The Vigil of Venus and Other Poems | Page 8

he'd ta'en a wound.
What is't they shout??Eh? 'Victory!'--yes, yes. He's browner, thinner;?And the dear eyes, how gaunt!... Yes
'Victory!'?'Victory!' ... lord, and love!,..
_[The shouts of acclamation are heard now close?under the terrace. Spears and banners are?seen trooping past. Beside herself, she throws?flowers to them, laughing, weeping the while.?Then, running to the Chapel door, she?prostrates herself before the image of the?Virgin that crowns its archway.]_
O Mary, Mother!?Thou, in whose breast all women's thoughts have moved,?All woman's passions heaved. Lo! I adore!?Sweet Mother, hold my hands, rejoice with me:?My bridegroom cometh!
[_During this invocation the Countess Fulvia has?crept in, a stiletto in her hand. She leans?over the Regent and stabs her twice in the?breast.]_
Fulvia. Then with that!--and that!
Go meet him!
Regent (turns, looks up, and falls on her face).
Oh! I am slain!
Fulvia. And I am worse!
But there's my flower, my red flower, on your breast.-- Go, meet your lord and show it!
[_She passes down the steps as Lucetta runs in.]_
Lucetta. Madam! Madam!
The Duke is at the gate--Madam!--?Christ! she is murdered! Murder! Murder!
Regent. Fie,?Lucetta! peace! What word to greet the Duke?For his home-coming! Lift me ... Quick, my robe--?My Crown! Call no one. O, but hasten!
Lucetta (helpless, wringing her hands). Madam!
Regent. I need your strength, and must I steady you??Lucetta, years ago you disarrayed me?Upon my bridal night. I would you'd whisper?The rogueries your tongue invented then.?I have few moments, girl ... I'd have them wanton.?Make jest this mantle hides the maid I was.?I'll have no priest, no doctor--Fetch Tonino!?I must present his son--?[Lucetta runs out.?All's acted quick:?Bride-bed, conception, birth--and death! But he?Shall sum it in one moment death not takes ...?What noise of trumpets!... Is the wound not covered?
[_She wraps herself carefully in her mantle as the?courtiers pour in. The child Tonino runs to?her and stands by her side. Lucio, Cesario,?all the Court, group themselves round her as?the Duke enters. He rushes in eagerly; but?she sets her teeth on her anguish, and receives?him with a low reverence._
Welcome my lord!
Duke. Ottilia!
Regent. Good my lord,?Welcome! This day is bright restores you to?Your loyal Duchy.
Duke (impatient). Wife! Ottilia!
Regent (she lifts a hand to keep him at distance).?There must be forms, my lord--some forms! Cesario,?Render the Duke his sceptre. As bar to socket,?When the gate closes on a town secure,?So locks this rod back to his manly clutch--?Cry all, 'Long live the Duke!'
All. Long live the Duke!
Duke. Wife, make an end with forms!
Lucio (to Cesario). And so say I!?A man would think my sister had no blood?In her body.
Cesario (watching the Regent). Peace, man: something?there's amiss.
Regent. Yet here is he that sceptre shall inherit.?Lucetta, lead his first-born to the Duke.?His first-born!--Nay but look on him how straight?Of limb, how set and shoulder-square, tho' slender!?He'll sit a horse, in time, and toss a lance?Even with his father.
Duke. There's my blessing, boy!?But stand aside. Look in my face, Ottilia--?Hearken me, all! One thing these seven years?My life hath lacked, which wanting, all your cannon,?Your banners, vivas, bells that rock the roofs,?Throng'd windows, craning faces--all--all--all?Were phantasms, were noise.--
Lucio (exclaims). Why look, here's blood!?Here, on the boy's hand!
Regent. Ay! a scratch, no worse,?Here, when I pinned my robe.
Duke (continuing). Nay, friends, this moment?My Duchy her dear hand restores to me?To me's a dream. More buoyant would I tread?Dumb street, deserted square, climb ruin'd wall,?Where in a heap beneath a broken flag?Lay Adria.--?So that amid the ruins stood my love?And stretched her hands so faintly--stretched her hands?So faintly. See! She's mine! She lifts them--
Regent (_totters and falls into his arms with a tired, happy laugh, which ends in a cry as his arms enfold her_). Ah!
[She faints.
Duke. (after a moment, releasing her a little). What's?here? Ottilia!
Lucetta. My mistress swoons!
A Courtier. 'Tis happiness--
Duke. Fetch water!
Lucio. Nay this blood--
Came of no scratch!
Lucetta. Loosen her bodice--
Duke. Blood?
Why blood? Where's blood?
(Stares as the mantle is imclasped and falls open).
Ah, my God!
Lucetta. Murder! murder!?The Countess Fulvia--
Cesario. Speak!
Lucetta. There--while she knelt--?Stabbed her, and fled.
Cesario. Which way?
[_Lucetta points to the stairs. He dashes off in?pursuit._
Duke. All-seeing God!?Where were thine eyes, or else thy justice? Dead??O, never dead!
Lucio. Ay, Duke, push God aside,?As I push thee. I have the better right:?I killed her--I. O never pass, sweet soul,?Till thou hast drunk a shudder of this wretch,?Thy brother, playmate, murderer!
Duke. Wine! bring wine--
Regent (as the wine is brought and revives her).?Flower, he will crush thee--but the bliss, the bliss!?I swim in bliss. What ... Lucio? Where's my lord??Dear, bring him: he was here awhile and held me.?Say he must hold, or the light air will lift?And bear me quite away.
[_Re-enter Cesario. In one hand he carries his?sword, in the other a dagger._
Lucio. Cesario!?What! Is that devil escaped? To think--to think?I drank her kisses!--What? Where is she?
Cesario. Dead.?I raised the cry: the people pointed after;?Ran with me, ravening. Just this side the bridge?She heard our howl and turned--drew back the dagger?Red with our lady's