xt7xks6j1r21 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7xks6j1r21/data/mets.xml Rice, Cale Young, 1872-1943. 1908  books b92-252-31802741 English McClure, : New York : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Yolanda of Cyprus  / by Caleb Young Rice. text Yolanda of Cyprus  / by Caleb Young Rice. 1908 2002 true xt7xks6j1r21 section xt7xks6j1r21 




YOLANDA OF CYPRUS

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YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



                BY

       CALE YOUNG RICE
              AUTHOR OF
      CHARLES DI TOCA, A NIGHT IN AVIGNON
            DAVID, ETC.. ETC.



    NEW YORK
THE McCLURE COMPANY
      MCMVIII

 









Cotyright, z190, by Th. Mt-Clure Company



           Published, March, 1908

 












ACT I

 









CHARACT ERS



RENIER LUSIGNAN    .  .   A  Descendant of the Luszgneax
                              Kings of Cytprus
BERENGERE    .  .  .  .   H1S Wife
AMAURY   .   .  .  .  .   His Son, Commander of Fama-
                             goiuste under the Venetians
YOLANDA  .   .  .  .   .  The Ward of Berengere, betrothed
                              to Amaury
CAMARIN  .   .  .  .  .   A Baron of Paphos, Guest in the
                              Lusignan Castle
VITTIA P1SANI.            A Venetian Lady. also a Guest
MORO  .  .   .  .  .   .  A Priest
HASSAN   .   .  .  .  .   Warden of the Castle
HALIL .  .   .  .  .  .   .is Son, a Boy
TREMITUS .   .  .  .  .   A Physician
OLYbPIO   .  .  .  .   .  A Greek Boy, serving Amaury
ALESSA.   .  .  .  .    .
MAGA  .  .   .  .  .   .
CIVA  .  .   .  .  .  .   Berengere's Women

MAURIA   .   .  .  .  .
SMARDA   .   .  .  .   .  Slave to Vittia
PIETRO   .   .  .  .  .   In Vittza's pay



   Priests, Acolytes, etc.

TI.IE-The Szxteenth Century
PLACE-The .sland of Cyprus

 








YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



SCENE: A dim Hall, of blended Gothic and Sara-
    cenic styles, in the Lusignan Castle, on the
    island of Cyprus near Famagouste. Around
    the walls, above faint frescoes portraying the
    deliverance of Jerusalem  by the Crwsaders,
    runs a frieze inlaid with the coats .of -arms of
    former Lusignan kings. On the left, and back,
    is a door hung with heavy aamask, and in the
    wall opposite, another. Farther down on the
    right a few steps, whose railing siupports a
    Greek vase with jasmine, lead through a chapel
    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.

 



4          YOLANDA      OF CYPRUS

    A table with a lighted cross-shaped candlestick
    is by the door, left; and a lectern with a book
    on it, to the front, right. As the curtain rises,
    the Women, except CIVA, lean wearily on the
    divan, and HALIL near is singing dreamily:
        Ah, the balm, the balm,
        And ah, the blessing
        Of the deep fall of night
        And of confessing.
        Of the sick soul made white
        Of all distressing:
        -Made white!
        Ah, balm of night
        Ar.d, ah the blessing!
        [The music falls and all seem yielding to
            sleep. Suddenly there are hoof-beats
            and sounds at the gates below. HALIL
            springs up.
  Halil. Alessa! Maga! Voices at the gates!
                                     [All start up.

Some one is come.

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Alessa.          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.                            AhM
And comes he 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.
Halil (calling).                    Oho!

    [He admits OLYMPIO, who enters insolently
              down. All press round him gaily.

 Mauria. Well, what, Olympio, from Fama-
   gouste 
 What tidings tell us.



5

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Maga.              See, his sword!
Olympio.                           Stand off.
Mauria.  The tidings, then, the tidings!
  Olympio.                   None-for women.
  Mauria. So-ho, my Cupid None of the Sara-
  cens 
Of the squadron huddling yesterday for haven
At Keryneia
  Olympio.   Who has told you
  Mauria.                        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
  Olympic. 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 off, but is arrested by laughter
           within. It is CIVA who enters, hold-
           ing up a parchment.



6

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



0! 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 ! (laughs).
 Alessa (to CIVA).        Now what have you
 Civa. Verses! found in the garden. Verses!
   verses!
On papyrus of Paphos. 0, to read!
But you, Alessa-!
Alessa (takes them).     In the garden

Civa.                                    By
The fountain cypress, at the marble feet
Of chaste Diana!
Alaga.                 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.



7

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Civa.                         0, as a nun
You ever sigh for sorrow!-They are of love!
Of princes 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!
  Alessa.         Maga-Civa-Ah!
                      [She rends the parchment.
 Mauria. What are you doing
 Alessa.               They were writ to her!
 Mlauria. To her to whom what are you say-



   ing Read !
Read us the verses.
Alessa.          N O.
Mauria.               Tell then his name
Who writes them, and to whom.
Alessa.                      I will not.

Mauria.



Then



g

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



It is sonme guilt you hide !-And touching her
You dote on-lady Yolanda!
Alessa.                  Shame!
Mauria.                           Some
Of one, then, in this castle !-See, her lips
Betray it is.
Maga. No, Mauria! no! no! (holds her)



guilt



hush!



[Forms appear without.



Mauria. 0, loose me.
Maga.      There, on the loggia! Hlush, see-
Our lady and Sir Camarin.
Alessa (fearful).       It is. .
They heard us, Maga
Mlaga.              No, but-
Mauria (to ALESSA).         So that mouse
Alessa. You know not, Mauria, what thing you
   say.-
He is troubling her; be still.



[Stepping out as BERENGERE enters.

             My lady 

 


0YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Bcrcngerc (unwillingly).          Yes.
It is time, now, for your lamps,
And for your aves and o'erneeded sleep.
But first I'd know if yet lord Renier-
                          [Sees ALESSA'S face.
Why are you pale



Alessa.



I



Berengere.

Alessa.

But put away



So-and strange.



We have



the distaff and the needle.



CAMARIN enters.



Berengere. The distaff and the needle-it may
   be.
And yet you do not seem-



Alessa.



Berengere.

And send me Hassan.



My lady-

             Go.


 [The women leave.



                     Camarin-you saw
They were not as their wont is.



10

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Camarin.                     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-

  Carnarin.           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
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.



I I

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Berengere.            None can say.

He's much with this Venetian, our guest,
Though Venice gyves us more with tyranny

Than would the Saracen.

  Camarin.                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 verdure-dream of the seas, unto his house.

'Tis clear, my Berengere!
  Berengere.              Then, her design

And, 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.



I2

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  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.
Go-go.
  Camarin.       But to return unto your breast!
                    [He leaves her by the divan.
        [The women re-enter with silver lighted
           lamps; behind 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.                    Wait no longer.
Lord Renier will not come.
  Hassan.                  No word of him 



13

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  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 fol-
       lows.
 Hassan (staring after her). The reason of this
   mood in her the reason
Something is vile. Lady Yolanda weeps
In secret; all for what By God! the Paphian
Or she of Venice (sees SMARDA). Now slave!
    Scythian !
Why do you linger
Smarda.              I am bidden-(snarls) by
My mistress.
Hassan. Spa! Thy mistress hath, I think,
Something of hell in her and has unpacked
A portion in this castle. Is it so
Smarda. My lady is of Venice.



I4

 



YOLANDA OF CYP



Hassan.                     Strike he
Her smirk admits it.
Smarda.           Touch me not!
Hassan.                          I'll
Your tongue out sudden, if it now has lies.
What of your lady and lord Renier
Smarda.                        Off!



     I s

er, God.




wring



RENIER enters behind, with MORO.



Hassan. Your lady and lord Renier, I say!
What do they purpose
Smarda.              Fool-born! look arou
Hassan. Not till-
Smarda.              Lord Renier, help.
Hassan.                   What do you s;



[Turns, and stares amazed.



A fool I am. ..
Renier.



Where is my wife



Hassan.
This slave stung me to pry.
Renier.



Why, she ...



Where is my wife



nd.



'RUS



ly

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Hassan. A moment since she left-the women
   with her.

She asked for your return.
Renier.                 And wherefore did
Hassan. You jeer me.
Renier.                Answer.

Hassan.             Have you not been gone
Renier. Not-overfar. Where is Yolanda -

   Well
No matter; find my chamber till I come.

Of my arrival, too, no word to any.
                      [HASSAN goes, confused.

You, Moro, have deferred me; now, I move.
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 S MARDA.

Slave, to your lady who awaits me, say
I'm here and now have chosen.
Aforo.                     Do not!



i6

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



17



  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.                 Sir
  Renier.                     I must know.
  Moro. 'Tis of your wife -Yolanda
  Renier.                      Name them not.
They've shut me from their souls.
  Moro.                       My lord, not so;
But you repulse them.
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-

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Moro. Distrust her!
Renier.             She has power.
Moro.                          But not truth.
And yesterday a holy relic scorned.
Renier. She loves Amaury. UWed to her he will
Be the elected Governor of Cyprus.

The throne, then, but a step.
Moro.                      But all too great.

And think; Yolanda is to him as heaven:
He will not yield her.
Renier.              Then he must. And she,
The Venetian, has ways to it-a secret
To wrench her from his arms.
  Aforo.                  Sir, sir-of what
  Renier. I know not, of some shame.
  Moro.                              Shame!
  Renier.               Why do you clutch me
  Moro. I-am   a priest-and shame-
  Renier.                 You show suspicions.
                        [VITTIA enters unnoted.
Of whom-Of whom, and what



r8

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Vittia (lightly).



MIy lord, of women.



[RENIER starts and turns.



So does the Holy Church instil him.

  Rcnier.                              You
Come softly, lady of Venice.

  Vittia.                   Streets of sea

In Venice teach us.

  Renier.           Of what women, then
My wife Yolanda

  Vittia.            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.
  vittia.                   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.
  Vittia.                 To say you've chos



;en 



IQ



t,



,I   .                             -

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



And offer me irrevocable aid
To win Amaury

Renier.         All is vain in me
Before the fever for it.

  Vittia.             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.

Renier.     Of rule .. . Then what
  Vittia (going up to him). Of shame withheld
  -dishonor unrevealed.



[As he recoils.



Hush ! there are steps.



Smarda (quickly).



     [The slave re-enters.

Smarda 
         My lady!



20

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Vittia.
  Smnarda.
  Vittia.
  Smarda.
  Renier.
  Vittia.
  Renier.
Stay and 4
  Vittia.
  Renier.
  Vittia.
  Renier.



Speak.



I've erred; she's not asleep.
              Who -Ah!
Yes; she is coming!



Yolanda 



Ha!
My lord-!
  I'll stav,



confront her.



I'll question



Ignorantly No.
her.



                Blindly, and peril all
I will return. You put me off, and off.



      [By the loggia, with MORO, he goes; the
          slave slips out.   YOLANDA   enters,
          sadly, her gaze on the floor.  She
          walks slowly, but becoming conscious
          starts, sees VITTIA, and turns to with-
          draw.

Vittia. Your pardon-
Yolanda.                I can serve you



2 I

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Vittia.                            If you seek
The women, they are gone.
  Yolanda.                  I do not seek them.
  Vittia. Nor me

  Yolanda.        Nor any.-Yet I would I might
With seeking penetrate the labyrinth
Of your intent.
  Vittia.         I thank you. And you shall,
To-night-if you have love.
  Yolanda.                That thread were vain.
  Vittia. I say, if you have love.
  Yolanda.                       Of guile
  Vittia.                                Of her
You hold as mother, and who is Amaury's.
  Yolanda. Were it so simple, all designs that
    ever
Laired in you, would to my eyes have been as clear
As shallows under Morpha's crystal wave.
  Vittia. Unproven you speak so.
  Yolanda.                   And proven would.
  Vittia. If so, then-save her.



22

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Yolanda. Who What do you- (stops).
  Vittia (with irony).                   Mean 
It is not clear
  Yolanda. Save her
  Vittia.               The surety flies
Out of your cheek and dead upon your heart:
Yet you are innocent-oh innocent !-
O'er what abyss she hangs!
  Yolanda.                 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 baron
Of Paphos-Camarin-is but her friend,
And deeply yours-as oft you feign to shield her!
  Yolanda. He is no more.
  Vittia.             Your heart belies your lips,
Knows better than believing what you say.
  Yolanda. Were, were he then . . . (struggles)
    lord Renier knows it not!



23

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



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.
  Vittia.                    None 

  Yolanda.                      Your tone . . .
(Realising.) The still insinuation!  You would

    do it!
This is the beast then of the labyrinth!

And this your heart is!
  Vittia.              No, not ever: no.
But now, if you deny me.
  Yolanda.               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,



24

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



A death too ready if he but suspect.
No, she is holy!
And holy are my lips
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!
For 0!-
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 
  Yolanda. The price, say, of your silence.-I am

    weary.



25

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Vittia. And would be rid of me.
  Yolanda.                  The price, the price.
  Vittia. It is (low and ashamed) that you re-

  nounce 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
                              [Waits a moment.

A swallow on the battlements to-day
Fell from the hawk: you soothed and set it free.
This, then, you would not-!
  Vittia.                    Yes.
  Yolanda.                        You cannot!
  Vittia.                                 Yes.
  Yolanda (wrung for a moment then calm).
I had forgotten, you are of Venice-Venice
\Whose burdening is vast upon this land.

Good-night.



26

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Vittia.   And you despise me!
  Yolanda.                       More I loathe
That love of him has led your thought so low.

                                     [Is going.

  Vittia. Stay! If you leave and do not choose
  at once-
                 [Sounds are heard at the gates.

Who's that . . . (starts). Amaury . . . You've
   expected him
                               [The chains fall.

Your purpose, then ! Is it now 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 it! For centuries have stained these walls
But never a wife; never-

           Enter BERENGERE.

  Yolanda.        Mother . . .
  Berengere.                      Amaury
Has spurred to us, Yolanda, from his post,



2 7

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



And is below. But . . . what has befallen

                  [Looks from one to the other.

  Yolanda. He comes here, mother
  Berengere. At once.
  Yolanda (in dread).  Ah!

  Berengere.                 Child .. .
  Vittia (to Yolanda).                To-night

Must be the end.
  Yolanda.       Go, go.
  Berengcrc (as Vittia passes out). What thing

    is this
  Yolanda. 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 anything!



28

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Berengere.   Yolanda!
  Yolanda.                Say.... No use.
Too late.
  Berengere.    His step 
  Yolanda.                 Oh, unmistakable;
Along the corridor. Go!

                 [The curtains are thrown back.

 Ainaury (at the threshold).   My Yolanda!
    [Hastens down and takes her, passive, in his
        arms. BERENGERE goes.
My, my Yolanda!
                                    [Kisses her.

To touch you is as triumph to the blood,
Is as the boon of battle to the strong!
  Yolanda. Amaury, no; release me and say why
You come: The Saracens-
  Antaury.                  Not of them now!

                          [Bends back her head.

But of some tribute incense to this beauty,
Dear as the wind wafts from undying shrines



29

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Of mystery and myrrh!
I'd have the eloquence of quickened moons
Pouring upon the midnight magicly,
To say all I have yearned,
Now, with your head pillowed upon my breast!
Slow sullen speech, come to my soldier lips,
Rough with command, and impotent of softness!

Come to my lips! or fill so full my eyes
That the unutterable shall seem as sweet
To my Yolanda. But . . how, how now tears
                                [Lifts her face.

  Yolanda. Amaury-
  Amaury. What have I done       Too pronely

    pressed
You to this coat of steel
  Yolanda.              No, no.
  Antaury.                       My words,
Or silence, then 
  Yolanda.       Amaury, no, but sweet,
Sweet as the roses of Damascus crusht,
Your silence is! and sweeter than the dream



30

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Of April nightingale on Troados,
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.
Amaury! . . .
  Arnaury.    This I cannot understand.
  Yolanda (freeing herself). Nothing-a folly-

  groundless frailty.
  Amaury. 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.



31

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Amaury.                   Often, perhaps.
I am not skilled to tell. But never these!
They are of trouble known.
  Yolanda.                Yet now forget them.
  Amaury. It will not leave my heart that some-
  how-how
I cannot fathom-Camarin
  Yolanda (lightly, to stop him). No farther!
  Amaury. That Camarin of Paphos is their
  cause.-
Tell me
  Yolanda. Yes, that I love thee!
  Amaury.                       Tell me-
  Yolanda.                         Love thee !
As sea the sky! and as the sky the wind!
And as the wind the forest! As the forest-
What does the forest love, Amaury I
Can think of nothing!
Amaury.             Tell me then you have
Never a moment of you yielded to him,
That never he has touched too long this hand-



32

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Till evermore he must, even as I-
Nor once into your eyes too deep has gazed!
You falter darken
  Yotanda.          Would he ne'er had come
Into these halls! that it were beautiful,
Holy to hate him as the Lost can hate.
A maury. But 'tis not 
  Yolanda.              God shall judge him.
  Amaury.                        And not you
  Yolanda. Though he is weak, there is within
  him-
  Ainaury.        That
Which women trust and you



[BERENGERE enters. He turns to her.

                  Mother 



Berengere.
A soldier of your troop within the forts
Has come with word.
Amaury (starting). Mother!
Berengere.                   It is



A runner,



ill news



33

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



I've seen that battle-light in you before.
'Tis of the Saracens you ride to-night
Into their peril
Ainaury.      Come, the word, the word!
Berengere. Only this token.
Amaury.       The spur the spur (Takes it.)
   They then
Are landing!
  Yolanda.   How. Amaury; tell your meaning!
  Amaury. The galleys of the Saracens have found
Anchor and land to-night near Keryneia.
My troops are ready and await me-
So I must speed.
  Yolanda (with strange terror). I pray you, do
  not go.
  Atnaury. Yolanda!
  Yolanda.           If I am left alone-!
  A maury.                            Yolanda !
  Yolanda (sinking to a seat). I meant it not-a
  breath of fear-forget-
And go.



34

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Ainaury. I know you not to-night. Farewell.

    [He kisses her and hurries off.  A silence.

  Berengere. Yolanda-
  Yolanda.           Mother, I will go to sleep.

                                     [She rises.

  Berengere. A change has come to you-a dif-
    ference
Drawn as a veil between us.
  Yolanda.                  I am weary.
  Berengere. You love me
  Yolanda.            As, 0 mother, I love him,
With love impregnable to every ill,
As Paradise is.
  Berengere.      Then-

  Yolanda.                I pray, no more.
To-night I am flooded with a deeper tide
Than yet has flowed into my life-and through it
Sounds premonition: so I must have calm.

    [She embraces BERENGERE; goes slowly up
        steps and off.



35

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Berengere (chilled). What fear-if it is fear-
   has so unfixed her
Is it suspicion Then I must not meet
Him here to-night-or if to-night, no more.

Her premonition !-and my dream that I
Should with a cross bring her deep bitterness.
    [Thinks a moment, then takes the crucifix from

        her neck.
Had Renier but come, perhaps I might
                              [Lays it on table.

0 were I dead this sinning would awake me! . . .
And yet I care not (dully). . . . No, I will forget.
        [Goes firmly from door to door and looks
            out each.  Then lifts, unnoting, the
            cross-shaped candlestick; and waving it
            at the loggia, turns holding it before her.
Soon he will come up from the cool, and touch
Away my weakness with mad tenderness.

Soon he will . . . Ah!
    [Has seen with terror the candlestick's struc-
        ture.



36

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



The cross!  .  My dream! . . . Yolanda!

                                   [Lets it fall.

Mercy of God, move in me! . . . Sacrilege!

    [Sinks feebly to the divan, and bows, overcome.

  Camarin (appearing after a pause on the loggia).

My Berengere, a moment, and I come!

        [Enters, locking the grating behind him.
           Then he hurries down and leans to
           lift her face.

  Berengere. No, no! nor ever, ever again, for
  ever!
                                      [Shrinks.

Go from me and behind leave no farewell. . ..
  Camarin. This is-illusion.  In the dew   I've
  waited,
And the night's song of you is in my brain-
A song that seems-
Berengere.     Withhold from words. At last
Fate is begun! See, with the cross it was



37

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



I waved you hither. Leave me-let me pass
Out of this sin-and to repentance-after.
  Camarin. I cannot, cannot!
  Berengere.                 Pity, then, my fear.
This moment were it known would end with mur-
    der,
Or did it not, dishonour still would kill!
Leave, leave.
  Camarin.    To-morrow, then; but not to-night!
    [He goes behind and puts his arms around her.
Give me thy being once again, thy beauty.
For it I'm mad as bacchanals for wine.
        [YOLANDA, cntering on the balcony, hears,
            and would retreat, but sees RENIER
            come to the grating.
Once more be to me all that woman may!
Let us again take rapture wings and rise
Up to our world of love, guilt would unsphere.
Let us live over days that passed as streams
Limpid by lotus-banks unto the sea,
O'er all the whispered nights that we have clasped



38

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



Knowing the heights and all the deeps of passion!
But speak, and we shall be amid the stars.

       [RENIER draws a dagger and leaves the
           grating. With, a low cry YOLANDA
           staggers down: the Two rise, fearful.

 Berengere. Yolanda!
 Yolanda.  Mother, mother! . . . Ah, his eyes!
 Berengere. What brings you here-to spy upon



   me
   Yolanda.
Think not of me-no, hush-
Arisen up . . . Your husbar
Carnarin.
  Yolanda. Was at that
  from its sheath
Drew forth a dagger !-Ah
Berengere (weakly).
  Yolanda. Find calmness
  ent.



          Listen!.. .
-but of the peril
id !



  Renier
grating-heard.



And



What does she say
now, and some expedi-



                       [She struggles to think.
Berengere. I cannot die.



39

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Yolanda.                 No, no.
  Berengere.                  My flesh is weak,
Is poor of courage-poverished by guilt,

As all my soul is! But, Yolanda, you-!
  Yolanda. Yes, something must be done-some-
thing be done.
      [CAMARIN goes to the curtains and returns.
 Berengere. The shame . . . the shame . . . the

   shame!
   Yolanda.                    There yet is time.
 Berengere. You can deliver! you are innocent.
 Yolanda. Perhaps.   Let me but think.-He

   came-
   Berengere.                         You see
There is escape a way from it
  Yolanda.                     Perhaps.
He came after your words . . . yes . . . could not

    see
Here in the dimness . . . but has only heard

Sir Camarin .. .
  Berengere.     I do not know!



40

 



YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Yolanda.                        Go, in

Up to your chamber and be as asleep.

There is a way-I think-dim, but a way.

Go to your chamber; for there yet may be

Prevention !

  Berengere. I-yes, yes.



Yolanda.                There is a way.

                               [BERENGERE goes.

Strength now to walk it! strength unfaltering.

Camnarin. What do you purpose

  Yolanda.               Here to take her place,

Here at the lowest of her destiny.

  Camarin. I do not understand.

  Yolanda.                     But wholly shall.

Clasp me within your arms; he must believe

'Tis I and not his wife you have unhallowed,

Your arms about me, though they burn! and breathe

    me

Thirst of unbounded love as unto her.

                  [Hc clasps her, and they wait.

Ah, it is he!



41



.. .

 


YOLANDA OF CYPRUS



  Camarin.    No.
  Yolanda.         Yes, the words; at once!

  Camarin (hoarsely). With all my body and soul-
    breath I love you,
                      [RENIER enters with MORO.
And all this night is ours for ecstasy.
Kiss me with quenchless kisses, and embrace
Me with your beauty, till-

        [YOLANDA with a cry, as of fear, looses

            herself,pretending to discover RENIER,
            who is struck rigid.

  AMoro.                 My lord, my lord! . . .

It is Yolanda.
  Renier.      Then-
                    [The dagger falls from him.
                        Why, then-Amau