The Mortal Gods and Other Plays Part 9

[_Enter, lower right, Senora Ziralay and Guildamour_]

_Her._ Senora!

We spoke of you.

_Sen._ And with such gloom?

_Meg._ No, no!

_Sen._ It lingers yet, my lord. Do I in absence cast Such knitted shadows?

_Meg._ Safely asked of us, Who know your bright philosophy. How fares That magic broom with which you'd sweep the earth Of every ill? Is 't still invincible?

_Sen._ Much worn of late, my lord, as you should know, Who give it work.

_Meg._ You'd leave us not one grief To keep us praying and rebuilding Heaven?

Abolish Death perhaps?

_Sen._ True mock! I would Except the death that's like a waiting bed When not another turn may mend the day; When sleep is sweeter than the thumbed book, And hearth-near voices drowse like waves that lap Sh.o.r.es unconcerned. Now we are murdered, all.

_Meg._ No, no. Senora!

_Gui._ Ay! Do we not vaunt, And set it rarely down, a thing to note, If age unmoor the life-disused raft, For th' chartless cruise?

_Sen._ Now we go hurried out, With half our dreams unpacked, and earth made poor With a few grains of dust where should have risen Our wisest years in flower.

_Meg._ Fate, fate, Senora!

_Sen._ What's fate but ignorance? And not always that Comes hobbling with excuse. Sometimes a man, Whose eyes fling lances at the foes of Life, Is knouted from the world----

_Meg._ No more, I pray!

This is a festal night. Reserve your sermon For our next fast.

[_A musical group plays softly under trees left. Enter lower right, Hudibrand, Cordiaz, Rubirez, Vardas, Ziralay and others_]

_Hud._ Here, daughter? You've been sought.

_Cor._ The search was mine, your highness. I would beg A grace of you.

_Her._ You grant one as you beg, Your majesty. I'll not do less than give Your own again. But pray you name it, sir.

_Cor._ This garden where our amity has borne Its fairest blossom shall be called henceforth The Grove of Peace, and we would beg your highness To queen our christening.

_Her._ A queenly part, And royally I thank you, but I'll play it With humblest prayer that Heaven may keep unbroken These new-sworn bonds between my land and yours.

_Cor._ So pray we all.

_Her._ Is this our scene?

_Cor._ Not here.

Come you this way, my friends. We'll cast the wine To yon cascade, and let the waters bear it Down to my capital.

[_All go off upper right, except two officers, who remain centre, and a guard who walks to and fro by wall rear, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden by the wood and rocks_]

_First Off._ This peace will prove As stout as any spider's thread that swings In a blowing rain. Fah!

_Second Off._ Climb what hill you please, You see the rebels' smoke.

_First Off._ But where in name Of magic does Bolderez get his gold?

The rebels we pick up have lost no meals.

_Second Off._ Enough he gets it. Goldusan sleeps well.

Bolderez is so near that if his men Were eagles they could pick out Cordiaz' eyes And he'd not wake to miss 'em.

_First Off._ Cordiaz Is not asleep, but so bedimmed and fooled By a thievish Cabinet that what he sees Takes any name they give it.

_Second Off._ He is old.

_First Off._ Ah, there you hit it. Warriors should die young.

When age unsoldiers them their field-worn hearts Have no defence against a crafty peace, And falling power will seize on any prop Be 't foul or fair, to keep on legs.

_Second Off._ My faith!

His crutches are so villanous, a fall Were better than his gait.

[_Enter Ziralay, lower right_]

_First Off._ Well, Ziralay, What news?

_Zir._ Where's Cordiaz?

_Second Off._ He comes.

[_Re-enter group from the cascade_]

_Zir._ [_To Cordiaz_] My lord, The a.s.sarian prince is captured, and is held Within the town.

_Cor._ What? Chartrien?

_Zir._ Yes, my lord.

_Cor._ Fit period to this dedicated day!

Our gentle bonds are now forged whole. The man Who was Bolderez' hope, most luminous Of all who drew rebellion to him, now Is darkly fallen.

_Rub._ This golden aid cut off, Bolderez stands so bare his nakedness Will sprint to nearest cover.

_Cor._ I'll see his face.

Bring here the prisoner.

_Off._ I'll speed the order, Your majesty. [_Exit_]