The Mortal Gods and Other Plays - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
_Ard._ To starve ... is that so terrible? 'Tis but One way of dying.
_Vig._ Dying?
_Char._ Say no more.
The morrow's dawn shall light my way to Oswald.
_Bion._ You'll go to him? Then death!
_Vig._ [_To Ardia_] See what you do?
_Ard._ Forgive me. [_Runs to her father and clings to him_]
Now! Bind me to Banissat.
_Char._ Nay, thou art free.
_Bion._ [_To Ardia_] Our lives shall thank you.
_Vig._ Thanks?
You speak her part.
[_Ardia leaves her father and moves to edge of parapet_]
_Bion._ [_Following her_] Dost know a better way?
_Ard._ I pray you, leave me.
_Vig._ Princess of Avesta!
_Ard._ Your supper waits.
_Vig._ [_Starting right_] Come, brother!
_Char._ Though I've supped, I'll sit with you, my sons. Discourse is ever The best dish at the board.
_Bion._ We thank you, sir.
[_Exeunt Biondel, Vigard, Charilus, right_]
_Ard._ And am I wooed and won? Dreams of a dream, Where are ye now?... A lover with no song.
No carols stealing sweetness from the moon; No trembling hand to drop a morning rose Where I may walk.
[_Takes a rose from her bosom and casts it away_]
No rose.... no Vairdelan!
[_Re-enter Gaina_]
_Gaina._ Here, mistress? Dearie dear, a-weeping?
_Ard._ No.
_Gaina._ Say you were, 'twere a better sight than this fetching of dry sighs. They 'most take the skin of a woe that a little tear-water would bring up easy enough.
_Ard._ O, Gaina, Gaina, did you see my mother buried?
_Gaina._ Ay, 'twas a sweet grave we laid her in over in Corinth. You'll never make as pretty a corpse, my dear.
_Ard._ Was I there?
_Gaina._ Troth, you were, and trouble enough you gave me. You wanted to climb into the coffin and go to sleep too, you said.
_Ard._ O, had you buried me with her I should not have seen this day!
_Gaina._ Most like you wouldn't. Come, honey dove, come to your room and brighten yourself a bit. There's the new veil just begging to be looked at. I'll put it on you, and----
_Ard._ No, I don't want you. [_Going, right_]
_Gaina._ O, ho, I can read his name you do want, and not kill a bird for it either.
_Ard._ [_Turning_] Who, magpie? Who?
_Gaina._ Your eyes may save my tongue if they squint sou'west.
_Ard._ Is he coming?
_Gaina._ Who, my cuckoo? Who?
[_Bertrand enters left. Ardia starts off right_]
_Ber._ Ardia!
_Ard._ [_Weakly, pausing at her door_] Vairdelan....
_Ber._ Will not you stay?
_Ard._ I will return. [_Exit_]
_Ber._ Your mistress is not well?
_Gaina._ You've eyes, sir.
_Ber._ This fear of Oswald----
_Gaina._ Her trouble's nearer home, sir.
_Ber._ Her father----
_Gaina._ Nay, it wears no beard, though it may in time.
_Ber._ What troubles her, dear Gaina?
