ACT ONE

Scene.—The Island Leucadia. A ruined temple of Apollo near the town of Pharo. Broken columns and stones are strewn, or stand desolately about. It is night—the moon rising. Antonio, who has been waiting impatiently, seats himself on a stone. By a road near the ruins Fulvia enters, cloaked.

(A low cry, Antonio starts.)

Enter Helena frightedly with Paula.

[ 6 ]

Enter Agabus unkempt and distracted.

(A shout is heard.)

(They conceal themselves in the breach. [ 14 ] The soldiers pass across the stage. The last, as all shout "di Tocca!" strikes a column near him. It falls, and Helena starts forward shuddering.)

Enter Paula.

(She goes with Paula. He steps aside and watches the approaching forms.)

Enter Charles friendly, with Hæmon.

Enter Bardas.

"'Sweet Helena! Fair Helena!' Pluck me, wench, but the lord Antonio knows sound nuts! And sly! Why hear you now! he gets the duke to seize on the maid! The fox! The rat! Have I not heard him in his chamber these[ 30 ] thirty nights puff her name out his window with as many honeyed drawls of passion as—as—as—June has buds? 'Sweet Helena!'—la! 'Fair Helena!'—O! 'Dear Helena! my rose! my queen! my sun and moon and stars! Thy kiss is still at my lips, thy breast beats still on mine! my Helena!'—Um! Oh, 'tmust be a rare damsel. I'll make a sluice between her purse and mine, wench; do you hear?"

Enter revellers dressed as bacchanals and bacchantes, dancing and singing.

[ 32 ]

(All go dancing, except Lydia and Phaon, who clasps and kisses her passionately)

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.)[ 33 ]

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 shines more passionately 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.

[ 34 ]

Re-enter Revellers singing

Zoe: O! O! O! but 'tis brave! Wine, Basil! Wine, my knight, my Bacchus! Ho! ho! my god! 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. (Hæmon 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!

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—!

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!

[ 36 ]

(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!

(Hæmon and Bardas look at each other, then start after them terribly moved.)

Curtain.

[ 37 ]

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.

Enter Fulvia.

Enter Helena.

Re-enter Charles.

Enter Antonio.

Enter Cecco.

(Goes to the throne.)

The guests enter, among them Hæmon and Bardas, following the Cardinal Julian and his suite, and last Helena, whom Fulvia leads aside.

(A murmur of approval.)

(The Cardinal goes with his suite amid timid reverence.)

(Diogenes, who has stood unconscious of all that has passed, is pushed forward.)

Enter Agabus gazing anxiously and wildly before him.

Enter two Egyptian girls, who dance, then go.

(Throws his glove in Antonio's face.)[ 64 ]

(Attempts to kill Helena.)

(All go but Antonio and Charles, who leaves his chair slowly and with dejection.)

Curtain.

[ 69 ]

ACT THREE

Scene.—The gardens of the castle. Paths meet under a large lime in the centre, where seats are placed. The wall of the garden crosses the rear, and has a postern. It is night of the same day, and behind a convent on a near hill the moon is rising. A nightingale sings.

Enter Giulia, Cecco, and Naldo.

(Naldo goes, through the postern: Giulia to the castle.

Enter Helena and Paula from another part of the gardens.

(A mournful chant is borne from the Convent. They slowly unclasp, awed.)

[ 80 ]

(Her head droops back on his arm. A pause.)

Enter Charles and Cecco.

(Noise is heard at the postern. It is unlocked. Hæmon enters, and stops in consternation.)

Enter Paula, hurriedly.

Enter Fulvia, distressed, and Giulia.

(Words and swords are heard, then a shriek from Helena. Charles rushes in furious [ 99 ]and wounded in the arm, followed by Helena, Antonio, who is dazed, and from the Castle side by Hæmon, guards, etc.)

Curtain.

[ 102 ]

ACT FOUR

Scene.—A chamber in the Castle, opening on the right to a hall, curtained on the left from another chamber. In the rear is a window through which may be seen silvery hills of olive resting under the late afternoon sun: by it a shrine. Enter the Captain of the Guard and a Soldier from the Hall.

Enter Fulvia.

Enter Hæmon.

(Hæmon goes through the curtains.

Charles enters, worn, dishevelled, and followed by Cecco. He sees Fulvia and pauses.

(Fulvia sighs then goes slowly.)

(Cecco steps back. A pause.)

(Sinks exhausted in his chair. Cecco pours out wine.)

Enter hurriedly, a Soldier.

Enter Cardinal.

(Goes to shrine and casts it out the window.)

Enter Fulvia

(Antonio steps from the curtains.)

Re-enter Cardinal.

(Sees Antonio.)[ 129 ]

Enter Cecco hastily, bearing robe and coronet.

(Sees Antonio. Shrinks from him.)

Re-enter Cecco, with Paula weeping.

Enter Bardas deprecatingly, followed by Antonio.

(Sheathing his sword, he pauses, then staggers suddenly out.)

(She is led out.)

Enter Agabus gazing into the air.

(Wanders about.)

[ 138 ]

(A cry and clanking of armor are heard in the Hall. A Soldier bursts into the chamber.)

(Hæmon stands motionless.)

(He sinks back into his chair and stares hopelessly before him.)

Curtain.