Semiramis and Other Plays Part 32

Car. Then we are playing with an enemy!

How do you know?... You traitor, too!... O Heaven!

'Tis time now to be up or treachery Will take us all asleep! (Goes from him)

Ig. (Following her) O madam! madam!

My heart is all your own!

Car. (Turning to him) Forgive me, friend, And I will wrong no more these honest eyes.

But there is danger here, and we must strike!

We hold a nation's future in our hands, And now defence is virtue, patience crime!

Ig. Your majesty--

Car. (Not heeding) Shall we stand here and smile Till rebel blows have shattered life and throne?

... Dupin shall drive these desperate people back-- This law be signed--

Ig. (With horror) Dear Christ!

Car. What do you mean?

Ig. Will Maximilian pa.s.s a law of death, Condemning patriots to a robber's grave?

O, Empress, sue upon your knees that he Do not this thing, for every act of his Not marked with justice to his enemies Will rob him of the pity they would show When victory is theirs! He writes his doom As certainly as he doth set his name To that black law, and gives Dupin his will Among our helpless people!

Princess Zichy. (From group about the gipsy, as all laugh) Your majesty, You heard?

Car. I heard. (To Ignacio, much disturbed) Go join them! Go! (Ignacio joins group) He's true!

My lord in danger!

Princess de Varela. Now mother, my hand next!

(Gipsy scans her hand)

Car. 'Rob him of pity!' 'When victory is theirs!'

I know the pity given to the fallen In this blood-drunken land! There's but one way...

We must not fall!... 'Tis war, then,--war! Not for An empire, no,--but Maximilian's life!

And we must use the weapons in our hands!

Gip. (Reading)

Days of brightness, days of smiles, Read I here or Fate beguiles!

Princess S.

O these fortunes are like lines from a fairy book!

Surely we are not all going to be happy!

Gip. I'll read for you, madam.

Princess S.

But let not your change of song begin with me, dark mother!

Gip. (Reading)

Days of darkness, days of moan!

A friend shall sigh, a friend shall fall, And wring thy bosom more than all The sorrow that thou yet hast known!

Princess S.

O think better of it, mother!

Gip. Your sweet eyes deserve a better portion than tears, and I read too,

But ere thy last hour be nigh Sorrow from thy breast shall fly!

Princess S.

A friend, you say? I thank you, 'twas not my husband!

Gip. And yet a husband he, And many tears thou'lt see!

Car. (Aside) A friend--a husband--and a fall!

Gip. Shall I read for her majesty?

Car. No! no!

Lopez. She has peeped into Fate's urn, madam, I a.s.sure you!

Car. Nay, I'm content. What I choose for myself I will abide, and what I choose not is the gift of G.o.d and I'll abide that too!

Prince Zichy.

I congratulate you! Majesty is not always able to show such n.o.ble indifference to the future, and lesser mortals--never!

Gip. Please the stars, may I read for you, sir?

Prince Zichy.

I give you a proxy,--Senor Ignacio. If the fortune be fair, I take it, if not, I leave it with him.

Ladies. O, hear Ignacio's fortune! (They crowd about him and the gypsy)

Car. (To Lopez) A favor, sir! Will you take a message to his majesty?

Lopez. I am twice blest--to bear your message--and bear it to the emperor. (They talk apart)

Gip. Here's a secret matter, sir. Shall I speak it out?

Ig. O spare me! Come aside!

Ladies. Nay, nay, Ignacio! You heard our fortunes!

Ig. But yours were fair and innocent, and mine is dark and guilty--maybe with crime!

Ladies. Oh! A crime!