The Lamp and the Bell Part 19

BIA. Do you go away with nurse A little while. You will bring them back to me Later?

NURSE. [Weeping.] Ay, madam.

[She goes out with the children.]

BIA. Later--not much later, I think.--Hear you no sound of horses yet, Giulietta, galloping this way?

GIU. Nay, not yet.

BIA. [To herself.] I will not go until she comes. I will not.

Still,--if I should--Giulietta!

GIU. [Coming quickly to the bed.] Ay, my mistress!

BIA. She will come, I tell you!

GIU. Ay, I doubt it not.

BIA. Ay, she will come. But if she should come late, And I no longer be here to receive her, Show her all courtesy, I conjure you.

She will be weary, and mightily distraught.

Make her take wine,--and bring the children to her.

And tell her, they are hers now. She is their mother.

[Giulietta starts to go back to the window.]

And say to her--wait!--I have a message for her.

Say to her this, Giulietta: The foot stumbles, The hand hath its own awkward way; the tongue Moves foolishly in the mouth; but in the heart The truth lies,--and all's well 'twixt her and me.

Can you remember that?

GIU. Ay, madam, I think so.

If not the words, at least the gist of it.

BIA. Forget it all, my good child, but forget not: All's well 'twixt her and me.

GIU. Nay, that I have.

BIA. I will sleep now a little. Do you leave me.

But go not far. [She lies still for a moment, then starts up.]

I hear the sound of hoof-beats!

GIU. Nay, madam.

BIA. Ay, I tell you! I can hear them!

My face upon the pillow brings my ear Nearer the ground! She is coming! Open the door!

[She kneels up in bed and holds out her arms towards the door, maintaining this position till Beatrice comes. Giulietta, weeping, opens the door, and stands in it, shaking her head sadly.]

GIU. [Suddenly lifting her head and listening.] Nay, it is so! I hear it now myself!

Ay, there's a horse upon the bridge!

BIA. She's coming!

Stand back! Stand out of the doorway! [Pause.]

SERVANT. [Entering.] Majesty, The Queen is here.

Ay, ay! Stand out of the doorway! [Pause.]

GIU. She is here! She is in the court! She has leapt from horse!

Madam, Oh, G.o.d be praised! This way!

BIA. Sister!

[Beatrice enters in her riding clothes, leaps to the bed, Bianca throws her arms about her neck, and dies.]

BEA. [After a moment, looking down at her.]

Snow-White! Oh, no! Oh, no! Snow-White! [She screams.] Ah-h! Help me!

She is dying!

[Attendants and nurses rush in, also the children.]

LITTLE SNOW-WHITE. Mother, wake up!

LITTLE ROSE-RED. Come out of doors!

BEA. Take them away. Snow-White! [Leaning over the bed.]

NURSE. Nay, it is over, Madam.

BEA. Leave me. Leave me alone with her.

[Exeunt all but Beatrice. She kneels beside the bed.]

Scene 5

[A room at Lagoverde, The next day. Beatrice alone.]

BEA. In sooth, I do not feel the earth so firm Under my feet as yesterday it was.

All that I loved are gone to a far land, And left me here alone, save for two children And twenty thousand enemies, and the thing Of horror that's in store for me. Almost I feel my feet uprooted from the earth, There's such a tugging at me to be gone.

Save for your children, [Looking off stage towards Bianca's room.]

'twould be simple enough To lay me down beside you in your bed, And call on Death, who is not yet out of hearing, To take me, too. [Enter Fidelio.]

FID. Mistress I have news for you.

Guido is dead!

BEA. Is dead?

FID. Ay, he is dead, Dead of a dagger i' the back,--and dead enough For twenty. Scarce were you gone an hour's time We came upon him cold. And in a pool Nearby, the Lady Francesca floating drowned, Who last was seen a-listening like a ghost At the door of the dungeon, 'Tis a marvelous thing!