The Mortal Gods and Other Plays Part 81

_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 pa.s.s, 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 G.o.d.

_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!