ACT III
Scene: On Kidmir Pass. Moonlight paling to dawn. Ardia alone, struggling up the Pass.
Ard. [Looking back] They do not follow. I am safe from that. [Sits on a rock]
Why should I climb? There is no rest up there.
But there is death, mayhap,—and that is worth
The sorest climbing. O, my father dear,
Is 't thy dead self so heavy on my heart?
Thou shouldst be light upon thy spirit wings,
And give me of thy freedom.
[Gaina enters from above]
Gaina, hast found
The spring?
Gaina. 'Tis farther up.
Ard. More steps.
Gaina. Wait here.
Barca will bring you drink. Nay, sit you still.
Ard. I must. How this weak body masters us,
Cooling the bravest will that in strong limbs
Might dance to any goal! Yet do we say
The will is lord, whose flush is in the blood
And fades wi' the paling body. By that lie
We cling to Heaven and immortality.
... O, I am lost so deep I need not fear
The farthest bolt of God! Out, out the pale
Of his concern!
Gaina. Why now, honey dear!
A sip of fine spring water and you'll be
A lark o' the morning! All's not bad, I say.
There's Banissat would marry you to-morrow!
What pretty words he spoke, and took us in
Like a good father—but I saw him look!
And he were shaved he'd have a merry eye.
Such meal and honey! I've a thankful tooth!
Come now, what say you? Run from such a fortune,
And stumbling is no matter. Ay, a trip
Or two were well enough.
Ard. Yes, foolish 'twas
To fly from Banissat.
Gaina. You know it? Well, well,
If it's your own right mind you've run to, dearie,
There's no harm done past mending.
Ard. [Taking a small dagger from her dress]
This had saved
My feet these weary steps.
Gaina. Sweet Mary, save us!
Wouldst slay a prince for loving thee?
Ard. No, wretch.
I could not take another's life though 'twere
Of all the world the foulest.
Gaina. Bless the lass!
Ard. But out of pity I could take my own.
Why should my heart beat on and labor so
For merest leave to beat again?
Gaina. Now, now!
[Enter Barca]
Here's Barca, praise the saints! Now you'll take heart!
[Ardia takes gourd from Barca and drinks]
Ard. Thanks, Barca. But there's misery in the draught
That makes me keen again. I fear me I'll
Yet hope.
Barca. Will you walk on?
Ard. Yes, come.
Barca. [Listening] What's that?
A noise below!
Ard. Some one from Banissat!
I'll not be taken!
Barca. Come aside, my lady.
Here is good hiding.
[They go behind a great rock half hidden by cedars. Bertrand enters below. Ardia steps out and stands before him. He kneels]
Ber. Spirit, hast come for me? I'll join thee, love,
When I have climbed this peak and met the sword
That sets my honor free.
Ard. Nay, rise, my lord.
Ber. [Rising] Thy living self? Here in the night alone?
Ard. Barca is here, and Gaina.
Ber. Sweet, the moon
Makes thee so fair.
Ard. [Smiling] Was I not always fair?
Ber. [Embracing her] My living love! Sit here,—and now thy story.
Ard. I'll shorten it to get to thine.
Ber. You had
The dagger that I sent you? [She shows it to him]
My sole gift
To love.
Ard. O, it was dear as death then seemed
To me!
Ber. Cast it away.
Ard. No, for love's sake
I'll keep it, and it shall do no work save God's.
Listen ... it prophesies.... I'll need it yet.
Ber. O, I was mad to send it! Would you wreck
This tent set fair upon the soul's long road,
By pain-craft wrought of every whiter dream,
Where God may sit with us and map the winds
That forward blow and back, the paths laid free
To His far end, and those where blind walls rise
Breast-piled with thwarted dust? Dear soul of me,
Would we know Heaven we must listen here,
And one word lost may mean a path all dark
When we fare outward. This is not for you,
This fear-born blade. Away with it!
[She clasps it closer]
Is not
Your danger past?
Ard. Not while Avesta loves.
Ber. O God! But tell me now the full, foul story,—
Yet not all foul, since you are here alive.
Ard. Your father——
Ber. I've no father!
Ard. —sent me forth
With my two servants. When we reached Avesta,
The prince met us with welcome, much too warm
Methought, so in the night we stole away
And reached the pass—all with some wit and care,
As you shall know hereafter. Now your word.
Ber. I was imprisoned.
Ard. Yes, I know.
Ber. A guard
Gave me his sword. I fought the others.
Ard. Fought?
Ber. And killed. Look on this blade.
A brother's blood.
Ard. My love!
Ber. At last I am Earl Oswald's son!
Ard. My Bertrand! [Drawing aside his cloak]
You are wounded! Vairdelan!
Ber. That name is no more mine.
Ard. How did you pass
Avesta?
Ber. The guards were friends of Vairdelan.
I used the stainless name that I had lost.
O, I have lied to keep my word, and slew
That I might die!
Ard. Might die? You mean ... my brothers.
They must be merciful.
Ber. With Charilus slain?
Ard. O, me! I too shall die. And that is best,
If anything we do be worst or best.
I've read within my father's secret script
That earth shall lose its heart of fire, and lie
Dead-cold and dark with no green thing upon it.
Then this black crust shall bear no form of man,
Nor trace of him. Why then such ceaseless pain
To look a little longer on the sun,
When he who seals his eyes this day with dust
But leagues with time to reach the journey's end
Without the journey's ache?
Ber. Hast lost thy faith?
My heart, say earth must be its own still grave,
Our destiny lies farther. But were life
A march to naught, I'd choose it for the sake
Of one bright wonder by the way—your love,
My Ardia.
Ard. You love me, yet would die. Thou'rt mine!
And I will hold thee, yea, on this warm earth,
Not in some strange and tearless world!
[While they speak Barca moves up the pass and listens]
Barca. My lord?
Ber. Ay, Barca?
Barca. Men are on the pass.
Ard. Above?
My brothers! Oh!
Ber. I go to meet them.
Ard. Stay!
Ber. They shall not come to me. I go to them.
My honor, love, my honor!
Ard. O, men, men!
You build a shrine to love and ask us fling
Our lives, our souls into it. Once within,
The door forever shut, there sits a god,
A monster-god, your honor, and we must sue
For barest room to stand or crouch or kneel
Where by your oaths we should be sovereign.
Ber. The shrine itself is honor, dear, my heart.
That gone, we have indeed no holy place
To shelter love. Was 't not yourself who said
That man to man must keep his pledge?
Ard. Ah me,
That shining night! That night of golden wings!
And now comes this. Can such two nights be born
In the same world, and but one sun between?
[Bertrand staggers]
You're bleeding still!
Ber. Fast, fast.
Ard. My veil——
I'll wrap you with it! [Binds wound]
Ber. Thanks, for I would live
To die upon their swords.
Ard. Wait, wait, my lord!
O, do not meet them in their first deep rage——
Ber. Farewell!
Ard. You shall not see them till my prayers
Have turned their hearts from blood.
Ber. Part thou with hope
And pain will leave thee too. That is the wrench,
Not death.
Ard. Stay, stay! Are there not miracles yet?
I'll hide you yonder till——
Ber. They come!
[Hurries up pass, staggers and falls]
Ard. He faints!
The miracle begins! Here, Barca, Gaina,
Bear him aside. He swift! Then come to me.
O, gently, Barca! Haste!
[Barca draws Bertrand behind the rocks]
He shall be saved!
Thou'lt not deny me, Heaven! O, forget
That ever I blasphemed Thee!
[Enter, above, Biondel and Vigard]
Vig. Who is here?
Ard. My brothers!
Vig. Ardia, by my life!
Bion. 'Tis she.
What do you here?
Ard. I go to you. Where else
Shall I find shelter in a world now bare
Save where your hearts make gentle room for me?
Bion. What do you mean? Where is our father?
Speak!
Ard. You have not heard? Why then do you go down?
Bion. For word of Charilus. No messenger
Has come. All night we watched. What can you say
More than this fearful meeting tells? No word?
Are you the ghost you look? Is Charilus safe?
Ard. Safe as yon Heaven would have him. He is dead.
[Silence]
You loved him, though you went another way
To find your God.
Bion. Our father dead? O, sister,
Not cold, not still, not silent to his sons.
Who loved his voice even when they most forsook it!
Ard. Oswald betrayed us.
Vig. O, my sword, 'tis thou
Shalt split his heart, though every spear in Suli
Then pierce my own! [Going]
Bion. Stay, Vigard!
Vig. Earth is fire!
Can you be still upon it? Where is Bertrand
With his deep oaths? O, coward! I will seek him——
Ard. No need. He'll come to you.
Bion. He'll keep his oath,
You think?
Ard. I know he will.
Vig. So knew you too
That Charilus was safe. Call him to life,
And we'll believe you yet!
Bion. How died our father?
[Ardia weeps]
No matter now. And Oswald cast you out?
Afoot?
Gaina. Ay, so he did! I'll answer that!
Ard. He sent us under guard.
Gaina. Ay, but afoot!
And 'twas a trudge to Avesta. O, the day!
Bion. Prince Banissat gave you no help?
Gaina. No help?
Who said so? There's a prince! He drew his sword,
And swore he'd drive Earl Oswald to the sea,
And said "Avesta's yours,"—that to my mistress,
She then bedraggled and so full of tears
She had no words to thank him. I did that!
Then we had sup and bed, and when my bones
Were sweet with sleep, why we must up again
And tug it to the peak.
Bion. [To Ardia] He sheltered you!
Then there was hope, which you have trampled down
By this mad flight.
Ard. I dared not think the prince
Would make my bitter fortunes his. In you
Lay my defence, and to your love I came.
You must make peace with Oswald. Yes, my brothers,
Although you write it with our father's blood.
He is all powerful. When Bertrand comes——
Vig. Ha, when he comes!
Bion. What then?
Ard. You may demand
Whate'er you will of Oswald, if you spare
The dear life of his son.
Vig. I'll have that life
And Oswald's too!
Ard. He'll make you any terms——
Vig. Ay, any terms, and keep none, once his son
Is safe.
Bion. [Looking down the pass] Who comes?—with gleaming lances? Ah....
The prince!
Vig. By Allah, he!
[It is now dawn. Ardia steps back into shadow as Banissat and followers enter. His retainers wait at entrance below while he advances]
Ban. Good-morrow, friends.
Bion. Hail to you, Banissat!
Ban. I seek a dove
That fled my hand last night. Has 't flown your way?
Bion. Our sister is with us.
Ban. Then search ends here.
Bion. Her flight meant no ingratitude, my lord.
Her father's arms grown cold, she came to ours
By the shortest way, bringing her honor home
Where none might question it.
Ban. We love her more
For watchful care of what to us is precious
As to herself. Heaven-pure must be the bride
Of Banissat, and tainted Heaven will put
The earth to blush ere she will bring us shame.
I offer her my princedom.
Ard. [Stepping out] One whose veil
Is lost? Whose face is common to the eyes
Of beggars by the road?
Ban. O, bald and bitter!
But did not one, our Lady of Paradise,
Walk with bare brow among our counsellors?
And you are pure as she. Who dares to soil
The chosen of Banissat with whisper that
He saw you on this journey, forfeits eyes
And tongue. So silence shall give burial deep
To every slander.
Ard. You will not forget.
Ban. Yourself shall be my dear oblivion.
For Beauty keeps no records, has no past;
Her arms engird love's moment, and there is
No other time.
Ard. Nay, Beauty's history
Is writ beneath her bloom, and when that goes
The deep, uncovered scars are hated more
Because of love that kissed them unaware.
I dare not wed you, but say that I dared,
Wouldst grasp my broken fortunes when you need
Strong Antioch's staff and sceptre to make good
Your gates 'gainst Oswald? And I've heard, my lord,
That Antioch's daughter is a prize you seek.
Ban. Be not o'er-jealous, Ardia of the Stars,
For Antioch shall serve thee. There my suit
Is but a fair appearance,—there I woo
To make thy state secure, and thou shalt be
Bride of my heart unrivalled.
Ard. Hear me then!
I am betrothed to Bertrand. He is sworn
To me as I to him.
Vig. Death to your tongue!
You'd wed your father's slayer?
Ard. I would wed
Lord Bertrand. [Kneels to Biondel] Brother!
Vig. Give no ear to her!
Ard. If you would save Avesta and yourselves,
Make peace with Oswald. Trust not Antioch.
When Bertrand comes——
Vig. He will not come! He's not
A fool as thou!
Ard. He comes!
Vig. [Lifting his sword] Then here's his welcome!
[Bertrand comes out and walks slowly to the group. Vigard, amazed, lowers his sword]
Ber. My friends, well met. You cut my journey short.
[Gives his sword to Biondel]
Bion. You have come back ... to death?
Ber. The blow, my lord.
Your work is wellnigh done. An easy stroke
Will finish it.
Vig. And whose is that?
Bion. Not mine.
I do condemn him, but can lift no hand
To seal mine order.
Vig. I am not so weak.
This blow for Charilus!
Ard. [Staying him] If Bertrand dies
My honor goes unto a grave so deep
No shoot of green will ever from it spring
For the world's eye to light on.
Bion. You make much
Of broken troth. There's many a maid has lived
In wedded honor with a second choice.
Ard. But I may not.
Bion. Peace, sister.
Ard. Let him live,
And Suli's glory will enwrap my name
Stainless and safe.
Ban. 'Tis safe with me. Ay, safer.
Let Antioch enlist with me, and I
Shall wear the name of Suli with my own.
Ard. You've yet to hear ... you do not know, my lord....
Ber. Sweet, plead no more. Let me go on to Heaven
If 't be God wills his gates shall ope to me.
Vig. You'll stop in hell a thousand years or so!
Ard. Wait! I will tell——
Vig. You've said too much!
Bion. Speak, Ardia.
Ard. In Suli castle where I was betrothed
To Bertrand, just one sun agone—but one—
He spent the night with me.
Vig. She lies!
Ard. Say now
If Banissat, or any lord save Bertrand,
Will make me wife.
Bion. Must I believe you?
Ban. No.
A woman's trick.
Ard. There's proof. Ask whom you will
Of Oswald's train—the lords who saw me cast
From Suli's door, too vile for word or touch.
Ask any trooper, jesting by the way,
And hear my name made foul. The army rings
With it. Ask any gossip of the tents——
Ban. O, stop her tongue! It thunders on me! All
The air is storm! Peace, or I'll strike her down!
Bion. This seals your death, Lord Bertrand. Now my hand
Is hot and willing.
[Enter a messenger below. He gives a packet to Banissat]
Messenger. Antioch sends this,
O, prince!
Bion. [To Bertrand] I had your word above all oaths
That you would guard our sister. When the priest
Strips bare the shrine, not outraged God or man
Shall show him mercy.
Ard. He is innocent!
'Twas Oswald's plot to cast me in the dust—
And there I lie where all the world may see—
But Bertrand's soul is guiltless——
Vig. Guiltless! Tush!
Your puzzle's clear. [To Biondel] She dies with him.
Ard. I die
If Bertrand dies. But, oh my brothers, we
Are young—we love—will you not let us live?
Bion. [To Vigard] 'Tis best she dies.
Ber. You will not dare——
Bion. The prince
Shall be her judge.
Ban. First let us speak aside,
For Antioch fails us, and we've more to weigh
Than the quick death of this too-guilty pair.
[Banissat, Biondel, and Vigard go off above]
Ber. I have brought death upon you.
Ard. Life, 'tis life
Now beating in the dawn! What music! Hear it!
O, we shall live, my lord, and live together!
Ber. In Heaven, love.
Ard. True, for this planet too,
Ay, even this earth, is set in Heaven as deep
As any star. 'Tis we are heaven to eyes
In other worlds, and would be to our own
Could we believe. O, hope with me, my Bertrand!
No, no, not hope, whose other half is doubt,
And to its dark and fearful double owes
Its very radiance, too, too unlike
Belief's transmuting sun!
Ber. Ah, love, no man ere broke
Undrained his cup, or brewed again those drops
To his desire——
Ard. Nay, every man is new
In destiny, his star his own, and foots
Unmeasured paths.
Ber. On mortal feet.
Ard. Be 't so,
Each birth is a high venture of the soul
Feeling an untried way for deity's dream,
And none may know where th' deep and twilight trail
Shall flash with God-rift, and the dawn be his.
Ber. O, bravest, bow thy head——
Ard. Nay, nay, my lord!
Lock up your spirit, let mine rule this hour,
Or be with me the flame of faith that leaps
To deed in God. For we do help him, dear.
Our parcelled strength is whole and new in His,
A power born that touches us again,
Breeding our greater self that yet gives back
His own increase, until the way is strewn
Even with his miracles and ours. So works
The unending drama out, where every act
Begets an act yet greater than itself.
Ber. Let me but kiss thy hands.
Ard. You will not help?
You'll not believe? Is it so strange
That you should live?
Ber. That hate should let me live.
Ard. Is it more strange that halo should grow love-still,
Than that the wind should cease, as now it does,
To strip the bloom from yonder bough, and lie
Unfelt within its silent place? More strange
That life should keep its flow in your warm veins
Than that the sun now creeping on the peaks
Should wander down and on and lay in gold
The valleys of the world, moved by no hand
We see or name, but know, but know!
[Biondel, Vigard, and Banissat re-enter]
Ard. He lives!
Bion. He lives. Speak the conditions, prince.
Ban. [To Bertrand] Your life
Is spared that she whose name is lost
May wear your own. You shall remain on Kidmir peak,
And make her yours by every priestly rite
With open, fair observance. Then Earl Oswald
Must greet as daughter one he vilely mocked
From his proud door, and far and wide acclaim her
Princess of Suli. Will his love for you
So bow his heart?
Ber. I may not speak for him.
Ard. He will consent.
Ban. And, further, he shall give
To Biondel the governorship of Ilon.
And grant Ramoor to Vigard.
Ber. Not for price
Of my poor life will Oswald yield these towns
To any save a Christian.
Ban. So we think.
And therefore will these lords forswear
The Prophet for your Christ.
Ber. Such sudden change——
Vig. Not sudden, sir. We've long debated it
In secret talk, but loved too well our prince
To so forsake his banner.
Bion. Now the day
Is here when as his true and Christian friends
We may best serve him, and yet keep the peace
For which our father died.
Ber. He is alive again
If you be true. Though wonder is in the hour
I will not stare or question.
Ard. Question nothing.
Do you not live?
Bion. The prince will summon Oswald
To earliest parley, and make our offer known.
Ban. Nor lose an instant. Here begins my journey.
[Signs to retainers who start down the pass]
Bion. We need not give you thanks when you've our hearts
That hold them.
Ban. By the sunset hour the earl
Shall give me answer. Meet me in Avesta
'Tween dark and light.
Bion. We will, my lord.
[Exit Banissat]
Ber. O, strange!
Will he keep faith?
Bion. If you must doubt his heart,
Trust his affliction. Antioch lost to him,
What can he do but smile on Christian Oswald?
By that same argument I am condemned,
But beg a respite till this pushing peace,
Upsprung in haste, may bear you buds of proof.
Ber. What world is this?
Vig. Climb you no farther, sir.
Your wounds forbid. Our servants shall be sent
To bear you up.
Bion. Ay, wait you here, my lord.
[Exeunt Biondel and Vigard above]
Ber. Love, see the sun!
Ard. It is my heart, my heart!
[Curtain]