk your life for me, a Gringo? No.
_Fam._ You must believe me! Oh, what can I say!
_Cha._ Say nothing. Go.
_Fam._ I love you, love you, Senor!
_Cha._ You would persuade me.
_Fam._ Sir, the wine you found Behind your prison door,--and good, clean bread,-- I put them there!
_Cha._ 'Twas you, Famette? I thought That Coquriez did it,--feared I'd die before The master came.
_Fam._ Not his brute heart! And then That night, of fever----
_Cha._ Yes! What then?
_Fam._ I lay Outside your jail, my head against the wall, That I might hear if once you groaned, or know If sleep had come.
_Cha._ Can such love be for me?
_Fam._ You must--you _must_ believe me!
_Cha._ G.o.d, your eyes!
[_She lowers her head_]
... 'Tis madness, bred of these sun-poisoned days, And nights without a hope.... Look up, Famette.
I do believe you.
_Fam._ [_Kissing her rosary_] Mother, adored and blessed!
_Cha._ Wilt be a beggar soldier's bride, Famette?
_Fam._ You do not love me, Senor.
_Cha._ But I love Your gentle heart that warms mine empty,--love Your eyes, like memories burning,--and your voice That's linked to an old wound in me,--but most I love your soul that is as great as truth And strong as sacrifice. You'll come to me In Quito, if I make escape? I'll find A way to bring you out----
_Fam._ You're mine?
_Cha._ Till death.
_Fam._ And after that?
_Cha._ I'll give you truth for truth.
Beyond this world I hope to meet a soul Who did not walk in this, but ought to have, For here her body dwelt. This side of death, My life--a bitter one, that only you Have sweetened--is your own, if you will have So mean a gift.
[_Ipparro has entered the yard and becomes a centre of altercation.
He starts out taking Lissa's boy, Iduso. There is a shriek from Lissa, and Famette hurries to her_]
_Lis._ My boy! My little one!
G.o.d strike you dead, Ipparro!
_Fam._ You'll not flog The boy?
_Ipp._ He didn't do his stint by half.
You know the master's rules. He's twelve years old.
Must cut three thousand leaves.
_Fam._ A man's full work.
And he's so small.
_Lis._ And sick he is. Two days He couldn't eat.
_Ipp._ You women!
_Fam._ Let him go.
A little child, Ipparro.
_Ipp._ Let him go?
Am I the master of the hacienda?
He'll tie _me_ up to-morrow!
_Fam._ It will kill Iduso.
_Lis._ Such a little one, he is!
A baby yesterday,--to-day a man,-- How can that be?
[_An overseer enters left_]
_Overseer._ What's up? Come on with you!
The master waits,--burns like perdition! Come!
Come, all of you! The women too! Clear out!
