Poems by Victor Hugo Part 42

Highness, you are a fairy bright, whose hand For sceptre vile gave up your proper wand."

Fair Mahaud mused--then said, "Be silent now; You seem to watch me; little 'tis I know, Only that from Bohemia Joss doth come, And that in Poland Zeno hath his home.

But you amuse me; I am rich, you poor-- What boon shall I confer and make secure?

What gift? ask of me, poets, what you will And I will grant it--promise to fulfil."

"A kiss," said Joss.

"A kiss!" and anger fraught Amazed at minstrel having such a thought-- While flush of indignation warmed her cheek.

"You do forget to whom it is you speak,"

She cried.

"Had I not known your high degree, Should I have asked this royal boon," said he, "Obtained or given, a kiss must ever be.

No gift like king's--no kiss like that of queen!"

Queen! And on Mahaud's face a smile was seen.

XIV.

AFTER SUPPER.

But now the potion proved its subtle power, And Mahaud's heavy eyelids 'gan to lower.

Zeno, with finger on his lip, looked on-- Her head next drooped, and consciousness was gone.

Smiling she slept, serene and very fair, He took her hand, which fell all unaware.

"She sleeps," said Zeno, "now let chance or fate Decide for us which has the marquisate, And which the girl."

Upon their faces now A hungry tiger's look began to show.

"My brother, let us speak like men of sense,"

Said Joss; "while Mahaud dreams in innocence, We grasp all here--and hold the foolish thing-- Our Friend below to us success will bring.

He keeps his word; 'tis thanks to him I say, No awkward chance has marred our plans to-day.

All has succeeded--now no human power Can take from us this woman and her dower.

Let us conclude. To wrangle and to fight For just a yes or no, or to prove right The Arian doctrines, all the time the Pope Laughs in his sleeve at you--or with the hope Some blue-eyed damsel with a tender skin And milkwhite dainty hands by force to win-- This might be well in days when men bore loss And fought for Latin or Byzantine Cross; When Jack and Rudolf did like fools contend, And for a simple wench their valor spend-- When Pepin held a synod at Leptine, And times than now were much less wise and fine.

We do no longer heap up quarrels thus, But better know how projects to discuss.

Have you the needful dice?"

"Yes, here they wait For us."

"Who wins shall have the Marquisate; Loser, the girl."

"Agreed."

"A noise I hear?"

"Only the wind that sounds like some one near-- Are you afraid?" said Zeno.

"Naught I fear Save fasting--and that solid earth should gape.

Let's throw and fate decide--ere time escape."

Then rolled the dice.

"'Tis four."

'Twas Joss to throw.

"Six!--and I neatly win, you see; and lo!

At bottom of this box I've found Lusace, And henceforth my orchestra will have place; To it they'll dance. Taxes I'll raise, and they In dread of rope and forfeit well will pay; Bra.s.s trumpet-calls shall be my flutes that lead, Where gibbets rise the imposts grow and spread."

Said Zeno, "I've the girl and so is best,"

"She's beautiful," said Joss.

"Yes, 'tis confess'd."

"What shall you do with her?" asked Joss.

"I know.

Make her a corpse," said Zeno; "marked you how The jade insulted me just now! Too small She called me--such the words her lips let fall.

I say, that moment ere the dice I threw Had yawning h.e.l.l cried out, 'My son, for you The chance is open still: take in a heap The fair Lusace's seven towns, and reap The corn, and wine, and oil of counties ten, With all their people diligent, and then Bohemia with its silver mines, and now The lofty land whence mighty rivers flow And not a brook returns; add to these counts The Tyrol with its lovely azure mounts And France with her historic fleurs-de-lis; Come now, decide, what 'tis your choice must be?'

I should have answered, 'Vengeance! give to me Rather than France, Bohemia, or the fair Blue Tyrol, I my choice, O h.e.l.l! declare For government of darkness and of death, Of grave and worms.' Brother, this woman hath As marchioness with absurdity set forth To rule o'er frontier bulwarks of the north.

In any case to us a danger she, And having stupidly insulted me 'Tis needful that she die. To blurt all out-- I know that you desire her; without doubt The flame that rages in my heart warms yours; To carry out these subtle plans of ours, We have become as gypsies near this doll, You as her page--I dotard to control-- Pretended gallants changed to lovers now.

So, brother, this being fact for us to know Sooner or later, 'gainst our best intent About her we should quarrel. Evident Is it our compact would be broken through.

There is one only thing for us to do, And that is, kill her."

"Logic very clear,"

Said musing Joss, "but what of blood shed here?"

Then Zeno stooped and lifted from the ground An edge of carpet--groped until he found A ring, which, pulled, an opening did disclose, With deep abyss beneath; from it there rose The odor rank of crime. Joss walked to see While Zeno pointed to it silently.

But eyes met eyes, and Joss, well pleased, was fain By nod of head to make approval plain.

XV.

THE OUBLIETTES.

If sulphurous light had shone from this vile well One might have said it was a mouth of h.e.l.l, So large the trap that by some sudden blow A man might backward fall and sink below.

Who looked could see a harrow's threatening teeth, But lost in night was everything beneath.

Part.i.tions blood-stained have a reddened smear, And Terror unrelieved is master here.

One feels the place has secret histories Replete with dreadful murderous mysteries, And that this sepulchre, forgot to-day, Is home of trailing ghosts that grope their way Along the walls where spectre reptiles crawl.

"Our fathers fas.h.i.+oned for us after all Some useful things," said Joss; then Zeno spoke: "I know what Corbus hides beneath its cloak, I and the osprey know the castle old, And what in bygone times the justice bold."

"And are you sure that Mahaud will not wake?"

"Her eyes are closed as now my fist I make; She is in mystic and unearthly sleep; The potion still its power o'er her must keep."

"But she will surely wake at break of day?"

"In darkness."

"What will all the courtiers say When in the place of her they find two men?"

"To them we will declare ourselves--and then They at our feet will fall."

"Where leads this hole?"

"To where the crow makes feast and torrents roll To desolation. Let us end it now."

These young and handsome men had seemed to grow Deformed and hideous--so doth foul black heart Disfigure man, till beauty all depart.

So to the h.e.l.l within the human face Transparent is. They nearer move apace; And Mahaud soundly sleeps as in a bed.

"To work."

Joss seizes her and holds her head Supporting her beneath her arms, in his; And then he dared to plant a monstrous kiss Upon her rosy lips,--while Zeno bent Before the ma.s.sive chair, and with intent Her robe disordered as he raised her feet; Her dainty ankles thus their gaze to meet.

And while the mystic sleep was all profound, The pit gaped wide like grave in burial ground.

XVI.

WHAT THEY ATTEMPT BECOMES DIFFICULT.