The Wonder-Working Magician Part 14

JUSTINA. Unhappy me!

GOVERNOR. What is this? But empty scabbards, Naked swords, are quite sufficient To inform me what has happened.

JUSTINA. What misfortune!

LYSANDER. What affliction!--

LELIUS. Ah, my lord...

GOVERNOR. Enough, no farther.

Lelius, thou a son of mine, A disturber? Thou a scandal To all Antioch through my favour?

LELIUS. Think, my lord...

GOVERNOR. Arrest, disarm them, Take them hence. Make no distinction On account of blood or rank here.

Let them suffer both alike, Since in guilt alike they acted.

LELIUS [aside]. I came jealous, and go outraged.

FLORUS [aside]. To my pains new pains are added.

GOVERNOR. In distinct and separate prisons, And with watchful eyes to guard them, Place the two.--And you, Lysander, Is it possible you have tarnished Such a n.o.ble reputation, Suffering....

LYSANDER. No; let not these dazzling False appearances mislead you, For Justina in what happened Was quite blameless.

GOVERNOR. In her house here, Would you have her live regardless Of the fact that they were young, And that she was fair; My anger I restrain, lest people say, I, an interested party, Sentence pa.s.sed as partial judge.-- But of you who caused this quarrel, Now that maiden shame has left you, Well I know that you will glad me With the occasion I desire, Of exposing, of unmasking, In the light of actual vices, The false virtuous part you've acted.

[Exeunt The Governor and his attendants; LELIUS and FLORUS follow as prisoners.

SCENE XVII.

JUSTINA and LYSANDER.

JUSTINA. I reply but with my tears.

LYSANDER. Tears as vain as they are tardy.

What an act was mine, Justina, When to thee my lips imparted Who thou art! Oh, would I never Told thee, that upon the margin Of a rivulet in this forest, A dead mother's womb here cast thee!

JUSTINA. I....

LYSANDER. Do not attempt excuses.

JUSTINA. Heaven will make them, then, hereafter

LYSANDER. When too late, perhaps.

JUSTINA. No limit Can be late here while life lasteth.

LYSANDER. For the punishment of crimes.

JUSTINA. Injured truth to re-establish.

LYSANDER. I, from what I have seen, condemn thee.

JUSTINA. I thee, from what thou knowest not, rather.

LYSANDER. Leave me; I go forth to die Where my grief will soon dispatch me.

JUSTINA. At thy feet I would lose my life; But do not reject me, father.

[Exeunt.

SCENE XVIII.

A HALL IN CYPRIAN'S HOUSE.

At the end is an open gallery, through which is seen the country.

CYPRIAN, the Demon, MOSCON, and CLARIN.

DEMON. Since the hour that I have been In your house a guest, you ne'er Show a gay and cheerful air.

Sadness in your face is seen.

It is wrong your cure to shun, Seeking to mislead mine eyes, Since I would unsphere the skies, Shake the stars, and shroud the sun, For the least desire you feel That more pleasantly you might live.

CYPRIAN. Magic has no power to give The impossible I conceal, Though the misery I betray.

DEMON. Come, confess the longed-for bliss.

CYPRIAN. I love a woman.

DEMON. And is this The impossible that you say?

CYPRIAN. If you knew her, you'd agree.

DEMON. Well, describe her, I'm resigned; Though I can't but smile to find What a coward you must be.

CYPRIAN. The fair cradle of the skies, Where the infant sun reposes, Ere he rises, decked with roses, Robed in snow, to dry heaven's eyes.

The green prison-bud that tries To restrain the conscious rose, When the crimson captive knows April treads its gardens near, Turning dawn's half frozen tear To a smile where suns.h.i.+ne glows.

The sweet streamlet gliding by, Though it scarcely dares to breathe Softest murmurs through its teeth, From the frosts that on it lie.

The bright pink, in its small sky s.h.i.+ning like a coral star.