The Mortal Gods and Other Plays Part 76

_Ard._ You hold your vow yet sacred, breaking it By the sole might of love. You do not feel The vision round you in whose light that vow Falls like a grave-cloth from an angel's limbs.

Ah, Christ would be no bridal guest of ours, Shut out by your heart's fear.

[_He stands as if stricken_]

You see 'tis true.

You listen for his sanction, and you hear The ring of your own vow.

[_He sits bowed_]

You hear it now Above your pa.s.sion's chime. 'Twill fill the air When love's mad bells grow quiet, and your soul Asks the old question. Let me then be far From thee, nor stay to be a clasped fire Eating thy side.

_Ber._ You'll heal me of my fear.

[_Reaching his hands to her_]

My fountain and my palm!

_Ard._ Your doubt would stir Beneath your tenderest deep. My nearing step Would as a trumpet start its buried storm To sweep our meeting eyes.

_Ber._ If Christ would give A sign,--leave me no choice,--no other way

_Ard._ The torch of Fate but blinds us when the heart Beareth no light.

_Ber._ Not Fate, but Heaven--there I'd read my sign.

_Ard._ Hope not, my lord, that Heaven Will drive me to your arms. Farewell.

_Ber._ No, no!

To keep you I'll dare h.e.l.l----

_Ard._ Dare h.e.l.l? My love Walks not that fiery verge, but waits thine own In regions nearer G.o.d. There we shall meet, And there will be no h.e.l.l.

[_Turns to go, but is drawn back by his grief_]

Thou art a prince Of Christ. Arise and rule this land for him.

There is no sin in you. You've kissed my hands, And they are bright as stars!

_Ber._ O, can you go?

You do not love me. In your breast are wings-- No heart, but wings that seek the mountain sky.

Go perch above me, leave me dying here.

And cool your bosom with a virgin song To mateless heaven!

_Ard._ Who is cruel now?

You have the world to feed on, need not eat Your heart as I must--I, the woman. Dear, Where Kidmir cliffs climb highest to the sky I'll keep my watch, but thou shall rise above me In thought of men. O'er all discerning shall Thy purpose wing, perhaps be drunk of clouds, But light shall follow where thine aim has sped, And leading upward with your comrade world, My Kidmir shall seem lowly, where I walk With stintless ache beneath the cedar boughs On pain's moon nights. And oh, the Springs to pa.s.s, When each bride-bud shall be a wound to me, When gra.s.ses young, and softly pus.h.i.+ng moss, Shall urge my feet like fire, and I must stand Quite still ... quite still ... with all my unborn babes Dead in my heart.

_Ber._ [_Motionless_] You dare not leave me now.

You dare not, Ardia.

_Ard._ I dare not stay.

[_As she nears the great doors they rumble shut and are noisily barred without_]

_Ard._ Ho! Open, open, open! I pray you, open!

[_Beats on door, then leans to the silence_]

Shut in ... shut in! So Oswald's treachery Begins with me. My father, we are lost.

You are to die, and I--to-morrow, oh, My honor will go wasting on the fields With every soldier's breath! You hear, my lord?

We are shut in....

_Ber._ The miracle!

_Ard._ Together....

_Ber._ The sign! the sign!

_Ard._ For all the night....

_Ber._ For all Eternity! There is no other way.

I take you as from Christ. My bride, my bride!

[Curtain]

SCENE 2. _The same. Gray of morning seen through grating of window, rear, where Bertrand stands looking out and upward. Ardia is sleeping on a couch. The dawn-light wakes her and she starts up._

_Ard._ 'Tis morning. Bertrand! You have watched all night?

_Ber._ O, there has been no night.

_Ard._ I slept it through.

_Ber._ Thy body slept, but thou hast been with me O'er all the world, and farther than the world, Out where the life begins.

_Ard._ That may be true, For I had wondrous dreams.

_Ber._ You speak of dreams?

A magic touched me, and I woke from dream Knowing my life. What ways we went! All things Seemed new, warm with the Maker's hand, as young As our own eyes, but 'twas eternity That kept them sweet, unaging.

_Ard._ It was Love Who gave thee eyes to see the world immortal Even in our own.

_Ber._ Do all Love's votaries Walk with such magic sight?

_Ard._ In truth! I've seen A beggar woman tread the road-side dust As it were showered gold, because she had Love's eyes. And we--what joys our joy shall find!

The pearling skies with rose-breath drinking ours 'Tween sea and dawn! The leaves that turn i' the wind And tremble in our hearts--the brook-song that Began beyond the stars--the woodland nests, Breast-warm----

_Ber._ And one is ours.

_Ard._ The lark that leaves His meadow-mate and reels at the sun's door Dropping his song of fire and clover-dew Down to her heart.

_Ber._ [_Kissing her_] As this in thine!

_Ard._ And all Life's dearer-veined joys,--the way-side hands That pluck to camp-fire glow,--the smile of age, Gift-sweet and wise beside the garner door----

_Ber._ Ay, dear are these ... but when we came again From that far, holy place....

_Ard._ Ah, in your dream.