s: We drank the air in flight: we knew no bound


s: Nigh us the sun was dropping, drowned in gold;


s: Deep, deep below the burning billows rolled;


s: And all the sea sang like a smitten lyre.


s: Oh, the wild voices of those chanting waves!


s: The human faces glimpsed beneath the tide!


s: Familiar eyes gazed from profound sea-caves,


s: We knew the sea was Life, the harmonious cry


s: Look deeper yet: mark 'midst the wave-blurred mass,


s: In lines distinct, in colors clear defined,


s: The typic groups and figures of mankind.


s: Bright child-folk sporting with smooth yellow shells,


s: How joyously their thought-free laughter wells!


s: Lulled by the overwhelming water's sound,


s: And some make mouths at dragons, undismayed.


s: Oh dauntless innocence!  The gulfs profound


s: Reecho strangely with their ringing glee,


s: And with wise mermaids' plaintive melody.


s: What do the sea-nymphs in that coral cave?


s: With wondering eyes their supple forms they bend


s: O'er something rarely beautiful.  They lend


s: Their lithe white arms, and through the golden wave


s: They lift it tenderly.  Oh blinding sight!


s: A naked, radiant goddess tranced in sleep,


s: Full-limbed, voluptuous, 'neath the mantling sweep


s: Of auburn locks that kiss her ankles white!


s: Upward they bear her, chanting low and sweet:


s: The clinging waters part before their way,


s: Up in the sunshine, in soft foam, they lay


s: Their precious burden, and return forlorn.


s: Oh, bliss! oh, anguish!  Mortals, LOVE is born!


s: Swells sobbing through the melancholy air:


s: Where Love has entered, Death is also there.


s: The wail outrings the chafed, tumultuous surge;


s: Prolong one note, a mourning for the dead,


s: What piercing music!  Funeral visions rise,


s: And send the hot tears raining down our cheek.


s: With its lone lilac-bush.  O heart, be still!


s: She will not rise, she will not stir nor speak.


s: Ring on, sweet dirge, and knell us to our rest!


s: Like polished marble gleam their limbs left bare;


s: Upon their virgin rites pale moonbeams glance.


s: Softer the music! for their foam-bright feet


s: Print not the moist floor where they trip their round:


s: Affrighted they will scatter at a sound,


s: Leap in their cool sea-chambers, nimbly fleet,


s: And we shall doubt that we have ever seen,


s: While our sane eyes behold stray wreaths of mist,


s: Shot with faint colors by the moon-rays kissed,


s: Floating snow-soft, snow-white, where these had been.


s: Already, look! the wave-washed sands are bare,


s: And mocking laughter ripples through the air.


s: Forth in the sunlit, rain-bathed air we stepped,


s: Sweet with the dripping grass and flowering vine,


s: And saw through irised clouds the pale sun shine.


s: Back o'er the hills the rain-mist slowly crept


s: Like a transparent curtain's slivery sheen;


s: And fronting us the painted bow was arched,


s: Whereunder the majestic cloud-shapes marched:


s: In the wet, yellow light the dazzling green


s: Of lawn and bush and tree seemed stained with blue.


s: Our hearts o'erflowed with peace.  With smiles we spake


s: Of partings in the past, of courage new,


s: Of high achievement, of the dreams that make


s: And all life's music but a hymn of praise.


s: In August,--by a fresh soft breeze o'erblown.


s: The swiftness of the tide, the light thereon,


s: A far-off sail, white as a crescent moon.


s: The shining waters with pale currents strewn,


s: The quiet fishing smacks, the Eastern cove,


s: The semi-circle of its dark, green grove.


s: In the grave sky; the sparkle far and wide,


s: Laughter of unseen children, cheerful chirp


s: Of crickets, and low lisp of rippling tide,


s: Light summer clouds fantastical as sleep


s: All these fair sounds and sights I made my own.


s: Paris, from throats of iron, silver, brass,


s: Joy-thundering cannon, blent with chiming bells,


s: And martial strains, the full-voiced paean swells.


s: The air is starred with flags, the chanted mass


s: Throngs all the churches, yet the broad streets swarm


s: With glad-eyed groups who chatter, laugh, and pass,


s: And over all the spring, the sun-floods warm!


s: The beautiful young mother lay and smiled;


s: For by her side just breathed the Prince, her child,


s: Crowned with the Titan's name that stirs the heart


s: Like a blown clarion--one more Bonaparte.


s: Born to the purple, lying stark and dead,


s: Transfixed with poisoned spears, beneath the sun


s: Follies and sins not thine), whereat the world,


s: Heartless howe'er it be, will pause to sing


s: A dirge, to breathe a sigh, a wreath to fling


s: Of rosemary and rue with bay-leaves curled.


s: Enmeshed in toils ambitious, not thine own,


s: Immortal, loved boy-Prince, thou tak'st thy stand


s: With early doomed Don Carlos, hand in hand


s: With mild-browed Arthur, Geoffrey's murdered son.


s: Louis the Dauphin lifts his thorn-ringed head,


s: And welcomes thee, his brother, 'mongst the dead.


s: Thou thought of Mopsus, and o'er wastes of sea


s: A flower brought your message.  I divine


s: (Through my deep art) the kindly mockery


s: That played about your lips and in your eyes,


s: Plucking the frail leaf, while you dreamed of home.


s: Thanks for the silent greeting!  I shall prize,


s: Beyond June's rose, the scentless flower of Rome.


s: All the Campagna spreads before my sight,


s: The mouldering wall, the Caesars' tombs unwreathed,


s: Rome and the Tiber, and the yellow light,


s: Wherein the honey-colored blossom breathed.


s: But most I thank it--egoists that we be!


s: For proving then and there you thought of me.


s: There was a man who watched the river flow


s: Past the huge town, one gray November day.


s: Round him in narrow high-piled streets at play


s: Murmuring half-loud, with eyes upon the stream,


s: The immortal screed he held within his hand.


s: With Faust and Helen.  Shadowy as a dream


s: Was the prose-world, the river and the town.


s: Wild joy possessed him; through enchanted skies


s: He closed the page, he lifted up his eyes,


s: Lo--a black line of birds in wavering thread


s: Bore him the greetings of the deathless dead!


s: ("Poetry must be simple, sensuous, or impassioned;


s: this man is neither simple, sensuous, nor impassioned;


s: When once a keen-eyed naturalist was stirred


s: To mark its structure and to note the scale


s: Whereon its song might possibly be heard.


s: Thus far, no farther;--so he spake the word.


s: When of a sudden,--hark, the nightingale!


s: That all-unearthly, untaught strain!  He saw


s: The plain, brown warbler, unabashed.  "Not mine"


s: (He cried) "the error of this fatal flaw.


s: No bird is this, it soars beyond my line,


s: Were it a bird, 't would answer to my law."


s: When the vexed hubbub of our world of gain


s: Roars round about me as I walk the street,


s: The myriad noise of Traffic, and the beat


s: Of Toil's incessant hammer, the fierce strain


s: Of struggle hand to hand and brain to brain,


s: Ofttimes a sudden dream my sense will cheat,


s: The gaudy shops, the sky-piled roofs retreat,


s: And all at once I stand enthralled again


s: I watch the solemn gold-stained gloom that creeps


s: A lady 'twixt two knights' stone effigies,


s: Their sculptured slumber of five centuries.


s: Not while the fever of the blood is strong,


s: The heart throbs loud, the eyes are veiled, no less


s: With passion than with tears, the Muse shall bless


s: The poet-soul to help and soothe with song.


s: Not then she bids his trembling lips express


s: The aching gladness, the voluptuous pain.


s: Life is his poem then; flesh, sense, and brain


s: One full-stringed lyre attuned to happiness.


s: But when the dream is done, the pulses fail,


s: The day's illusion, with the day's sun set,


s: He, lonely in the twilight, sees the pale


s: Enter and clasp his hand and kiss his brow.


s: Then his lips ope to sing--as mine do now.


s: Nor strive to shrink or swell mine own desert,


s: Nor beautify nor hide.  For this I know,


s: Thou past heroic forms unmoved shalt go,


s: To pause and bide with me, to whisper low:


s: Must suffer, struggle, conquer day by day.


s: Here is my very cross by strangers borne,


s: Hourly deliverance--this my rose, my thorn.


s: This woman my soul's need can understand,


s: Stretching o'er silent gulfs her sister hand."


s: What hast thou done to this dear friend of mine,


s: Thou cold, white, silent Stranger?  From my hand


s: Her clasped hand slips to meet the grasp of thine;


s: Here eyes that flamed with love, at thy command


s: Stare stone-blank on blank air; her frozen heart


s: Forgets my presence.  Teach me who thou art,


s: Vague shadow sliding 'twixt my friend and me.


s: What secret door gave entrance unto thee?


s: What power in thine, o'ermastering Love's own power?


s: Come closer, kind, white, long-familiar friend,


s: Embrace me, fold me to thy broad, soft breast.


s: Life has grown strange and cold, but thou dost bend


s: Mild eyes of blessing wooing to my rest.


s: So often hast thou come, and from my side


s: Thy beck, to follow glad thy steps divine.


s: Thy world is peopled for me; this world's bare.


s: Through all these years my couch thou didst prepare.


s: Thou art supreme Love--kiss me--I am thine!


s: Wrought joys for them surpassing all things known


s: In our restricted sphere of sound and sight,--


s: So while the glaring streets of brick and stone


s: Vex with heat, noise, and dust from morn till night,


s: I will give rein to Fancy, taking flight


s: From dismal now and here, and dwell alone


s: With new-enfranchised senses.  All day long,


s: Think ye 't is I, who sit 'twixt darkened walls,


s: While ye chase beauty over land and sea?


s: Uplift on wings of some rare poet's song,


s: Where the wide billow laughs and leaps and falls,


s: I soar cloud-high, free as the the winds are free.


s: Who grasps the substance? who 'mid shadows strays?


s: He who within some dark-bright wood reclines,


s: 'Twixt sleep and waking, where the needled pines


s: Have cushioned all his couch with soft brown sprays?


s: He notes not how the living water shines,


s: Trembling along the cliff, a flickering haze,


s: Brimming a wine-bright pool, nor lifts his gaze


s: To read the ancient wonders and the signs.


s: Who paint on air more than his sense receives,


s: The glittering pine-tufts with closed eyes behold,


s: Breathe the strong resinous perfume, see the sky


s: Quiver like azure flame between the leaves,


s: The fervent, pale-faced Mother ere she sleep,


s: Looks out upon the zigzag-lighted square,


s: The beautiful bare trees, the blue night-air,


s: World above world, and heaven over heaven.


s: Between the tree-tops and the skies, her sight


s: Rests on a steadfast, ruddy-shining light,


s: High in the tower, an earthly star of even.


s: Hers is the faith in saints' and angels' power,


s: And mediating love--she breathes a prayer


s: For yon tired watcher in the gray old tower.


s: Feels comforted and stilled, and knows not whence


s: Falls this unwonted peace on heart and sense.


s: Would I had waked this morn where Florence smiles,


s: A-bloom with beauty, a white rose full-blown,


s: Yet rich in sacred dust, in storied stone,


s: Precious past all the wealth of Indian isles--


s: Spring the slim belfry graceful as a reed.


s: To kneel upon the ground where Dante trod,


s: To hear the liquid Tuscan speech at whiles,


s: The heaven of Leonardo washed with gold--


s: Would I had waked this morn where Florence smile!


s: LORENZO, noble young Italian artist, pupil of Ribera.


s: ANNICCA, daughter to Ribera, and wife to Don Tommaso.


s: SCENE--During the first four acts, in Naples; latter part of the


s: fifth act, in Palermo.  Time, about 1655.


s: The studio of the Spagnoletto. RIBERA at work before his canvas.


s: MARIA seated some distance behind him; a piece of embroidery is


s: in her hands, but she glances up from it incessantly toward her


s: (RIBERA, absorbed in his work, makes no reply; she puts by her


s: embroidery, goes toward him and kisses him gently. He starts,


s: looks up at her, and returns her caress).


s: Oh, heedless father!  Did you not promise me


s: All patience I have sat till you should turn


s: Upon the canvas; I might sit till night,


s: And, if I spake not, you would never glance


s: From their celestial faces.  Dear my father,


s: Your brow is  moist, and yet your hands are ice;


s: Your very eyes are tired--pray, rest awhile.


s: As in the streets of Rome for beggars' fare;


s: RIBERA (throws aside his brush and palette).


s: Thou speak'st in season.  Let me ne'er forget


s: Those days of degradation, when I starved


s: Stirred then within me of the perfect fruits


s: Wherewith my hands have since enriched God's world.


s: Vengeance I vowed for every moment's sting--


s: Vengeance on wealth, rank, station, fortune, genius.


s: See, while I paint, all else escapes my sense,


s: Save this bright throng of phantasies that press


s: Upon my brain, each claiming from my hand


s: Remind'st me of mine oath, my sacred pride,


s: The eternal hatred lodged within my breast.


s: Philip of Spain shall wait.  I will not deign


s: Father from daughter.  Now you are all mine own.


s: Desires our presence at his ball to-night.


s: A haughty joy dance sparkling in thine eyes


s: And burn upon thy cheek.  But what is this?


s: Timid and pale, thou droop'st thy head abashed


s: As a poor flower-girl whom a lord accosts.


s: Forgive me.  Sure, 't is you Don John desires


s: Think'st thou I move an artist 'midst his guests?


s: These do I part aside to grace his halls;


s: Father, I am not well; my head throbs fast,


s: Thou shalt obey.  Hell, what these women be!


s: No obstacle would daunt them in the quest


s: Of that which, freely given, they reject.


s: Hold!  Haply just occasion bids thee seem


s: Unlike thyself.  Speak fearlessly child;


s: Confide to me thy knowledge, thy surmise.


s: No, father, you were right.  I have no cause;


s: There spake my child; kiss me and be forgiven.


s: Sometimes I doubt thou playest upon my love


s: Whom the world knows of marble.  In such moods,


s: I see my spirit mirror's first, and then


s: From thy large eyes thy sainted mother's soul


s: I only knew her faded, white, and grave,


s: And so she still floats vaguely through my dreams,


s: With eyes like your own angels', and a brow


s: My princess, might more fitly rest on thine.


s: Annicca hath her colors, blue-black hair,


s: And pale, brown flesh, and gray, untroubled eyes;


s: Yet thou more often bring'st her to mind,


s: For all the tawny gold of thy thick locks,


s: Thy rare white face, and brilliant Spanish orbs.


s: Thine is her lisping trick of voice, her laugh,


s: The blithest music still this side of heaven;


s: Thine her free, springing gait, though therewithal


s: A swaying, languid motion all thine own,


s: Like and unlike thou art to her, as still


s: My memory loves to hold her, as she first


s: Beamed like the star of morning on my life.


s: Hot, faint, and footsore, I had paced since dawn


s: The sun-baked streets of Naples, seeking work,


s: Not alms, despite the beggar that I looked.


s: Now 't was nigh vespers, and my suit had met


s: With curt refusal, sharp rebuff, and gibes.


s: Praised be the saints! for every drop of gall


s: In that day's brimming cup, I have upheld


s: To fare a vagabond through alien streets;


s: A god unrecognized 'midst churls and clowns,


s: With kindled soul aflame, and body faint


s: Dear father, calm yourself.  You had begun


s: The old man now can well be grave and cold,


s: Or laugh at his own youth's indignities,


s: Past a long lifetime back.  'T was vespers' hour,


s: Or nigh it, when I reached her father's door.


s: Kind was his greeting, the first cordial words


s: I heard in Naples; but I took small heed


s: Of speech or toe, for all my sense was rapt


s: Who smiled upon me.  Large, clear eyes that held


s: The very soul of sunlight in their depths;


s: Low, pure, pale brow, with masses of black hair


s: Flung loosely back, and rippling unconfined


s: The slim gold girdle o'er the snow-soft gown.


s: Vested and draped about her throat and waist and wrists,


s: Hath passed away--such was thy mother, child.


s: Would I were like her!  But what said she, father?


s: Knowing how much I love to tell this tale,


s: Though thou hast heard it half a hundred times.


s: To prove my unfamed skill.  A savage pride,


s: Matched oddly with my rags, the haughtiness


s: Wherewith I claimed rather than begged my tools,


s: And my quaint aspect, oft she told me since,


s: Won at a glance her faith.  Before I left,


s: She guessed my need, and served me meat and wine


s: With  her own flower-white hands.  The parting grace


s: I craved was granted, that my work might be


s: The portrait of herself.  Thou knowest the rest.


s: Why did she leave us, father?  Oh, how oft


s: I yearn to see her face, to hear her voice,


s: Hushed in an endless silence!  Strange that she,


s: Whose rich love beggared our return, should bear


s: By heavenly hosts of saints and seraphim,


s: I cannot fancy it.  What! shall her child,


s: Whose lightest sigh reechoed in her heart,


s: Have need of her and cry to her in vain?


s: Now, for God's sake, Maria, speak not thus;


s: Let me not see such tears upon thy cheek.


s: The peace of disembodied souls like hers.


s: The vanishing glimpses that my fancies catch


s: Through heaven's half-opened gates, exalt even me,


s: Poor sinner that I am.  And what are these,


s: The painted shadows that make all my life


s: For thee, my child, has not my doting love


s: Sufficed, at least in part, to fill the breach


s: Of that tremendous void?  What dost thou lack?


s: What help, what counsel, what most dear caress?


s: What dost thou covet?  What least whim remains


s: None, none, dear father!  Pardon me!  Thy love,


s: Generous and wise as tender, shames my power


s: Look if they be not blistered.  Let them smooth


s: With contrite kisses the last frown away.


s: We must be young to-night--no wrinkles then!


s: Thou wilt unman me with thy pretty ways.


s: I had forgot the ball.  Yea, I grow old;


s: This scanty morning's work has wearied me.


s: Once I had thought it play to dream all day


s: Before my canvas and then dance till dawn,


s: And now must I give o'er and rest at noon.


s: Enter LUCA, ushering in LORENZO, who carries a portfolio.


s: Humph! the design is not so ill-conceived;


s: I note some progress; but your drawing's bad--


s: Yes, bad, sir.  Mark you how this leg hangs limp,


s: As though devoid of life; these hands seem clenched,


s: Not loosely clasped, as you intended them.


s: Thus should it stand--a single line will mend.


s: And here, what's this?  Why, 't is a sloven's work.


s: You dance too many nights away, young gallant.


s: You shirk close labor as do all your mates.


s: You think to win with service frivolous,


s: Snatched 'twixt your cups, or set between two kisses,


s: Your pardon, master, but you do me wrong.


s: Mayhap I lack the gift.  Alas, I fear it!


s: Betrays a sluggard soul, an indolent will,


s: A brain that's bred to idleness.  So be it!


s: His own defects and qualities!  'T were best


s: Dear father, what hath given thee offence?


s: Cast but another glance upon the sketch;


s: Surely it hath some grace, some charm, some promise.


s: Daughter, stand by!  I know these insolent slips


s: That makes us artists.  What! to answer me!


s: When next I drop a hint as to his colors,


s: The lengthening or the shortening of a stroke,


s: He'll bandy words with me about his error,


s: Beget such faults, then may I dare to hope.


s: Not mine, I knew, I felt, to clear new paths,


s: With such achievement as a strenuous will,


s: Cast me not lightly back.  Banish me not


s: From this, my home of hope, of inspiration!


s: What, my ungentle father!  Will you hear,


s: And leave this worthy signor's suit unanswered?


s: Well, he may bide.  Sir, I will speak with you


s: Anon upon this work.  I judged in haste.


s: But come what may, I will be fresh to-night,


s: Then when he bade me?  Nay, what is to tell?


s: He had flouted me for prizing at such height


s: Homage so slight from John of Austria, even.


s: A glance exchanged, a smile, a fallen flower


s: Dropped from my hair, and pressed against his lips.


s: The Prince! my father gloats upon that name.


s: Warm, longing tears; anon, a fire of joy


s: Leaps in my heart and dances through my veins.


s: Why should I nurse such idle thoughts?  Tonight


s: We are to meet again.  Will he remember?--


s: Nay, how should he forget?  His heart is young;


s: Quicken thy dull, slow round of tedious hours!


s: My father's sleeping saint rebukes my thought.


s: Strange he has left his work, against his wont,


s: The far, bright, opened heavens--the dark earth,


s: Where the tranced pilgrim lies, with eyelids sealed,


s: His calm face flushed with comfortable sleep,


s: Pillowed upon the stone.  Oh, blessed dream


s: That visits his rapt sense, of airy forms,


s: Mounting, descending on the shining ladder,


s: The passion of just pride that overfills


s: While she stands before the canvas, reenter, unperceived by


s: What brush may reproduce those magic tints,


s: Signor Lorenzo?  I would draw the curtain,


s: For envious minds that would restrict his power


s: To writhing limbs and shrivelled flesh!  Repose,


s: Yes, that is art!  Before such work I stand


s: My father even, who knows his proper worth,


s: Before his best achievements I have seen


s: In like dejection; 't is the curse of genius.


s: Oft have I heard the master grace your name


s: And not the echo of his praise, that speaks.


s: My work was worthless--'t was your generous voice


s: Alone secured the master's second glance.


s: Nay, signor, frankly, he esteems your talent.


s: And gentle birth, he will be rude to you.


s: Not without base is the deep grudge he owes


s: Why do I bear such harsh, injurious terms


s: As he affronts me with?  Why must I seem


s: Dishonorably patient?  'T is not his fame,


s: His power, his gift, his venerable years


s: That bind me here his willing slave.  Maria,


s: 'T is thou, 't is thou alone! 'T is that I love thee,


s: I lay my life with its most loyal service,


s: Too humble!  Do you seek mine utter ruin,


s: I say all.  I love you!--you have known it.


s: Why should I tell you?  Yet, to-day you seem


s: Other than you have been.  A milder light


s: Beams from your eyes--a gentler grace is throned


s: Upon your brow--your words fall soft as dew


s: To you; and to myself; yet, know no answer.


s: Anon, I will be calm; pray you withdraw.


s: Till when?  Remember what mad hopes and fears


s: A name untainted, a fair home--yea, these


s: Are what I need.  Oh, lily soul in heaven,


s: Who wast on earth my mother, guide thy child!


s: While MARIA sits rapt in thought, enter from behind her, ANNICCA,


s: What, sister! lost in dreams by daylight?  Fie!


s: My thoughts are bounden to no master yet;


s: They fly from earth to heaven in a breath.


s: Now are they all of earth.  Hast heard the tidings?


s: Yea--of the Prince's ball?  We go together.


s: Braid in thy hair our mother's pearls, and wear


s: The amulet ingemmed with eastern stones;


s: Scarce man at all--a madcap, charming boy;


s: Well-favored--you have seen him--exquisite


s: In courtly compliment, of simple manners;


s: You may not hear a merrier laugh than his


s: From any boatman on the bay; well-versed


s: In all such arts as most become his station;


s: Light in the dance as winged-foot Mercury,


s: To answer in all points your praise of him.


s: Of Spanish chivalry; his last achievement


s: Seems still the flower of his accomplishments.


s: Musician, soldier, courtier, yea, and artist.


s: "He had been a painter, were he not a prince,"


s: His actress-mother, hath bequeathed to him


s: Her spirit with her beauty, and the power


s: You kindle with his praise, your whole heart glows


s: In light and color on your face, your words


s: Take wing and fly as bold as reckless birds.


s: What! can so rash a thought, a dream so wild,


s: So hopeless an ambition, tempt your soul?


s: Pray you, what thought, what dream, and what ambition?


s: Nor have you in your speech; your eyes now veiled,


s: Where the light leaped to hear me voice his fame,


s: Your blushes and your pallor have betrayed


s: That which should lie uncounted fathom deep--


s: And there it lies, my sibyl sister, still!


s: Your plummet hath not reached it.  Yes, 't is love


s: Flaunts his triumphant colors in my cheek,


s: And quickens my lame speech--but not for him,


s: Not for the Prince--so may I vaunt his worth


s: Favored of earth and heaven, true and loving,


s: Hath cast his heart at my imperial feet;


s: I will e'en stoop and raise it to mine own.


s: Did not I say favored of earth and heaven?


s: That should mean other gifts than bags of gold,


s: Or a straight-featured mask.  Nor will it be


s: Any you name, though you should name him right.


s: Your choice, I fear not, doubtless 't will prove wise,


s: Despite your wild wit, for your heart is pure,


s: And you will pause with sure deliberate judgment


s: So gently o'er our soul?  What if he come


s: A cloud, a fire, a whirlwind, to o'erbear


s: The feeble barriers wherewith we oppose him,


s: And blind our eyes and wrest from us our reason?


s: He visits my calm breast; but yet you speak


s: Somewhat too sagely.  Did such cautious wisdom


s: Since I became a wife, is much made clear,


s: Which a brief year ago was dark and vague.


s: Then I had dreamed; yet matching now with then,


s: I see his love is not that large, rich passion


s: I speak for you.  His is a sovereign soul,


s: And all his passions loom in huger shape


s: Than lesser men's.  He brooks no rivalry


s: With his own offspring, and toward me his love


s: Hath ebbed, I mark, to a more even flow,


s: While deeper, stronger, sets the powerful current


s: Toward you alone.  Consider this, Maria,


s: Of your young love to wreathe some curled boy's brow.


s: Think you his wish were that I should not wed?


s: Nay, that I say not, for his pride aspires


s: Whose name is ancient, fair, and honorable,


s: That white, divine old head.  In art his pupil,


s: What is't o'clock?  If he should sleep too late--


s: 'T is hard on sunset, and he looks for thee


s: With his first waking motion.  Till to-night.


s: A hall in RIBERA'S house.  Enter LUCA and FIAMETTA.


s: her waist a girdle stiff with stones--you would have said they


s: Thou speakest more like her page than her handmaiden.


s: been my father, canst understand me?  HE was poor as thou.  Why


s: and others the phantoms of folk who are living or have lived, and


s: I grant thee thou mayst be right concerning him; he hath indeed a


s: whispered an Ave.  But what of Lady Maria-Rosa?  Both heaven and


s: earth smile upon her.  To-night she wears a poor girl's dowry, a


s: separate fortune, on her head, her neck, her hands, yes, on her


s: Enter on one side ANNICCA and DON TOMMASO, attired for the ball;


s: What do ye here, my children?  Haste away!


s: 'T will be the bravest show e'er seen in Naples.


s: I who have robbed you of one gem, need scarce


s: Robbed me, thou sayst?  So hast thou.  She was mine--


s: The balanced beauty of her flesh and spirit,


s: Till thou, a stranger, stole her heart's allegiance,


s: Suborned--Forgive me, I am old, a father,


s: Whose doting passions blind.  I am not jealous,


s: Were it our life-blood.  I rejoice with thee


s: That she is thine; nor am I quite bereft,


s: I have some treasure still.  I do repent


s: That I will crave your leave before I kiss


s: I can bear praise, thou knowest, from all save thee


s: Will mock these transports.  Pray go in with me.


s: No one of us but has this night a triumph.


s: Ball in the Palace of DON JOHN.  Dance.  DON JOHN and MARIA


s: together. DON TOMMASO, ANNICCA.  LORDS and LADIES, dancing or


s: After our dance, unto the torch-lit gardens?


s: I like this heavy air, rich with warm odors,


s: The broad, clear light, the many-colored throng.


s: I might have breathed on mine own balcony


s: A lover's sigh more dear than mine own pleasure.


s: She is far too pale for so much white, I find.


s: That spreading ruff, sprinkled with seeds of gold,


s: Becomes her well.  Would you believe it, sir,


s: Folk say her face is twin to mine--what think you?


s: For me, the huge earth holds but one such face.


s: She is not one of us--her face is strange;


s: Colored and carven to meet most men's desire--


s: Is't not, my lord?  Certes, it loses naught


s: For lack of ornament.  Pray, ask her name,


s: The form and face are matched with the apparel,


s: As in a picture.  'T was the master's hand,


s: I warrant you, arranged with such quaint art,


s: Such seeming-careless care, the dead, white pearls


s: Reigned lord of my wild dreams.  One name still sang


s: Like the repeated strain of some caged bird,


s: Its sweet, persistent music through my brain.


s: Shone forth and faded night and day.  And you,


s: Though you should rail, your voice would still outsing


s: I knew you not, albeit I might have guessed,


s: And golden collar, 'midst the motley hues


s: Of our gay nobles.  I know not what besides,


s: But this first won me.  Be not angered, sir;


s: But, as I looked, I never ranked you higher


s: Than simple gentleman.  I asked your name;


s: Then, when you Highness stooped to pick my flower,


s: My lord, that moment was my thought a traitor,


s: Reward such treason.  Say me those words again.


s: Let the rich blush born of that dear confession


s: Again dye cheek and brow, and fade and melt


s: This is no place, no hour, for words like these.


s: The Palace Gardens.  Interrupted sounds of music and revelry


s: come though the open windows of the ball-room, seen in the


s: background.  RIBERA, pacing the stage, occasionally pausing


s: Ye gods?  The beggar's child matched with a prince!


s: Throb not so high, my heart, 'neath envious eyes


s: Fixed on thy triumph!  Now am I well repaid


s: For my slow, martyred years.  Was I not wrung


s: by keener tortures than my savage brush,


s: Though dipped in my heart's blood, might reproduce!


s: That owed not its suggestion to some pang


s: Of my  pride crucified, my spirit racked,


s: My entrails gnawed by the blind worm of hate,


s: Engendered of oppression.  That is past,


s: But not forgotten; though to-night I please


s: The strength of beauty and the power of joy,


s: And welcome gracious phantasies that throng


s: The spirits of earth and heaven contend to-night


s: With noble wrath, with the consuming fever


s: A-light with smiles, the imperial head upraised;


s: Her languid hand sways the broad, silken fan,


s: Whose wing-like movement stirs above her brow


s: The fine, bright curls, as though warm airs of heaven


s: Around her breathed.  He leads her 'midst the throng.


s: So, they have gone; but I will follow them,


s: Enter from the opposite side DON JOHN and MARIA.


s: What quivers on my lips.  My heart is free,


s: Of any voice till now.  I laugh to think


s: To dream it could be otherwise.  Forgive me;


s: I, a mere stranger in they life, am jealous


s: You shall hear all.  What hour, think you, he chose


s: To urge his cause?  The same wherein I learned


s: Your Highness had commanded for to-night


s: Our presence.  My winged thoughts were flying back


s: My white rose at your lips, your grave eyes fixed


s: Most frankly, yet most reverently, on mine.


s: Again my heart sank as I heard the name,


s: The Prince of Austria; and while I mused,


s: He spake of love.  Oh, I am much to blame!


s: My mood was soft;--although I promised naught,


s: I listened, yea, I listened.  Good, my lord,


s: For thy confession!  Now no spot remains


s: Since that dear night, I with one only thought


s: Have gained the sum of knowledge and opinions


s: Touching thine honored father, with such scraps


s: As the gross public voice could dole to me


s: Concerning thine own far-removed, white life.


s: Thou art, I learn, immured in close seclusion;


s: Thy father, be it with all reverence said,


s: Hedges with jealous barriers his treasure;


s: Whilst thou, most duteous, tenderest of daughters,


s: 'T were simple justice.  Ah, if you knew him--


s: A proud, large, tameless heart.  This is the cloister


s: Where he immures me--Naples' gayest revels;


s: Is his unbounded trust, that leaves me free.


s: Let us go in; the late night air is chill.


s: I lost them in the press.  Ah, there they dance


s: In blessing on that darling, haughty head.


s: Like the Ribera's child, she bears her honors


s: As lightly as a flower.  Yet there glows


s: Enough.  Now must I strive to fix that form


s: That haunts my brain--the blind, old Count Camillo,


s: The Prince's oracle. 'Midst the thick throng


s: My fancy singled him; white beard, white hair,


s: Sealed eyes, and brow lit by an inward light.


s: So will I paint mine Isaac blessing Esau,


s: While Jacob kneels before him--blind, betrayed


s: Breathe we the charm of this enchanted night.


s: Look where behind yon vines the slow moon sets,


s: Hidden from us, while every leaf hangs black,


s: Each tender stalk distinct, each curling edge


s: Maria!--Ah, my Prince, I crave your pardon.


s: When thus I muse, 't is but my mind that lives;


s: Each outward sense is dead.  I saw you not,


s: I heard nor voice nor footstep.  Yonder lines


s: That streak the brightening sky east warn us away.


s: For all your grace to us, the Spagnoletto


s: And the signora, past all hope of payment.


s: When may I come to tender my poor homage


s: Our house is too much honored when he deigns


s: O'erstep the threshold.  Let your royal pleasure


s: Or I should say to-day, for dawn is nigh.


s: And still we trespass.  Be it as you will;


s: Gods, what a haughty devil rules that man!


s: As though two equal princes interchanged


s: Might so salute may father.  By heaven, I know not


s: What patience or what reverence withheld


s: My enchafed spirit in bounds of courtesy.


s: Nay, it was she, mine angel, whose mere aspect


s: Is balm and blessing.  How her love-lit eyes


s: Burned through my soul!  How her soft hand's slight pressure


s: Tingled along my veins!  Oh, she is worthy


s: A heart' religion!  How shall I wear the hours


s: Ere I may seek her?  Lo, I stand and dream,


s: While my late guests await me.  Patience, patience!


s: Morning twilight in RIBERA'S Garden.  During this scene the day


s: gradually breaks, and at the close the full light of morning


s: Weird night's fantastic shadows are outworn;


s: Why tarriest thou, oh, sister to the morn?


s: Of deeper, dearer, holier love than mine,


s: Canst thou awaken from they dreams divine.


s: To thrill and bless as the reviving sun,


s: For my heart gropes in doubt, though night be gone.


s: Why should I fear?  Her soul is pledged to mine,


s: Albeit she still withheld the binding word.


s: How long hath been the night! but morn breathes hope.


s: "I fain were true to you and to myself"--


s: Did she say thus? or is my fevered brain


s: The fool of its desires?  The world swam;


s: The blood rang beating in mine ears and roared


s: Like rushing waters; yet, as through a dream,


s: Shone the clear tears.  As there's a God in heaven,


s: She spake those words!  My lips retain the touch


s: Of those soft, snow-cold hands, neither refused


s: Nor proffered.  Such things ARE, nor can they be


s: Forgotten or foreknown.  Yes, she is mine.


s: But soft!  Her casement opes.  Oh, joy, 't is she!


s: Pale, in a cloud of white she stands and drinks


s: Kisses my sleepless lids and burning temples.


s: Blesses the dear, familiar scene--ripe orchard,


s: The same--yet oh, how different!  Even I thought


s: Soft music trembled on the listening air,


s: As though a harp were touched, blent with low song.


s: Sure, that was phantasy.  I will descend,


s: Visit my flowers, and see whereon the dew


s: Hangs heaviest, and what fairest bud hath bloomed


s: Since yester-eve.  Why should I court repose


s: And dull forgetfulness, while the large earth


s: How may my breast contain thee, with thy burden


s: Enter MARIA below; LORENZO springs forward to greet her; she


s: May the blithe spirit of this auspicious morn


s: Whereof be none less beautiful than this.


s: Why art thou silent?  Does not love inspire


s: Thou hast not granted me the promised pledge


s: For which I hunger still.  I would confirm


s: With dear avowals, frequent seals of love,


s: That which, though sure, I yet can scarce believe.


s: Somewhat too sure, I think, my lord Lorenzo.


s: I scarce deemed possible that one so shy


s: But yester-morn should hold so high a mien,


s: Your jest.  You will not seem so lightly won


s: Without a wooing?  You will feign disdain,


s: Only to make more sweet your rich concession?


s: Too late--I heard it all.  "A new light shines


s: On the familiar scene."  What may that be,


s: Save the strange splendor of the dawn of love?


s: Nay, darling, cease to jest, lest my poor heart,


s: Hanging 'twixt hell and heaven, in earnest break.


s: Here is no jest, sir, but a fatal error,


s: Crying for swift correction.  You surprise me


s: With rude impatience, ere I have found time


s: Hath bred or nourished in your heart a hope


s: That you might win my love.  It cannot be.


s: A word, a glance!  Why, the whole frozen statue


s: Warmed into life.  Surely it was not you.


s: You must have bribed some angel with false prayers


s: To wear your semblance--nay, no angel served,


s: I hoped to find here peace and solitude.


s: I will not rob you of your own.  Farewell to you.


s: Where have you flown, bright dreams?  Has that rude hand


s: Sufficed to dash to naught your frail creations?


s: Sad thoughts and humors black now fill my soul.


s: So his rough foot hath bruised the dewy grass,


s: And left it sere.  Why should his harsh words touch me?


s: How could I know, dear God!  How might I guess


s: The bitter sweetness, the delicious pain!


s: A new heart fills my breast, as soft and weak


s: But kindled with quick courage to endure,


s: If I need front for him, a world of foes.


s: If this be love, ah, what a hell is theirs


s: Who suffer without hope!  Even I, who hold


s: Still ringing in mine ears such sacred vows,


s: I, who recoil from pain, must strike and wound.


s: What may this mean?  Help me, ye saints of heaven


s: And holy mother, for my strength is naught!


s: She falls on her knees and bursts into tears.  Reenter LORENZO.


s: Thank heaven, I came.  How have I wrung her soul!


s: A noble love, forsooth! A blind, brute passion,


s: That being denied, is swift transformed to hate


s: As late I proffered, but your gracious pardon.


s: Rise, sir, forgiven.  I, too, have been to blame,


s: Although less deeply than you deemed.  Forbear


s: To bind your life.  I feel myself unworthy


s: Of that high station where your thoughts enthrone me.


s: Why, father, I am here (kissing him).  Good-day.  What will you?


s: Darling, no more than what I always will.


s: I fain would greet the dearest work of God.


s: I missed you when I rose.  I sought you first


s: In your own chamber, where the lattice, oped,


s: Of the moist garden, with the sound of voices.


s: I looked, I found you here--but not alone.


s: Thus he, through gratitude and--love, hath watched


s: All night within our garden, while I danced;


s: And when I came to nurse my flowers--he spake.


s: I cannot choose but dread it, though I wait


s: Your woman's destiny.  You have full freedom;


s: Yet I rejoice at this reprieve, and thank thee


s: For thy brave truthfulness.  Be ever thus,


s: Withholding naught from him whose heart reflects


s: Only thine image.  Thou art still my pride,


s: Even as last night when all eyes gazed thy way,


s: To his who courted thee--thy sovereign's son.


s: Yea, so?  And yet it was not pride I felt,


s: Nor consciousness of self, nor vain delight


s: In the world's envy;--something more than these,


s: Far deeper, sweeter--What have I said?  My brain


s: Is dull with sleep.  'T is only now I feel


s: We squander precious moments.  Thou, go rest,


s: And waken with fresh roses in they cheeks,


s: The studio of the Spagnoletto.  RIBERA before his canvas.  LUCA


s: Well, one more morning of such delicate toil


s: Will make it ready for Madrid, and worthy


s: Not merely Philip's eyes, but theirs whose glance


s: Outvalues a king's gaze, my noble friend


s: Fiametta passed a brief while since, and left


s: Poor child, she sadly lacked it.  She had known


s: 'Twixt dawn and dawn no respite from emotion;


s: Her chill hand fluttered like a bird in mine;


s: Her soft brow burned my lips.  Could that boy read


s: Strained past endurance, he had spared her still,


s: At any cost of silence.  What is such love


s: To mine, that would outrival Roman heroes--


s: Watch mine arm crisp and shrivel in quick flame,


s: To save her from a needle-prick of pain,


s: Ay, or to please her?  At their worth she rates


s: As would his royal father, if he pleased


s: To visit Naples; yet she too shall see him.


s: She is part of all I think, of all I am;


s: She is myself, no less than yon bright dream


s: And only waits me with your lordship's leave,


s: To cross the street unto St. Francis' church.


s: With such slight escort?  Nay, this troubles me.


s: Only the Strada's width?  The saints forbid


s: Myself will go.  I cannot.  Bid her muffle,


s: Like our Valencian ladies, her silk mantle


s: What should I fear?  I will make sure her beauty


s: Draped round the stately head, discloses naught


s: From the majestic grace and proud proportions,


s: She might so pass through the high thoroughfares.


s: Ah, one thick curl escapes from its black prison.


s: Alone in Naples, wreathed with rays of gold,


s: Her crown of light betrays her.  So, she's safe!


s: A gentleman of Spain!  Perchance the Prince


s: Enter LUCA, ushering in DON JOHN unattended, completely enveloped


s: by a cavalier's hat.  He uncovers his head on entering.  RIBERA,


s: I am shamed to think my sovereign's son should wait,


s: Through a churl's ignorance, without my doors.


s: Dear master, blame him not.  I came attended


s: By one page only.  Here I blush to claim


s: No royalty is here, save the crowned monarch


s: To press with reverent lips my master's hand.


s: Your Highness is too gracious; if you glance


s: Round mine ill-furnished studio, my works


s: Shall best proclaim me and my poor deserts.


s: Curse his swollen arrogance!  Doth he imagine


s: You have bettered here your best.  Why, sir, he breathes!


s: Will not those locked lids ope?--that nerveless hand


s: With such heroic frame?  You have conspired


s: I chatter foolish speech; for such a marvel


s: Your highness deigns approve.  Lose no more time,


s: Lest the poor details should repay you not.


s: Unto your royal home 't will follow you,


s: Companion, though unworthy, to the treasures


s: Set in my father's crown, and, in his name,


s: Though merely sketched.  What a marked, cunning leer


s: Grins on the wide mouth! what a bestial glance!


s: 'T is but a slight hint for my larger work,


s: But etched in aqua-fortis.  Luca, fetch down


s: Yonder portfolio.  I can show your Highness


s: I know not who is best portrayed--the god,


s: Plump, reeling, wreathed with vine, in whom abides


s: Something Olympian still, or the coarse Satyrs,


s: Thoroughly brutish.  Here I scarcely miss,


s: The bacchanalian spirit, your rich brush,


s: The pleasure in this treatment equals that


s: The servile copyists of the greater masters,


s: Or of th' archangels, Raphael and Michael;


s: But such as paint our cheap and daily marvels.


s: Sometimes I fear lest they degrade our art


s: Mere realism, which they mistake for truth.


s: My soul rejects such limits.  The true artist


s: Gives Nature's best effects with far less means.


s: Plain black and white suffice him to express


s: Than she attains with all the aid of color.


s: I argue thus and work with simple tools,


s: Like the Greek fathers of our art--the sculptors,


s: Who wrought in white alone their matchless types.


s: Then dazzled by the living bloom of earth,


s: My earliest worship, and compose such work


s: In my brief stay in Naples, to beg of you


s: 'T would rob you, sir, of fewer golden hours


s: Than the full-colored canvas, and enrich


s: You may command my hours and all that's mine.


s: Thanks, generous master.  When may I return


s: To-day, to-morrow--when your Highness please.


s: The present moment.  I will come to-morrow,


s: At the same hour, in some more fitting garb.


s: Your hand, sir, and farewell.  Salute for me,


s: I pray you, the signora.  May I not hope


s: To see and thank her for her grace to me,


s: Pray, sir, allow her--she is never crossed.


s: Who bides with me--I crave you pardon, sir;


s: Whose privilege has been in this rare hour,


s: And thus add friendship unto admiration.


s: hat.  LUCA springs forward, and, while he is throwing the cloak


s: Well, father, an I veiled and swathed to suit you,


s: Already twice my gracious stars have smiled.


s: I saw you in the street.  You wore your mantle,


s: As the noon sun might wear a veil of cloud,


s: Have unaware stood in your royal presence.


s: You are welcome to my father's home and mine.


s: I scarce need crave your pardon for my entrance;


s: Yourself must see how well assured I felt


s: To find him--shall I read your answer thus?


s: Nay, press her not.  Your Highness does her wrong,


s: My daughter and myself are one, and both


s: Hath surely told you our delight and marvel


s: At the enchantments of your feast.  For me


s: The night was brief, rich, beautiful, and strange


s: A beauteous soul can shed her proper glory


s: On mean surroundings.  I have likewise dreamed,


s: Nor am I yet awake.  This morn hath been


s: A feast for mind and eye.  Yon shepherd-prince,


s: Whom angels visit in his sleep, shall crown


s: Your father's brow with a still fresher laurel,


s: And link in equal fame the Spanish artist


s: With no more shelter than the wind-stirred branches,


s: While the thick dews of our Valencian nights


s: Drenched my rude weeds, and chilled through blood and bone.


s: Yet to me also were the heavens revealed,


s: That you, dear masters, standing on the crown


s: Should backward glance unto such dark beginnings.


s: With pleasing pain on those fierce years of struggle.


s: They were to me my birthright; all the vigor,


s: The burning passion, the unflinching truth,


s: My later pencil gained, I gleaned from them.


s: I prized them.  I reclaimed their ragged freedom,


s: Rather than hold my seat, a liveried slave,


s: Mine own.  But now my child's heart I would pierce


s: Sooner than see it bear the least of ills,


s: May smile, sir, at your threat; she is in a pleasance,


s: Where no rude breezes blow, no shadow falls


s: Darker than that of cool and fragrant leaves.


s: Yea, were it otherwise--had you not reaped


s: The fruit of your own works, she had not suffered.


s: Is the most grateful you have spoken yet.


s: The Prince is kind.  I scarcely heard your words.


s: What ails you, daughter?  You forget yourself.


s: Your tongue cleaves to your mouth.  You sit and muse,


s: A statue of white silence.  Twice to-day


s: You have deeply vexed me.  Go not thus again


s: Across the street with that light child, Fiametta.


s: Faith, you were closely muffled.  What was this--


s: This tell-tale auburn curl that rippled down


s: Suspicious, jealous, fearful, prone to wrath,


s: I should have deemed it no mere negligence,


s: Why do you threat me with such evil eyes?


s: Whom have you met beside the Prince this morn?


s: Who saw you pass?  Whom have you spoken with?


s: For God's sake, father, what strange thoughts are these?


s: With none, with none!  Beside the Prince, you say?


s: I hastened with veiled eyes cast on the ground,


s: Swathed in my mantle still, I told my beads,


s: Well, it may pass; but henceforth say thy matins


s: In thine own room.  I know what vague cloud


s: Obscures my sight and weighs upon my brain.


s: Poor father!  Dimly he perceives some trouble


s: Within the threatening air.  Thank heaven, I calmed him,


s: Yet I spake truth.  What could have roused so soon


s: The wary page slip in my hand the missive,


s: My father hath not spoken with her since.


s: Sure he knows naught; 't is but my foolish fear


s: Makes monsters out of shadows.  I may read


s: The priceless lines and grave them on my heart.


s: He loves me, yes, he loves me!  Oh, my God,


s: This awful joy in mine own breast is love!


s: To-night he will await me in our garden.


s: I fly, my prince, at thy most dear behest!


s: Truly, you wrong your sister; she is young,


s: Heedless, and wilful, that is all; a touch


s: Against the malice of our haughty matrons,


s: Who hurled this icy shafts of scorn from heights


s: I cannot think with you.  In her demeanor,


s: Her kindled cheek, her melting eye, was more


s: Ere the night ended, I had blushed to see


s: Slighting regards cast on my father's child,


s: And hear her name and his tossed lightly round.


s: Could you not read in such disparagement


s: Gazed at again with such insulting homage.


s: You are too strict; your baseless apprehensions


s: Wrong her far more than strangers' jests.


s: And work no harm, since they shall be imparted


s: Only to him who hath the power to quell them,


s: You surely will not rouse his fatal wrath?


s: Annicca, listen: if your doubts were true,


s: He whose fierce love guards her with sleepless eyes,


s: With prowling jealousy and deadly spring,


s: Forth leaping at the first approach of ill,


s: Than the calm tenderness of human fathers;


s: He surely had been keen to scent the danger.


s: But like her shadow played the spy on her.


s: A word would stir less deeply than you dread.


s: Ah, there you err; he knows no middle term.


s: At once he would accept as fact the worst


s: Of your imaginings; his rage would smite


s: For, as I learn, Don John brings royal orders


s: For the Queen's gallery; he would dismiss


s: The Prince as roughly as a begging artist.


s: Make no such breach just now betwixt the court


s: A slight reproof might now suffice the child,


s: My mind misgives me; yet will I find patience.


s: Night in RIBERA'S Garden. DON JOHN alone.


s: In any less than she, so swift a passion,


s: So unreserved, so reckless, had repelled.


s: Was born full-grown, as we gazed each on each.


s: Nay, 't was not born, but like a thing eternal,


s: It WAS ere we had consciousness thereof;


s: No growth of slow development, but perfect


s: From the beginning, neither doomed to end.


s: Her garden breathes her own warm, southern beauty,


s: Here I am happy--happy to dream and wait


s: She hastes to meet me with no less impatience


s: Than mine to clasp her in my arms, to press


s: Heart unto heart, and see the love within


s: The unfathomable depths of her great eyes.


s: Darling, not long; 't was but my restless love


s: That drove me here before the promised hour.


s: So were I well content to wait through ages


s: Knowing the gates of heaven might ope to me


s: Less than the truth to have you chide me thus;


s: Faith match with faith, and loyal heart with heart,


s: Who could decide betwixt two equal truths,


s: Will be slight payment for your boundless trust.


s: Look we nor forth nor back, are we not happy?


s: Heaven smiles above our heads with all her stars.


s: The envious day forced us apart, the wing


s: Of obscure night protects and shelters us.


s: Now like a pure, night-blooming flower, puts forth


s: The perfect blossom of our love.  Oh, lean


s: Thy royal head upon my breast; assure me


s: That this unheard-of bliss is no fond dream.


s: Cling to me, darling, till thy love's dear burden


s: A sound, a cry?  Oh, God! was it my father?


s: Naught save the beating of our hearts I heard.


s: Be calm, my love; the very air is hushed.


s: Listen, the tinkle of the fountain yonder,


s: The sleepy stir of leaves, the querulous pipe


s: A rude voice called me.  Wherefore did it come


s: To snatch me from that dream of restful love?


s: Oh, Juan, you will save me, you will help,--


s: Tell me you will--I have lost all for you!


s: To-morrow you will laugh at fears like these.


s: You have lost naught--you have but won my love.


s: Lose not your faith in that--your shield and weapon.


s: I tremble still in every limb.  Good-night,


s: I must be gone.  To-morrow when you come,


s: In love and hatred.  Listen and look, my lord.


s: That I would meet at night a stranger youth


s: In mine own garden, talk with him of love,


s: And hint a thought against the Spagnoletto,


s: I had smitten with this bauble such a one.


s: Kiss me, my Juan, once again.  Good-night.


s: Of his fair face in some half-dozen sittings.


s: His is a bold and shapely head--it pleased me.


s: I like the lad; the work upon his portrait


s: Was pastime--'t is already nigh complete.


s: And has Maria sat here while you worked?


s: Why not?  What would'st thou say?  Speak, fret me not


s: With ticklish fears.  Is she not by my side,


s: Father, how quick you are!  I had but asked


s: If she, being here, had seen the work progress,


s: There is something in your thought you hold from me.


s: Have the lewd, prying eyes, the slanderous mind


s: Of public envy, spied herein some mischief?


s: What hast thou heard?  By heaven, if one foul word


s: Have darkened the fair fame of my white dove,


s: Naples shall rue it.  Let them not forget


s: Tommaso judged aright. I dare not tell him.


s: Dear father, listen.  Pray, be calm.  Sit down;


s: I am foolish, hasty; but it makes me mad.


s: Listen to me.  Here sits the Prince before me;


s: We talk, we laugh.  We have discussed all themes,


s: Down to the pest of flies that fret us here


s: At the day's hottest.  Sometimes he will pace


s: The studio--such young blood is seldom still.


s: He brought me once his mandoline, and drew


s: The changeful play of soul.  I catch the spirit


s: Behind the veil, and burn it on the plate.


s: And serve us with a dish of golden fruit.


s: That is for me; she knows the sweet, cool juice,


s: More than strong wine.  She meets his Royal Highness


s: As the Ribera's child should meet a Prince--


s: Nor over bold, nor timid; one would think


s: Their rank was equal, and that neither sprang


s: Speak rather of your work--is the plate finished?


s: So nigh, that were Don John to leave to-morrow,


s: Yea, but I know not when; he seems to wait


s: What do you mutter?  I grow deaf this side.


s: The Prince should leave us; you have more enjoyed


s: His young companionship than any strangers


s: I know not that I place more trust in him


s: Enter MARIA, carrying a kirtle full of flowers.


s: Have blossomed over night; I bring you some


s: To prank your study.  Sister, Don Tommaso


s: Pink, yellow, crimson, white--which is the fairest?


s: Those with the deepest blush should best become you--


s: Nay, they accord not with your hair's red gold;


s: The white ones suit you best--pale, innocent,


s: So flowers too can lie!  Is not that strange?


s: brushes aside all the flowers upon the floors, than picks one up


s: I think not highly of your flowers, girl;


s: I have plucked this leaf; it has no heart.


s: I, who was dull of wit, am keen at last.


s: "Don John is comely," and "Don John is kind;"


s: "A princely artist"--and then, meek of mien,


s: You enter in his presence, modest, simple.


s: And who beneath that kitten grace had spied


s: The claws of mischief?  Who!  Why, all the world,


s: Save the fond, wrinkled, hoary fool, thy father.


s: Out, girl, for shame!  He will be here anon;


s: Hence to your room--he shall not find you here.


s: Thank God, thank God! no evil hath been wrought


s: That may not be repaired.  I have sat by


s: At all your meetings.  You shall have no more;


s: She walks.  What if my doubts be false?  The terror


s: Of an unlooked-for blow, a treacherous thrust


s: When least expected--that is all she showed.


s: On a false charge, myself had acted thus.


s: She had been moved far otherwise if guilty;


s: She had wept, protested, begged--she had not left


s: With such a proud and speechless show of grief.


s: I was too harsh, too quick on slight suspicion.


s: What did Annicca say?  Why, she said naught.


s: 'T was her grave air, her sudden reticence,


s: Her ill-assumed indifference.  They play on me;


s: They know me not.  They dread my violent passions,


s: Not guessing what a firm and constant bridle


s: I hold them with.  On just cause to be angered,


s: Is merely human.  Yet they sound my temper;


s: They try to lead me like some half-tamed beast,


s: That must be coaxed.  Well, I may laugh thereat.


s: But I am not myself to-day; strange pains


s: Shoot through my head and limbs and vex my spirit.


s: Oh, I have wronged my child!  Return, Maria!


s: Night. RIBERA'S bedroom.  RIBERA discovered in his dressing-gown,


s: an open door at the back of the stage, MARIA. She stands


s: irresolute for a moment on the threshold behind her father,


s: watching him, passes her hand rapidly over her brow and eyes,


s: RIBERA (putting down his book and looking at her affectionately).


s: You study late.  I came to bid good-night.


s: Poor child, thou must be weary.  Thou art pale


s: Neither forgive myself.  Well, it is past,


s: Enough!  When the Prince left I sent for thee;


s: Don John leaves Naples.  He expressed regret


s: Most courteously that thou wast suffering.


s: He had fain ordered us his parting thanks


s: For our kind welcome--so he deigned to say.


s: To see us both once more; but this is doubtful,


s: Are we not, darling?  Thanks for the calm content


s: Wherewith thou biddest him farewell, to nestle


s: Once more in mine embrace.  Not long, I feel,


s: May these old horny eyes be blest with sight


s: Of thy full-flowering grace, these wrinkled lips


s: Be pressed against thy brow.  I am no more


s: What I have been; at times both hand and brain


s: Refuse their task.  Myself will follow soon--


s: So the worm claims us by slow torture, child.


s: Thou'lt bear with me, if as to-day I wrong


s: So bitterly.  I thought not thus to move thee.


s: Still thou art overwrought.  I would have asked


s: At last a promise of thee.  I am selfish,


s: But I would sleep less startingly o'nights,


s: And bear a calmer soul by day, were I secure


s: That thou wilt bide with me until the end.


s: To-night I will not press thee.  Thou art weary;


s: Thy nerves have scarce regained their tension yet;


s: 'T will cost thee less than I have feared.  To-morrow


s: Good-night.  'T is time thou shouldst be sleeping.


s: I cannot leave thee!  Every word of thine


s: Gnaws like a burning coal my sore, soft heart.


s: What! thou shalt suffer, and thine own Maria


s: Will leave thee daughterless, uncomforted?


s: What! thou shalt weep, and other eyes than mine


s: Shall see the Spagnoletto's spirit broken?


s: There, there, poor child!  Look up, cling not so wildly


s: About my neck.  Thou art too finely touched,


s: Can overcome thee.  Listen?  What was that?


s: MARIA (starts up, shudders violently, and, all at once, masters


s: Surely 't was naught.  Your ears deceive you.


s: The wind is rising, and you heard the leaves


s: behind him, with her hands clasped in an agony of fear.]


s: Vacant and still, save for the swaying branches


s: Of bush and tree.  'T is a wild, threatening night.


s: Hangs black above Vesuvius.  Yonder cloud


s: Hath lightnings in it.  Ah, a blinding bolt


s: Dims the volcano's pillared fire.  Enough.


s: Hark, how the thunder rolls!  My child, you tremble


s: By the same stormy influence.  Thou knowest


s: Why shouldst thou dread it?  Try to sleep, my darling;


s: You love me and you trust me once again,


s: I love thee and I trust thee.  Thou art to me


s: My genius--thou, the breathing image still


s: Of thy saint-mother, whom the angels guard.


s: Even as thou standest now, vested in white,


s: With glowing eyes and pale, unsmiling face,


s: I see her as she stood the day her heart


s: Went forth from home and kin to bless the stranger


s: God bless us through these wild, dark hours.


s: RIBERA'S garden.  Half the sky illuminated by an over-clouded


s: moon, the rest obscured by an approaching storm.  Occasional


s: thunder and lightning.  On on side of the stage a summer-house


s: open to the audience, on the other side the exterior of the


s: dwelling.  DON JOHN discovered waiting near the house.  The door


s: DON JOHN (springing forward and embracing her).


s: I cannot guess by whom or what, are roused.


s: Oh, let me feel thee near me--I see naught.


s: Follow me; here our voices may be heard.


s: Have not slow ages passed with crowding woes


s: Since we last met!  What have I not endured!


s: Thou art strangely overwrought.  Speak not.  Await


s: Your simple presence stills and comforts me.


s: While you are here, the one thing real to me


s: That soul must own that dares to say, "I love."


s: And I dare say it.  I can bear the worst


s: That envious fate may heap upon my head,


s: If thou art with me, or for hope of thee.


s: Art sure of that?  Thou couldst not part from me,


s: For God's sake, what is this?  You love no more?


s: From asking thee to share a soldier's fate.


s: My Princess!  Thou recoilest not from all


s: Were lightly borne with such a heaven in view.


s: I were content with one brief hour a day,


s: Snatched from the toils of war and thy high duties,


s: To gaze on thy dear face--to feel thy hand,


s: Angel, I have no thanks.  May God forget me


s: When I forget this hour!  So, thou art firm--


s: Ready this night to leave thy home, thy kin,


s: I say this with no pang.  My love were naught,


s: From him round whose colossal strength the tendrils


s: Of mine own baby heart were taught to twine.


s: I speak not now as one who swerves or shrinks,


s: But merely, dear, to show thee what sharp tortures


s: I, nowise blind, but with deliberate soul,


s: So rude a snapping of all ties must smite


s: Thy tender heart withal?  Yet, dwell we not


s: On the brief pain, but on the enduring joys.


s: He will forgive thy secret flight, thy--


s: May I not bid farewell?  May I not tell him


s: Where we are bound?  How soon he may have hope


s: To hear from me--to welcome me, thy Princess?


s: Thou art mad!  We must be secret as the grave,


s: Else are we both undone.  I have given out


s: That I depart in princely state to-morrow.


s: I know my man.  Shrouded by careful night,


s: Once in Palermo, thou mayst write thy father--


s: Sue for his pardon--tell him that, ere long,


s: King Philip's favor, thou shalt be proclaimed


s: MARIA (who has hung upon his words with trembling excitement,


s: covers her face with her hands, and bursts into tears).


s: I feared as much.  Well, it is better thus.


s: I asked thee not to front the "worst of ills


s: That envious fate could heap upon thy head"--


s: Only a little patience.  'T was too much;


s: I cannot blame thee.  'T is a loving father.


s: I, a mere stranger, had naught else to hope,


s: MARIA (looks at him and throws herself at his feet).


s: My Lord, my Prince, my husband!  I am thine!


s: Lead wheresoe'er thou wilt, I follow thee.


s: DON JOHN (raising her tenderly and embracing her).


s: How laughingly the clear sun shines to-day


s: On storm-drenched green, and cool, far-glittering seas!


s: When she comes in to greet me, she will blush


s: For last night's terrors.  How she crouched and shuddered


s: At the mere thought of the wild war without!


s: Poor, clinging women's souls, what need is theirs


s: The shadow of the storm-cloud seemed to breed.


s: Through my vexed sleep I heard the thunder roll;


s: My dreams were ugly--Well, all that is past;


s: To-day my spirit is renewed.  'T is long


s: palette, but holds them idly in his hand.]


s: The hour is past when she is wont to come


s: To bless me with the kiss of virgin love.


s: Mayhap 't was fever in her eyes last night


s: Gave them so wild a glance, so bright a lustre.


s: Go ask Fiametta if the mistress sleeps--


s: Mastering my spirit?  Since her mother died


s: How can my rude love tend, my hard hand soothe,


s: weeping, and LUCA with gestures of terror and distress.]


s: How?  Murdered--dead?  Oh, cruel God!  Away!


s: Have pity on him!  Oh, what a day is this!


s: The empty, untouched bed, the silent room,


s: His wits will leave him.  Hark! was that his cry?


s: Maria! Daughter! Where have they taken thee,


s: My only one, my darling?  Oh, the brigands!


s: Naples shall bleed for this.  What do ye here,


s: Slaves, fools, who stare upon me?  Know ye not


s: I have been robbed?  Hence!  Ransack every house


s: From cave to roof in Naples.  Search all streets.


s: Arrest whomso ye meet.  Let no sail stir


s: From out the harbor.  Ring the alarum!  Quick!


s: He'll further me.  The Prince--oh, hideous fear!--


s: No, no, I will not dream it.  Mine enemies


s: Have done this thing; the avengers of that beggar--


s: Domenichino--they have struck home at last.


s: How was it that I heard no sound, no cry,


s: Throughout the night?  The heavens themselves conspired


s: Against me--the hoarse thunder drowned her shrieks!


s: herself speechless and weeping upon his neck.]


s: The thief has entered in the night--she's gone.


s: I stand and weep; I stir not hand or foot.


s: Is not the household roused?  Do they not seek her?


s: I am helpless, weak; an old man overnight.


s: The brigands' work was easy.  I heard naught.


s: But surely, surely, had they murdered her,


s: I had heard that--that would have wakened me


s: Where have they found her?  What dost thou know?  Speak, speak,


s: But that were easy.  Nerve thyself--remember


s: Thou art the Spagnoletto still.  Last night


s: Luca! Fiametta! Father, lookup, look up!


s: See, mine is firm.  You had spilt it o'er my beard


s: Had I not saved it.  Thanks.  I am strong again.


s: Why, girl, most men as hoary as thy father


s: Are long since palsied.  But my firm touch comes


s: From handling of the brush.  I am a painter,


s: to his full height, and casts the flagon to the ground.]


s: The laughing-stock of churls; my hearthstone stamped


s: With everlasting shame; my pride, my fame,


s: Mine honor--where are they?  With yon spilt water,


s: Fouled in the dust, sucked by the thirsty air.


s: Now, by Christ's blood, my vengeance shall be huge


s: As mine affront.  I will demand full justice


s: From Philip.  We will treat as King with King.


s: HE shall be stripped of rank and name and wealth,


s: Degraded, lopped from off the fellowship


s: Of Christians like a rotten limb, proclaimed


s: A female Judas, who betrayed her father,


s: Her God, her conscience, with a kiss.  Her shadow


s: Shall be my curse.  Cursed be her sleep by night,


s: Accursed her light by day--her meat and drink!


s: Accursed the fruit of her own womb--the grave


s: Where she will lie!  Cursed--Oh, my child, my child!


s: cushions of the couch. DON TOMMASO advances and lays his hand


s: Honored!  Yes, honored with a rifled home,


s: For honors such as these, I have not stinted


s: Sweat, blood, or spirit through long years of toil.


s: I have passed through peril scathless; I was spared


s: When Naples was plague-stricken; I have 'scaped


s: I have survived my love, my youth, my self,


s: Fool that I was! in her void, silent tomb.


s: To front the level eyes of men's contempt?


s: Oh, I am shamed!  Cover my head, Annicca;


s: Darken mine eyes, and veil my face.  Oh, God,


s: Would that I were a nameless, obscure man,


s: That now must be immortal.  Where thou standest,


s: Annicca, there she stood last night.  She kissed me;


s: Round mine old neck she wreathed her soft, young arms.


s: My wrinkled cheeks were wet with her warm tears.


s: She shuddered, and I thought it was the thunder


s: Struck terror through her soul.  White-bearded fool!


s: I found this scrip upon the chamber-floor,


s: RIBERA (starts up and snatches the paper she offers him, reads


s: 'T is writ in blood: "My duty to my lord


s: Forbids my telling you our present port."


s: I would track her down with sleuth-hounds, did I not


s: Abhor to see her face.  Ah, press thy hands


s: Against my head--my brain is like to burst--


s: A street.  Enter LORENZO and a GENTLEMAN, meeting.  They salute,


s: Friend dreamer?  I will lay a goodly sum


s: The news that flies like fire from tongue to tongue


s: Done for a hundred florins!  In the night,


s: 'Midst the wild storm whose roar must have invaded


s: Even thy leaden sleep, Prince John left Naples.


s: We should have had a pageant here to-day,


s: From house to house in all the streets he passed,


s: Music and guard of honor, homage fitting


s: The son of Philip--but the bird has flown.


s: Who sun themselves day-long upon the quays,


s: Your wager's lost--how am I moved by this?


s: Hark to the end.  'T would move all men whose veins


s: Flow not clear water.  He hath carried off


s: Thy master hath been robbed--the Spagnoletto--


s: Maria of the Golden Locks--his daughter.


s: How is this known?  'T is a foul slander forged


s: By desperate malice.  What! in the night, you say?--


s: She whose bright name was clean as gold, whose heart


s: Shone a fixed star of loyal love and duty


s: Beside her father's glory!  This coarse lie


s: Denies itself.  I will go seek the master,


s: And if this very noon she walk not forth,


s: Led by the Spagnoletto, through the streets,


s: To blind the dazed eyes of her slanderers,--


s: Your faith in womanhood becomes you, sir.


s: (Aside.) A beggar's child the mistress of a Prince;


s: Humph! there be some might think the weight of scandal


s: Lay on the other side.  (To Lorenzo.) You need not forth


s: To seek her father.  See, he comes, alone.


s: I will not meddle in the broil.  Farewell!


s: Enter RIBERA, without hat or mantle, slowly, with folded arms


s: Oh heart, break not for pity!  Shall he thus


s: Why, master, I--you know me not?  Lorenzo.


s: Nor do I care to know thee.  Thou must be


s: An arrant coward, thus to league with foes


s: Against so poor a wretch as I--to call me


s: By the most curst, despised, unhallowed name


s: God's creatures can own.  Away! and let me pass;


s: Your head is bare, your face is ashy pale,


s: The sun is fierce.  I am your friend, your pupil;


s: Let me but guide my reverend master home,


s: situation, raises his hand to his head and shudders violently.


s: LORENZO'S last words seem to awaken him thoroughly.]


s: If I have answered roughly, Sir Lorenzo.


s: My thoughts were far away--I failed to know you--


s: I have had trouble, sir.  You do remind me,


s: Yet now I feel the loss.  What slaves are we


s: To circumstance!  One who is wont to cover


s: For fashion or for warmth his pate, goes forth


s: Bareheaded, and the sun will seem to smite


s: The shrinking spot, the breeze will make him shiver,


s: And yet our hatless beggars heed them not.


s: Let me conduct you home.  Here is no place


s: To hold discourse.  In God's name, come with me.


s: What coupled staring fools were they that passed?


s: They seemed to scare thee.  Why, boy, face them out.


s: Well, I will go with thee.  But, hark thee, lad;


s: A word first in thine ear.  'T is a grim secret;


s: Whisper it not in Naples; I but tell thee,


s: Lest thou should fancy I had lost my wits.


s: She had fair hair and Spanish eyes.  When was it?


s: I came forth thinking I might meet with her


s: And find all this a dream--a foolish thought!


s: I am very weary.  (Yawning.)  I have walked and walked


s: For hours.  How far, sir, stand we from the Strada


s: Nardo?  I live there, nigh Saint Francis' church.


s: Why, 't is hard by; a stone's throw from this square.


s: So, lean on me--you are not well.  This way.


s: Pluck up good heart, sir; we shall soon be there.


s: Night.  A Room in RIBERA'S House.  ANNICCA seated alone, in an


s: attitude of extreme weariness and despondency.


s: His heavy sleep still lasts.  Despite the words


s: That ghastly fear.  Albeit he owned no drugs,


s: This deathlike slumber, this deep breathing slow,


s: His livid pallor makes me dread each moment


s: His weary pulse will cease.  This is the end,


s: And from the first I knew it.  The worst evil


s: My warning tongue had wrought were joy to this.


s: Than that she see him in her dreams, her thoughts,


s: As he is now.  I could no longer bear it;


s: I have fled hither from his couch to breathe--


s: To quicken my spent courage for the end.


s: I cannot pray--my heart is full of curses.


s: He sleeps; he rests.  What better could I wish


s: For his rent heart, his stunned, unbalanced brain,


s: Enter FIAMETTA.  ANNICCA looks up anxiously, half rising.


s: Would I had followed my young mistress!  Here


s: I creep about like a scared, guilty thing,


s: And fancy at each moment they will guess


s: 'T was I who led her to the hut.  I will confess,


s: And buy indulgence with her golden chain.


s: 'T would burn my throat, the master's rolling eyes


s: Would haunt me ever, if I went to wear it.


s: RIBERA'S Room.  RIBERA discovered sitting on the couch. He looks


s: old and haggard, but has regained his natural bearing and


s: expression.  Enter ANNICCA.  She hastens towards him, and kneels


s: beside the couch, kissing him affectionately.


s: Why do you kiss me?  To betray to-morrow?


s: Dear father, you are better; you have slept.


s: There was some cloud pressed here (pointing to his forehead) but


s: Now, while my brain is clear, I have a word


s: To speak.  I think not I have been to thee,


s: Nor to that other one, an unkind father.


s: Or any word of mine, could cause thee grief.


s: Deceives in this?  Speak!  Am I right, Annicca?


s: Oh, father, father, why will you torture me?


s: Since it appears the guerdon of such goodness


s: I here renounce my fatherhood.  No child


s: Will I acknowledge mine.  Thou art a wife;


s: Thy duty is thy husband's.  When Antonio


s: Returns from Seville, tell him that his father


s: Is long since dead.  Henceforward I will own


s: My name shall still outsoar these low, mirk vapors--


s: Not the Ribera, stained with sin and shame,


s: As she hath left it, but the Spagnoletto.


s: My glory is mine own.  I have done with it,


s: I will make friends with beasts--they'll prove less savage


s: Than she that was my daughter.  I have spoken


s: For the last time that word.  Thee I curse not;


s: Thou hast not set thy heel upon my heart;


s: But yet I will not bless thee.  Go.  Good-night.


s: What! will you spurn me thus?  Nay, I will bide,


s: And be to thee all that she should have been,


s: Soothe thy declining years, and heal the wound


s: Of this sharp sorrow.  Thou shalt bless me still,


s: rising, he pushes her roughly from him.]


s: With her who duped me with like words last night.


s: Then I believed; but now my sense is closed,


s: My heart is dead as stone.  I cast thee forth.


s: By heaven, I own thee not!  Thou dost forget


s: So, the last link is snapt.  Had I not steeled


s: My heart, I fain had kissed her farewell.


s: 'T is better so.  I leave my work unfinished.


s: Could I arise each day to face this spectre,


s: Or sleep with it at night?--to yearn for her


s: Even while I curse her?  No!  The dead remain


s: Sacred and sweet in our remembrance still;


s: They seem not to have left us; they abide


s: The fallen, the guilty, must be rooted out


s: From heart and thought and memory.  With them


s: As though they had not been; their spoken name


s: Cuts like a knife.  When I essay to think


s: Of what hath passed to-day, my sick brain reels.


s: No actual form.  Did I not wander forth?


s: My downfall, and the street was paved with eyes


s: That stared into my soul.  Then friendly hands


s: As though a stone had rolled from off my brain.


s: But still this nightmare bides the truth.  I know


s: They watch me, they suspect me.  I will wait


s: Till the whole household sleep, and then steal forth,


s: A Room in DON TOMMASO'S House.  ANNICCA discovered, attired in


s: If he still live, now shall we hear of him.


s: The news I learn will lure him from his covert,


s: But tidings that break through our slow suspense,


s: Like the first thunder-clap in sultry air.


s: Talk not of her--I know her not; her name


s: Will sear thy tongue.  Think'st thou, in truth this news


s: Will draw my father from his hiding-place?


s: No--teach me not to hope.  Within my heart


s: A sure voice tells me he is dead.  Not his


s: To shrink from honest eyes, to sink his brow


s: Unto the dust, here where he wore his crown.


s: Thou knowest him.  Have I not cause to mourn


s: Uncomforted, that he, the first of fathers,


s: I would fare barefoot to the ends of the earth


s: See in his eyes the light of love restored--


s: Not blasting me with lightnings as before--


s: For mine own head, yoked in my sister's curse


s: Palermo.  A Nunnery.  Enter ABBESS, followed by a Lay-Sister.


s: 'T would break your pious heart to see her, mother.


s: She begged our meanest cell, though 't is past doubt


s: I deemed her spent, had not the soft breast heaved


s: As gently as a babe's and even in dreams


s: Two crystal drops oozed from her swollen lids,


s: And trickled down her cheeks.  Her grief sleeps not,


s: Although the fragile body craves its rest.


s: Poor child!  I fear she hath sore need of prayer.


s: Of thanks or answer as our proffered service


s: Or questionings demand.  When we are silent,


s: Of any presence.  She will sit and wail,


s: Rocking upon the ground, with dull, wide eyes,


s: Wherefrom the streaming tears unceasing course;


s: The only sound that then escapes her lips


s: Is, "Father, Father!" in such piteous strain


s: As though her rent heart bled to utter it.


s: Still she abides then by her first request


s: To take the black veil and its vows to-morrow?


s: Yea, to that purpose desperately she clings.


s: This evening, if she rouse, she makes confession.


s: Ere he confess her, since we know him not.


s: Follow me, child, and see if she have waked.


s: A Cell in the Nunnery.  MARIA discovered asleep on a straw


s: pallet.  She starts suddenly from her sleep with a little cry,


s: half rises and remains seated on her pallet.


s: Oh, that wild dream!  My weary bones still ache


s: With the fierce pain; they wrenched me limb from limb.


s: Thou hadst full cause, my father.  But thou, Juan,


s: What was my sin to thee, save too much love?


s: Oh, would to God my back were crooked with age,


s: My smooth cheek seamed with wrinkles, my bright hair


s: Hoary with years, and my quick blood impeded


s: By sluggish torpor, so were I near the end


s: Of woes that seem eternal!  I am strong--


s: Death will not rescue me.  Within my veins


s: I feel the vigorous pulses of young life,


s: Among forbidden paths.  What prayer, what penance,


s: Will shrive me clean before the sight of heaven?


s: My hands are black with parricide.  Why else


s: Should his dead face arise three nights before me,


s: Bleached, ghastly, dripping as of one that's drowned,


s: To freeze my heart with horror?  Christ, have mercy!


s: Bid me not rise, nor bless me with pure hands.


s: Ask not to see my face.  Here let me lie,


s: Kissing the dust--a cast-away, a trait'ress,


s: With all Hell's curses is the crime thou nam'st!


s: What devil moved thee?  Who and whence art thou,


s: That wear'st the form of woman, though thou lack'st


s: The heart of the she-wolf?  Who was thy parent,


s: What fiend of torture, that thine impious hands


s: Should quench the living source of thine own life?


s: Spare me! oh, spare me!  Nay, my hands are clean.


s: He was the first, best, noblest among men.


s: I was his light, his soul, his breath of life.


s: These I withdrew from him, and made his days


s: A darkness.  Yet, perchance he is not dead,


s: And blood and tears may wash away my guilt.


s: Oh, tell me there is hope, though it gleam far--


s: My burning soul thirsts for the dewy balm


s: Of comfortable grace.  One word, one word,


s: The one wherewith thou bad'st thy father hope?


s: What though he be not dead?  Is breathing life?


s: Hast thou not murdered him in spirit? dealt


s: The death-blow to his heart?  Cheat not thy soul


s: With empty dreams--thy God hath judged ye guilty!


s: Have pity, father!  Let me tell thee all.


s: Thou, cloistered, holy and austere, know'st not


s: Was of an angel's aspect.  His were all gifts,


s: All grace, all seeming virtue.  I was plunged,


s: If a poor drowning creature craved thine aid,


s: Thou wouldst not spurn it.  Such a one am I,


s: And all the waves roll over me.  Wrest me from my doom!


s: What the just Spirit prompts.  Myself am naught


s: To pardon or condemn.  The sin is sinned;


s: The fruit forbid is tasted, yea, and pressed


s: Of its last honeyed juices. Wilt thou now


s: Escape the after-bitterness with prayers,


s: Scourgings, and wringings of the hands?  Shall these


s: Undo what has been done?--make whole the heart


s: Thy crime hath snapt in twain?--restore the wits


s: Thy sin hath scattered?  No!  Thy punishment


s: Is huge as thine offence.  Death shall not help,


s: Neither shall pious life wash out the stain.


s: Living thou'rt doomed, and dead, thou shalt be lost,


s: God will have mercy--as my father would,


s: SPAGNOLETTO.  MARIA utters a piercing cry and throws herself


s: Thou know'st me not.  I am not what I was.


s: My outward shape remains unchanged; these eyes,


s: Now gloating on thine anguish, are the same


s: That wept to see a shadow cross thy brow;


s: These ears, that drink the music of thy groans,


s: Shrank from thy lightest sigh of melancholy.


s: Thou think'st to find the father in me still?


s: Thy parricidal hands have murdered him--


s: Thou shalt not find a man.  I am the spirit


s: Of blind revenge--a brute, unswerving force.


s: What deemest thou hath bound me unto life?


s: Ambition, pleasure, or the sense of fear?


s: What, but the sure hope of this fierce, glad hour,


s: That I might track thee down to this--might see


s: Thy tortured body writhe beneath my feet,


s: And blast thy stricken spirit with my curse?


s: MARIA (terror-struck, rises upon her knees in an attitude of


s: Turn not away--I am not changed for thee!


s: In God's name, look at me--thy child, thine own!


s: Spare me, oh, spare me, till I win of Heaven


s: Some sign of promise!  I am lost forever


s: RIBERA (looks at her in silence, then pushing her from him laughs


s: I would not do thee that much grace to ease thee


s: Of the gross burden of the flesh.  Behold,


s: Thou shalt be cursed with weary length of days;


s: And when thou seek'st to purge thy guilty heart,


s: Thou shalt find there a sin no prayer may shrive--


s: The murder of thy father.  To all dreams


s: That haunt thee of past anguish, shall be added


s: "Ready I ride to the Chief for the sign,"


s: "Though never I come from the picket's line,


s: Yet over my death will the road be safe,


s: "In a mother's name, I bless thee, lad,"


s: "But first in the name of God," said Dan,


s: Till the pickets arise by wall and mound,


s: "Halt!" they cried, "count three to death,


s: He made the Sign of the Cross and stood,


s: And the word came quick to Colonel Smith


s: Turn from Kerry crossroads and leave the wooded dells,


s: Take the mountain path and find where Tip O'Leary dwells;


s: Tip O'Leary is the name, I sing it all day long,


s: And every bird whose heart is wise will have it for a song.


s: Tip O'Leary keeps the lights of many lamps aglow,


s: Little matters it to him the seasons come or go,


s: Sure if spring is in the air his hedges are abloom,


s: And fairy buds like candles shine across his garden room.


s: Roses in the June days are light the miles around,


s: Tapers of the fuchsias move along the August ground,


s: Sumachs light the flaming torches by October's grave


s: And like the campfires on the hills the oaks and maples wave.


s: All the lights but only one die out when summer goes,


s: One that Tip O'Leary keeps is brighter than the rose,


s: Through the window comes the bloom on any winter night,


s: And every sense goes wild to it, soft and sweet and bright.


s: Lamps are fair that have the light from flowers all day long,


s: When the birds are here and sing the Tip O'Leary song,


s: But a winter window is the fairest rose of all,


s: When Tip O'Leary's hearth is lit and lamps upon the wall.


s: With arms of faith and hope well-wrought


s: And the voice of Christ fills all his thought,


s: With His heart of love and His love-lit eyes


s: The Cross of Christ shall keep him well,


s: My father had the gay good tunes, the like you'd seldom hear,


s: A whole day could he whistle them, an' thin he'd up an' sing,


s: The merry tunes an' twists o'them that suited all the year,


s: An' you wouldn't ask but listen if yourself stood there a king.


s: Early of a mornin' would he give "The Barefoot Boy" to us,


s: An' later on "The Rocky Road" or maybe "Mountain Lark,"


s: "Trottin' to the Fair" was a liltin' heart of joy to us,


s: An' whin we heard "The Coulin" sure the night was never dark.


s: An' what's the good o' foolish tunes, the moilin' folks 'ud say,


s: It's better teach the children work an' get the crock o' gold;


s: Thin sorra take their wisdom whin it makes them sad an' gray,--


s: A man is fitter have a song that never lets him old.


s: A stave of "Gillan's Apples" or a snatch of "Come Along With Me"


s: It's sense to do your turn o' work, it's healthy to be wise,


s: An' have the little crock o' gold agin the day o' rain;


s: But whin the ground is heaviest, your heart will feel the skies,


s: If you know a little Irish song to lift the road o' pain.


s: In the east of France by the roads of war,


s: (God save us evermore from Mars and Thor!)


s: Up and down the fair land iron armies came,


s: (Pity, Jesu, all who fell, calling Thy name).


s: Pleasant all the fields were round every town,


s: Garden airs went sweetly up, heaven smiled down;


s: Till under leaden hail with flaming breath,


s: Graves and ashen harvest were the keep of death.


s: Chapel and hostel gates, farms and windmill,


s: Chapel and countryside met the gunner's path,


s: Till no blade of kindly grass hid from his wrath.


s: Lo! When the terrain cleared out of murky air,


s: When mid the ruins stalked death and despair,


s: One figure stood erect, bright with day,--


s: Christ the Crucified, though His Cross was shot away.


s: Flame and shot tore away all the tender wood,


s: Yet with arms uplifted Christ His Figure stood;


s: Out reached the blessing hands, meek bowed the head,


s: Christ! The saving solace o'er the waste of dead.


s: France tells the story, make our hearts know well,


s: Christ His Figure stands against the gates of hell:


s: Flame and shot may rive the fortress walls apart,


s: Christ the Crucified will heal the breaking heart.


s: Wear Him day and night, wherever be the war,


s: (God save us evermore from Mars and Thor!)


s: Flag and heart that keep Him fear not shot and flame,


s: (Strengthen, Jesu, all who stand, calling Thy name).


s: Still goes the strife; the anguish does not die.


s: Stronger the flesh is grown from earthy years,


s: In siege about my soul that upward peers


s: To see and hold its Good.  The spirit's eye


s: Approves the better things; but senses spy


s: The passing sweets, spurning the present fears,


s: And take their moment's prize.  Ah, then hot tears


s: Deluge my soul, and contrite moans my cry!


s: Courage, my heart: bright patience to the end!


s: Few years remain; then goes the warring wall


s: Of sensely flesh, that men will throw to earth.


s: So be it; so the contrite soul shall wend


s: And the long, long day, a mother's love.


s: Let me go back again.  There is the road,


s: The start of faith and hope by that abode;


s: Amend with morning freshness all the code


s: Of youth's desire; remap my chart's demesne


s: With tuneful joy, and plan a far campaign


s: Ah, no, my heart! More certain now the skies


s: For joy abide: the cage of tree and sod,


s: Horizons firm that faith and hope attain,


s: Far realms of innocence in children's eyes,


s: And hearts harmonious with the will of God:--


s: These might I miss if I were back again.


s: Then, ahoy!  I ride the leagues of land,


s: Then fast is the hatch and dark the screen,


s: And friends whose hearts ring like a chime


s: To Vernon's shades, our Chieftain's hallowed mound;


s: Or who at distant shrines high paeans sound


s: In Alfred's cult, old England's morning pride;


s: Or seek Versailles, conceited as a bride,


s: With garish memories of kins strewn round;


s: Or lay your spirit's cheek on Forum ground,


s: For here a mighty Caesar lived and died:


s: To these and other stones, O ye who speed,


s: Since there, forsooth, a prince was passing great,


s: More zealous let your heart's adoring heed


s: The Child most Royal in a crib's estate.


s: No poor so poor, no king more king than He:


s: And the cinder pathways, lined with shard,


s: The years have thickened the darkened air,


s: When the dreamy night is on, up the Hudson river,


s: And the sheen of modern taste is dim and far away,


s: Ghostly men on phantom rafts make the waters shiver,


s: Laughing in the sibilance of the silver spray.


s: Yea, and up the woodlands, staunch in moonlit weather,


s: Go the ghostly horsemen, adventuresome to ride,


s: White as mist the doublet-braize, bandolier and feather,


s: Fleet as gallant Robin Hood in an eventide.


s: Times are gone that knew the craft in the role of rovers,


s: Fellows of the open, care could never load:


s: Unalarmed for bed or board, they were leisure's lovers,


s: Summer bloomed in story on the Hyde Park Road.


s: Summer was a blossom, but the fruit was autumn,


s: Fragrant haylofts for a bed, cider-cakes in store,


s: Warmer was a cup they know, when the north wind caught 'em


s: Down at Benny Havens' by the West Point shore.


s: Idlers now-and loafers pass, joy is out of fashion,


s: Honest fun that fooled a dog or knew a friendly gate,


s: Now the craft are vagabonds, sick with modern passion,


s: Riding up and down the shore, on an aching freight;


s: Sullen are the battered looks, cheerless talk or tipsy,


s: Sickly in the smoky air, starving in the day,


s: Pining for a city's noise at Kingston or Po'keepsie,


s: Eager more for Gotham and a great White Way.


s: Rich is all the countryside, but glory has departed,


s: What if yachts and mansions be, by the river's marge!


s: Dim though was a hillside, lamps were happy-hearted,


s: Near the cove of Rondout in a hut or barge.


s: Silken styles are tyrants, fashion kills the playtime,


s: Robs the heart of largess that is kindly to the poor,


s: Richer were the freemen, welcome as the Maytime,


s: Glad was boy or maiden, seeing Brennan of the moor.


s: Send us back the olden knights, tell no law to track 'em,


s: Give to boy and maid the storytellers as of yore,


s: Millionaires in legend-wealth, though no bank would back 'em,


s: Off with lazy vagabonds, social ghosts that shiver,


s: Give to worthy road-men the great green way,


s: And we'll hear a song again up the Hudson river,


s: Ringing from a drifting raft, set in silver spray.


s: Long was the winter, the storms how long!


s: No bloom shall last under heels of wrong,


s: If the heart-blood be not deathless strong,


s: Grew by the Rhine and the towns of Spain


s: Leagues in the sunlight never shall fail


s: We will go adventuring, will you come adventuring,


s: Hail, to all who sail with us the seven pleasant seas:


s: All the shores with lily bells, all the flutes of woodland dells


s: Are calling like a legend upon a fragrant breeze.


s: Throw away the haughty cares, children here are millionaires,


s: Laughter take for baggage and give your laugh a song;


s: We must sail the seas of grass, round the isles of clover pass,


s: And delve in leagues of shadowland, when clouds come along.


s: Caves are walled with treasure trove, rich as any south-sea cove,


s: Round the reefs of mignonette, up the waves of violet,


s: Fragrant go our sails and spars with attar of the rose.


s: On, gay adventurers, bravely ride the billowy furze,


s: Golden foil and dewy pearls are swaying to a tune:


s: Quaff the brew of red raspberry through the vine veils gossamery.


s: Yea, with laughter in our sails and our hearts a book of tales,


s: Down the silver roadways, a homeward hymn we say:--


s: Praise the Lord ye great and small, flower and weed majestical,


s: For pleasant seas that God gave adventurers today.


s: Our young hearts pass the graveyard tree


s: The little green soldiers are here at last,


s: And across the hills they are marching fast


s: For he gives them rest where the twigs are red


s: And afoot are they soon to a birdlike tune


s: For he tells me the way to his tented glen,


s: And he sets in my hair a blossom to wear,


s: And sing willaloo! With the birds, willaloo!


s: Oases are charming 'mid the Afric sands,


s: But the sweetest blossoms may be eyes and hands,


s: Aileen and her brother, home from holiday,


s: Innocence like music followed all the way,


s: She that was their escort read a magazine:


s: They were young, and trains are dull at night;


s: All the passing signals, red and blue and green,


s: I was there behind them, earnest in a book:


s: When, like magic mirrors, dusty windows took


s: That is how it happened on a creeping train,


s: Aileen and her brother, strangers were to me;


s: They were friendly for the cloth I wore;


s: And through leagues of window, youthful play could see


s: So we passed the hamlets, passed the miles of night


s: Till the travel ended in the Worcester light,--


s: But   a fortnight later, by an autumn tree,


s: And another, glad to tell the names of them and me,


s: Passing lights the years have, like a train;


s: Three good friends will travel up to heaven's door,


s: 'Tis the queerest trade we have, the two of us that go about,


s: I that do the talkin', and the little lad that sings,


s: We to tell the story of a Land you ought to know about,--


s: The wonder land of Erin and the memories it brings.


s: Sure it is a wonder land, richer than the books it is,


s: Full of magic stories and a hopeful heart of song;


s: Far and broad our journeyin', up and down the land we go,


s: Today among the mountains and tomorrow by the sea;


s: Pleasant are the roads with us, and to a welcome grand we go,


s: Erin wins the heart of you, whoever you may be.


s: Erin's heart will capture you, if you will but listen now,


s: Great she was afore the Danes and all her Saxon foes,


s: After that the sorrows came, sure your eyes will glisten now,


s: Up, my lad, and sing for them "The Dark Little Rose."


s: Rest awhile and I will tell the fame of Tara's Hall to them,


s: All the deeds of valor and a thousand scenes of joy,


s: Wicklow hills and Derry fields where Killarney calls to them.


s: Come, my lad, it's Ninety-Eight and sing "The Croppy Boy."


s: Long ago the stranger came and learned to love the ways of her,


s: Irish more than Irish the Norman foe became;


s: Not for gold or little fame the two of us to go about,


s: I that do the talkin', and the little lad that sings,


s: We to win your love for her, the Land you're glad to know about,


s: The wonder land of Erin and the memories it brings.


s: And night in the bivouac hours will sing


s: And into your pockets good gold will bring,


s: With arms up-stacked, your hearts will yield


s: The pennants and plumes will then be sere,


s: But tents of plenty will bless the year,


s: Here beauty passes with her gorgeous train,


s: And from the starry chancels of the night


s: And lips proclaim, with adoration blessed,


s: Unknown, though faithful to her high degree,--


s: O, then her praise  'twere easy to forget.


s: Yea, constant through the changeful year,


s: This queenly Height commands our praise.


s: Resolved in open days of clearer sight--


s: Then come not only when the springtime blows


s: The old familiar strangeness of its breath


s: And men find welcome at the Easter tomb,


s: With humble offerings of sound and sight,


s: _Reprinted April_ 1892, _and the publication_


s: _transferred to Longmans_, _Green and Co_.


s: Gunnar's Howe above the House at Lithend


s: _So many times over comes summer again_,


s: _What healing in summer if winter be vain_?


s: With painted shield and gold-wrought spear.


s: And his girths were wet with Whitewater.


s: "Hail, Master Odd, live blithe and long!


s: How fare the folk by the Brothers'-Tongue?"


s: "Meat have we there, and drink and fire,


s: If too many words be said for her sake."


s: "What saith thine heart to a word of mine,


s: And I fain would have her home with me."


s: "Full many a word that at noon goes forth


s: So here till the spring shalt thou abide.


s: When the red rain drives through the iron wood."


s: While still 'twixt wall and dais she stept.


s: But Snaebiorn laughed and Snaebiorn sang,


s: _So many times over comes summer again_.


s: That blossoming fair our house may stand?"


s: Low sang Snaebiorn's brand in its sheath,


s: If your song must be silent from now henceforth."


s: And a song of worth at the wedding he sang.


s: "Sharp sword," he sang, "and death is sure."


s: _So many times over comes summer again_,


s: _What healing in summer if winter be vain_?


s: Dark are the days, and the nights are long,


s: And sweet and fair was Snaebiorn's song.


s: Till they deemed the summer-tide was there.


s: While the north wind swept the hillside there


s: While nights at Deildar-Tongue were long,


s: But whatso falleth 'twixt Hell and Home,


s: Quoth Odd, "Well fare thou winter-guest,


s: For the lambs are bleating in the south,


s: And the salmon swims towards Olfus mouth.