The Vigil of Venus and Other Poems - novelonlinefull.com
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_Fulvia (fiercely)._ As why should I?
I'll question not, nor answer. 'Neath your brow My sentence hunches, crawls, like cat to spring.
Pah! there's no prude will match your virtuous wife You'd banish me?
_Regent._ I do. Cesario, See to it the City gate shuts not to-night.
And she this side.
_Fulvia (laughs recklessly)._ To-night? To-night's your own.
Most modest woman! d.u.c.h.ess, there's a well By the road, some seven miles beyond the town.
There, 'neath the stars, I'll dip a hand and drink To the good Duke's disport. But have a care!
That cup's not yet to lip.
_Regent. _ Captain, remove her.
Lucio, remain.
_[Exeunt the Countess Fulvia, Cesario following]_
_Lucio._ I'll not remain--When ice Sits judge of fire, what justice shall be done?
Sister, there be your books--peruse them. There The sea-line--bide you so with back to it.
While the cold inward heat of cruelty Warms what was once your heart, now crusted o'er With duty and slimed with poisonous drip of tongues.
G.o.d help the Duke, if what he left he'd find!
_[Exit Lucio]_
_Regent._ Is't so, I wonder? Go, Lucetta, fetch My gla.s.s, if haply I may tell.
_[Exit Lucetta.]_
Is't so?
And have these years enforced, encrusted me To something monstrous, neither woman nor man?
My lord, my lord! too heavy was the load You laid! Yet I'll not blame you: for myself Ruled the straight path the long account correct As in these books, my ledgers....
[_While she turns the pages, Gamba the Fool creeps in and hoists himself on the bal.u.s.trade. He tries his viol, and sings_.
SONG: _Gamba_.
Bird of the South, my Rondinello--
_Regent_. Hey? That Song!
_Gamba_. Hie to me, fly to me, steel-blue mate!
Under my breast-knot flutters thy fellow; Here can I rest not, and thou so late.
Home, to me, home!
'Love, love, I come!'
--Dear one, I wait!
_Quanno nacesti tu, nacqui pur io: La lundananza tua, 'l desiderio mio_!
You know the song, madonna?
_Regent_. Ay, fool. Sit Here at my feet, sing on.
_Gamba (sings)._
Bird of the South, my Rondinello Under thy wing my heart hath lain Till the rain falling on last leaves yellow Drumm'd to thee, calling southward again.
Home, to me, home!
'Love, love, I come!'
Ah, love, the pain!
_Addio, addio! ed un' altra volt' addio!
La lundananza tua, 'l desiderio mio!
(Pause)._ A foolish rustic thing the shepherd wives In our Abruzzi croon by winter fires, Of their husbands in the plains.
_Regent_. Gamba!
_Gamba_. Madonna?
_Regent_. I'd make thee my confessor. Mindest thou, By Villalago, where from Sanno's lake The stream, our Ta.s.so, hurls it down the glen?
One noon, with Lucio--ever in those days With Lucio--on a rock within the spray, I wove a ferny garland, while the boy Roamed, but returned in triumph, having trapped A bee in a bell-flower--held it to my ear, Laughing, dissembling that he feared to loose The hairy thief. So laughed we--and were still, As deep in Vallescura wound a horn, And up the pathway 'neath the dappling bough Came riding--flecked with sunshine, man and horse,-- My lord, my lover; and that song, that song Upon his lips....
_Voice of Watchman_. Sail ho! a sail! a sail!
_[Murmur of populace below. It grows and swells to a roar as enter hurriedly courtiers, guards, and others: Cesario; Lucetta with mirror._]
_Lucetta_. My lady! O my lady!--
_Cesario_. See, they near!
Galley on galley--look, there, by the point!
_Regent_. O, could my heart keep tally with the surge That here comes crowding!
_Lucetta_. Joy, my lady! Joy!
_All_. Joy! Joy, my lady!
_[They press flowers on her. A pause, while they watch. On the ca.n.a.l the galleys come into sight. They near: and as the oars rise and fall, the rowers' chorus is borne from the distance.
It is the Rondinello song_
_Chorus in Distance. La lundananza tua, 'l desiderio mio!_
_Regent_. Thanks, my good, good friends!
And deem it not discourteous if alone I'd tune my heart to bliss.
My gla.s.s, Lucetta!
_[Takes mirror.]_
Some thoughts there are--some thoughts----
_Courtiers_. G.o.d save you, madam!
_[They go out, leaving the Regent alone._]
_Regent (she loosens the clasp of her robe)._ Some thoughts --some thoughts-- Fall from me, envious robe!
