Comic Tragedies Part 25

The garden._ Bianca _singing._]

Faded flowers, faded flowers, They are all now left to cherish; For the hopes and joys of my young life's spring I have seen so darkly perish.

Cold, ah, cold, in the lone, dark grave, My murdered love lies low, And death alone can bring sure rest To this broken heart's deep woe.

Faded flowers, faded flowers, They are all now left to cherish; For ah, his dear hand gathered them, And my love can never perish.

[_Weeps._

[_Enter_ Huon _and kneels at her feet._

Bianca [_starting up_]. Fiend! demon! touch me not with hands that murdered him! Hence! out of my sight,--away!

Huon. Nay, lady, nay! I swear by Heaven it was not I. The spell I mingled in thy cup was but to win thy love. The old witch hath deceived me, and given that deadly poison. Forgive me, I implore thee, and here let me offer thee my love once more.

Bianca [_repulsing him_]. _Love!_ darest thou to speak of love to me, whose bright dream of life thou hast destroyed? _Love!_ I who loathe, scorn, hate thee with a deep and burning hate that death alone can still! Oh, Heaven, have mercy on my tortured heart, and let it break.

Huon [_aside_]. His death hath well-nigh driven her mad. Dear lady, grieve not thus. Let me console thee. Forget thy love, and seek in mine the joy thou hast lost.

Bianca. Forget! Ah, never, never, till in death I join him! Forgive thee? Not till I have told thy crime. Yes, think not I will rest till thou, my murdered Adelbert, art well avenged. And thou!--ah, sinful man, tremble, for thou art in my power, and my wronged heart can feel no pity now.

Huon [_fiercely_]. Wouldst thou betray me? Never! Yield thou to my love, or I will sheathe my dagger in thy heart, and silence thee forever!

Bianca. I will not yield. The world shall know thy guilt, and then sweet death shall be a blessing.

Huon. Then die, and free me from the love and fear that hang like clouds above me [_stabs her_].

Bianca. Thy sin will yet be known, and may G.o.d pardon thee! O earth, farewell! My Adelbert, I come, I come! [_Dies._]

Huon. Dead! dead! Oh, wretched Huon! Where now seek rest from bitter memories and remorse. Ha, a step! I must fly. Angel, fare thee well!

[_Exit_ Huon.

CURTAIN.

SCENE SIXTH.

[Huon's _room._ Huon _asleep upon a couch.

Enter_ Bianca's _spirit. She lays her hand upon him._]

Huon [_starting in affright_]. Ha! spirit of the dead, what wouldst thou now? For long, long nights why hast thou haunted me? Cannot my agony, remorse, and tears win thee to forget? Ah, touch me not! Away! away! See how the vision follows. It holds me fast. Bianca, save me! save me!

[_Falls and dies._]

[_Tableau._

CURTAIN.

THE UNLOVED WIFE;

OR,

WOMAN'S FAITH.

CHARACTERS.

Count Adrian . . . . . _Nina's Husband._

Don Felix . . . . . . _His Secret Rival._

Nina . . . . . . . _The Unloved Wife._

Hagar . . . . . . . _A Fortune Teller._

THE UNLOVED WIFE;

OR,

WOMAN'S FAITH.

SCENE FIRST.

[_Room in the palace of_ Count Adrian.

_Enter_ Nina.]

Nina. 'Tis a fair and lovely home and well befits a gay young bride; but ah, not if she bear a sad and weary heart like mine beneath her bridal robes. All smile on me and call me happy, blessed with such a home and husband; and yet 'mid all my splendor I could envy the poor cottage maiden at her spinning-wheel. For ah, 'mid all her poverty one sweet thought comes ever like a sunny sky to brighten e'en her darkest hours, for she is loved; while I yet sigh in vain for one kind word, one tender glance, from him I love so fondly. Ah, he comes, no sad tears now, sorrow is for my lonely hours and I will smile on _him_ e'en though my heart is breaking.

[_Enter_ Count Adrian.

Adrian [_coldly_]. Good-even, madam, I trust all things are placed befitting a fair lady's bower and thou hast found thy home a pleasant one.

Nina. Adrian, husband, speak not thus to me. I could find more joy in some poor cell with thee, than all the wealth that kings could give if thou wert gone. Look kindly on me and I ask no more. One smile from thee can brighten all the world to these fond eyes. Oh, turn not away, but tell me how have I angered thee, and grant thy pardon for thy young wife's first offence.

Adrian. The pardon I could give were worthless for the time is past.

'Tis too late to ask forgiveness now. It matters not, then say no more [_turns away_].

Nina. My lord, I charge thee tell me of what dark crime thou dost think me guilty! Fear not to tell me; innocence is strong to bear and happy to forgive. Ah, leave me not, I cannot rest till I know all, and if the deep devotion of a woman's heart can still repair the wrong, it shall be thine--but answer me.

Adrian. Canst thou unsay the solemn words that bound us at the altar three short days ago? Canst thou give back the freedom thou hast taken, break the vows thou hast plighted, cast away that ring and tell me I am free? Do it, and my full forgiveness shall be thine.

Nina. Give thee back thy freedom; am I a chain to bind thee to what thou dost not love? Take back the vows I made to honor thee; what dost thou mean? I am thy wife and dost thou hate me?