Limbo and Other Essays Part 17

POET

(_to the_ Young d.u.c.h.ess, _whispering_)

Madam, methinks his Highness is unwell. Turn round, I pray you.

YOUNG d.u.c.h.eSS (_without turning_).

He feels the play's charm. Hush.

d.u.c.h.eSS DOWAGER (_whispering_)

Come Ferdinand, you are faint. Come with me.

DUKE (_whispering_)

Nay, mother. It will pa.s.s. Only a certain oppression at the heart, I was once subject to. Let us be still.

Song (_repeats_)

Only we'll live awhile, as children play, Without to-morrow, without yesterday.

_A few bars of ritornello after the song_.

d.u.c.h.eSS DOWAGER (_whispering_)

Courage, my son, I know all.

ARIADNE

(_Recitative with accompaniment of violins, flute and harp_)

Theseus, I've sung my song. Alas, alas for our poor songs we sing to the beloved, and vainly try to vary into newness!

_A few notes of the harp well up, slow and liquid_.

Now I can go to rest, and darkness lap my weary heart. Theseus, my love, good night!

_Violins tremolo. The hautboy suddenly enters with a long wailing phrase_. ARIADNE _quickly mounts on to the back of the stage, turns round for one second, waving a kiss to an imaginary person, and then flings herself down into the lake_.

_A great burst of applause. Enter immediately, and during the cries and clapping, a chorus of_ Water-Nymphs _in transparent veils and garlands of willows and lilies, which sings to a solemn counterpoint, the dirge of_ ARIADNE. _But their singing is barely audible through the applause of the whole Court, and the shouts of_ "DIEGO! DIEGO! ARIADNE! ARIADNE!"

_The young_ d.u.c.h.eSS _rises excitedly, wiping her eyes_.

YOUNG d.u.c.h.eSS

Dear friend! Diego! Diego! Our Orpheus, come forth!

CROWD

Diego! Diego!

POET (_to the_ POPE'S LEGATE)

He is a real artist, and scorns to spoil the play's impression by truckling to this foolish habit of applause.

MARCHIONESS

Still, a mere singer, a page----when his betters call----. But see! the Duke has left our midst.

CARDINAL

He has gone to bring back Diego in triumph, doubtless.

VENETIAN AMBa.s.sADOR

And, I note, his venerable mother has also left us. I doubt whether this play has not offended her strict widow's austerity.

YOUNG d.u.c.h.eSS

But where is Diego, meanwhile?

_The Chorus and orchestra continue the dirge for_ ARIADNE. A GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING _elbows through the crowd to the_ CARDINAL.

GENTLEMAN (_whispering_)

Most Eminent, a word----

CARDINAL (_whispering_)

The Duke has had a return of his malady?

GENTLEMAN (_whispering_)

No, most Eminent. But Diego is nowhere to be found. And they have brought up behind the stage the body of a woman in Ariadne's weeds.

CARDINAL (whispering)

Ah, is that all? Discretion, pray. I knew it. But 'tis a most distressing accident. Discretion above all.

_The Chorus suddenly breaks off. For on to the stage comes the_ DUKE.

_He is dripping, and bears in his arms the dead body, drowned, of_ DIEGO, _in the garb of_ ARIADNE. _A shout from the crowd_.

YOUNG d.u.c.h.eSS

(_with a cry, clutching the_ POET'S _arm_)

Diego!

DUKE