Tales of the Wonder Club Volume III Part 18

D. PAS. Ay. The mountaineer's chant. The game's begun.

GIP. Q. List patiently, and we shall hear anon Don Miguel's whistle. Silence, all of ye.

[_A long pause. All place themselves in listening att.i.tude.

Gipsy Queen advances slowly. Pascual in the background, still listening._

GIP. Q. The hour fast draws near when my intent, That purpose that the heav'ns have writ in blood, Must be accomplished. Be still, my heart.

Shade of my father Djabel, stand thou near; Nerve thou this arm so that it shall not fail, For work is to be done, and that right soon.

That man is doomed, and by this hand he dies; Heav'n hear my oath! Respond, ye elements.

[_Sky grows dark. Thunder and lightning. Owls and bats flit about. Commotion in the camp._

The oath is writ in Heav'n. Recording sprites Have taken down the gipsy's oath of blood; And now shall all men see, all nations tell, How, from the ashes of this trampled heart Did all triumphant rise the gipsy queen.

[_A distant whistle heard._

D. PAS. The signal, mother! Didst hear the signal?

GIP. Q. Ay, son. Onward, then; I'll lead the way myself. Be firm and true.

[_The ascent begins, led by the Gipsy Queen, and the scene closes._

SCENE V.--_A hall in Don Diego's castle communicating with the chapel.

The chapel is in the centre of the background. Through curtains is disclosed the altar lighted up, and a priest ready to officiate. In the hall, which is illuminated, a long table is spread with fruit and other delicacies. Music. Enter guests, discoursing animatedly and laughing._

FIRST GUEST. (_To his Partner._) Have you yet seen the bride? They say she's fair.

PARTNER. They say so, but I have not seen her yet.

Howbeit, a friend of mine who knew her well When at the Convent of Saint Ursula, Says she is over young. Just turned sixteen; And how a man of Lord Don Diego's years Could fall in love with such a chit, beats me.

[_They pa.s.s on. Two other guests advance._

LADY OF SECOND GUEST. (_To her Partner._) Ay, true, I think it would more seemly be Were he to marry one of years more ripe.

SECOND GUEST. (_To his Lady._) The older that men grow the more they're pleased With youth. I'm sure I should be so myself.

[_They pa.s.s on. Third couple advance._

THIRD GUEST. (_To his Lady._) Nay, who'd have thought that poor Don Silvio Could thus so easily pay off his debts?

He's in luck's way. As for the blushing bride, Not every day doth heaven rain such fortune.

LADY. (_To Third Guest._) Yet they say that she is most unwilling.

THIRD GUEST. Then, she's a fool.

[_They pa.s.s on. Fourth couple advance._

LADY. (_To Fourth Guest._) Nay; I have heard it said She weeps and frets, and hath so desp'rate grown, That nought save violence could aught avail To lead her to the altar.

FOURTH GUEST. What a girl!

To throw away so glorious a chance!

[_They pa.s.s on. Two gentlemen meeting._

FIRST GENT. What, comrade, you invited! Ha, ha, ha!

The old boy's got some life in him as yet.

SECOND GENT. And good taste, too. I just now caught a glimpse Of the fair bride; and, zounds! I do begrudge Her to the veteran. I myself would choose Just such an one, and were it not her face Were marred by excess of weeping.

FIRST GENT. Indeed!

Ha! ha! I never could make out why girls Cry at their wedding. Just the very thing They've looked for, prayed for, schemed for all their lives; Yet, when it comes to don the bridal veil And figure at the altar, then comes straight A bucketful of tears. Hypocrisy!

_Enter_ DON DIEGO, _followed by_ DON SILVIO _pleading_.

SECOND GENT. Here comes the bridegroom; and, as it would seem, Not in the best of humours. Let's withdraw. [_They pa.s.s on._

D. DIE. (_To Don Silvio._) Silvio, no more! I'll not be flouted thus Before my guests, in mine own castle, too.

I've said that it shall be, and it _shall_ be.

I ne'er take back my word. So bid her haste, And put a better face upon the matter.

The time is up, and all my guests attend.

Go, bring her, then. (_To Guests._) Friends! welcome to this hall.

GUESTS ALL. Long live Lord Don Diego, with much happiness!

D. DIE. Thank ye, my friends. I do regret to say, 'Fore this august and gracious company, That we are likely to experience, This night, some difficulty on the part Of our fair bride. Some singular caprice; Transient, no doubt, but not the less unfit For gay festivity. The fact is that My youthful bride is of a temperament Too highly wrought and o'er hysterical.

She only late hath left her convent cell; Her education, therefore, until now Hath rendered her unfit to face the world.

Impressionable natures, as we know, Recoil before aught that can cause a strong And powerful emotion. 'Tis the shock They dread. 'Tis nothing. Nay, I do condole With her; ay, from the bottom of my heart.

But yet I think it not well to indulge Young folk in such caprice. Therefore, should I, My honoured guests, be forced to a.s.sume An air of stern severity unmeet This gay a.s.sembly, deem it but as naught; 'Tis firmness that is needed in this case.

We men must not be conquered by caprice.

As for the girl herself, she loves me well; Nay, pa.s.sionately.

INEZ. (_Within, distractedly._) No! 'tis false, 'tis false.

[_t.i.tter and commotion among the guests._

D. DIE. (_To Don Silvio._) Silvio! Why stand you there, with folded hands?

Did I not tell you to lead forth the bride?

D. SIL. She says she _will_ not come.

D. DIE. _Will_ not? Ha! ha!

This to my face! _Will_ not, indeed. We'll see.

My worthy guests, bear with me if I lose My wonted patience, and in haste let slip Some casual word that may seem unfit The presence of guests so ill.u.s.trious.

My temper's somewhat choleric, and if My will is thwarted I may lose restraint.

Silvio, bring forth the maiden straight, I say, Or I will have her dragged to me by force.

INEZ. (_Within._) Oh, mercy! Mercy! Heaven hear my prayer.

A GENTLEMAN. Poor little jade! How I do pity her.

A LADY. And so do I. It makes my heart quite bleed.

D. DIE. A truce to this. Ho! pages, drag her forth.