The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Part 44

[TO ORSINO.]

This night my father gives a sumptuous feast, Orsino; he has heard some happy news From Salamanca, from my brothers there, And with this outward show of love he mocks _50 His inward hate. 'Tis bold hypocrisy, For he would gladlier celebrate their deaths, Which I have heard him pray for on his knees: Great G.o.d! that such a father should be mine!

But there is mighty preparation made, _55 And all our kin, the Cenci, will be there, And all the chief n.o.bility of Rome.

And he has bidden me and my pale Mother Attire ourselves in festival array.

Poor lady! She expects some happy change _60 In his dark spirit from this act; I none.

At supper I will give you the pet.i.tion: Till when--farewell.

ORSINO: Farewell.

[EXIT BEATRICE.]

I know the Pope Will ne'er absolve me from my priestly vow But by absolving me from the revenue _65 Of many a wealthy see; and, Beatrice, I think to win thee at an easier rate.

Nor shall he read her eloquent pet.i.tion: He might bestow her on some poor relation Of his sixth cousin, as he did her sister, _70 And I should be debarred from all access.

Then as to what she suffers from her father, In all this there is much exaggeration:-- Old men are testy and will have their way; A man may stab his enemy, or his va.s.sal, _75 And live a free life as to wine or women, And with a peevish temper may return To a dull home, and rate his wife and children; Daughters and wives call this foul tyranny.

I shall be well content if on my conscience _80 There rest no heavier sin than what they suffer From the devices of my love--a net From which he shall escape not. Yet I fear Her subtle mind, her awe-inspiring gaze, Whose beams anatomize me nerve by nerve _85 And lay me bare, and make me blush to see My hidden thoughts.--Ah, no! A friendless girl Who clings to me, as to her only hope:-- I were a fool, not less than if a panther Were panic-stricken by the antelope's eye, _90 If she escape me.

NOTE: _75 va.s.sal edition 1821; slave edition 1819.

[EXIT.]

SCENE 1.3: A MAGNIFICENT HALL IN THE CENCI PALACE.

A BANQUET.

ENTER CENCI, LUCRETIA, BEATRICE, ORSINO, CAMILLO, n.o.bLES.

CENCI: Welcome, my friends and kinsmen; welcome ye, Princes and Cardinals, pillars of the church, Whose presence honours our festivity.

I have too long lived like an anchorite, And in my absence from your merry meetings _5 An evil word is gone abroad of me; But I do hope that you, my n.o.ble friends, When you have shared the entertainment here, And heard the pious cause for which 'tis given, And we have pledged a health or two together, _10 Will think me flesh and blood as well as you; Sinful indeed, for Adam made all so, But tender-hearted, meek and pitiful.

FIRST GUEST: In truth, my Lord, you seem too light of heart, Too sprightly and companionable a man, _15 To act the deeds that rumour pins on you.

[TO HIS COMPANION.]

I never saw such blithe and open cheer In any eye!

SECOND GUEST: Some most desired event, In which we all demand a common joy, Has brought us. .h.i.ther; let us hear it, Count. _20

CENCI: It is indeed a most desired event.

If when a parent from a parent's heart Lifts from this earth to the great Father of all A prayer, both when he lays him down to sleep, And when he rises up from dreaming it; _25 One supplication, one desire, one hope, That he would grant a wish for his two sons, Even all that he demands in their regard-- And suddenly beyond his dearest hope It is accomplished, he should then rejoice, _30 And call his friends and kinsmen to a feast, And task their love to grace his merriment,-- Then honour me thus far--for I am he.

BEATRICE [TO LUCRETIA]: Great G.o.d! How horrible! some dreadful ill Must have befallen my brothers.

LUCRETIA: Fear not, child, _35 He speaks too frankly.

BEATRICE: Ah! My blood runs cold.

I fear that wicked laughter round his eye, Which wrinkles up the skin even to the hair.

CENCI: Here are the letters brought from Salamanca; Beatrice, read them to your mother. G.o.d! _40 I thank thee! In one night didst thou perform, By ways inscrutable, the thing I sought.

My disobedient and rebellious sons Are dead!--Why, dead!--What means this change of cheer?

You hear me not, I tell you they are dead; _45 And they will need no food or raiment more: The tapers that did light them the dark way Are their last cost. The Pope, I think, will not Expect I should maintain them in their coffins.

Rejoice with me--my heart is wondrous glad. _50

[LUCRETIA SINKS, HALF FAINTING; BEATRICE SUPPORTS HER.]

BEATRICE : It is not true!--Dear Lady, pray look up.

Had it been true, there is a G.o.d in Heaven, He would not live to boast of such a boon.

Unnatural man, thou knowest that it is false.

CENCI: Ay, as the word of G.o.d; whom here I call _55 To witness that I speak the sober truth;-- And whose most favouring Providence was shown Even in the manner of their deaths. For Rocco Was kneeling at the ma.s.s, with sixteen others, When the church fell and crushed him to a mummy, _60 The rest escaped unhurt. Cristofano Was stabbed in error by a jealous man, Whilst she he loved was sleeping with his rival; All in the self-same hour of the same night; Which shows that Heaven has special care of me. _65 I beg those friends who love me, that they mark The day a feast upon their calendars.

It was the twenty-seventh of December: Ay, read the letters if you doubt my oath.

[THE a.s.sEMBLY APPEARS CONFUSED; SEVERAL OF THE GUESTS RISE.]

FIRST GUEST: Oh, horrible! I will depart--

SECOND GUEST: And I.--

THIRD GUEST: No, stay! _70 I do believe it is some jest; though faith!

'Tis mocking us somewhat too solemnly.

I think his son has married the Infanta, Or found a mine of gold in El Dorado.

'Tis but to season some such news; stay, stay! _75 I see 'tis only raillery by his smile.

CENCI [FILLING A BOWL OF WINE, AND LIFTING IT UP]: Oh, thou bright wine whose purple splendour leaps And bubbles gaily in this golden bowl Under the lamplight, as my spirits do, To hear the death of my accursed sons! _80 Could I believe thou wert their mingled blood, Then would I taste thee like a sacrament, And pledge with thee the mighty Devil in h.e.l.l, Who, if a father's curses, as men say, Climb with swift wings after their children's souls, _85 And drag them from the very throne of Heaven, Now triumphs in my triumph!--But thou art Superfluous; I have drunken deep of joy, And I will taste no other wine to-night.

Here, Andrea! Bear the bowl around.

A GUEST [RISING]: Thou wretch! _90 Will none among this n.o.ble company Check the abandoned villain?

CAMILLO: For G.o.d's sake, Let me dismiss the guests! You are insane, Some ill will come of this.

SECOND GUEST: Seize, silence him!

FIRST GUEST: I will!

THIRD GUEST: And I!

CENCI [ADDRESSING THOSE WHO RISE WITH A THREATENING GESTURE]: Who moves? Who speaks?

[TURNING TO THE COMPANY.]

'tis nothing, _95 Enjoy yourselves.--Beware! For my revenge Is as the sealed commission of a king That kills, and none dare name the murderer.

[THE BANQUET IS BROKEN UP; SEVERAL OF THE GUESTS ARE DEPARTING.]

BEATRICE: I do entreat you, go not, n.o.ble guests; What, although tyranny and impious hate _100 Stand sheltered by a father's h.o.a.ry hair?

What if 'tis he who clothed us in these limbs Who tortures them, and triumphs? What, if we, The desolate and the dead, were his own flesh, His children and his wife, whom he is bound _105 To love and shelter? Shall we therefore find No refuge in this merciless wide world?

O think what deep wrongs must have blotted out First love, then reverence in a child's p.r.o.ne mind, Till it thus vanquish shame and fear! O think! _110 I have borne much, and kissed the sacred hand Which crushed us to the earth, and thought its stroke Was perhaps some paternal chastis.e.m.e.nt!

Have excused much, doubted; and when no doubt Remained, have sought by patience, love, and tears _115 To soften him, and when this could not be I have knelt down through the long sleepless nights And lifted up to G.o.d, the Father of all, Pa.s.sionate prayers: and when these were not heard I have still borne,--until I meet you here, _120 Princes and kinsmen, at this hideous feast Given at my brothers' deaths. Two yet remain, His wife remains and I, whom if ye save not, Ye may soon share such merriment again As fathers make over their children's graves. _125 O Prince Colonna, thou art our near kinsman, Cardinal, thou art the Pope's chamberlain, Camillo, thou art chief justiciary, Take us away!

CENCI [HE HAS BEEN CONVERSING WITH CAMILLO DURING THE FIRST PART OF BEATRICE'S SPEECH; HE HEARS THE CONCLUSION, AND NOW ADVANCES]: I hope my good friends here Will think of their own daughters--or perhaps _130 Of their own throats--before they lend an ear To this wild girl.

BEATRICE [NOT NOTICING THE WORDS OF CENCI]: Dare no one look on me?

None answer? Can one tyrant overbear The sense of many best and wisest men?

Or is it that I sue not in some form _135 Of scrupulous law, that ye deny my suit?

O G.o.d! That I were buried with my brothers!

And that the flowers of this departed spring Were fading on my grave! And that my father Were celebrating now one feast for all! _140

NOTE: _132 no edition 1821; not edition 1819.