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BARDAS: Then may I be the rock on which he breaks!
But hear; who comes? (_Revellers are heard approaching._) We must aside until This mirth is past. (_They conceal themselves._)
_Enter revellers dressed as baccha.n.a.ls and bacchantes, dancing and singing._
Bacchus, hey! was a G.o.d, hei-yo!
The vine! a fig for the rest!
With locks green-crowned and lips red-warm-- The vine! the vine's the best!
He loved maids, O-o-ay! hei-yo!
The vine! a maiden's breast!
He pressed the grape, and kissed the maid!-- The cuckoo builds no nest!
(_All go dancing, except LYDIA and PHAON, who clasps and kisses her pa.s.sionately_)
LYDIA (_breaking from him_): Do you think kisses are so cheap? You must know mine fill my purse! A pretty gallant from Naples, with laces and silks and jewels gave me this ring last year for but one.
And another lover from Venice gave me this (_a bracelet_)--but he looked so sad when he gave it. Ah, his eyes! I'd not have cared if he had given me naught.
PHAON: Here, here, then! (_Offers jewel._)
LYDIA (_putting it aside_): They say the ladies in Venice ride with their lovers through the streets all night in boats: and the very moon s.h.i.+nes more pa.s.sionately there. Is it true?
PHAON: Yes, yes. But kiss me, Lydia! Take this jewel--my last. Be mine to-night, no other's! We'll prate of Venice another time.
LYDIA: Another time we'll prate of kisses. I'll not have the jewel.
PHAON: Not have it! Now you're turning nun! a soft and virgin, silly nun! With a gray gown to hide these shoulders that--shall I whisper it?
LYDIA: Devil! they're not! A nice lover called them round and fair last night. And I've been sick! And--I--cruel! cruel! cruel!
(_Revellers are heard returning._) There, they're coming.
PHAON: Never mind, my girl. But you mustn't scorn a man's blood when it's afire.
_Re-enter Revellers singing_
Bacchus, hey! was a G.o.d, hei-yo! etc.
(_After which all go, except ZOE and BASIL._
ZOE: O! O! O! but 'tis brave! Wine, Basil! Wine, my knight, my Bacchus! Ho! ho! my G.o.d! you wheeze like a cross-bow. Is it years, my wooer, years?--Ah! (_She sighs._)
BASIL: Sighs--sighs! Now look for showers.
ZOE: Basil--you were my first lover--except the duke Charles. Ah, did you see how that Helena looked when they gave her the duke's command? I was like that once. (_HaeMON starts forward._)
BASIL: Fiends, nymphs and saints! it's come! tears in your eyes!
Zoe, stop it. Would you have mine leak and drive me to a monastery for shelter!
ZOE (_sings sadly and absently_):
She lay by the river, dead, A broken reed in her hand A nymph whom an idle G.o.d had wed And led from her maidenland.
BASIL: O, had I been born a heathen!
ZOE: He told me, Basil, I should live, a great lady, at his castle.
And they should kiss my hand and courtesy to me. He meant but jest--I feared.--I feared! But--I loved him!
BASIL: Now, my damsel--!
ZOE (_sings_):
The G.o.d was the great G.o.d Jove, Two notes would the bent reed blow, The one was sorrow, the other love Enwove with a woman's woe.
BASIL: Songs and snakes! Give me instead a Dominican's funeral!
I'd as lief crawl bare-kneed to Rome and mouth the Pope's heel.
O blessed Turks with their remorseless harems!--Zoe!
ZOE (_sings_):
She lay by the river dead; And he at feasting forgot.
The G.o.ds, shall they be disquieted By dread of a mortal's lot?
(_She wipes her eyes, trembles, looks at him and laughs hysterically._)
Bacchus! my Bacchus! with wet eyes! Up, up, lad! there's many a cup for us yet!
(_They go, she leading and singing._
He loved maids, O-o-ay! hei-yo!
The vine! a maiden's breast! etc.
(_HaeMON and BARDAS look at each other, then start after them terribly moved._)
CURTAIN.
ACT TWO
_Scene._--_An audience hall in the castle of CHARLES DI TOCCA; the next afternoon. The dark stained walls have been festooned with vines and flowers. On the left is the ducal throne. On the right sunlight through high-set windows. In the rear heavily draped doors. Enter CHARLES, who looks around and smiles with subtle content, then summons a servant._
_Enter servant._
CHARLES: The princess Fulvia.
SERVANT: She comes, sir, now.
(_Goes._
_Enter FULVIA._
