Plays, Roswitha of Gandersheim [readera ebook reader TXT] 📗

of your death. Irena To me my death means joy, but to you calamity. For your cruelty you will be damned in Tartarus. But I shall receive the martyr’s palm, and, adorned with the crown of virginity, I shall enter the azure palace of the Eternal King, to Whom be glory and honour forever and ever! Callimachus Argument

The resurrection of Drusiana and Callimachus.

Callimachus cherishes a guilty passion for Drusiana, not only while she is alive but after she has died in the Lord. He dies from the bite of a serpent, but, thanks to the prayers of Saint John the Apostle, he is restored to life, together with Drusiana, and is born again in Christ.

Characters

Callimachus

Friends to Callimachus

Drusiana

Andronicus

Fortunatus

The Apostole John

Callimachus Scene I Callimachus My friends, a word with you. Friends We are at your service as long as you please. Callimachus I should prefer to speak with you apart from the crowd. Friends What pleases you, pleases us. Callimachus Then we will go to some quieter place where no one will interrupt us. Friends Just as you like. Scene II Callimachus For a long time now I have been in great trouble. I hope that by confiding in you I shall find relief. Friends When a man tells his friends of his sufferings it is only fair that they should try to share them. Callimachus I would to heaven that you could lighten this load upon my heart! Friends Well, tell us precisely what is wrong. We will grieve with you, if we must. If not, we can do our best to distract your mind. Callimachus I love⁠— Friends What do you love? Callimachus A thing of beauty, a thing of grace! Friends That is too vague! How can we tell from this what is the object of your love? Callimachus Woman. Friends Ah, now you say “woman” we all understand! Callimachus By woman, I mean a woman. Friends Clearer still! But it is impossible to give an opinion on a subject until the subject is defined. So name the woman. Callimachus Drusiana. Friends What? The wife of Prince Andronicus? Callimachus Yes. Friends Nothing can come of that. She has been baptized. Callimachus What do I care, if I can win her love? Friends You cannot. Callimachus What makes you say so? Friends You are crying for the moon. Callimachus Am I the first to do so? Have I not the example of many others to encourage me? Friends Now listen. This woman you sigh for is a follower of the holy Apostle John, and has devoted herself entirely to God. They say she will not even go to the bed of Andronicus although he is a devout Christian. Is it likely that she will listen to you? Callimachus I came to you for consolation, and instead you drive me to despair! Friends We should be poor friends if we consoled and flattered you at the expense of the truth. Callimachus Since you refuse to advise me, I will go to her and pour out my soul in words that would melt a heart of stone! Friends Fool! It is hopeless! Callimachus I defy the stars! Friends We shall see. Scene III Callimachus Drusiana, listen to me! Drusiana, my deepest heart’s love! Drusiana Your words amaze me, Callimachus. What can you want of me? Callimachus You are amazed? Drusiana I am astounded. Callimachus First I want to speak of love! Drusiana Love! What love? Callimachus That love with which I love you above all created things. Drusiana Why should you love me? You are not of my kin. There is no legal bond between us. Callimachus It is your beauty. Drusiana My beauty? Callimachus Yes. Drusiana What is my beauty to you? Callimachus But little now⁠—it is that which tortures me⁠—but I hope that it may be much before long. Drusiana Not a word more. Leave me at once, for it is a sin to listen to you now that I understand your devilish meaning. Callimachus My Drusiana, do not kill me with your looks. Do not drive away one who worships you, but give back love for love. Drusiana Wicked, insidious words! They fall on deaf ears. Your love disgusts me. Understand I despise you! Callimachus You cannot make me angry, because I know that you would own my passion moves you if you were not ashamed. Drusiana It moves me to indignation, nothing else. Callimachus That feeling will not last. Drusiana I shall not change, be sure of that. Callimachus I would not be too sure. Drusiana You frantic, foolish man! Do not deceive yourself! Why delude yourself with vain hopes? What madness leads you to think that I shall yield? I have renounced even what is lawful⁠—my husband’s bed! Callimachus I call heaven and earth to witness that if you do not yield I will never rest from the fight for you. I will be as cunning as the serpent. I will use all my skill and strength to trap you. Scene IV Drusiana O Lord Jesus, what use is my vow of chastity? My beauty has all the same made this man love me. Pity my fears, O Lord. Pity the grief which has seized me. I know not what to do. If I tell anyone what has happened, there will be disorder in the city on my account; if I keep silence, only Thy grace can protect me from falling into the net spread for me. O Christ, take me to Thyself. Let me die swiftly. Save me from being the ruin of a soul! Andronicus Drusiana, Drusiana! Christ, what blow has fallen on me! Drusiana is dead. Run one of you and fetch the holy man John. Scene V John Why do you weep, my son? Andronicus Oh, horrible! O Lord, that life should suddenly become so hateful! John What troubles you? Andronicus Drusiana, your disciple, Drusiana⁠— John She has passed from the sight of men? Andronicus Yes. And I am desolate. John It is not right to mourn so bitterly for those whose souls we know rejoice in peace. Andronicus God knows I do not doubt that her soul is in eternal joy, and that her incorrupt body will rise again. What grieves me so