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I ask you at whose urgence this is done!
This deed of churchly duty!... Yes, in justice I seek; for there has been Some traitor and perhaps a liar.--Osio?
Bianca? (_fiercely_) half, half I believe 't was you!
[_All are appalled._
_Porzia._ No, no, Rizzio!... no!... what are you saying!
[_Restrainingly._
Will you requite injustice with a worse?
[_To Querio, who is unmoved._
Monsignor, this in truth is hunting haste, To search him out Upon his wedding-day, And bind him with the very wreaths of it!
Could you not wait an eve, a night, until To-morrow when his nuptials would be o'er!
_Querio._ Who weds two brides is bigamist, Signora.
When he divorces heresy accuse me.
But now say your farewells, And with a moment's privacy: that can I grant, that and no more: the rest's with Rome.
[_Retires to rear--as do all but the two._
_Porzia_ (_whom dread now begins to overwhelm_).
My Rizzio! my own! I cannot bear it!
O why did you not go, delaying till This fate has fallen Now like a pall upon us!
I fear! I fear!...
To be so wedded, ere I am a wife, Here in this city of dark lawless pa.s.sions!
[_Unrestrainedly._
Ah, can you not recant?
Deny at once and so--
_Rizzio._ Porzia!
_Porzia._ Nay!
And yet to have you leave me-- Ere any nuptial night has hung our couch, Ere I have lain beside you in the dark And like Madonna dreamed of motherhood!
Ah, ah, I cannot!...
_Rizzio_ (_with a thought_). Then--listen to me.
[_Osio starts, watching him._
I will return to you!
_Porzia._ Return?
_Rizzio._ Perchance.
It may be. For with florins to the guard-- With friendly gold-- May he not be persuaded To bring me hither to you, for an hour At midnight--tho it be but for an hour?
[_They look at each other._
_Querio_ (_suspiciously, coming down_). Enough, Signor; the hour is running late.
And there are here, may be,
[_Sinisterly._
Some who are avid now to be at vespers.
_Porzia_ (_embracing Rizzio_). Then go, my lord; farewell, and fear not for me, Since I shall toil only for your release.
[_He goes, with Querio and guard. Porzia quails, then lets Marina lead her into the house. All follow but Bianca, Osio, and Matteo at gate._
_Bianca_ (_as the twilight begins, to Osio_).
Now that you have achieved so much, what more?
[_He does not answer; she also turns into house._
_Osio_ (_whom a turmoil of pa.s.sions is tearing_).
What more?... G.o.d in His Heaven shall decide!...
Doubts have I had--like swine of h.e.l.l within me-- But now He shall decide-- If she's to be the mother of heretics ...
Or if I, who acclaim the Creed, shall have her!
[_Calls._
Matteo!
_Matteo._ Signor--(_advancing_) here.
_Osio._ You have done well.
And from to-night I take you to my service, With wages that shall gild you from a want, And with the benediction of the Church.
But there is one thing more: Follow Monsignor Querio to the prison, Then to Signora Porzia return-- And say her husband sent you To bid her be in the bower there at midnight.
_Matteo_ (_staring_). But Signor, will she come?
_Osio._ Say that she is To speak no word--but keep to silence: go.
[_With fixed face, when the latch clicks behind him._
G.o.d shall decide, ...
For if she does not know My arms from _his_, then, it shall be a sign That to them and my bed ... she was predestined.
[_The dark grows. He turns soon to go, and the curtain falls....
But rises again at once and it is midnight; with only dim lights from the silent, sleeping city. As it does so Porzia with Marina comes out of the house. They pause and listen, Marina half-anxiously._
_Porzia_ (_drawing free_). Return and have no fear, he soon will come, And bade me be alone there in the bower.
The night is like a spell to draw him to me.
