ACT IV

It is suspicion! is that mad suspicionThat you have had of her.Renier.It is! It is!Yolanda.And—all because I have these days delayedTo wed with Camarin.Renier.Delayed?Yolanda.BecauseI show befitting shame that I was hereFound in his arms...when to AmauryI was betrothed!Renier.Power of—!—No!Yolanda.BecauseI grieve to leave Lusignan, this my home—Where I have dwelt as under tented love—Though I am bidden.Renier.This can be?Berengere(faintly).Yolanda!Renier.I say—only delayed? and you—?Yolanda.Yes, yes.Now I will wed him, heedless, wantless, wild.Send for the priest and for Amaury, forLaughter and lights and revelry—for allWithin this castle. But first to her bed,And to tranquillity,She must be borne, she your cold violenceHas driven here....Alessa—Tremitus![They have entered.Lead her within. O mother! piteous mother!——Ah, it was ruthless, kindless!Renier.We shall see.[ToHassan.Bid Moro and Amaury.—As for her,I soon may come and seek forgiveness.Berengere.No![Hassangoes.My brain and breath!...the pall...where am I...howLong must I lie!...Tremitus.She speaks to visions. So,So can the blood do—trick us utterly![He supports her—withAlessa—slowly up steps and off.Yolandacovers her eyes.Hassanreturns withMoro,then, and withAmaury,whose look seeksVittia.Yolanda(as all stand silent). Speak, speak, and tell him!Renier.Yes, Amaury...youAre sent for to behold Yolanda wed,As you commanded,Here unto Camarin. Shame has till nowWithheld her, but...what ails you?Amaury.On; go on.The sudden blood up to my wounds.Renier.It has,I say, withheld her. But she now has chosen.Amaury.So; and...it is well. And here are herVows I have kept—[Takes a packet from his breast.Vows and remembrances...I shall aspire—[Hands it; she lets it fall.That I may loathe her not o'ermuch; and toMuffle my sword from him that now she weds.[His voice breaks tonelessly.Come, let it be.Yolanda.Amaury!Amaury(angrily).Priest, be brief!Moro(before them; asCamarintakesYolanda'shand).The Church invests me, and the powers ofThis island, here to make you man and wife.Be joined, ye who have sinned,In soul, peace and repentances for ever.[He signs the cross.Yolandastands dazed. A silence. Then a shuddering cry and all turn toward the balcony, whereAlessabursts, pale and wild and striving to speak.Yolanda(with dread, awe, premonition).Alessa!Alessa.Lady Yolanda! you have wed him?Yolanda(pausing). Yes.Alessa.Lady Berengere is dead.Yolanda.No!...No![Chokes rebelliously.It cannot be! mother! cannot! awake her!And tell her I have wed him! mother! cannot![Goes trembling, belieflessly, up the balcony. A strange doubt seizesAmaury.On the rest is silence, consternation, and fear.CurtainACT IVScene:The Chapel of the Castle—or Chapel of the Magdalen—a few hours later. It is of stone, low-arched, gloomy, and adorned with Byzantine mosaics of gaunt saints on backgrounds of gold. The altar is in the rear, and above it a large window, through which pours the still moon. In front of it, to either side, rise two pillars supporting the roof, and on one of them, halfway up, stands a stone image of the Magdalen. Forward are two other pillars whose bases form seats. The right wall has, set midway, a large door hung with heavy curtains. In the rear are smaller doors leading to a sacristy. The altar lamp and a few tapers burn.Alessaenters, rubbing her eyes as if to clear them of vision, looks around, then calls uncertainly—Alessa.Good father! Father Moro!...He is not here.[Rubs her eyes again.The dead are strange! I knew not of their power.It is as if her spirit still imprisonedHovered beneath the pallor of her faceAnd strove to speak. Good father![EnterMoro.Ah, you wereThere in the sacristy.Moro.Yes, Your desire?Alessa.The acolytes summoned from FamagousteTo aid your rites before her burialHave come, and wait.Moro.Send hither two.[Looks closely at her.Alessa.At once.[Is going. He stops her.Moro.Woman, this passes silence. There must beSome question. Do you understand this wedding?The evil that has risen in this house?Do you?Alessa.I may not speak.Moro.And wherefore may not?Alessa.I may not. It is best.Moro.As says Yolanda,Who is to-day impenetrable in all.But who, now, in a lofty grief aboveThe misery that blasted her, seems calm,And answers only,—"God in His season will,I trust, unfold it soon; I cannot, now!" ...And yet I heardHer darkly bid the Paphian be gone——From here—without her.Alessa.And he would not?Moro.No.Does she not see Amaury dangerousFor truth—which you conceal?Alessa.The acolytesAre waiting.Moro.Go....But if this hour brings forthWhat you shall rue——Alessa.Father![Goes quickly, troubled.Moro.In blindness still!For Vittia Pisani, who aloneSeems with these twain to share this mysteryIs silent to all importunity.Oh, Berengere Lusignan!—But, 'tis mineTo pray and to prepare. (Listens.) The acolytes.[Two enter, sleek, sanctimonious.(To Them.) Come here....You're Serlio,Of the Ascension. You?2nd Acolyte.Hilarion.From Santa Maria by the Templars' well,Which God looks on with gratitude, father.For though we're poor and are unworthy servantsWe've given willingly our widow's mite.And now we....Moro.You are summoned to this placeFor ministrations other than the tongue's.Prepare that altar—masses for the dead.Hilarion.Man is as grass that withers!Moro.Kindle allIts tapers. The departed will be borneHither for holy care and sacred rest.So do—then afterLook to that image of the Magdalen,Once it has fallen.Serlio.Domine, dirige![Morogoes. They put off cant and set to work.Hilarion(insolently, lighting a taper).We'll have good wine for this!Serlio.The Chian! Hee!None's like the Chian! and to-morrow, meat!Last week old Ugo died and we had pheasant.Hilarion.When we are priests we'll give no comfortingTo wife or maid—till we have sipped!Serlio.And supped!Though 'tis a Friday and the Pope is dead![Silence. They work faster.Hilarion.There, it is done. Now to the image.[Mounts pillar.Serlio.Well,Olympio, the cock who fetched us, saidThat image fell first on the day——Hilarion.Tchuck! tchuck!Better no breath about that lord of Paphos,Or any here. For till the dead are threeDays gone, you know—! But there's the woman. Feign.[AsAlessare-enters; hypocritically.The blessed dead! in Purgatory mayThey briefly bide.Serlio.Aye! aye!Alessa(still troubled).What say you?Hilarion.Ah!I lay that it is wiser never to foulThe dead, even in thinking,For they may hear us, none can say, and onceMy mother saw a dead man who had goneUnshriven start up white and cry out loudWhen he was curst.Serlio.O Lord!Alessa(staring).No!...Well, such thingsThere are perchance. And now they say that Venus,The Anadyomene, who once ruled this isle,Is come again....But you have finished? SoonThey bring her body here.Hilarion.Now have I, now!It will not totter again.[Descends.Alessa.Would that it mightUpon the head of——(catches herself; calmly) You are awaitedThere in the sacristy....The chant begins![The acolytes go. She grows more disquieted.Begins! and lady Yolanda still awaitsHeedless, though Lord Amaury's desperate,As is the Paphian!...They near!...The curtains![Goes to door and draws them back. As she does so the chant swells louder. Then the cortège enters—Moro,the acolytes with tapers;Berengereon a litter,Amaury,Renier,Vittia,the women,Hassan,and lastYolanda.The litter,Amauryby it, comes to the altar; the chanting ceases.Moro(asAmaurybows, shaken).No moan or any toil of grief be hereWhere we have brought her for sainted appeal.But in this holy place until the tombLet her find rest.Amaury.Set down the bier.[It is placed.Moro.Lone rest!Then bliss Afar for ever!Amaury(rises).Be it so![Turning; brokenly.But unto any, mother, who have brought theeLow to this couch, be never ease again.To any who have put thy life out, never!But in them be the burning that has seemedTo shrivel thee—whether with pain or fear!And be appeaseless tears,Salt tears that rust the fountain of the heart.[Sinks to a seat. A pause.Moro.My son, relentless words.Amaury(up again).To the relentless!Moro.God hear you not!Amaury.Then is He not my God.Moro.Enough, enough. (To the rest.) But go and for her soulFreight all of you this tide of night with prayer.Amaury.Never!Moro.I bid.Amaury.And I forbid those whoHave prized her not!For though nought's in the world but prayer may move,Still but the lips that loved herShould for her any sin beseeching lift.[Looking atYolanda.They and no other!Yolanda.It is well.Amaury.Not one.Yolanda.Then, mother——[Goes to bier.Amaury.That name again?Yolanda.While I have breath.[Fixedly.Yes, though you hold me purgeless of that sinOnly the pale archangels may endureTrembling to muse on!Or though yon image of the Magdalen.Whose alabaster broke amid her tearsAnd her torn hair, forbade me with a voice.And you, whose heart is shakenAs in a tomb a taper's flame, would knowI speak with love.Camarin.Unswerving love.Amaury.Then, byChrist, and the world that craves His blood, I thinkShe, if she would, or you, could point to me,Or you, Vittia Pisani,The reason of this sudden piteous deathHard on the haunted flight before my father,Whose lips refuse.Camarin.She knows no shred of it.Amaury.You lie to say it.Camarin.Then will, still—if thereIs need.Amaury.Because you love her?Yolanda.Peace, peace, peace.Amaury.A hollow word for what had never being.Yolanda.Look on her face and see.Amaury(at bier).Upon her face!Where not oblivion the void of deathHas hid away, or can, the agonyOf her last terror—but it trembles still.I tell you, no. Grief was enough, but nowThrough it has risen mystery that chokesAs a miasma from Iscariot's tomb.And till this pall of doubt be rent awayNo earth shall fall and quicken with her dust!But I will search her face...till it reveals.Camarin.He raves.Amaury.Iscariot! yes!Yolanda.Again, peace, peace!Amaury.That you may palter!Yolanda(gently).That she may not grieve.[Goes again to bier.For—if her soul is near—it now is wrung.Near! would it were to hear me and impartIts yearning and regret to us who live,Its dim unhappiness and hollow want.Yes, mother, were you now about us, vain,Invisible and without any voiceTo tell us of you!Were you and now could hear through what of coldOr silence wrap you, oh, so humanly,And seeming but a veil—Then would you hear me say—[Suddenly aghast.Ah, God!Amaury.Yolanda![She starts back from the bier.Yolanda!Renier.Girl, what rends you?Yolanda.Saw you not?[Rushes to bier and shakes it.Mother! you hear me? mother!Renier.Girl!Yolanda.She breathes![Consternation. Some fall to their knees.Vittia.What? what?Yolanda.Mother! Her breast! Mother! She moves!Amaury.God! God!Yolanda.Stand off from her....Mother!Camarin.Her eyes!...They open! open!Yolanda.Mother!...Amaury.See; her lips!They strive to speak! O faintly. O so faint!Can you not hear?Berengere.Yolanda!Yolanda.Mother!Berengere.Renier!Renier.Yes, yes?Berengere.Yolanda—Renier.Speak!Berengere.Christ, save me...Christ!Yolanda's innocent, and I...'twas I.Amaury.What? what is it she says?Berengere.Camarin! Ah![She shudders and dies, amid low uttered awe.Renierbends, lays his hand a moment on her breast, then, with a cry of rage, springs from her and draws, and rushes onCamarin,who awaits him, desperate.Amaury(confused, as they engage).Yolanda; what is this?Yolanda.Amaury, in!Compel lord Renier back! he cannot live,You only could against Camarin now!Wait not to question, but obey me! if—You ever—! (as he rushes in) Holy Magdalen, defend him![Renierfalls back.Now, now defend him, if to chastityThou'rt vowed in heaven.Vittia.Fool!...Camarin, strike!Yolanda.He's wounded!Camarin.Oh!...Berengere!...treachery![He staggers and sinks back heavily toward the pillar. There is breathless, strained suspense. Then the image above, unsettled and shaken by his fall, sways, totters and crushes upon him. A cry, "The Magdalen!" goes up around.Hassan(hurrying to him; after awe and silence).He's dead.Alessa.The Magdalen!Hassan.No breath in him.[A pause.Renier(low, harshly).Bear him without then ever from this place,That never more shall know a holy rite—And from these gates, I care not to what tomb.[ToAmaury.Then shall you hear this mystery's content,That still as a madness measures to your sight.Bear him without.[The limp body is borne away. All follow butAmaury,Yolanda,Renier.Now you shall hear, with shame,But with exalted pride and happy tears;Then come obliteration!Speak, girl...NobilityHad never better title to its truth.[Kisses her hand and goes.Amaury.Yolanda!...He?...This reverence as toAn angel? Speak!Yolanda.Amaury——Amaury.O pause not!Yolanda.Then—to save her who's dead—from death and shame,I took her place within the Paphian's arms.Amaury.O!...and by me, driven by me, bore this?[Overcome.Pure as the rills of Paradise, endured?Yolanda.For you!—and her who sleeps forgiven there.[Raptly.Now while her spirit weightless overwingethNight, to that Throne whose seeing heals all shame!For her I did! but oh, for you, whose leastMurmur to me is infinite with Spring,Whose smile is light, filling the air with dawn,Whose touch, wafture of immortalityUnto my weariness; and whose eyes, now,Are as the beams God lifted first, they tell us,Over the uncreated,In the far singing mother-dawn of the world!—Come with me then, but tearless, to her side.[They go to the bier and stand as in a dream. A pause, then her lips move, last, as if inspired.While there is sin to sway the soul and sink it,Pity should be as strong as love or death![With a cry of joy he enfolds her, and they kneel, wrapped about with the clear moon.THE END

It is suspicion! is that mad suspicionThat you have had of her.

Renier.It is! It is!

Yolanda.And—all because I have these days delayedTo wed with Camarin.

Renier.Delayed?

Yolanda.BecauseI show befitting shame that I was hereFound in his arms...when to AmauryI was betrothed!

Renier.Power of—!—No!

Yolanda.BecauseI grieve to leave Lusignan, this my home—Where I have dwelt as under tented love—Though I am bidden.

Renier.This can be?

Berengere(faintly).Yolanda!

Renier.I say—only delayed? and you—?

Yolanda.Yes, yes.Now I will wed him, heedless, wantless, wild.Send for the priest and for Amaury, forLaughter and lights and revelry—for allWithin this castle. But first to her bed,And to tranquillity,She must be borne, she your cold violenceHas driven here....Alessa—Tremitus!

[They have entered.

Lead her within. O mother! piteous mother!——Ah, it was ruthless, kindless!Renier.We shall see.

Lead her within. O mother! piteous mother!——Ah, it was ruthless, kindless!

Renier.We shall see.

[ToHassan.

Bid Moro and Amaury.—As for her,I soon may come and seek forgiveness.Berengere.No!

Bid Moro and Amaury.—As for her,I soon may come and seek forgiveness.

Berengere.No!

[Hassangoes.

My brain and breath!...the pall...where am I...howLong must I lie!...Tremitus.She speaks to visions. So,So can the blood do—trick us utterly!

My brain and breath!...the pall...where am I...howLong must I lie!...

Tremitus.She speaks to visions. So,So can the blood do—trick us utterly!

[He supports her—withAlessa—slowly up steps and off.Yolandacovers her eyes.Hassanreturns withMoro,then, and withAmaury,whose look seeksVittia.

Yolanda(as all stand silent). Speak, speak, and tell him!Renier.Yes, Amaury...youAre sent for to behold Yolanda wed,As you commanded,Here unto Camarin. Shame has till nowWithheld her, but...what ails you?Amaury.On; go on.The sudden blood up to my wounds.Renier.It has,I say, withheld her. But she now has chosen.Amaury.So; and...it is well. And here are herVows I have kept—

Yolanda(as all stand silent). Speak, speak, and tell him!

Renier.Yes, Amaury...youAre sent for to behold Yolanda wed,As you commanded,Here unto Camarin. Shame has till nowWithheld her, but...what ails you?

Amaury.On; go on.The sudden blood up to my wounds.

Renier.It has,I say, withheld her. But she now has chosen.

Amaury.So; and...it is well. And here are herVows I have kept—

[Takes a packet from his breast.

Vows and remembrances...I shall aspire—

[Hands it; she lets it fall.

That I may loathe her not o'ermuch; and toMuffle my sword from him that now she weds.

[His voice breaks tonelessly.

Come, let it be.Yolanda.Amaury!Amaury(angrily).Priest, be brief!Moro(before them; asCamarintakesYolanda'shand).The Church invests me, and the powers ofThis island, here to make you man and wife.Be joined, ye who have sinned,In soul, peace and repentances for ever.

Come, let it be.

Yolanda.Amaury!

Amaury(angrily).Priest, be brief!

Moro(before them; asCamarintakesYolanda'shand).The Church invests me, and the powers ofThis island, here to make you man and wife.Be joined, ye who have sinned,In soul, peace and repentances for ever.

[He signs the cross.Yolandastands dazed. A silence. Then a shuddering cry and all turn toward the balcony, whereAlessabursts, pale and wild and striving to speak.

Yolanda(with dread, awe, premonition).Alessa!Alessa.Lady Yolanda! you have wed him?Yolanda(pausing). Yes.Alessa.Lady Berengere is dead.Yolanda.No!...No!

Yolanda(with dread, awe, premonition).Alessa!

Alessa.Lady Yolanda! you have wed him?

Yolanda(pausing). Yes.

Alessa.Lady Berengere is dead.

Yolanda.No!...No!

[Chokes rebelliously.

It cannot be! mother! cannot! awake her!And tell her I have wed him! mother! cannot!

[Goes trembling, belieflessly, up the balcony. A strange doubt seizesAmaury.On the rest is silence, consternation, and fear.

Curtain

Scene:The Chapel of the Castle—or Chapel of the Magdalen—a few hours later. It is of stone, low-arched, gloomy, and adorned with Byzantine mosaics of gaunt saints on backgrounds of gold. The altar is in the rear, and above it a large window, through which pours the still moon. In front of it, to either side, rise two pillars supporting the roof, and on one of them, halfway up, stands a stone image of the Magdalen. Forward are two other pillars whose bases form seats. The right wall has, set midway, a large door hung with heavy curtains. In the rear are smaller doors leading to a sacristy. The altar lamp and a few tapers burn.Alessaenters, rubbing her eyes as if to clear them of vision, looks around, then calls uncertainly—

Alessa.Good father! Father Moro!...He is not here.

[Rubs her eyes again.

The dead are strange! I knew not of their power.It is as if her spirit still imprisonedHovered beneath the pallor of her faceAnd strove to speak. Good father!

[EnterMoro.

Ah, you wereThere in the sacristy.Moro.Yes, Your desire?Alessa.The acolytes summoned from FamagousteTo aid your rites before her burialHave come, and wait.Moro.Send hither two.

Ah, you wereThere in the sacristy.

Moro.Yes, Your desire?

Alessa.The acolytes summoned from FamagousteTo aid your rites before her burialHave come, and wait.

Moro.Send hither two.

[Looks closely at her.

Alessa.At once.

[Is going. He stops her.

Moro.Woman, this passes silence. There must beSome question. Do you understand this wedding?The evil that has risen in this house?Do you?Alessa.I may not speak.Moro.And wherefore may not?Alessa.I may not. It is best.Moro.As says Yolanda,Who is to-day impenetrable in all.But who, now, in a lofty grief aboveThe misery that blasted her, seems calm,And answers only,—"God in His season will,I trust, unfold it soon; I cannot, now!" ...And yet I heardHer darkly bid the Paphian be gone——From here—without her.Alessa.And he would not?Moro.No.Does she not see Amaury dangerousFor truth—which you conceal?Alessa.The acolytesAre waiting.Moro.Go....But if this hour brings forthWhat you shall rue——Alessa.Father!

Moro.Woman, this passes silence. There must beSome question. Do you understand this wedding?The evil that has risen in this house?Do you?

Alessa.I may not speak.

Moro.And wherefore may not?

Alessa.I may not. It is best.

Moro.As says Yolanda,Who is to-day impenetrable in all.But who, now, in a lofty grief aboveThe misery that blasted her, seems calm,And answers only,—"God in His season will,I trust, unfold it soon; I cannot, now!" ...And yet I heardHer darkly bid the Paphian be gone——From here—without her.

Alessa.And he would not?

Moro.No.Does she not see Amaury dangerousFor truth—which you conceal?

Alessa.The acolytesAre waiting.

Moro.Go....But if this hour brings forthWhat you shall rue——

Alessa.Father!

[Goes quickly, troubled.

Moro.In blindness still!For Vittia Pisani, who aloneSeems with these twain to share this mysteryIs silent to all importunity.Oh, Berengere Lusignan!—But, 'tis mineTo pray and to prepare. (Listens.) The acolytes.

[Two enter, sleek, sanctimonious.

(To Them.) Come here....You're Serlio,Of the Ascension. You?2nd Acolyte.Hilarion.From Santa Maria by the Templars' well,Which God looks on with gratitude, father.For though we're poor and are unworthy servantsWe've given willingly our widow's mite.And now we....Moro.You are summoned to this placeFor ministrations other than the tongue's.Prepare that altar—masses for the dead.Hilarion.Man is as grass that withers!Moro.Kindle allIts tapers. The departed will be borneHither for holy care and sacred rest.So do—then afterLook to that image of the Magdalen,Once it has fallen.Serlio.Domine, dirige!

(To Them.) Come here....You're Serlio,Of the Ascension. You?

2nd Acolyte.Hilarion.From Santa Maria by the Templars' well,Which God looks on with gratitude, father.For though we're poor and are unworthy servantsWe've given willingly our widow's mite.And now we....

Moro.You are summoned to this placeFor ministrations other than the tongue's.Prepare that altar—masses for the dead.

Hilarion.Man is as grass that withers!

Moro.Kindle allIts tapers. The departed will be borneHither for holy care and sacred rest.So do—then afterLook to that image of the Magdalen,Once it has fallen.

Serlio.Domine, dirige!

[Morogoes. They put off cant and set to work.

Hilarion(insolently, lighting a taper).We'll have good wine for this!Serlio.The Chian! Hee!None's like the Chian! and to-morrow, meat!Last week old Ugo died and we had pheasant.Hilarion.When we are priests we'll give no comfortingTo wife or maid—till we have sipped!Serlio.And supped!Though 'tis a Friday and the Pope is dead!

Hilarion(insolently, lighting a taper).We'll have good wine for this!

Serlio.The Chian! Hee!None's like the Chian! and to-morrow, meat!Last week old Ugo died and we had pheasant.

Hilarion.When we are priests we'll give no comfortingTo wife or maid—till we have sipped!

Serlio.And supped!Though 'tis a Friday and the Pope is dead!

[Silence. They work faster.

Hilarion.There, it is done. Now to the image.

[Mounts pillar.

Serlio.Well,Olympio, the cock who fetched us, saidThat image fell first on the day——Hilarion.Tchuck! tchuck!Better no breath about that lord of Paphos,Or any here. For till the dead are threeDays gone, you know—! But there's the woman. Feign.

Serlio.Well,Olympio, the cock who fetched us, saidThat image fell first on the day——

Hilarion.Tchuck! tchuck!Better no breath about that lord of Paphos,Or any here. For till the dead are threeDays gone, you know—! But there's the woman. Feign.

[AsAlessare-enters; hypocritically.

The blessed dead! in Purgatory mayThey briefly bide.Serlio.Aye! aye!Alessa(still troubled).What say you?Hilarion.Ah!I lay that it is wiser never to foulThe dead, even in thinking,For they may hear us, none can say, and onceMy mother saw a dead man who had goneUnshriven start up white and cry out loudWhen he was curst.Serlio.O Lord!Alessa(staring).No!...Well, such thingsThere are perchance. And now they say that Venus,The Anadyomene, who once ruled this isle,Is come again....But you have finished? SoonThey bring her body here.Hilarion.Now have I, now!It will not totter again.

The blessed dead! in Purgatory mayThey briefly bide.

Serlio.Aye! aye!

Alessa(still troubled).What say you?

Hilarion.Ah!I lay that it is wiser never to foulThe dead, even in thinking,For they may hear us, none can say, and onceMy mother saw a dead man who had goneUnshriven start up white and cry out loudWhen he was curst.

Serlio.O Lord!

Alessa(staring).No!...Well, such thingsThere are perchance. And now they say that Venus,The Anadyomene, who once ruled this isle,Is come again....But you have finished? SoonThey bring her body here.

Hilarion.Now have I, now!It will not totter again.

[Descends.

Alessa.Would that it mightUpon the head of——(catches herself; calmly) You are awaitedThere in the sacristy....The chant begins!

[The acolytes go. She grows more disquieted.

Begins! and lady Yolanda still awaitsHeedless, though Lord Amaury's desperate,As is the Paphian!...They near!...The curtains!

[Goes to door and draws them back. As she does so the chant swells louder. Then the cortège enters—Moro,the acolytes with tapers;Berengereon a litter,Amaury,Renier,Vittia,the women,Hassan,and lastYolanda.The litter,Amauryby it, comes to the altar; the chanting ceases.

Moro(asAmaurybows, shaken).No moan or any toil of grief be hereWhere we have brought her for sainted appeal.But in this holy place until the tombLet her find rest.Amaury.Set down the bier.

Moro(asAmaurybows, shaken).No moan or any toil of grief be hereWhere we have brought her for sainted appeal.But in this holy place until the tombLet her find rest.

Amaury.Set down the bier.

[It is placed.

Moro.Lone rest!Then bliss Afar for ever!Amaury(rises).Be it so!

Moro.Lone rest!Then bliss Afar for ever!

Amaury(rises).Be it so!

[Turning; brokenly.

But unto any, mother, who have brought theeLow to this couch, be never ease again.To any who have put thy life out, never!But in them be the burning that has seemedTo shrivel thee—whether with pain or fear!And be appeaseless tears,Salt tears that rust the fountain of the heart.

[Sinks to a seat. A pause.

Moro.My son, relentless words.Amaury(up again).To the relentless!Moro.God hear you not!Amaury.Then is He not my God.Moro.Enough, enough. (To the rest.) But go and for her soulFreight all of you this tide of night with prayer.Amaury.Never!Moro.I bid.Amaury.And I forbid those whoHave prized her not!For though nought's in the world but prayer may move,Still but the lips that loved herShould for her any sin beseeching lift.

Moro.My son, relentless words.

Amaury(up again).To the relentless!

Moro.God hear you not!

Amaury.Then is He not my God.

Moro.Enough, enough. (To the rest.) But go and for her soulFreight all of you this tide of night with prayer.

Amaury.Never!

Moro.I bid.

Amaury.And I forbid those whoHave prized her not!For though nought's in the world but prayer may move,Still but the lips that loved herShould for her any sin beseeching lift.

[Looking atYolanda.

They and no other!Yolanda.It is well.Amaury.Not one.Yolanda.Then, mother——

They and no other!

Yolanda.It is well.

Amaury.Not one.

Yolanda.Then, mother——

[Goes to bier.

Amaury.That name again?Yolanda.While I have breath.

Amaury.That name again?

Yolanda.While I have breath.

[Fixedly.

Yes, though you hold me purgeless of that sinOnly the pale archangels may endureTrembling to muse on!Or though yon image of the Magdalen.Whose alabaster broke amid her tearsAnd her torn hair, forbade me with a voice.And you, whose heart is shakenAs in a tomb a taper's flame, would knowI speak with love.Camarin.Unswerving love.Amaury.Then, byChrist, and the world that craves His blood, I thinkShe, if she would, or you, could point to me,Or you, Vittia Pisani,The reason of this sudden piteous deathHard on the haunted flight before my father,Whose lips refuse.Camarin.She knows no shred of it.Amaury.You lie to say it.Camarin.Then will, still—if thereIs need.Amaury.Because you love her?Yolanda.Peace, peace, peace.Amaury.A hollow word for what had never being.Yolanda.Look on her face and see.Amaury(at bier).Upon her face!Where not oblivion the void of deathHas hid away, or can, the agonyOf her last terror—but it trembles still.I tell you, no. Grief was enough, but nowThrough it has risen mystery that chokesAs a miasma from Iscariot's tomb.And till this pall of doubt be rent awayNo earth shall fall and quicken with her dust!But I will search her face...till it reveals.Camarin.He raves.Amaury.Iscariot! yes!Yolanda.Again, peace, peace!Amaury.That you may palter!Yolanda(gently).That she may not grieve.

Camarin.Unswerving love.

Amaury.Then, byChrist, and the world that craves His blood, I thinkShe, if she would, or you, could point to me,Or you, Vittia Pisani,The reason of this sudden piteous deathHard on the haunted flight before my father,Whose lips refuse.

Camarin.She knows no shred of it.

Amaury.You lie to say it.

Camarin.Then will, still—if thereIs need.

Amaury.Because you love her?

Yolanda.Peace, peace, peace.

Amaury.A hollow word for what had never being.

Yolanda.Look on her face and see.

Amaury(at bier).Upon her face!Where not oblivion the void of deathHas hid away, or can, the agonyOf her last terror—but it trembles still.I tell you, no. Grief was enough, but nowThrough it has risen mystery that chokesAs a miasma from Iscariot's tomb.And till this pall of doubt be rent awayNo earth shall fall and quicken with her dust!But I will search her face...till it reveals.

Camarin.He raves.

Amaury.Iscariot! yes!

Yolanda.Again, peace, peace!

Amaury.That you may palter!

Yolanda(gently).That she may not grieve.

[Goes again to bier.

For—if her soul is near—it now is wrung.Near! would it were to hear me and impartIts yearning and regret to us who live,Its dim unhappiness and hollow want.Yes, mother, were you now about us, vain,Invisible and without any voiceTo tell us of you!Were you and now could hear through what of coldOr silence wrap you, oh, so humanly,And seeming but a veil—Then would you hear me say—

[Suddenly aghast.

Ah, God!Amaury.Yolanda!

Ah, God!

Amaury.Yolanda!

[She starts back from the bier.

Yolanda!Renier.Girl, what rends you?Yolanda.Saw you not?

Yolanda!

Renier.Girl, what rends you?

Yolanda.Saw you not?

[Rushes to bier and shakes it.

Mother! you hear me? mother!Renier.Girl!Yolanda.She breathes!

Mother! you hear me? mother!

Renier.Girl!

Yolanda.She breathes!

[Consternation. Some fall to their knees.

Vittia.What? what?Yolanda.Mother! Her breast! Mother! She moves!Amaury.God! God!Yolanda.Stand off from her....Mother!Camarin.Her eyes!...They open! open!Yolanda.Mother!...Amaury.See; her lips!They strive to speak! O faintly. O so faint!Can you not hear?Berengere.Yolanda!Yolanda.Mother!Berengere.Renier!Renier.Yes, yes?Berengere.Yolanda—Renier.Speak!Berengere.Christ, save me...Christ!Yolanda's innocent, and I...'twas I.Amaury.What? what is it she says?Berengere.Camarin! Ah!

Vittia.What? what?

Yolanda.Mother! Her breast! Mother! She moves!

Amaury.God! God!

Yolanda.Stand off from her....Mother!

Camarin.Her eyes!...They open! open!

Yolanda.Mother!...

Amaury.See; her lips!They strive to speak! O faintly. O so faint!Can you not hear?

Berengere.Yolanda!

Yolanda.Mother!

Berengere.Renier!

Renier.Yes, yes?

Berengere.Yolanda—

Renier.Speak!

Berengere.Christ, save me...Christ!Yolanda's innocent, and I...'twas I.

Amaury.What? what is it she says?

Berengere.Camarin! Ah!

[She shudders and dies, amid low uttered awe.Renierbends, lays his hand a moment on her breast, then, with a cry of rage, springs from her and draws, and rushes onCamarin,who awaits him, desperate.

Amaury(confused, as they engage).Yolanda; what is this?Yolanda.Amaury, in!Compel lord Renier back! he cannot live,You only could against Camarin now!Wait not to question, but obey me! if—You ever—! (as he rushes in) Holy Magdalen, defend him!

Amaury(confused, as they engage).Yolanda; what is this?

Yolanda.Amaury, in!Compel lord Renier back! he cannot live,You only could against Camarin now!Wait not to question, but obey me! if—You ever—! (as he rushes in) Holy Magdalen, defend him!

[Renierfalls back.

Now, now defend him, if to chastityThou'rt vowed in heaven.Vittia.Fool!...Camarin, strike!Yolanda.He's wounded!Camarin.Oh!...Berengere!...treachery!

Now, now defend him, if to chastityThou'rt vowed in heaven.

Vittia.Fool!...Camarin, strike!

Yolanda.He's wounded!

Camarin.Oh!...Berengere!...treachery!

[He staggers and sinks back heavily toward the pillar. There is breathless, strained suspense. Then the image above, unsettled and shaken by his fall, sways, totters and crushes upon him. A cry, "The Magdalen!" goes up around.

Hassan(hurrying to him; after awe and silence).He's dead.Alessa.The Magdalen!Hassan.No breath in him.

Hassan(hurrying to him; after awe and silence).He's dead.

Alessa.The Magdalen!

Hassan.No breath in him.

[A pause.

Renier(low, harshly).Bear him without then ever from this place,That never more shall know a holy rite—And from these gates, I care not to what tomb.

[ToAmaury.

Then shall you hear this mystery's content,That still as a madness measures to your sight.Bear him without.

[The limp body is borne away. All follow butAmaury,Yolanda,Renier.

Now you shall hear, with shame,But with exalted pride and happy tears;Then come obliteration!Speak, girl...NobilityHad never better title to its truth.

[Kisses her hand and goes.

Amaury.Yolanda!...He?...This reverence as toAn angel? Speak!Yolanda.Amaury——Amaury.O pause not!Yolanda.Then—to save her who's dead—from death and shame,I took her place within the Paphian's arms.Amaury.O!...and by me, driven by me, bore this?

Amaury.Yolanda!...He?...This reverence as toAn angel? Speak!

Yolanda.Amaury——

Amaury.O pause not!

Yolanda.Then—to save her who's dead—from death and shame,I took her place within the Paphian's arms.

Amaury.O!...and by me, driven by me, bore this?

[Overcome.

Pure as the rills of Paradise, endured?Yolanda.For you!—and her who sleeps forgiven there.

Pure as the rills of Paradise, endured?

Yolanda.For you!—and her who sleeps forgiven there.

[Raptly.

Now while her spirit weightless overwingethNight, to that Throne whose seeing heals all shame!For her I did! but oh, for you, whose leastMurmur to me is infinite with Spring,Whose smile is light, filling the air with dawn,Whose touch, wafture of immortalityUnto my weariness; and whose eyes, now,Are as the beams God lifted first, they tell us,Over the uncreated,In the far singing mother-dawn of the world!—Come with me then, but tearless, to her side.

[They go to the bier and stand as in a dream. A pause, then her lips move, last, as if inspired.

While there is sin to sway the soul and sink it,Pity should be as strong as love or death!

[With a cry of joy he enfolds her, and they kneel, wrapped about with the clear moon.

THE END

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