The Ghetto Part 18

I must accept the challenge you have made. I am a musician; but I'm a man first!

ROSA.

But--but I---- [_She weeps._

RAFAEL.

Don't--don't! And this is the day I had looked forward to for so many weary months; my music has found a great man who believes in it, and on that day my spirit is sunken within me; I am waiting to give my father a blow that may kill him, and the woman I love so tenderly is sobbing her foolish little heart out on my knee!

ROSA.

[_Springing up._] Not now! I have stopped sobbing--the tears have cleared my eyes--I see better than you! I will not have you magnify the doubt I threw into my angry words. There was no doubt; I spoke falsely. Have I not given you my life? I should not dare to doubt you! There are things that must not, shall not be done. We are going to pa.s.s through a fire of hatred, scorn, ridicule. We _must_ have success, we _must_ triumph, and we must protect your father from harm. Go! Tell your father you cannot marry Rebecca; tell him he must not think of that. Lead him home, speak kind words to him, but don't tell him of me. And then go to work on your Symphony. You say I inspired it. You touch my vanity. I want to inspire it to the end!

Don't mind me, don't think of me. Work, work, and only let me once in a while come softly, silently, and----

[_She kisses his hand._

RAFAEL.

Rosa! Rosa! How you tempt me! I want to do what is right. I can't tell which it is, but the child of my soul is coming forth into the world, and your kiss is so like a mother's kiss--it seems to bid me be gentle to my child--not to kill it before it is born. Oh, how I love my music--love it because it lets me express my love for you! I say the world shall never forget how I loved you when my music goes down to history! Rosa, Rosa, can you wait--can you trust me?

ROSA.

[_Joyfully._] You are going to grant my prayer--you're going to wait--wait! I'm so glad--I'm so glad!

RAFAEL.

Unless they force me to it, I'll wait. I must go and find my father; it's late already. And then to the Symphony! Ah, you--you are my Symphony--it cannot fail! We must have success--and then let the Ghetto do what it can! I ought to be back in an hour. Will you steal a moment to let me tell you how things stand?

ROSA.

Yes! yes! Good-bye! good-bye! Remember, there is no Rosa--she does not exist!

[_RAFAEL shakes his head laughingly; kisses her. Exit. She stands smiling and happy._

A VOICE WITHOUT.

That was the man; he's going to marry a Christian!

ROSA.

Oh!

ANOTHER VOICE.

He's going to marry the Christian servant in his father's house!

VARIOUS VOICES.

Oh! Shame! shame! [_ROSA runs to the window._] Oh! Oh!

THE SECOND VOICE.

It's a sacrilege! He's an infidel!

THE THIRD VOICE.

He's a dog! [_Mingled cries of "Yes, yes!"_

ROSA.

What will they do? That girl! that girl! she has told them!

THE FIRST VOICE.

Shall he do this in our teeth and not suffer?

VARIOUS VOICES.

No, no!

ROSA.

Ah! they'll stone him! Ah! O G.o.d, it might be the last time he ever touched my lips!

A WOMAN'S VOICE.

Stone him! Stone him! He mocks our G.o.d!

ROSA.

Ah, Rafael! What shall I do?

VARIOUS VOICES.

He does! He's a dog! He insults us all! Out of the Ghetto with him!

Come on!

[_A number of rough men and women charge along the street, and are seen through the window, repeating their cries, which then begin to diminish in the distance._

ROSA.

It has come! He's alone--he'll face them--he will not yield an inch!

[_A rising yell of the mob is heard._] Rafael! No, he shall not be alone! No! No!

[_She opens the door. A yell from the mob farther in the distance; she locks the door and runs off past the window. A still more distant yell from the mob dying away._

END OF THE SECOND ACT.