The Two Lovers of Heaven: Chrysanthus and Daria Part 5

ESCARPIN.

My blessings on your choice and you!

That 's my opinion in the case, 'T is plain at least to my discerning That in a woman wit and learning Are nothing to a pretty face.

NISIDA.

Chloris, quick, take up the lyre, For a rustling noise I hear In this shady thicket near: Yes, I 'm right, I must retire.

Swift as feet can fly I 'll go.

For these men that here have strayed Must have heard me while I played. [Exeunt Nisida and Chloris.

CYNTHIA.

One of them I think I know.

Yes, 't is Claudius, as I thought, Now he has a chance: I 'll see If he cares to follow me, Guessing rightly what has brought Me to-day unto the grove:-- Ah! if love to grief is leading Of what use to me is reading In the Remedies of Love? [Exit.

DARIA (to herself).

In these bowers by trees o'ergrown, Here contented I remain, All companionship is vain, Save my own sweet thoughts alone:--

CLAUDIUS.

Dear Chrysanthus, your election Was to me both loss and gain, Gave me pleasure, gave me pain:-- It seemed plain to my affection (Being in love) your choice should fall On the maid of pensive look, Not on her who read the book: But your praise made up for all.

And since each has equal force, My complaint and gratulation, Whilst with trembling expectation I pursue my own love's course, Try your fortune too, till we Meet again. [Exit.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Confused I stay, Without power to go away, Spirit-bound, my feet not free.

From the instant that on me, As a sudden beam might dart, Flashed that form which Phidian art Could not reach, I 've known no rest.-- Babylon is in my breast-- Troy is burning in my heart.

ESCARPIN.

Strange that I should feel as you, That one thought should fire us two, I too, sir, have lost my senses Since I saw that lady.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Who, Madman! fool! do you speak of? you!

Dare to feel those griefs of mine!--

ESCARPIN.

No, sir, yours I quite resign, Would I could my own ones too!--

CHRYSANTHUS.

Leave me, or my wrath you 'll rue; Hence! buffoon: by heaven I swear it, I will kill you else.

ESCARPIN.

I go:-- For if you address her, oh!

Could my jealous bosom bear it? [aside [Exit.

CHRYSANTHUS (to Daria).

If my boldness so may dare it, I desire to ask, senora, If thou art this heaven's Aurora, If the G.o.ddess of this fountain, If the Juno of this mountain, If of these bright flowers the Flora, So that I may rightly know In what style should speak to thee My hushed voice . . . but pardon me Now I would not thou said'st so.

Looking at thee now, the glow Of thy beauty so excelleth, Every charm so plainly telleth Thou Diana's self must be; Yes, Diana's self is she, Who within her grove here dwelleth.

DARIA.

If, before you spoke to me, You desired my name to know, I in your case act not so, Since I speak, whoe'er you be, Forced, but most unwillingly (As to listening heaven is plain) To reply:--a bootless task Were it in me, indeed, to ask, Since, whoe'er you be, my strain Must be one of proud disdain.

So I pray you, cavalier, Leave me in this lonely wood, Leave me in the solitude I enjoyed ere you came here.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Sweetly, but with tone severe, Thus my error you reprove-- That of asking in this grove What your name is: you 're so fair, That, whatever name you bear, I must tell you of my love.

DARIA.

Love! a word to me unknown, Sounds so strangely in my ears, That my heart nor feels nor hears Aught of it when it has flown.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Then there is no rashness shown In repeating it once more, Since to hear or to ignore Suits alike your stoic coldness.

DARIA.

Yes, the speech, but not the boldness Of the speaker I pa.s.s o'er, For this word, whate'er it be, When it breaks upon my ear, Quick 't is gone, although I hear.

CHRYSANTHUS.

You forget it?

DARIA.

Instantly.

CHRYSANTHUS.

What! love's sweetest word! ah, me!

Canst forget the mightiest ray Death can dart, or heaven display?

DARIA.

Yes, for lightning, entering where Naught resists, is lost in air.

CHRYSANTHUS.

How? what way?

DARIA.

Well, in this way: If two doors in one straight line Open lie, and lightning falls, Then the bolt between the walls Pa.s.ses through, and leaves no sign.

So 't is with this word of thine; Though love be, which I do n't doubt, Like heaven's bolt that darts about, Still two opposite doors I 've here, And what enters by one ear By the other ear goes out.

CHRYSANTHUS.

If this lightning then darts through Where no door lies open wide To let it pa.s.s at the other side, Must not fire and flame ensue?

This being so, 't is also true That the fire of love that flies Into my heart, in flames must rise, Since without its feast of fire The fatal flash cannot retire, That has entered by the eyes.

DARIA.

If to what I said but now You had listened, I believe You would have preferred to leave Still unspoken love's vain vow.

This you would yourself allow.

CHRYSANTHUS.

What then was it?

DARIA.

I do n't know: Something 't was that typified My presumption and my pride.

CHRYSANTHUS.

Let me know it even so.

DARIA.

That in me no love could grow Save for one who first would die For my love.