[footnote] *'Asonante' in 'u-e' to the end of Scene XV.
CLARIN. What wonder?
When a thousand times have I
Scraped the earth as if for nuggets,
When a thousand times the wind
By my screeching was perturbed,
And yet Livia was oblivious.
CYPRIAN. Once again then I am humbled
To invoke her thus. Oh, listen,
Beautiful Justina....
SCENE XI.
A phantom Figure of JUSTINA appears.
The Figure, CYPRIAN, and CLARIN.
FIGURE. Summoned,
As I wander through these mountains,
I obey a call so urgent.
What, then, wouldst thou? what, then, wouldst thou,
Cyprian, with me?
CYPRIAN. Oh, I shudder!
FIGURE. And since now....
CYPRIAN. I am astonished!
FIGURE. I have come....
CYPRIAN. What thus disturbs me?
FIGURE. To this place....
CYPRIAN. What makes me tremble?
FIGURE. Where....
CYPRIAN. Oh! whence this doubt that numbs me?
FIGURE. Love doth call me....
CYPRIAN. Why, this terror?
FIGURE. And the powerful spell thou workest
Thus complied with, to this forest's
Deepest depths I fly to shun thee.
[Exit, covering her face with the cloak.
CYPRIAN. Listen, hear me, stay, Justina!
But why linger spell-bound, stunned here?
I'll pursue her, and this forest,
Whither by my spells conducted
She has flown, will be the leafy
Theatre, the rude-constructed
Bride-bed of the strangest bridal
Heaven e'er witnessed.
[Exit.
SCENE XII.
CLARIN. Stop: Renuncio
Bride like this who smells of smoke
Stronger than a blacksmith's furnace.
But perhaps the incantation,
Being so extremely sudden,
Caught her leaning o'er the lye-tub,
If not cooking tripe for supper.
No. Thus cloaked and in a kitchen!
That excuse won't do: another
Let me try. (I have it now,
For an honourable woman
Never smells then any sweeter,)
She with fright must have been flustered.—
He has overtaken her now,
And from that rude vale uncultured,
Struggling in closed clasping arms,
(For I think when lovers struggle,
Open arms are not the weapon
Even for the lustiest lover,)
To this very spot they come:
I will watch them under cover,
For I wish for once to witness
How young women are abducted.
[Conceals himself.
SCENE XIII.
CYPRIAN embracing the Figure of JUSTINA, which he carries in his arms.
CYPRIAN. Now, O beautiful Justina,
In this sweet and secret covert,
Where no beam of sun can enter,
Nor the breeze of heaven blow roughly,
Now the trophy of thy beauty
Makes my magic toils triumphant,
For here folding thee, no longer
Have I need to fear disturbance.
Fair Justina, thou hast cost me
Even my soul. But in my judgment,
Since the gain has been so glorious,
Not so dear has been the purchase.
Oh! unveil thyself, fair goddess,
Not in the clouds obscure and murky,
Not in vapours hide the sun,
Show its golden rays refulgent.
[He draws aside the cloak and discovers a skeleton.
But, O woe! what's this I see!
Is it a cold corse, mute, pulseless,
That within its arms expects me?
Who, in one brief moment's compass,
Could upon these faded features,
Pallid, motionless, and shrunken,
Have extinguished the bright beauties
Of the blush rose and the purple?
THE SKELETON. Cyprian, such are all the glories
Of the world that you so covet.
[The Skeleton disappears.
CLARIN rushes in frightened, and embraces CYPRIAN.
SCENE XIV.
CLARIN and CYPRIAN.
CLARIN. Fear, for any one who wants it,
Wholesale or retail I'll furnish.
CYPRIAN. Stay! funereal shadow, stay!
Now for other ends I urge thee.
CLARIN. I am a funereal body:—
Don't you see it by my bulk here?
CYPRIAN. Ah! who are you?
CLARIN. Who I am, sir,
Or am not, myself doth puzzle.
CYPRIAN. Did you in the air's void spaces,
Or earth's caverns yawning under,
See an icy corse here vanish,
See to dust and ashes turning
All the freshness and the beauty
That it promised in its coming?
CLARIN. Do you take me, sir, for one
Of those pitiful poor lurkers
Men call spies?
CYPRIAN. What could it be?
CLARIN. And not be, in such a hurry.
CYPRIAN. Let us seek it.
CLARIN. Let's not seek it.
CYPRIAN. I must sift this matter further.
CLARIN. I would rather not.