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

sorely is that in my presence just now she prayed for death. She begged she might die. John You know her reason? Andronicus I know it, and will tell you when I am less sick with grief. John Come. We must celebrate the funeral rites with proper ceremony. Andronicus There is a marble tomb near here in which the body shall be laid, and our steward Fortunatus shall guard her grave. John It is right that she should be interred with honour. God rest her soul in peace. Scene VI Callimachus Fortunatus, Fortunatus, what is to become of me? Death itself cannot quench my love for Drusiana! Fortunatus Poor wretch! Callimachus I shall die if you do not help me. Fortunatus How can I help you? Callimachus In this. You can let me look on her, dead. Fortunatus Up to now the body is sound and whole, I reckon because it was not wasted with disease. As you know she was taken in a moment by a fever. Callimachus Oh, how happy I should be if I might see for myself. Fortunatus If you are willing to pay me well, you can do what you like. Callimachus Here, take all I have with me, and be sure that I will give you more, much more, later. Fortunatus Quick, then! We’ll go to the tomb. Callimachus You cannot go quickly enough for me. Scene VII Fortunatus There lies the body. The face is not like the face of a corpse. The limbs show no sign of decay. You can take her to your heart. Callimachus O Drusiana, Drusiana, I worshipped you with my whole soul! I yearned from my very bowels to embrace you! And you repulsed me, and thwarted my desire. Now you are in my power, now I can wound you with my kisses, and pour out my love on you. Fortunatus Take care! A monstrous serpent! It is coming towards us! Callimachus A curse on me! And on you, Fortunatus, who led me on and urged me to this infamy. Wretch, may you die from the serpent’s bite! Terror and remorse are killing me. Scene VIII John Come, Andronicus, let us go to Drusiana’s tomb, and commend her soul to Christ in prayer. Andronicus It is like your holiness not to forget one who trusted in you. John Behold! The invisible God appears to us, made visible in the form of a beautiful youth. Andronicus To the Spectators. Tremble.8 John Lord Jesus, why hast Thou deigned to manifest Thyself to Thy servants in this place? God To raise Drusiana from the dead, and with her him who lies outside her tomb, have I come, that in them My Name may be glorified. Andronicus How swiftly He was caught up again into heaven! John I cannot altogether understand what this means. Andronicus Let us go on to the tomb. It may be that there what is now obscure will become clear. Scene IX John In Christ’s name, what miracle is this? The sepulchre is open, and Drusiana’s body has been cast forth. And near it lie two other corpses enlaced in a serpent’s coils. Andronicus I begin to understand. This is Callimachus, who while he lived was consumed with an unholy passion for Drusiana. It troubled her greatly and her distress brought on a fever. She prayed that she might die. John Such was her love of chastity. Andronicus After her death the wretched man, crazed with love, and stung by the defeat of his wicked plan, was still more inflamed by desire. John Pitiable creature! Andronicus I have no doubt that he bribed this unworthy servant to give him the opportunity for committing a detestable crime. John It is not to be believed! Andronicus But death struck both of them down before the deed was accomplished. John They met their deserts. Andronicus What astonishes me most is that the Divine Voice should have promised the resurrection of him who planned the crime, and not of him who was only an accomplice. Maybe it is because the one, blinded by the passion of the flesh, knew not what he did, while the other sinned of deliberate malice. John With what wonderful exactness the Supreme Judge examines the deeds of men! How even the scales in which He weighs the merits of each individual man! None can understand, none explain. Human wisdom cannot grasp the subtlety of the divine judgment. Andronicus So we should be content to marvel at it, as it is not in our power to attain a precise knowledge of the causes of things. John Often the sequel teaches us to understand better. Andronicus Then, blessed John, do now what you were told to do. Raise Callimachus to life, and the knot of our perplexity may be untied. John First I must invoke the name of Christ to drive away the serpent. Then Callimachus shall be raised. Andronicus You are right; else the venom of the creature might do him fresh injury. John Hence, savage monster! Away from this man, for now he is to serve Christ. Andronicus Although the beast has no reason, it heeds your command. John Not through my power, but through Christ’s, it obeys me. Andronicus Look! As swift as thought it has vanished! John O God, the world cannot contain nor the mind of man comprehend the wonders of Thy incalculable unity, Thou Who alone art what Thou art! O Thou Who by mingling different elements canst create man, and by separating those elements again canst dissolve him, grant that the spirit and the body of this Callimachus may be joined once more, and that he may rise again wholly as he was, so that all looking on him may praise Thee, Who alone canst work miracles! Andronicus Look! The breath of life stirs in him again, but he does not move. John Calhmachus! In the name of Christ, arise, and confess your sin! Do not keep back the smallest grain of the truth. Callimachus I cannot deny that I came here for an evil purpose, but the pangs of love consumed me. I was beside myself. John What mad folly possessed you? That you should dare think of such