The Mortal Gods and Other Plays Part 27

_Her._ 'Twas I who failed----

_Cha._ Not you!

That midnight moment held the dawn of this, All this that now you are, and love had seen The folded glory of yourself had love Been there to see. But I cast dust upon Your sleeping wings, and did not know your heart Till wounds had laid it bare.

_Her._ How could you know More than its native bosom where it dwelt Strange and unguessed?

_Cha._ If I had loved, Such soul of fragrance had not hid from me This unbound blossoming.

_Her._ We must forget Love's morning miracles forever missed.

His fair, warm day is left us,--sunset's gold, And evening with the stars. That is enough For me and you----

_Cha._ My pledge! I'm here to meet Famette!

_Her._ Famette! I know her.

_Cha._ Know her! You?

_Her._ And know she loves. Then it is you she waits?

_Cha._ She saved my life. But that unvalued thing Is debt's mere rubble. 'Tis her love makes up The sum unpaid and out of reckoning.

And I--how can I tell you?

_Her._ If you loved, Look up. No shame can be where love has been.

_Cha._ I've no defence,--yet say that you were lost In midmost desert sands, and suddenly A flower at your feet breathed of the woods And darkling velvet shade where rest might be....

_Her._ But that's a miracle.

_Cha._ So was her love To me. Or say that flam and falsity Ensnarled your every way till no true thing Seemed left on earth, and then in lifted flash Truth's priestess eyes looked from a human face And you were loved,--what startled warmth would say Your heart yet lived? Would you keep back your life In barren hug? Deny its sunless gray To gentle eyes that asked but leave to lay Their radiance there?

_Her._ I understand. She gave, And I demanded. So the G.o.ds decree Her boughs shall bloom and mine go bare.

_Cha._ Oh, Heaven!

_Her._ You love her, Chartrien?

_Cha._ Silence be on that.

_Her._ I'll know it,--hear you say it. Is your heart Mine, or Famette's?

_Cha._ My life is hers.

_Her._ Your heart!

_Cha._ Is yours.

_Her._ Ah! Then--I give you to Famette.

[_He kneels to kiss her hand. Hudibrand appears in door of house, left. Smiles, and crosses to them_]

_Hud._ Up to her lip, you rogue! A humble suitor Gets humble favors.

_Cha._ [_Rising_] You, my lord?

_Hud._ Your hand, My boy.

_Cha._ It was my head you wanted, sir, When last we met.

_Hud._ Not so. I meant to save you, But Hernda spiked my train. To have you die Quite safely in a rumor was the sum Of my intent against you.

_Cha._ You're not well, My lord?

_Hud._ Most well!

_Her._ He's lost some sleep.

_Hud._ Tut, tut!

_Cha._ You stay full long in Goldusan. I thought You nearer home.

_Hud._ I'm cruising in the gulf, By th' morning papers,--the _reliable_ ones.

The gutter rags have guessed me,--but no matter.

I've seen the play through, and I go to-morrow.

Pouf! It has been a game!

_Cha._ You speak as 'twere At end.

_Hud._ It ends to-day. [_Looks at watch_]

'Tis just the hour.

Now Vardas is proclaimed the president Of a liberated people.

_Cha._ What of that?

_Hud._ He's bowing now. "I thank you, gracious friends, Most loyal citizens----"

_Cha._ What's that to do With freedom's war?

_Hud._ It merely ends it.

_Cha._ What?

You think we fought for that? A change of caps Upon two brigands' heads?

_Hud._ Tut, you've won more.

You with some justice warred on Cordiaz, But Vardas is of heart so liberal His people shall be rich in privileges As many and as fair as in a.s.saria.

Myself will vouch it.

_Cha._ I will vouch it too.

As many pits fed with the souls of men, As many images of G.o.d deformed In lawless fray to hold the peaks of greed And at the top sit on their goblin gold Content with b.e.s.t.i.a.l purr, who might have touched The heavens with song.