Becket And Other Plays Part 54

[_Exit_.

LADY GIOVANNA.

His falcon, and I come to ask for his falcon, The pleasure of his eyes--boast of his hand-- Pride of his heart--the solace of his hours-- His one companion here--nay, I have heard That, thro' his late magnificence of living And this last costly gift to mine own self, [_Shows diamond necklace_.

He hath become so beggar'd, that his falcon Ev'n wins his dinner for him in the field.

That must be talk, not truth, but truth or talk, How can I ask for his falcon?

[_Rises and moves as she speaks_.

O my sick boy!

My daily fading Florio, it is thou Hath set me this hard task, for when I say What can I do--what can I get for thee?

He answers, 'Get the Count to give me his falcon, And that will make me well.' Yet if I ask, He loves me, and he knows I know he loves me!

Will he not pray me to return his love-- To marry him?--(_pause_)--I can never marry him.

His grandsire struck my grandsire in a brawl At Florence, and my grandsire stabb'd him there.

The feud between our houses is the bar I cannot cross; I dare not brave my brother, Break with my kin. My brother hates him, scorns The n.o.blest-natured man alive, and I-- Who have that reverence for him that I scarce Dare beg him to receive his diamonds back-- How can I, dare I, ask him for his falcon?

[_Puts diamonds in her casket_.

_Re-enter_ COUNT _and_ FILIPPO. COUNT _turns to_ FILIPPO.

COUNT.

Do what I said; I cannot do it myself.

FILIPPO.

Why then, my lord, we are pauper'd out and out.

COUNT.

Do what I said! [_Advances and bows low_.

Welcome to this poor cottage, my dear lady.

LADY GIOVANNA.

And welcome turns a cottage to a palace.

COUNT.

'Tis long since we have met!

LADY GIOVANNA.

To make amends I come this day to break my fast with you.

COUNT.

I am much honour'd--yes-- [_Turns to_ FILIPPO.

Do what I told thee. Must I do it myself?

FlLIPPO.

I will, I will. (_Sighs_.) Poor fellow!

[_Exit_.

COUNT.

Lady, you bring your light into my cottage Who never deign'd to shine into my palace.

My palace wanting you was but a cottage; My cottage, while you grace it, is a palace.

LADY GIOVANNA.

In cottage or in palace, being still Beyond your fortunes, you are still the king Of courtesy and liberality.

COUNT.

I trust I still maintain my courtesy; My liberality perforce is dead Thro' lack of means of giving.

LADY GIOVANNA.

Yet I come To ask a gift. [_Moves toward him a little_.

COUNT.

It will be hard, I fear, To find one shock upon the field when all The harvest has been carried.

LADY GIOVANNA.

But my boy-- (_Aside_.) No, no! not yet--I cannot!

COUNT.

Ay, how is he, That bright inheritor of your eyes--your boy?

LADY GIOVANNA.

Alas, my Lord Federigo, he hath fallen Into a sickness, and it troubles me.

COUNT.

Sick! is it so? why, when he came last year To see me hawking, he was well enough: And then I taught him all our hawking-phrases.

LADY GIOVANNA.

Oh yes, and once you let him fly your falcon.

COUNT.

How charm'd he was! what wonder?--A gallant boy, A n.o.ble bird, each perfect of the breed.

LADY GIOVANNA (_sinks in chair_).

What do you rate her at?

COUNT.

My bird? a hundred Gold pieces once were offer'd by the Duke.

I had no heart to part with her for money.

LADY GIOVANNA.

No, not for money.

[COUNT _turns away and sighs_.

Wherefore do you sigh?

COUNT.

I have lost a friend of late.

LADY GIOVANNA.

I could sigh with you For fear of losing more than friend, a son; And if he leave me--all the rest of life-- That wither'd wreath were of more worth to me.

[_Looking at wreath on wall_.

COUNT.

That wither'd wreath is of more worth to me Than all the blossom, all the leaf of this New-wakening year. [_Goes and takes down wreath_.