The Poems of Emma Lazarus Volume I Part 39

MARIA.

For G.o.d's sake, father, what strange thoughts are these?

With none, with none! Beside the Prince, you say?

Why even him I saw not, as you know.

I hastened with veiled eyes cast on the ground, Swathed in my mantle still, I told my beads, And in like manner hasted home to you.

RIBERA.

Well, it may pa.s.s; but henceforth say thy matins In thine own room. I know what vague cloud Obscures my sight and weighs upon my brain.

I am very weary. Luca, follow me.

[Exeunt RIBERA and LUCA.]

MARIA.

Poor father! Dimly he perceives some trouble Within the threatening air. Thank heaven, I calmed him, Yet I spake truth. What could have roused so soon His quick suspicion? Did Fiametta see The wary page slip in my hand the missive, As we came forth again? Nay, even so, My father hath not spoken with her since.

Sure he knows naught; 't is but my foolish fear Makes monsters out of shadows. I may read The priceless lines and grave them on my heart.

[She draws from her bosom a letter, reads it, and presses it to her lips.]

He loves me, yes, he loves me! Oh, my G.o.d, This awful joy in mine own breast is love!

To-night he will await me in our garden.

Oh, for a word, a pressure of the hand!

I fly, my prince, at thy most dear behest!

[Exit.]

SCENE II.

A room in DON TOMMASO'S HOUSE. DON TOMMASO and ANNICCA.

DON TOMMASO.

Truly, you wrong your sister; she is young, Heedless, and wilful, that is all; a touch Of the Ribera's spirit fired the la.s.s.

Don John was but her weapon of revenge Against the malice of our haughty matrons, Who hurled this icy shafts of scorn from heights Of dignity upon the artist's daughter.

ANNICCA.

I cannot think with you. In her demeanor, Her kindled cheek, her melting eye, was more Than sly revenge or cautious policy.

If that was art, it overreached itself.

Ere the night ended, I had blushed to see Slighting regards cast on my father's child, And hear her name and his tossed lightly round.

DON TOMMASO.

Could you not read in such disparagement The envy of small natures?

ANNICCA.

I had as lief Maria were to dance the tarantella Upon the quay at noonday, as to see her Gazed at again with such insulting homage.

DON TOMMASO.

You are too strict; your baseless apprehensions Wrong her far more than strangers' jests.

ANNICCA.

Not so; My timely fears prevent a greater ill And work no harm, since they shall be imparted Only to him who hath the power to quell them, Dissolving them to air--my father.

DON TOMMASO.

How!

You surely will not rouse his fatal wrath?

Annicca, listen: if your doubts were true, He whose fierce love guards her with sleepless eyes, More like the pa.s.sion of some wild, dumb creature, With prowling jealousy and deadly spring, Forth leaping at the first approach of ill, Than the calm tenderness of human fathers; He surely had been keen to scent the danger.

I saw him at the ball--as is his wont, He mingled not among the revellers, But like her shadow played the spy on her.

ANNICCA.

A word would stir less deeply than you dread.

DON TOMMASO.

Ah, there you err; he knows no middle term.

At once he would accept as fact the worst Of your imaginings; his rage would smite All near him, and rebound upon himself; For, as I learn, Don John brings royal orders For the Queen's gallery; he would dismiss The Prince as roughly as a begging artist.

Make no such breach just now betwixt the court And our own kindred.

ANNICCA.

Be it so, Tommaso.

I will do naught in haste.

DON TOMMASO.

Watch thou and wait.

A slight reproof might now suffice the child, Tame as a bird unto a gentle voice.

ANNICCA.

My mind misgives me; yet will I find patience.

SCENE III.

Night in RIBERA'S Garden. DON JOHN alone.

DON JOHN.

In any less than she, so swift a pa.s.sion, So unreserved, so reckless, had repelled.

In her 't is G.o.dlike. Our mutual love Was born full-grown, as we gazed each on each.

Nay, 't was not born, but like a thing eternal, It WAS ere we had consciousness thereof; No growth of slow development, but perfect From the beginning, neither doomed to end.