<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap">xt72804xh45z https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt72804xh45z/data/mets.xml Rice, Cale Young, 1872-1943. 1906  books b92-261-31826018 English Hodder and Stoughton ; McClure, Phillips, : London : New York : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Plays and lyrics  / by Cale Young Rice. text Plays and lyrics  / by Cale Young Rice. 1906 2002 true xt72804xh45z section xt72804xh45z 


P L A Y S
AND

LYRICS

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P L A Y S

    AND


LYRICS


             by
     CALE YOUNG RICE


           LONDON
   HODDER AND STOUGHTON
      27 PATERNOSTER ROW
NEW YORK: McCLURE PHILLIPS & CO.
   44 EAST TWENTY-THIRD STREET
             1906

 
LI-, ROT1IRS LIMITEfl, PRINTERS, WOflJG AND LON.    ON.

 
          go

  IDA M. TARBELL

WITH FAITHFUL FRIENDSHIP

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             PREFACE

Thi; volume contains " rolanda of Cyprus,"
a hitherto unpublished play; many new
lyrics ;  some  others  that  appeared  in
" Song-Surf," a volume whose publishers
failed before it reached the public; and
" David," which came out in America
in   1904.    The   author's   desire  has
been  to  include  only  his  best  work.

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                 CONTENTS


                                            PAGE
YOLANDA OF CYPRUS                                      I


LYRICS-DRAMATIC:-


JAEL                                        91

MARY AT NAZARETH                            96

OUTCAST                                     98

ADELIL                                      100

THE DYING POET                              102

ON THE MOOR                                 105

HUMAN LOVE                                  107

O GO NOT OUT                                lo8

CALL TO YOUR MATE, BOB-WHITE                110

TRANSCENDED                                 112

 
xii                CONTENTS
                                                PAGE
THE CRY OF EVE   .      .        .     .     . 113

THE CHILD GOD GAVE            .     .         . ii6

MOTHER-LOVE   .     .      .     .     .      . 118

ASHORE                  .                     . 120

LOVE S WAY TO CHILDHOOD    .     .     .      . 122

LISSETTE      .         .     .        .      . I23

TEARLESS      .     .      .           .      . 125

THE LIGHTHOUSEMAN             .        .      . 126

BY THE INDUS     .      .        .-             128

FROM ONE BLIND.            .        .         . 130

AT THE FALL OF ROME, A.D. 455.         .       131

PEACELESS LOVE.     .      .     .     .      . 133

SUNDERED      .      .     .     .     .      . 134

WITH OMAR     .     .      .     .     .      . 135

A JAPANESE MOTHER (IN TIME OF WAR)     .        144


LYRICS-NON-DRAMATIC:-


SHINTO (.MIYAJIMA, JAPAN, 1905)               . 146

EVOCATION (NIKKO, JAPAN, 1905)         .      .   8

rHE ATONER                    .              . 150

 
                    CONTENTS                       xiii


INTIMATION                                         I.    .     . 151

IN JULY           .                .      .     . 152

FROM ABOVE     .     .      .      .     .      . 154

SONGS TO A. H. R.

     1. THE WORLD'S AND MINE      .      .     , 155

     11. LOVE-CALL IN SPRING       .     .      .   56

     Ill. MATING.     .      .     .      .      . 157

     IV. UNTOLD.      .      .     .      .     . 158

     V. LOVE-WATCH          .         .         . 159

     VI. AS YOU ARE      .      .     .         . i6o

     VII. AT AMALFI          .      .      .     .6

   VIII. ON THE PACIFIC           .      .      . 163

THE WINDS      .      .     .      .      .     . 165

THE DAY-MOON   .      .     .      .      .        167

TO A SINGING WARBLER                      .     . 169

TO THE SEA                                         1..       .     .   70

THE DEAD GODS         .     .      .      .     . 172

AT WINTER'S END      .      .                      175

APRIL   .      .      .     .         .      .     176

AUGUST GUESTS  .     .         .          .         77

AUTUMN                      .      .      .     . 178

 
xiv                 CONTENTS

                                                  PAGE
THE WORLD                                         179

TO THE DOVE    .8o

AT TINTERN ABBEY                                 182

THE VICTORY                                       I84

SEARCHING DEATH S DARK                            185

SERENITY                                          187

TO THE SPRING WIND                                I88

THE RAMBLE                                        I89

RETURN                                            192

THE EMPTY CROSS                                   194

SUNSET-LOVERS  .                                  I96

TO A ROSE (IN A HOSPITAL)                         I98

UNBURTHENED                                       199

WHERE PEACE IS DUTY                              201

WANTON JUNE    .                                 202

AUTUMN AT THE BRIDGE                             204

SONG    -            -                  -        205

TO HER WHO SHALL COME                             2o6

AVOWAL TO THE NIGHTINGALE                        208

STORM-EBB      .     .      .                    210

SLAVES                                           212

 
                   CONTENTS                      xv

                                                 PAGE
WAKING                                           213

FAUN-CALL                                        214

LINGERING                                        216

STORM-TWILIGHT                                   217

WILDNESS .28

BEFORE AUTUMN                                    219

FULFILMENT                                       221

TO THE FALLEN LEAVES                             223

MAYA (HIROSHIMO, JAPAN, 1905)                    224

SPIRIT OF RAIN (MIANOSHITA, JAPAN, 1905)         226

THE NYMPH AND THE GOD                            227

A SEA-GHOST                                      228

LAST SIGHT OF LAND                               230

SILENCE                                          231


DAVID                                            233

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YOLANDA OF CYPRUS


       2

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CHARACTERS


RENIER LUSIGNAN .     .A decemdant of tie Lusignan king, of Cyprus.
BERENGERE  .  .  .  His wife.
AMAURY .   .  .  .  His  Son, Commander of Famagouste under    the
                         Venetians.
YOLANDA    .  .  .  Ti;e ['ard of Berengere, betrothed to Amaury.
CAMARIN    .           Baron   of  Paphos, guest in  t/e  Lusignan
                         Castle.
VITrIA PISANI .  .  A  Venetian Lady, a/lo a guest.
MORO    .  .     .     Priest.
HASSAN  .  .  .  .  Warden of the Castle.
HALII   .  .  .  .  His So, a boy.
TREMITUS    .    .  A  Physiciaoo.
(JLYMP10   .  .  .  A  Greek boy, servingAmaury.
ALESSA
INIAGA  .  .      1  
                    Berengere's Women.
CIYA   .   ' ,  
MAURIA .   .  .  .  
SMARDA  .  .  .  .  Slare to Vittia.
PIETRO  .  .  .  .  In Vittia' pay.
                        P-riests  acolytes, etc.

                   TIME-Tie sixteenth centurv.
                   PLACE-Tre island of Cypruj.

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                             ACT I

SCENE: A dim Ha/e, of bended Gothic and Saracenic styles, in
     the Lusignan Castle, on the island of C prus near Fame-
     gouste.   Around  the walls, above faint frescoes portraying
     the deliverance of 7erusalem  by the Crusaders, runs a frieze
     in/aid with the coats-of-arms of former Lusignan kings. On
     the left, and back, is a door hung with heavy damask, and
     in the wa/l opposite, another.   Farther down on the right
     a few  steps, whose railing supports a Greek vase with jasmine,
     lead  through  a chapei to the sleeping apartments.   In the
     rear, on either side, are guled lattice windows, and in the
     centre an open grated door, looking upon a loggia, and, across
     the garden   below, over the moonlit sea.   Seats are placed
     about, and, forward, a divan with rich Turkish coverings.
     A table with a lighted cross-shaped candle-stick is by the
     door, left; and a lectern with a book on it, to the front,
     right.  As the curtain rises, the Jfomen, except CIVA, lean
     wearily on the divan, and HALIL near is singing dreamily,

                 Ali, the balm, the balm,
                 And ah, the blessing

 
YOLANDA


               Of the deep fall of night
               And of confessing.
               Of the sick soul made white
               Of all distressing
               Made white! . . .
               Ah, balm of night
               And, ah the blessing!

    The music falls and alt seem yielding to sleep. Suddenly
         there are hoof-beats and sounds at the gates below.
         HALIL springs up.

Hail. Alessa ! Maga! Stirrings at the gates
                       (X11 start up.)
    Some one is come.
flessa.                 Boy, Halil, who
Halil.                                     Up, up!
    Perhaps lord Renier-No: I will learn.
               (He runs to curtains and looks.)
    It is Olympio! Olympio!
    From Famagouste and Lord Amaury!
Mauria.                                   Ah!
    And he comes here 
Halil.                    As he were lord of skies!
    To lady Yolanda, by my lute !
Maga.                               Where is she
Alessa. I do not know; perhaps, her chamber.
Mauria.                                        Stay:
    His word may be of the Saracens,


6

 
l1alil (calling).                      Oho!
     (He admits OLYMPXO, who enters insolently down. 11 press
                        around him gaily.)
Mauria. Well what, Olympio, from Famagouste
     XVhat tidings  tell us.
'ifaga.                    See, his sword!
Olympi.                                    Stand ofF.
Mauria. The tidings, then, the tidings
Olyrnpio.                                None-for women.
Mauria. So, so, my Cupid  None of the Saracens 
    Of the squadron huddling yesterday for haven
    At Keryneia 
Olympis.           Who has told you
Manria.                                 Who
    A hundred galleys westing up the wind,
    Scenting the shore, but timorous as hounds.
    A gale-and twenty down !
Maga.                            The rest are flown 
Olympio. Ask Zeus, or ask, to-morrow, lord Amaury,
    Or, if he comes, to-night. To lady Yolanda
    I'm sent and not to tattle silly here.
       (He starts of, but is arrested by laughter within.  It
            is CIVA who enters, holding up a parchment.)
    O ! Only Civa. (Starts again with HALIL.)
Civa.                                How, Olympio!
    Stay you, and hear !-May never virgin love him!
    Gone as a thistle ! (Turns.)
Mauria.                        Pouf!
Xlessa (to CIVA).                     Now, what have you 


7


YOLANDA

 
YOLANDA


Civa.  Verses! found in the garden.  Verses ! verses !
    On papyrus of Paphos. 0, to read !
    But you, Alessa-!
/essa (takes them).       In the garden 
C6va.                                     By
    The fountain cypress at the marble feet
    Of chaste Diana I


Where Sir Camarin


    And oft our lady-!
Civa.                     Maga, will you prattle 
    Read them to us, Alessa, read them, read.
    They are of love !


Maga.


No, sorrow.


Civa.                                0, as a nun
    You ever sigh for sorrow !-They are of love!
    Of valour bursting through enchanted bounds
    To ladies prisoned in an ogre's keep
    Then of the bridals !-O, they are of love!
Maga. No, Civa, no ! of sorrow! see, her lips!
       (She points to ALESSA, who, reading, has paled.)
    See, see
Civa.          Alessa!
,lessa.                 Maga-Civa-Ah!
                  (She rends the parchment.)
Mauria. What are you doing
Alessa.                         They were writ to her!
Mauria. To her  to whom  what are you saying  Read!
    Read us the verses.


Mega.


Xlessa.


No.

 
YOLANDA


Mauria.                       Tell then his name
    Who writes them, and to whom.
,flessa.                              I will not.
Afauria.
    It is some guilt you hide !-And touching her
    You dote on-lady Yolanda !


Then


Alessa.                           Shame !
Mauria.                                    Some guilt
    Of one, then, in this castle !-See, her lips
    Betray it is.
Mazga.            No, Mauria ! no! (holds her) hush
                   (Forsns appear without.)
Alaursi. 0, loose me.
,VIaga.                There, on the loggia ! Hush, see-
    Our lads and Sir Camarin.
,4qessa (ftarjul).              It is.
    They heard us, Maga
Maga.                        No, but
AL'uria (to ALESSA).                     So that mouse,
Alessa. You know not, Mauria, what 'tis you say.
       (BERENGERE coldly, as if consenting to it, enters.)
    She is seeking us; be still.
                 (Stepping out.) My lady
Berengere.                                  Yes.
    Your lamps; for it is time
    Now for your aves and o'erneeded sleep.
    But first I'd know if yet lord Renier-
                 (Sees their disquiet-starts.)
    Why are you pale


9

 
YOLANDA


,lessa.                  I
Berengere.                   So-and strange.
A/lessa.                                       We have
    But put away the distaff and the needle.
                      CAMARIN enters.
Berengere. The distaff and the needle-it may be.
    And yet you do not seem-
Alessa.                           My ladv-
Berengere.                                     Go;
    And send me Hassan.
                     (The women leave.)
                           Camarin-vou saw
    Thev were not as their wont is.
&eanarin.                            To your eyes,
    My Berengere, that apprehension haunts.
    They were as ever. Then be done with fear
Berengere. I cannot.
Camarin.             To the abyss with it. To-night
    Is ours-Renier tarries at Famagouste-
    Is ours for love and for a long delight!
Berengere. Whose end may be-
Camarin.                          Dawn and the dewy lark
    And passing of all presage from you.
Berengere (sits).                        No:
    For think, Yolanda's look when by the cypress
    We read the verses! And my dream that I
    Should with a cross-inscrutable is sleep
    Bring her deep bitterness.
Camarin.                      Dreams are a brood


lo

 
YOLANDA


    Born of the night and not of destiny.
    She guesses not our guilt, and Renier
    Clasps to his breast ambition as a bride-
    Ambition for Amaury.
Berengere.                   None can say.
    He's much with this Venetian, our guest,
    Though Venice gyves us more with tyranny
    Than would the Saracen.
Carn'rin.                      But through this lady
    Of the Pisani, powerful in Venice,
    He hopes to lift again his dynasty
    Up from decay; and to restore this island,
    This venture-dream of the seas, unto his house.
    'Tis clear, my Berengere !
Berengere.                      Then, her design
    And what the requital that entices her
                           (Rises.)
    Evil will come of it, to us some evil,
    Or to Yolanda and Amaury's love.
    But, there; the women.
Camarin.                      And too brief their stay.
    What signal for to-night
Berengere.                      Be in the garden.
    Over the threshold yonder I will wave
    The candle-sign, when all are passed to sleep.
Camarin.  And with the beam   I shall mount up to you
    Quicker than ecstasy.
Berengere.                  I am as a leaf
    Before the wind and raging of your love.


I I

 
YOLANDA


    Go-go.
Gamarin.      But to return unto your breast!
                (He leaves her by the divan.)
    (The women re-enter with silver lighted lamps; behina them
        are HASSAN and the slave SMARDA. They wait for
        BERENGERE, who has stood silent, to speak.)
Berengere (looking up). Ah, you are come; I had forgotten.
    And it is time for sleep.-Hassan, the gates:
    Close them.
Hassan.          And chain them, lady


Berengere.
    Lord Renier will not come.


Wait no longer.


Hassan.                          No word of him
Berengere. None, though he yesterday left Nicosie
    With the priest Moro.
Hassan.                     Lady-
Berengere.                           Wait no longer.
    Come, women, with your lamps and light the way.
      (The women go by the steps. BeRENGERE follows.)
Hassan (staring after her). The reason of this mood in her
         the reason 
    Something is vile. Lady Yolanda weeps
    In secret; all for what -unless because
    Of the Paphian-or this Venetian.
                     (Seeing SMARDA.) NOW,
    Slave ! Scythian ! You linger
Smarda.                              I am bidden-
    My mistress.
Hassan.           Spa! Thy mistress hath, I think,


12

 
                      YOLANDA

    Something of hell in her and has unpacked
    A portion in this castle. Is it so 
Smarda. My lady is of Venice.
Hassan.                        Strike her, Gc
    Her smirk admits it.
Smarda.                  Touch me ilot!
Hassan.                                   I'l
    Thy tongue out sudden, if it now has lies.
    What of thy lady and lord Renier 


Smarda.                                 Off!
             RENIER enters behind, with MORO.
Hassan. Thy lady and lord Renier, I say I
    What do they purpose
Smarda.         -           Fool-born ! look
Hassan. Not till-
Smarda.             Lord Renier, help.
Hassan.                                What


                (Turns, and stares amazes
    A fool I am . . .
Renier.             Where is my wife
Hassan.
    This slave stung me to pry.


Al.


l wring


around.


do you say 


d'.)


Why, she ...


Renier.                         Where is my wife 
Hassan. A moment since, was here-the women with her.
    She asked for your return.


Renier.
Hassan. You jeer me.
Renier.
Hasssan.


And wherefore did


Answer.


Have you not been gone 


13

 
Reniter. Not-overfar. Where is Yolanda -Well
    No matter; find my chamber till I come.
    Of my arrival, too, no word to any.
                  (HASSAN goes, canfused.)
    You, Moro, have deferred me ; now, no more.
    Whether it is suspicion eats in me,
    Mistrust and fret and doubt-of whom I say not,
    Or whether desire and unsubduable
    To see Amaury sceptred-I care not.
                      (To SMARDA.)
    Slave, to your lady who awaits me, say
    I'm here and now have chosen.
Moro.                              Do not!
Renier.                                      Chosen.
                      (SMARDA goes.)
    None can be great who will not hush his heart
    To hold a sceptre, and Amaury must.
    He is Lusignan and his lineage
    Will drown in him Yolanda's loveliness.
Moro. It will not.
Renier.            Then at least I shall uncover
    What this Venetian hints.
Moro.                         Hints 
Renier.                               I must know.
A'loro. 'Tis of your wife -Yolanda
Renier.                             Name them not.
    They've shut from me their souls.
Mors.                                My lord, not so;
    But you repulse them.


14


YOLANDA

 
YOLANDA


Renier.                    When they pity. No,
    Something has gone from me or never was
    Within my breast. I love not-am unlovable.
    Amaury is not so,
    And this Venetian Vittia Pisani
Moro. Distrust her!
Renier.              She has power.
Moro.                                But not truth.
    And yesterday a holy relic scorned.
Renier. She loves Amaury. Wed to her he will
    Be the elected Governor of Cyprus.
    The throne, then, but a step.
Mors.                            But all too great.
    And think; Yolanda is to him as heaven
    He will not yield her.


Raenier.                   Then he must.
    The Venetian, has ways to it-a secret
    To pierce her from his arms.


And she,


Moro.                             Sir, sir -of what
Renier. I know not, of some shame.
Moro.                                Shame
Renier.                           Why do you clutch me,
More. I-am     a priest-and shame
Renier.                             You have suspicion 
                  (VirrTIA enters unnoted.)
    Of whom -Of whom, and what
F'ittia (lightly).                     My lord, of women.
                 (RENIE R starts and turns .)
    So does the Holy Church instil him.


I15

 
i6 5YOLANDA

Renier.                                You
    Come softly, lady of Venice.
flittia.                         Streets of sea
    In Venice teach us.
Renier.                 Of what women, then
    My wife Yolanda 
Pittia.                   By the freedom due us,
    What matters it In Venice our lords know
    That beauty has no master.
Renier.                         Has no . . . That,
    That too has something hid.
Fittia.                          Suspicious lord!
    Yet Berengere Lusignan is his wife !
    And soon Yolanda-But for that I'm here.
    You sent for me.
Renier (sullen).      I sent.
Jittia.                        To say you've chosen 
    And offer me irrevocable aid
    To win Amaury
Renier.                All is vain in me
    Before the fever for it.
Jittia.                    Then, I shall.
    It must be done. My want is unafraid.
    Hourly I am expecting out of Venice
    Letters of power.
    And what to you I pledge is he shall be
    Ruler of Cyprus and these Mediterranean
    Blue seas that rock ever against its coast.
    That do I pledge . . . but more.

 
YOLANDA


17


Renier                            Of rule . . . Then what
kVittia (going up to hem). Of shame withheld-dishoniour un-
    revealed.
    (He ha/f recoils and stands. SMARDA enters hastily to them.)
Smarda. My lady-
Iittia.               Speak.
Smarda.                       She!
Jittia.                             Who Yolanda comes
    She's not asleep as you averred to me,
    Was not asleep, but comes . . . My lord-!
Renier.                                          I'll stay,
    Stay and confront her.


Jittia.
Renier.  I'll question her.


Vittia.
Renier.
    (By


Vittia.
rolanda.
Vittia.


Ignorantly  No.


                    Blindly, and peril all I
 I will return. You put me off, and off.
I the loggia, with MORO, he goes; the s/ave slips out.
YOLANDA    enters, sadly, her gaze on the floor.     S/se
walks slowly, but becoming conscious starts, sees VsrrlA,
and turns to withdraw.)
Your pardon-
                 I can serve you 
                                    If you seek


    The women, they are gone.
Yolanda.                           I do not seek them,
Fittia. Nor me
rolanda.           Nor any.-Yet I would I might
    With seeking penetrate the labyrinth
    Of your intent.
                              3

 
YOLANDA


Jittia.              I thank you. And you shall,
    To-night-if you have love.
Yolanda.                         That thread were vain.
Vittia. I say, if you have love.
rolanda.                        Of guile 


1ittia.                                     Of her
    You hold as mother, and who is Amauryvs.
rolanda. Were it so simple, no design had ever
    Laired darkly in you, but to my eyes been clear
    As shallows under Morpha's crystal wave.
Fittia. Unproven you speak so.
rolanda.                        And proven would.
Vittia. If so, then-save her.
rolanda.                      Who     What do you-
Fittia (with irony).
    It is not clear
rolanda.             Save her;
f'ittia.                           The surety flies
    Out of your cheek and dead upon your heart:
    Yet you are innocent-oh innocent -
    O'er what abyss she hangs !
rolanda.                          O'er no abyss.
Vittia.  But to her lord is constant !
Yolanda (desperate).                 She is constant.
Vittia. And to his bed is true ;
Yolanda.                         True.
Vittia.                                  And this ba


Mean f


.ron


Of Paphos-Camarin-is but her friend,
And deeply yours-as oft you feign to shield her 

 
YOLANDA


19


relanda. He is no more.
Vittia.                    Your heart belies your lips,
    Knows better than believing what you say.
ro/anda. Were, were he then . . . (struggles) lord Reniicr
         knows it not !
    And never must. I have misled his thought
    From her to me. The danger thus may pass,
    The open shame.
    Sir Camarin departed, her release
    From the remorse and fettering will seem
    Sweet as a vista into fairyland.
    For none e'er will betray her.
JVittia.                             None
rolanda.                                     Your tone
    (Realising with gradual horror.)  The still insinuation
         You would do it !
    This is the beast then of the labyrinth 
    And this your heart is


No, not ever: no.


    But now, if you deny me.
relanda.                         Speak as a woman,
    If there is Womanhood in you to speak.
    The name of Berengere Lusignan must
    Go clean unto the years, fair and unsullied.
    Nor must the bloody leap
    Of death fall on her from lord Renier's sword,
    A death too ready if he but suspect.
    No, she is holy !
    And holy are my lips


Vittia.

 
YOLANDA


    Remembering that they may call her mother!
    All the bright world I breathe because of her,
    Laughter and roses, day-song of the sea,
    Not bitterness and loneliness and blight!
    All the bright world,
    Of voices, dear as waking to the dead-
    Voices of love and tender earthly hopes-
    0, all the beauty I was once forbid!
    Yes, yes!-
    She lifted me, a lonely convent weed,
    A cloister thing unvisited of dew,
    Withering and untended and afar
    From the remembered ruin of my home,
    And here has planted me in happiness.
    Then, for her, all I am !
Vittia.                        Or-hope to be 
rolanda. The price, say, of your silence.-I am weary.
('ittia. And would be rid of me.
rolanda.                          The price, the price.
JAIttia. It is (low and ashamed) that you renounce
             Amaury's love.
                         (A pause.)
Yolanda. Amaury's love.... You then would rend me
        there
    Where not Eternity could heal the wound
    Though all the River of God might be for balm!
    Cruelty like to this you could not do
                     (Jaits a moment.)
    A swallow on the battlements to-day


20

 
YOLANDA


    Fell from the hawk: you soothed and set it free.
    This, then, you would not-!
JVittia.                           Yes.
Yolanda.                                  You cannot!
JVittia.
rolanda (wrung for a moment then calm).
    I had forgotten, you are of Venice-Venice
    Whose burdening is vast upon this land.
    Good-night.
IVittia.         And you despise me !
rolanda.                               More am sick
    That love of him has led your thought so low.
    To-morrow-
Vittia.            Not to-morrow ! But you must
    Choose and at once.
Yolanda.                 Then-


21


Yes.


     (Ther start and listen.  Approaching hoofs are heard.)
Pittia.                              Ah ! Amaurv -It is
    His speed upon the road  now at the gates
                (T'he fall of chains is heard.)
    What then, what is your purpose-to renounce
    And force him from you, or to have me breathe
    To Renier Lusignan the one word
    That will transmute his wrong to madness
    Say quickly. Centuries have stained these walls,
    But never a wife; never-
                    Enter BERENGERE.


Mother  . . .
             Amaurv


rolanda.
Berengere.

 
YOLANDA


     Has spurred to us, Yolanda, from his post,
     Secret and sudden. But . . . what has befallen 
                 (Looks from one to the other.)
rolanda. He comes here, mother 
Berengere.                       At once.
Polanda.                                  No!
Vittia. (coldly, to YOLANDA).                 Then to-night
     Must be the end.
rolanda.               Go, go.
Berengere (as Vittia passes out). What thing is this
rolanda. Mother, I cannot have him-here-Amaury!
     Defer him but a little-till to-morrow.
     I cannot see him now.
Berengere.                   This is o'erstrange.
Yolanda. Help me to think. Go to him, go, and say
    Some woman thing-that I am ill-that I
    Am at confession-penance-that-Ah, say
    But anythintr !
Berengere.          Yolanda!
Yolanda.                       Say. . ..   No use.
    Too late.
Berengere.     His step
o landa.                 Oh, unmistakable;
    Along the corridor. There !
               (The curtains are thrown back.)
ifmaury (at the threshold).         My Yolanda!
    (Hastens down and takes her, passive, into his arms.
                     BERENGERE goes.)
    My, my Yolanda!


22

 
YOLANDA


    To touch you is as triumph to the blood,
    Is as the boon of battle to the strong!
rolanda. Amaury, no; release me and say why
    You come: The Saracens-
ifmaurv.                          Not of them now!
                   (Bends back her head.)
    But of some tribute incense to this beautv
    Dear as the wind wafts from undying shrines
    Of mystery and myrrh!
    I'd have the eloquence of quickened moons
    Pouring upon the midnight magiclv,
    To say all I have yearncd,
    Now, with vour hcad pillowed upon my breast!
    Slow sullen speech come to my soldier lips,
    Rough with command, and impotent of softness!
    Come to my lips ! or f 11 so full my eyes
    That the unutterable .hall seem as sweet
    To my Yolanda. (ifting her face, with surprise.)
                      But how now  tears t
rolanda.                                      Amaury
.dmaury. What have I done  Too pitiless have pressed
    You to this coat of steel 
rolanda.                       No, no.
Amaury.                                 My words,
    Or silence, then
rolanda.               Amaurv, no, but sweet,
    Sweet as the roses of Damascus crusht,
    Your silence is ! and sweeter than the dream
    Of April nightingale on Troados,


23

 
24


YOLANDA


     Or gushing by the springs of Chitria,
     Your every word of love ! Yet-yet-ah, fold me,
     Within your arms oblivion and hold me,
     Fast to your being press me, and there bless me
     With breathed power of your manhood's might.
     Amau.ry!
Amaury.            This I cannot understand.
rolanda (freeing herself). Nothing-a folly-groundless frailty.
1tnaury. You've been again at some old tale of sorrow,
                     (Goes to the lectern.)
    Pining along the pages of a book-
    This, telling of that Italy madonna
    Whose days were sad-I have forgotten how.
    Is it not so 
Yolanda.          No, no. The tears of women
    Come as the air and sighing of the night,
    We know not whence or why.
4maury.                             Often, perhaps.
    I am not skilled to tell. But these-not these!
    They are of trouble known.
Yolanda.                         Yet now forget them.
Amaury. It will not leave my heart that somehow-how
    I cannot fathom-Camarin-
Yolanda. (lightly, to stop him).    No farther
Imaury. That Camarin of Paphos is their cause.
    Tell me-
rolanda.        Yes, that I love thee
dmaury.                                Tell me-
2 ;lanndl.                                      Love thee!

 
YOLANDA


25


    As sea the sky ! and as the sky the wind !
    Anid as the wind the forest! As the forest-
    What does the forest love, Amaury   I
    Can think of nothing !
ifrnaury.                   Tell ein then vou have
    Never a moment of you yielded to him,
    That never he has touched too long this hand-
    Till evermore he must, even as I-
    Nor once into your eyes too deep has gazed!
    You falter  darken 
Yolanda.                  Would he ne'er had come
    Into these halls ! that it were beautiful,
    Holy to hate him as the Lost can hate.
Ifnmaury. But 'tis not 
Yolanda.                God shall judge him.
Ifmaurv.                                      And not you
Fo/anda. Though he is weak, there is within him-
t4mnaur.                                             That
    Which women trust and you
           (BERENGERE enters. He turns </pre>