Semiramis and Other Plays Part 39

Char. But hearts can live and love Though Maximilian falls.

Asef. Can live--and love!

You torture me!

Char. Forgive me. But the share Must rip the glebe before the corn may spring.

Asef. What do you mean, cold Austrian?

Char. Austrian! No!

Your southern sun has poured into my veins A life that makes me new! I feel as you Those throbs that shake the stars until they fall Into the heart and make it heaven! My lips Can move toward lips as haste rose-gloried clouds To swoon into the sun!

Asef. Ah, yes--I know-- You told me that you loved. But why say this To one who has lost all?

Char. I'd have you learn That you must live, Aseffa, and life for you Means love. Your eyes, your lips, your hands, your hair, Like coiled sweetness of the night, and all Your swaying, melting body, gather love As roses gather smiles, as waves draw down The heart-flood of the moon and hold it deep And trembling.

Asef. Sir, your roses, waves, and smiles, Are poet-nothings. You play with them as sh.e.l.ls, Stirring chance colors for an idle eye.

It is your way of saying, is it not, That I shall love again?

Char. You must! you must!

Asef. Such words are like bright raindrops falling in Another world. They glitter, but I hear No sound, grief has so closed my ears. Take back Your comfort. You would be kind, but n.o.ble count, You talk of what a man can never know,-- A woman's sorrow for a husband loved.

So high no height can reach it, so great and deep The sea can not embrace it, and yet her heart Can hold it all. O strangest of all love, That makes her rather stoop in beggar rags To kiss the happy dust where his foot pressed Than from a throne lean down to give her lips Unto a kneeling king!

Char. Aseffa, grief Is not for you. You must--you must be happy!

The shy and tender Dawn creeps up in fear That Night has laid some blight upon the world, But finding all is well, steps forth, and lo!

Out of her courage the great sun is born.

So doth the heart look outward after grief To find the world all dark, but nay, the light Is more of heaven than it was before, Because a face is s.h.i.+ning from the clouds.

You dim your loved one's eyes in paradise With your earth-tears. He mourns your splendor paled,-- Though 't must be beautiful to the last tint, As sunset clouds that bear the heart of day Into the night.

Asef. You but offend my grief.

Sir, keep your flattery for her you love!

Char. I flatter thee? It is not possible!

Who dares to add fire to the sun, or bring The Spring a flower? Be angry if you will.

The morning's eye is not more glorious Rising above a storm! I flatter thee!

When but to praise thee as thou art would put A blush on Poesy that ne'er has rhymed As I would speak! E'en thy defects would make Another fair, and were they merchantable Women would buy thy faults to adorn themselves!

O, sweet--

Asef. (Shrinking in horror) What do you mean?

Char. (Seizing her hands) You know!

O, all my life has been but dreams of you, And when I saw you first, my love!--my love!-- As lightning makes the midnight landscape speak The language of the day, your beauty flashed O'er all my years and made their meaning clear!

'Twas you made sweet the song of every bird, 'Twas you I found in every book I loved, 'Twas you that gave a soul to every star!

I can not speak it! Kiss me once--but once-- And you will understand!

Asef. What thing is this?

It is not man, for man respecteth sorrow, Nor brute, for it doth speak!

Char. O look not down!

Thou canst not guard thee! Every silken sweep Of thine eyes' soft defence but whets a.s.sault!

You shall not go! You are the element In which I breathe! Go from me and I fall A lifeless thing! Aseffa, pity me!

'Tis I who die, not you! (Drops her hands and kneels) O blame me not That I must wors.h.i.+p here--

Asef. Ah, Rafael, I'll live an hour to pray this wrong away Before I meet thine eyes! (Goes. Charles grasps her cloak) Beast! Claw me not!

(Goes in. Charles gazes after her in a bewildered way.

Tries to steady himself, and goes into theatre by main entrance)

(CURTAIN)

Scene II: Within the theatre. Gay decorations. Part of stage shown, on which chorus is a.s.sembled. The Emperor and Empress in royal box. Imperial cabinet and friends in boxes adjoining. Part of pit shown, filled with brightly dressed people.

Max. (To Carlotta) O, this is welcome! Are you not happy now?

There's not a wrinkle on these smiling brows Where discontent may write her annals dark!

My empire now is fixed, and strength and love Are gathering to my side. I can not put My hand out but 'tis clasped by some new friend.

Car. And true?

Max. And true. You are too fearful, sweet.

Car. And you too trustful.

Max. Nay, we can not trust Too much. Brutus spoke n.o.blest when he said 'My heart doth joy that yet in all my life I found no man but he was true to me.'

And I would hope as much.

Car. (Aside) None, none are true!

Even I am false who fear to speak my fears And ease his own when I should quicken them!

(Chorus from stage)

Hail, ye royal pair, O hail!

Like two souls within one star May your heavenly light ne'er fail.

Empress and great Emperor!

Hail to thee who ruleth mild As the manger-cradled child!

Hail to her who long may be Guardian of us and thee!

Hail, O hail, ye pair divine!

As two souls within one star May your light forever s.h.i.+ne, Empress and great Emperor!

(Estrada appears on stage in front of chorus)

Est. Great Majesties, forgive our feeble welcome.

We are in all things spotted and imperfect Save in affection for your Highnesses.

Max. (Rising) No, no! My friend--and friends--had you not hearts That turn to virtue as the flowers to sun, We had not made such progress to an hour When all the Empire wears the smile of peace, And we may rest like Love with folded arms Round his desire.