The Wonder-Working Magician Part 19

LYSANDER. Saw a man here? That is hard, When the place was locked and barred.

LIVIA [aside]. Moscon sure she must have seen, Whom I have contrived to screen In my changer.

LYSANDER. I regard What you saw but as the play Of your fancy and your fear.

Melancholy surely may Have, the man that you saw here, Formed from atoms of the day.

LIVIA. Yes, I think my master's right.

JUSTINA. No, 'twas no defect of sight, No illusion: since my heart,-- Ah! too well I feel the smart-- Has been broken by the fright.

Some strange witchery of my will Must have been effected here.

And with such consummate skill, That if G.o.d had not been near I might have pursued my ill.

He who at such timely hour Helped me to resist the power Of this fearful violence, Will my humble innocence Guard, whatever dangers lower.-- Livia, my cloak: whene'er [Exit LIVIA.

Overwhelming griefs oppress, I to holy church repair, Where we secretly confess The true faith.

[LIVIA returns with the cloak, which she places on JUSTINA.

LIVIA. 'Tis this you wear.

JUSTINA. There perchance I may appease This strange fire that burns me so.

LYSANDER. I desire with thee to go.

LIVIA [aside]. I will breathe much more at ease When they're out of the house, I know.

JUSTINA. Since I wholly trust to thee Heaven, thy hold to me afford.

Save me....

LYSANDER. Come: so it may be.

JUSTINA. Since the cause is thine, O Lord!

Oh, defend Thyself and me!

[Exeunt JUSTINA and LYSANDER.

SCENE IX.

MOSCON and LIVIA.

MOSCON. Have they gone?

LIVIA. They're gone: all right.

MOSCON. Why, I'm almost dead with fright.

LIVIA. Were you of your sense bereft When but now my room you left And appeared before her sight?

MOSCON. Left your room? Be seen by her?

Why, I swear it, Livia dear, Not one moment did I stir.

LIVIA. Who then was it she saw here?

MOSCON. Well, the devil, as I infer.

How know I? But then do not Take it so to heart, my soul.

LIVIA. Oh! that's not the cause.

[She weeps.

MOSCON. Then what?

LIVIA. Such a question, when the whole Of a day it was his lot With me here locked up to stay?

For his comrade far away Must I not a tear then shed, Though I take this day instead, Having wept not yesterday?

Would I have him think of me As a woman who could be So forgetful and so frail, As for half a year to fail In what we did both agree?

MOSCON. Half a year? It is above One whole year since he went away.

LIVIA. Quite an error, as I'll prove.

Mind, I cannot count a day When I Clarin could not love.

This being so, if I to thee Gave up half the year (ah me!), I would give a false amount To place all to his account.

MOSCON. Ah, ungrateful! can it be When my heart on thee depends For its peace, that thine attends To such trifles?

LIVIA. Moscon, yes, For I find, I must confess, Short accounts make longest friends.

MOSCON. Such being then thy constancy, Livia, I must say good-bye, Till to-morrow. Ah! if he Is thy two-day fever, I Hope he's not thy syncope.

LIVIA. Well, my friend, from this you know I no malice bear.

MOSCON. Just so.

LIVIA. See me then no more to-day, But to-morrow, sir, you may: I'll not need to send. Heigho!

[Exeunt.

SCENE X.

A WOOD.

CYPRIAN, as frightened; CLARIN, stealthily after him.

CYPRIAN. Doubtless something must have happened 'Mong the stars; imperial cl.u.s.ters,*

Since I find their influences To my wishes so repugnant.

Up from the profound abysses Some dark caveat must be uttered, Which prohibits the obedience Which they owe me as my subjects.

I, a thousand times, with spell-words Made the winds of heaven to shudder, I, a thousand times, the bosom Of the earth with symbols furrowed, Yet mine eyes have not been gladdened By the human sun refulgent That I seek, nor in mine arms Hold that human heaven.