xt7c862b8w99 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7c862b8w99/data/mets.xml Rice, Cale Young, 1872-1943. 1913  books b92-252-31802716 English Doubleday, Page, : Garden City, N.Y. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Porzia  / by Cale Young Rice. text Porzia  / by Cale Young Rice. 1913 2002 true xt7c862b8w99 section xt7c862b8w99 



PORZIA

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        PORZIA



                 BY

      CALE YOUNG RICE
              AUTHOR OF
A NIGHT IN AVIGNON,`  YOLANDA OF CYPRUS,   "CHARLES DI
  TOCCA," "DAVID," 'MANY GODS," 'NIRVANA DAYS,"
     FAR QUESTS,` THE IMMORTAL LURE," ETC.



GARDEN CITr



NEW YORK



DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY
          MCMXIII

 




















     Copyright, 1oI3, bv
     CALE YOUJNc Ric.:
.413 rights reserved, including that of
:rinslativn into Foreign Languages,
    izclading Aec Scandinevian.

 

















                      To
             GILBERT MURRAY
Poet, Dramatist, and Master-Inierpreter of a great
                   literature

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                PREFACE

  Some years ago while writing "A Night In
Avignon" the thought came to me of framing two
other plays that should deal respectively with the
Renaissance spirit at its height and decadence,
as that play had dealt with it at its beginning.
For the great human upheaval that came intoxi-
catingly to Italy during the fourteenth, fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries is so full of xsthetic con-
trast and glamor as to be peculiarly suitable for
the doubly exacting purposes of poetic drama.
  "Giorgione," the second of these plays to be
written, was published in i9ii with three other
plays in a volume entitled "The Immortal Lure,"
and like " A Night In Avignon " was received with
such kindness as to encourage me to write the
third, here presented under the name of " Porzia."
                     Vii

 



Viii               PREFACE

  This last play, whose period is that of "deca-
dent Humanism," or as Symonds prefers to call
it, of "The Catholic Reaction," is laid in Naples,
where the passions of men, more than freed from
the long domination of the Church and the Here-
after, seemed to reach in their grasp at this life
almost incredible heights and depths of excess.
And yet from amid this excess, as from a rank
and  unweeded   garden, were springing   into
flower many seeds of modern intellectual enfran-
chisement, as the achievements of Bruno and
his contemporaries witness.
  I need only add that I have sought to use
materials that would be true to the time of this
final portrayal, and that I therefore trust it may
be understood as an organic member of the group
to which it belongs.
                                   C. Y. R.
Louisville, Kentucky, June, I912.

 













ACT I

 













CHARACTERS



RIZZ1o DI Rossi


Oslo
PORZIA . .
ALOYSIUS
BIANCA


GIORDANO BRIUNO
MONSIGNOR QUERIO
TASSO
MARINA
MATTrEO



     A young Leader of the Literati at
         Naples, suspected of heresy
   .  His Brother
     His U ife
     Her Uncle, a Physician
H Her Cousin, a Florentine, once
         betrothed to Osio
     A young Dominican, also herctical
   . An Officer of the Inquisition
     A Poet
     A Sicilian serving Porzia
     Serving Rizzio, later Osio



Dancers from Capri, Musicians, Guards of the Inquisition, etc.

                  TIME-About I570

 









                   PORZIA

SCENE: A portion of the house, terrace and garden
    of Rizzio on his wedding day at Naples. It is
    so situated as to command a view of the city, the
    blue Bay xith Capri set like a topaz in it, the
    Vesuvian coast, and the M ountain itself - ris-
    ing like a calm though unappeasable monitor
    against the land's too sensual enchantment.
       The house, a white corner of which is visible
    along the right, has large doors toward the back
    giving upon the terrace. A vine-clad terrace
    wall, several feet above the level of the terrace,
    but much above that of the street without, runs
    across the rear to a cypress-set gate in the centre,
    and on into the lustrous Spring foliage of ilex,
    myrtle and orange.
      A pedestaled image of the Virgin against the
                        3

 





house, a statue of Pan before a bower opposite,
and several stone seats forward, are decked with
orange blossoms that glow in the light of late
afternoon.
  Music, reveling, and laughter are heard,
muffled, within. Then amid a louder burst of
them Osio strides angri'yforth. He is followed
in argumentative elation by Rizio -- clothed in
Greek raiment, a book in his hand - and by
Bruno.



  Osio (as they come down). Proof from       the
    teeth of aliens and fools
And infidels that follow their own reason
I want no proof! your books should burn in Hell!
  Rizzio (gaily). Because they glorify the stars
    in heaven
  Osio. I say they are heresy!
  Rizzio.                  And I say truth!
                                  [Uplifts volume.
That were your ears not stopped with sophistries



PORZIA



4

 





And Jesuitry you would adjudge divine!
                               [Tosses it down.
  Bruno. Ai, Signor Osio. there's no denying:
           [Porzia appears anxiously at the door.
We need but look,
To learn that stars are worlds
Swung out upon infinitudes of space.
And as for earth -
Tho Christ shed blood upon it-
'Tis but a pilgrim flame among them all.
                            [Porzia leaves door.
 Osio (turning upon him). And you, a monk,
    will say so to the Church
And to the Holy Office
  Bruno (in humorous alarn). God forbid!
  Osio. And you, Rizzio, who on )our wedding-
    day,
Mid rites of Venus
And revels to Apollo,
Wear pagan robes - and prink others in them -
  Rizzio. Ho, others! meaning Porzia



PORZTA



5

 





Osio.            I say -         [MVirth within.
  Rizzio (laughing at him). What, what, my merry
    raging brother, more
That Pan is not your god, whom I but now
Besought for inward beauty and truth of soul
No, no, he is not, by Vesuvius!
  Osio. I say -
  Rizzio. That Plato and the ancients are
A plague which only the Pope can purge from earth
                                 [Again laughing.
Ai to the flames with them, and with all fairness!
  Osio. I say that you -
  Rizzzo.           Hey, yea! that I who fall
Not on my knees to mitred villainy -
Or cringe to crosiered craft-
And yet whose life is lit for truth and freedom -
Am viler far than you
Who take your pleasure and pay it with confession
Who think the Devil with faith would be no Devil
                lPorzia again appears with Bianca.
You hear it, Bruno



6



PORZIA

 



PORZIA



  Osio:             I say there is one thins
You shall not do!
  Rizzio.      So-ho! my lordly brother,
My breaker of betrothals - if not creeds -
And that is what
  OsiO.           I will protect her from it
  Rizzio. Her
  Osio.      Porzia! from the Dassion of V(



)ur lies!



                                   [A stonishment.
  Rizzio (stung, staring). By. .  all the saints and
    fiends and incubi
That ever infested night and nunneries!
What frenzy now is biting at your brain!
                                     [Before him.
Is she your wife, so to concern your care
                                  [They face, pale.
  Porzia (who sees, and with Bianca comes quickly,
    winningly down).
Heresy ! heresy ! truth and heresy!
Are there no other words in all the world
To pour as wine



7



Ng



a!

 





Upon a wedding-day! -
Are these your ways, my newly wedded lord,
To leave me, an hour's bride, away from home -
From my dear uncle's home -
With but a friend or two for comforting-
And bandy words of other stars than those
You swear to see when gazing in my eyes!
  Rizzio (responsively). My Porzia!
  Porzia.           No, no' I'll not forgive you!
For is it not ill boding to our bridals
You quarrel over the heavens - and not me!
                                  [As he laughs.
My beauty, he says, this husband I have taken,
Is life - and yet ere 'tis an hour his
Forgets to live on it! - and Osio,
The brother of him,-
E'en Osio there -
  Rizzio (gay again). Who swears he will protect
    you'
                                    [Osio starts.
  Porzia. Protect



8



PORZIA

 





  Rizzio.         Against the heresy of robes
Of pagan fashion - and against your husband!
              [Constraint. Porzia sees Biancaflush.
  Porzia. I do not understand - unless you jest,
As oft - too oft you do!
Or mean perchance Bianca . . . unto whom
He was betrothed
Ard whom he would, this breath,
Be wooing again, were I, not words, your bride!
          [Then winningly again, as Marina enters.
But see, here is Marina! the dance awaits!
                                 [AMusic is heard.
Let us go in and give ourselves to Joy,
For Misery is quick enough to take us,
If first we do not wed us to her rival!
Is it not so
  Rizzio (with passion). Or sun has never shone!
So in! the tarantelle! (as Tasso enters) And then
    a song
From Messer Tasso, who would be divine,
                                     [Greets him.



PORZIA



9

 





Did he love Venus as he fears the Church,
Apollo as he shuns the Inquisition!
In! - Osio, will you come
  Osio.        I will not.
  Rizzio.                  Then
Dance with your own mad humors and delusions
Here to Vesuvius and to the sea,-
Or to Bianca plead your pardon!
                      (To the rest) Come!
                          [Seizes blossoms blithely.
For in this world there's but one heresy,
Denial of the divinity of Joy'
        [Throws sprays over Porzia, takes her hand
            and they go singing. All follow, but
            Osio and Bianca.
 Osio (when their steps haune died; in cold rage).
You shall hear more of this, my pretty brother!
Prater of pagan doubts!
Whorn - but that God may use it - I would curse
For the resemblance that our mother gave us!
For, by the living blood of San Gennaro,



PORZIA



,a

 



PORZIA



In yon Duomo, the scoffing siren song
Of heresy that swells in you shall cease,
Tho it shall take the sweat of the rack to hush itI
You shall hear more!
  Bianca (who has stood long indignant). And
    others shall hear more!
           [Her voice breaking as she turns on him.
Others who fix upon me this affront
Of broken and humiliate betrothals!
                          [As he attempts to speak.
Yes! you have made of me a thing of shame
Here in the eyes
Of those who're alien to me!
That you have loved me not - or love me less
Than once you did, too well I came to know -
I - with the blood in me of the MXedici! -
And now it is open prate! . . . But do you
    think
The women of my city want resentment,
Or less than these sun-lusting ones of Naples
Know how to cool their wrath



I I

 





  Osio.              I think you mad -
In a mad maze -
And yield it no concern;
Nor shall - (meaningly) until a thing you know is
    done.
As to betrothals, give your memory breath:
Ours was agreed to end as either willed.
      [Goes frcm her to gate and looks expectantly out.
  Bianca (as he returns). And you, weary of it,
    have utterly
Chosen to end it                           [Sits.
  Osio:                Have I so affirmed
  Bianca (springing up). I will not have evasions,
    Osio,
Shiftings and turnings
Radiant of hopes
That torture expectation till it breaks.
                                    [Again sitting.
And yet - perchance it is as well they come
Now . . . while there yet is time for more with-
    drawals.



PORZIA



I 2

 





  Osio (starting). iMore
  Bianca.    For - I fear all trust in you is folly;
And that the heresy of Rizzio
Which I agreed with you to take unto
Consignor Querio -
  Osio (clenching). Shall not be taken
                                       [She rises.
Not! but you leave the brunt to me alone
  Bianca. You purpose more, I think, than to
    restrain him.
  Osio. And you more than abjuring! You would
    gaze
Upon his godless schisms, .
Upon the naked luring of his lies!
  Bianca. No! Tho the beauty of them -
  Osio.                          Beauty! beauty!
                       [Striking the Pan near him.
That wind of infidelity from Hell
He blows out of his lips do you call beauty!
No! - and he with his poets and philosophers,
His Platos



PORZIA-



I 3

 



PORZIA



And star-mad Copernicas,
And that Dominican, Giordano Bruno,
For whom the stake to flames will yet be lit,
Shall learn you are too late in your relenting!
  Eianca (stricken). Too . . . late!
  Osio.          His heresies shall reap their due.
  Bianca (death-pale). Which means - that you
    already have revealed them!
Have sent unto Monsignor Querio
To-day -
Rizzio's wedding-day! -
For that
It was you sought out Matteo, who, pledged
Unto Marina,
As were you to me,
Has broke his troth .
And now, now you await him -0 was not
Your promise to me that a week should pend
Ere any step
  Osio.    I will not lose my soul,  [Turns away.
And dallying is the feebleness of fools.

 





  Bianca. And will lies save it - tho they be for
    Heaven! -
To one who nigh has lost her soul for you
  [When he does not answer, more penetratively.
We have been friends, Osio, long been friends,
And, woman that I am, I would 'twere more,
But in this I suspect -
  Osio.                      Enough! we prate!
                              [Rankling, uneasily.
I say enough.
  Bianca.           And I say all too little,
                                         [Bitterly.
Until I tell you now plain to your face,
And to your heart
Plunging toward this passion,
That not alone a hate of heresy
Is haunting you to it, but that the lips
And eyes and brows and soul of -
  Osio.                           Will you cease!
  Bianca. I tell you that you love her - Porzia!
And veer but to the vision of her face!



PORZIA



T 5

 





  Osio (who after strangling silence finds words).
If you say that, Bianca, ever again
Or if, by all the demons that Avernus
Pours out upon the black Phlegraean fields,
You hint it or suggest it to her, till -
  Bianca. Till you achieve her! and have wrapped
    the rites
Of the Church round your achieving
Till you have severed her from Rizzio -
Have swept her from perdition -
Into your swathing arms' I say you shall not!
Me you have set aside, but there an end!
                               [Starts toward door.
  Osio. Stop! whither do you go
  Bianca.               To call them! call!
And to betray your treachery - and mine!
                                         [Calling.
Rizzio! Porzia! Rizzio'
  Osio.         Maledictions! [Seizing her wrists.
Will you become a dagger, and not know,
Stiletto that you are, what thing you stab!



I6



PORZIA

 





  Bianca.  The infatuation festering within you!
Till, deaf with the desire of it and dream,
You cannot tell their voice from Deity's.
                                     [Calls again.
Rizzio! Porzia! Tasso!
                                [The music ceases.
  Rizzio (within; startled). It was Bianca'
[Hastening to door with the rest crowding closely after.
How what you called what moves you - Osio
                                   [Looks around.
Was some one here what is it speak! . . . Bianca
What burns you
  Bianca. You shall hear! It must be told.
Yes, yes! . . . (Struggling to say it) . . .
And with no leavening delay of words.
We . . . I . . . You must be gone from here at
    once;
At once - for there is peril.
  Rizzio.                        Pah-ho! peril
Now, Scylla and the Sibyl and Charybdis!
What megrim have you had



PORZIA\



I 7

 



PORZIA



  Bianca.                None - for doubting;
Or any, it matters not, if you will go,
And quickly, trusting reason - as you boast to;
For I have heard -
  Rizzio.   Have heard what and from whom
                             [Again looks around.
  Bianca. Them was one here who said Monsignor
    Querio
Knows of your excommunicant delight
In books that are forbid -
And . . . of your heresies!
  Porzia (in quick dismay). The Inquisition!
You mean - he may be sought by it and seized,
Held in the trammels of it for a truth
That . . . ' Do you mean, Bianca, Osio,
That now, at any hour- . . . Oh, he must
    go!
                              [Hears noise at gate.
And quickly! In, Rizzio, in, for they --!
        [The gate opens and Matteo entering stops
            amazed and alarmed

 



PORZIA



I9



  Rizzio (with laughing relief). Now, now, do you
    not see your apprehension!
Is Matteo the Inquisition! Is
He then the prison that has come to seize me
Fie, fie, Bianca, with your fears that mar
Again the bridal beauty of this hour,
And crowd with quiverings the bliss of it!
No more of them! - (to dancers) Hither! and wind
    your maze!
Again take up the dance!
  Porzia.                    No, Rizzio, no!
For now delight would die under our feet,
And we but trample on it! No! Dismiss them
Back now to Capri! . . .
More than the woman fear within me warns it.
For you have been o'er bold - not vainly, nay,
For truth, I know, must dare - but there may be
More in this than you think.
  Rizzio.                       And ere it rises
I cravenly must quench the altar-fires
That I attend - and our half-wedded joys

 





No : no! More revels!
Till we shall utterly uncloud our bliss
And leave remembrance not a stain upon it!
A song, Tasso, a song'
The taunting one that swept us into laughter!
How runs it did it not begin with Naples
(Recalls it.)

      Naples sins and Torre pays,
        (Torre del Greco')
      Who fears the earthquake all her days'
        (Torre del Greco')
      Who . . . .                      [Forgets.
      Who sits beneath Vesuxius
      And shrives the castaways of us!
      Naples sins and Torre pays,
        (Torre del Greco')


On, on with it' Come Porzia! -On, on.
  Tasso (who has stood shrinking). Ah, Signor, no; I
    fear; I cannot; pray
Your pardon. I must go.



PORZIA



20

 





  Rizzio.             Go!
  Tasso.                I would not
Offend the Church - who is the Bride of Christ.
  Rizzio (unaffected). Then off with you, un-
    worthy follower
Of Virgil,
And of fire-veined Ariosto,-
Of singers who have flung their hearts to courage,
As yet we shall fling ours! (Tasso goes.) For even
    Bianca
And Osio
Must rue now their alarm,
And help us back from it to revelry.
                    [As he turns to them, then to all.
What, none of you no heart of joy about me
  Porzia (striving for abandon). Yes, Rizzio! . . .
    tho I would have you fly;
For bodingly I breathe the breath of evil!
                             [With forced lightness.
A dance, then!
Again weave its delight!     [Dancers show cheer.



POR:ZIA



2 1

 



PORZIA



For to your want mine is attuned, and what
Is music to it shall o'ermaster me!
Awd not alone my feet shall follow, but
The Truth you fly to will I wing to attain! -
Tho stars seem to my simple sight but candles
Upon the altar of God, I'll think them worlds,
If to your soul they seem so; and for the rest -
        [A knock brings consternation, this time to all.
             The dancers fall to crossing themselves,
             some kneeling. As they do so the gate
             is thrown open and Querio enters; he is
             followed by several guards.
  Querio (advancing; amid awe). In the name of
    the Vicar of God who sits at Rome,
And of the Holy Office, I arrest
The giver of these pagan rites and revels.
         [Guards step to Rizzio's side; he stands
               speechless.
  Porvia (stunned).  Oh, . . . Oh!
  Rizzio (hoarsely). And at whose urgence, my
    lord Prelate,                  [Starts forward.

 





I ask you at whose urgence this is done!
This deed of churchly duty! . . . Yes, in justice
I seek; for there has been
Some traitor and perhaps a liar.- Osio
Bianca (fiercely) half, half I believe 't was you!
                                 [All are appalled.
  Porzia. No, no, Rizzio! . . . no' . . . what are
    you saying!
                                   [Restrainingly.
Will you requite injustice with a worse
                       [To Querio, who is unmoved.
Monsignor, this in truth is hunting haste,
To search him out
Upon his wedding-day,
And bind him with the very wreaths of it!
Could you not wait an eve, a night, until
To-morrow when his nuptials would be o'er!
  Querio. Who weds two brides is bigamist,
    Signora.
When he divorces heresy accuse me.
But now say your farewells,



PORZIA



2.3

 





And with a moment's privacy: that can
I grant, that and no more: the rest's with Rome.
             [Retires to rear - as do all but the two.
  Porzia (whom dread now begins to overwhelm).
My Rizzio! my own! I cannot bear it!
0 why did you not go, delaying till
This fate has fallen
Now like a pall upon us!
I fear! I fear! . . .
To be so wedded, ere I am a wife,
Here in this city of dark lawless passions!
                                 [ Unrestrainedly.
Ah, can you not recant
Deny at once and so -
  Rizzio.           Porzia!
  Porzia.                  Nay!
And yet to have you leave me -
Ere any nuptial night has hung our couch,
Ere I have lain beside you in the dark
And like Madonna dreamed of motherhood!
Ah, ah, I cannot . . .



PORZIA



24

 



PORZIA



  Rizzio (with a thought). Then - listen to me.
                         [Osio starts, watching him.
I will return to you!
  Porzia.            Return
  Rizzio.                    Perchance.
It may be. For with florins to the guard -
With friendly gold -
May he not be persuaded
To bring me hither to you, for an hour
At midnight - tho it be but for an hour
                           [They look at each other.
  Querio (suspiciously, coming down). Enough,
    Signor; the hour is running late.
And there are here, may be,
                                       [Sinisterly.
Some who are avid now to be at vespers.
  Porzia (embracing Rizzio). Then go, my lord;
    farewell, and fear not for me,
Since I shall toil only for your release.
        [He goes, with Querio and guard. Porzia
             quails, then lets Marina lead her into

 






             the house. Allfollow but Bianca, Osio3
             and Alatteo at gate.
  Bianca (as the twilight begins, to Osio).
Now that you have achieved so much, what more
        [Ile does not answer: she also turns into
             house.
  Osio (whom a turmoil of passions is tearing).
What more . . . God in His Heaven shall de-
    cide!
Doubts have I had - like swine of hell within me -
But now He shall decide -
If she's to be the mother of heretics . . .
Or if I, who acclaim the Creed, shall have her!
                                            [Calls.
Alatteo!
  Mlatteo.       Signor - (advancing) here.
  Osio.            You have done well.
And from to-night I take you to my service,
With wages that shall gild you from a want,
And with the benediction of the Church.
But there is one thing more:



26



PORZIAt

 





Follow Monsignor Querio to the prison,
Then to Signora Porzia return -
And say her husband sent you
To bid her be in the bower there at midnight.
  fatteco (staring). But Signor, will she come 
  Osio.                 Say that she is
To speak no word - but keep to silence: go.
        [With fixed face, when the latch clicks
             behind him.
God shall decide, . . .
For if she does not know
My arms from his, then, it shall be a sign
That to them and my bed . . . she was predes-
    tined.
         [Thc dark grows. He turns soon to go, and
             thc curtain falls. . .. But rises again
             at once and, it is midnzight; with onlv
             dim lights from the silent, sleeping city.
             As it does so Porzia with Marina comes
             out of the house. They pause and listen,
             Mlarina half-anxiously.



PORZIA



27

 



28                   PORZIA

  Porzia (drawing free). Return and have no fear,
    he soon will come,
And bade me be alone there in the bower.
The night is like a spell to draw him to me.
  Marina. Signora-!
  Porzia.        Like a spell of living love.
        [Crosses over, as one in a dream, and enters
             the bower. Marina goes, ihe gate opens,
             and Osio silently enters, coming down
             into the bower amorously. A long si-
             lence . . . . then slowly the Curtain.

 













ACT II

 This page in the original text is blank.

 









A YEAR HAS ELAPSED



SCENE: A sala, or hall, in the house of Rizzio. Its
    spacious walls and ceiling are frescoed with Vir-
    gilian scenes of a simpler and more beautiful kind
    than was usual to the decaying art of the period,
    and its high-arched open doors in the rear look out
    upon the terrace of Act I, toward the city, the Bay,
    Vesuvius - the whole magic curve of the haunting
    coast.
      Several antique terminal-statues, the bodies of
    which end strangely in their pedestals, stand on
    either side these doors, and about the hall a Venus
    and other rare objects of virtu recovered from the
    past are mingled with the furnishings of the room,
    which, arranged for joy and beauty, seems some-
    how sad when unoccupied, as now, tho the Nea-
    politan sun is shining brightly in from the blue.
                         31

 



PORZIA



  An arrased doorway right leads thro a pas-
sage to the street gate, and one left to the pene-
tralia of the house, from  which Marina enters
deeply troubled.  She looks back, shakes her
head, saying, "0 my poor lady!" then crosses
to door right, listens, and hearing nothing goes
slowly to door rear, where she waits, singing
sadly:


    Shepherds down the mountain wind,
      Wild pipes play in the street.
    O Sicily, my Sicily,
      I long for thee, my Sweet!


    Once a year God takes his joy,
      And that great joy is Spring,
    He weds earth clad in blossom-robes,
      For His enrapturing'
             [She stops, listening, then resumes:
    Once a year God takes his joy,
      And that -



,32

 





                 [She stops again hearing sounds at
                      the gate, then is startled to pale-
                      ness by the voice of Matteo;
                      and as she listens a stern strong
                      determination takes her.
  Matteo. Basta! am I to pass! son of a dog!
Snout of a swine! knave! door-bestriding fool!
Have I not matters to her from my master,
To the Signora, from her husband's brother
                                         [A scuffle.
The Devil's scullion feed you
On flame, until your liver shrivels black!
        [He has pushed past and enters the Hall
              insolently.
O-h6! who 's here! I come from Signor Osio!
                                     [Sees AMarina.
The little Sicilian Luck then is my slave!
                                     [Going to her.
Well, pretty fig! my little red pomegranate!
My fair forbidden fruit - pluckt in the moon!
I've come   . . . (stopped by her mien)       But,



PO)RZTA



33

 





    Blood of the Holy Sepulchre!
                        Looks around uncertainly.
What thing has happened here
  Marina.                  That, Matteo,
                               [Speaks solemnly.
Which yet I do not know, and which I pray
Madonna you may be as ignorant of.
  Matteo. Eh   . . . I my beauty
  Marina.       You - who left this house
A year ago to-night with Signor Osio,
Left suddenly,
To serve his wealth and pleasure,
And who will leave it now as instantly,
If he is not in need - of absolution.
  Matteo. Of . . .       (starting) absolution
    Body, now, of Bacchus!
Does he not go to the Mass - and if he does
    not
Am I a priest
To know his need of purging
Or if he sins must I be damned with him



PRo\IA



34

 





  Marina. No, so the way from it -
  Malleo.                  The way! the way!
I want no way, but in unto your mistress.
Am I not sent here to her with commands
Ecco! and must I turn with them upon me,
And say a wench denied me
Or that I feared
Perchance to catch the fever
Of heresy your master's shackled with
Pah, but you jest, my ruby rose of Aetna -
                                  [Insinuatingly.
Whom yet I will not say but I will wed,
Tho you are from that Paynim-breeding isle
Of Sicily. You jest: so, in with you.
I seek your lady.
  Marina.    Seek  . . . and shall find more.
  Matteo. More! (Struck by her tone.) And from
    what and whom
  Marina.              I wait Aloysius,
The leech.
  Matteo.   And that is what I am to fear



PORZIA



35

 





  Marina. The child is ill.
  Matteo (starting).    The child!
  Marina.                My lady's child.
                           [With tenser solemnity.
For there has come of late into her mind
A dread that has dried life within her breasts.
  Matteo (who pales). And am I God, woman, to
    keep dread from her
  Marina. Tending to it a strangeness comes upon
    her,
And with the sudden seizure of it, fear -
Shudders of horror, instincts of some evil
That she somehow has suffered, or committed -
                                        [Pauses
  Matteo (paler). What do you mean!
  Marina.               As one within a trance.
  MIatteo. And do you mean -
  Marina.               A mood seizes her flesh
That creeps against her will whene'er unto her
The little one is pressed.
  AMatteo (trembling).    This is a lie!



36



PORZIA

 





  Marina. She cannot look upon it, but with
    terror,
That brings remorse
Awakening more terror!
The blight of heresy, she strives to think
Of her lord's heresy is sent upon her,
Or of her own refusal, it may be,
To wed the Convent, not the carnal world.
  Malieo. To you she said this
  Marina.     Ah ! and Madonna! her sleep!
She walks with eyes wide open.
  Matteo.                        I say you lie.
You do! as if Eternity were not,-
                               [Seizes her wrist.
To frighten me and Signor Osio!
  Marina (coldly, stingingly). And yet you under-
    stand ha, understand
And hoarsely stare at words upon my lips
That should be meaningless as moony madness
You penetrate
What not the Pope himself,



PORZIA



37

 





Nor any could, but with a guilty knowledge
There's villainy I say, and you are in it,
The tool of a blind villain, who should be
Where now his brother rots, but that the Church
Is no more Christ's!
Ah, ah! my nails could tear
Your hated false caresses from my flesh,
Your kisses from my memory and fling them
Upon your wicked heart. And, for your master,
The Virgin strangle him! She -or another!
                                      Aleaningly.
Another'
  Mlatteo (startled). What what say you
  M1arina.             That - one - will!
For do not think such sins go unavenged.
                                    [Starts to go.
  Matteo. I say, what do you hint! Stand! there
    is more!
                  [Seizes her and clasps her to him.
More' and I'll have it, by the crater of Hell'
More - and your lips shall tell it with a kiss.



38



PORZIA

 





  Marina. Off me! (Struggling.) And if you do
    not get from here -
                                    [Breaks free.
Before Signora Bianca -
  Matteo.                 Ah! Ahi!
It has to do then with the Florentine
Who is as pagan as that devil Venus,
                                [Points to statue.
Yet prates to priests as subtly as my master
Who will not play Love with her
By the Passion and Blood of God, has she again
Gone jealous to Monsignor Querio,
To get undone the doors of the Inquisition,
So that your master . . .  has she
  Marina.                    They are open!-
O would I who o'erheard might tell my lady! -
And Signor Rizzio goes free to-day!
Free to return here unto his own home!
Free to cast from him a year's ignorance,
A year's imprisonment beyond the pale
Of any word or message



PORZIA



39

 



PORZIA



40



And learn how on his wedding-day when he
Wras seized and on his wedding-night when he
Expected to return. . . . At that you quail
Begone then, or -
  Mlatteo (gnashing). The jealousy of women!
Their hearts are devil-pots that ever boil.-
But this is cud for Signor Osio,
So get you in at once unto your mistress
And say-

       Enter BIANCA suddenly in agitation

  Bianca (looking about, with alarm). Where is my
    cousin (Calls) Porzia! Porzia! -
She must return at once - unto the child:
Her mood is perilous and must be pent.
                                  [As they stare.
Did you not see her (Impatient.) Am I Proser-
    pine
To make such gaping ghosts of you I say,
Was she not here
  Marina.       Signora -

 





  Bianca.             She hung, haunted,