Charles Di Tocca - 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.
BARDAS: Then may I be the rock on which he breaks!
But hear; who comes? (_Revellers are heard approaching._) We must aside until This mirth is past. (_They conceal themselves._)
_Enter revellers dressed as baccha.n.a.ls and bacchantes, dancing and singing._
Bacchus, hey! was a G.o.d, hei-yo!
The vine! a fig for the rest!
With locks green-crowned and lips red-warm-- The vine! the vine's the best!
He loved maids, O-o-ay! hei-yo!
The vine! a maiden's breast!
He pressed the grape, and kissed the maid!-- The cuckoo builds no nest!
(_All go dancing, except LYDIA and PHAON, who clasps and kisses her pa.s.sionately_)
LYDIA (_breaking from him_): Do you think kisses are so cheap? You must know mine fill my purse! A pretty gallant from Naples, with laces and silks and jewels gave me this ring last year for but one.
And another lover from Venice gave me this (_a bracelet_)--but he looked so sad when he gave it. Ah, his eyes! I'd not have cared if he had given me naught.
PHAON: Here, here, then! (_Offers jewel._)
LYDIA (_putting it aside_): They say the ladies in Venice ride with their lovers through the streets all night in boats: and the very moon s.h.i.+nes more pa.s.sionately there. Is it true?
PHAON: Yes, yes. But kiss me, Lydia! Take this jewel--my last. Be mine to-night, no other's! We'll prate of Venice another time.
LYDIA: Another time we'll prate of kisses. I'll not have the jewel.
PHAON: Not have it! Now you're turning nun! a soft and virgin, silly nun! With a gray gown to hide these shoulders that--shall I whisper it?
LYDIA: Devil! they're not! A nice lover called them round and fair last night. And I've been sick! And--I--cruel! cruel! cruel!
(_Revellers are heard returning._) There, they're coming.
PHAON: Never mind, my girl. But you mustn't scorn a man's blood when it's afire.
_Re-enter Revellers singing_
Bacchus, hey! was a G.o.d, hei-yo! etc.
(_After which all go, except ZOE and BASIL._
ZOE: O! O! O! but 'tis brave! Wine, Basil! Wine, my knight, my Bacchus! Ho! ho! my G.o.d! you wheeze like a cross-bow. Is it years, my wooer, years?--Ah! (_She sighs._)
BASIL: Sighs--sighs! Now look for showers.
ZOE: Basil--you were my first lover--except the duke Charles. Ah, did you see how that Helena looked when they gave her the duke's command? I was like that once. (_HaeMON starts forward._)
BASIL: Fiends, nymphs and saints! it's come! tears in your eyes!
Zoe, stop it. Would you have mine leak and drive me to a monastery for shelter!
ZOE (_sings sadly and absently_):
She lay by the river, dead, A broken reed in her hand A nymph whom an idle G.o.d had wed And led from her maidenland.
BASIL: O, had I been born a heathen!
ZOE: He told me, Basil, I should live, a great lady, at his castle.
And they should kiss my hand and courtesy to me. He meant but jest--I feared.--I feared! But--I loved him!
BASIL: Now, my damsel--!
ZOE (_sings_):
The G.o.d was the great G.o.d Jove, Two notes would the bent reed blow, The one was sorrow, the other love Enwove with a woman's woe.
BASIL: Songs and snakes! Give me instead a Dominican's funeral!
I'd as lief crawl bare-kneed to Rome and mouth the Pope's heel.
O blessed Turks with their remorseless harems!--Zoe!
ZOE (_sings_):
She lay by the river dead; And he at feasting forgot.
The G.o.ds, shall they be disquieted By dread of a mortal's lot?
(_She wipes her eyes, trembles, looks at him and laughs hysterically._)
Bacchus! my Bacchus! with wet eyes! Up, up, lad! there's many a cup for us yet!
(_They go, she leading and singing._
He loved maids, O-o-ay! hei-yo!
The vine! a maiden's breast! etc.
(_HaeMON and BARDAS look at each other, then start after them terribly moved._)
CURTAIN.
ACT TWO
_Scene._--_An audience hall in the castle of CHARLES DI TOCCA; the next afternoon. The dark stained walls have been festooned with vines and flowers. On the left is the ducal throne. On the right sunlight through high-set windows. In the rear heavily draped doors. Enter CHARLES, who looks around and smiles with subtle content, then summons a servant._
_Enter servant._
CHARLES: The princess Fulvia.
SERVANT: She comes, sir, now.
(_Goes._
_Enter FULVIA._
