The Two Lovers of Heaven: Chrysanthus and Daria Part 12

(Enter Escarpin.)

NISIDA.

Thou, O thou, whose wandering footsteps These secluded groves have entered . . .[9]

ESCARPIN.

Thou four hundred times repeated-- Thou and all the thous, your servant.

NISIDA.

Tell us of the proclamation Publicly to-day presented To the gaze of Rome.

ESCARPIN.

I 'll do so; For there 's nothing I love better Than a story (aside, if to tell it In divine Daria's presence Does not put me out, for no one, When the loved one listens, ever Speaks his best): Polemius, Rome's great senator, whose bended Shoulders, like an Atlas, bear All the burden of the empire, By Numerian's self entrusted, He, this chief of Rome's great senate, Has a son, by name Chrysanthus, Who, as rumour goes, at present Is afflicted by a sadness So extreme and so excessive, That 't is thought to be occasioned By the magic those detested Christians (who abhor his house, And his father, who hath pressed them Heavily as judge and ruler) Have against his life effected, All through hatred of our G.o.ds.

And so great is the dejection That he feels, there 's nothing yet Found to rouse him or divert him.

Thus it is Numeria.n.u.s, Who is ever well-affected To his father, hath proclaimed All through Rome, that whosoever Is so happy by her beauty, Or so fortunately clever By her wit, or by her graces Is so powerful, as to temper His affliction, since love conquers All things by his magic presence, He will give her (if a n.o.ble) As his wife, and will present her With a portion far surpa.s.sing All Polemius' self possesses, Not to speak of what is promised Him whose skill may else effect it.

Thus it is that Rome to-day Laurel wreaths and crowns presenteth To its most renowned physicians, To its sages and its elders, And to wit and grace and beauty Joyous feasts and courtly revels; So that there is not a lady In all Rome, but thinks it certain That the prize is hers already, Since by all 't will be contested, Some through vanity, and some Through a view more interested: Even the ugly ones, I warrant, Will be there well represented.

So with this, adieu. (Aside, Oh! fairest Nymph Daria, since I ventured Here to see thee, having seen thee Now, alas! I must absent me!) [Exit.

CYNTHIA.

What strange news!

NISIDA.

There 's not a beauty But for victory will endeavour When among Rome's fairest daughters Such a prize shall be contested.

CYNTHIA.

Thus by showing us the value Thou upon the victory settest, We may understand that thou Meanest in the lists to enter.

NISIDA.

Yes, so far as heaven through music Its most magic cures effecteth, Since no witchcraft is so potent But sweet music may dispel it.

It doth tame the raging wild beast, Lulls to sleep the poisonous serpent, And makes evil genii, who Are revolted spirits--rebels-- Fly in fear, and in this art I have always been most perfect: Wrongly would I act to-day, In not striving for the splendid Prize which will be mine, when I See myself the loved and wedded Wife of the great senator's son, And the mistress of such treasures.

CYNTHIA.

Although music is an art Which so many arts excelleth, Still in truth 't is but a sound Which the wanton air disperses.

It the sweet child of the air In the air itself must perish.

I, who in my studious reading Have such learn'ed lore collected, Who in poetry, that art Which both teacheth and diverteth, May precedence claim o'er many Geniuses so prized at present, Can a surer victory hope for In the great fight that impendeth, Since the music of the soul Is what keeps the mind suspended.

In one item, Nisida, We two differ: thy incentive Thy chief motive, is but interest: Mine is vanity, a determined Will no other woman shall Triumph o'er me in this effort, Since I wish that Rome should see That the glory, the perfection Of a woman is her mind, All her other charms excelling.

DARIA.

Interest and vanity Are the two things, as you tell me, That, O Cynthia! can oblige thee, That, O Nisida, can compel thee To attempt this undertaking By so many risks attended.

But I think you both are wrong, Since in this case, having heard that The affliction this man suffers Christian sorcery hath effected Through abhorrence of our G.o.ds, By that atheist sect detested, Neither of these feelings should Be your motive to attempt it.

I then, who, for this time only Will believe these waves that tell me-- These bright fountains--that the beauty Which so oft they have reflected Is unequalled, mean to lay it As an offering in the temple Of the G.o.ds, to show what little Strength in Christian sorcery dwelleth.

NISIDA.

Then 't is openly admitted That we three the list will enter For the prize.

CYNTHIA.

And from this moment That the rivalry commences.

NISIDA.

Voice of song, thy sweet enchantment On this great occasion lend me, That through thy soft influence Rank and riches I may merit. [Exit.

CYNTHIA.

Genius, offspring of the soul, Prove this time thou 'rt so descended, That thy proud ambitious hopes May the laurel crown be tendered. [Exit.

DARIA.

Beauty, daughter of the G.o.ds, Now thy glorious birth remember: Make me victress in the fight, That the G.o.ds may live for ever. [Exit.

SCENE III.--A hall in the house of Polemius, opening at the end upon a garden.

(Enter Polemius and Claudius.)

POLEMIUS.

Is then everything prepared?--

CLAUDIUS.

Everything has been got ready As you ordered. This apartment Opening on the garden terrace Has been draped and covered over With the costliest silks and velvets, Leaving certain s.p.a.ces bare For the painter's magic pencil, Where, so cunning is his art, That it nature's self resembles.

Flowers more fair than in the garden, Pinks and roses are presented: But what wonder when the fountains Still run after to reflect them?-- All things else have been provided, Music, dances, gala dresses; And for all that, Rome yet knows not What in truth is here projected; 'T is a fair Academy, In whose floral halls a.s.semble Beauty, wit, and grace, a sight That we see but very seldom.

All the ladies too of Rome Have prepared for the contention With due circ.u.mspection, since As his wife will be selected She who best doth please him; thus There are none but will present them In these gardens, some to see him, Others to show off themselves here.

POLEMIUS.

Oh, my Claudius, would to Jove That all this could dispossess me Of my dark foreboding fancies, Of the terrors that oppress me!--

(Enter Aurelius.)

AURELIUS.

Sir, a very learned physician Comes to proffer his best service To Chrysanthus, led by rumour Of his illness.

POLEMIUS.

Bid him enter.

[Aurelius retires, and returns immediately with Carpophorus, disguised as a physician.]

CARPOPHORUS (aside).

Heaven, that I may do the work That this day I have attempted, Grant me strength a little while; For I know my death impendeth!-- Mighty lord, thy victor hand, [aloud.

Let me kiss and kneeling press it.

POLEMIUS.

Venerable elder, rise From the ground; thy very presence Gives me joy, a certain instinct Even at sight of thee doth tell me Thou alone canst save my son.

CARPOPHORUS.

Heaven but grant the cure be perfect!

POLEMIUS.

Whence, sir, art thou?

CARPOPHORUS.

Sir, from Athens.