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

have ever dreamed. Gallicanus Alas! I foresaw this. He scorns me. (To the Lords) Intercede for me, I implore you. The Lords Most illustrious Emperor, we beg you to be generous. Remember his services, and do not turn a deaf ear to his request. Constantine I have not done so, but it is my duty first to make sure that my daughter consents. The Lords That is only reasonable. Constantine I will go to her, and, if such is your wish, Gallicanus, I will lay the project before her. Gallicanus It is my wish. Scene II Constance Our Lord the Emperor approaches. He looks strangely grave and sad. What can it mean? Constantine Constance, my child, come nearer. I wish to speak to you. Constance I am here, my lord. Command me. Constantine I am in great distress of mind. My heart is heavy. Constance As you came in I saw that you were sad, and without knowing the reason I was troubled. Constantine It is on your account. Constance On my account? Constantine Yes. Constance You frighten me. What is it, my lord? Constantine The fear of grieving you ties my tongue. Constance You will grieve me more by keeping silence. Constantine Gallicanus, my General, whose victories have won him the first place among the princes of my realm⁠—Gallicanus, whose sword is necessary for the defence of the Empire⁠—Gallicanus⁠— Constance What of him? Constantine He wants to make you his wife. Constance Me? Constantine Yes. Constance I would rather die. Constantine I knew that would be your answer. Constance It cannot surprise you, as it was with your consent and approval that I consecrated myself to God. Constantine I have not forgotten. Constance I will keep my vow inviolate. Nothing can ever force me to break it. Constantine I know you are right, and the greater my difficulty. For if, as is my duty as your father, I permit you to be faithful to your vow, as a sovereign I shall suffer for it. Yet were I to oppose your resolution⁠—which God forbid!⁠—I should deserve eternal punishment. Constance If I despaired of divine help I should be more wretched than you. Constantine That is true. Constance But a heart which trusts in God’s goodness is armed against sorrow. Constantine You speak well, my Constance. Constance My lord, if you will deign to listen to my advice, I can show you how to escape this double danger. Constantine Oh, that you could! Constance You must pretend that you are willing to grant Gallicanus what he asks when the war has been won. Make him believe that I agree. Persuade him to leave with me during his absence at the war his two daughters, Attica and Anemia, as pledges of the bond of love which is to unite us. Tell him that in return I will send with him on his expedition my two Almoners, John and Paul. Constantine And if he should return victorious? What then? Constance We must pray the Father of us all that he will change his mind. Constantine My daughter, my daughter! Your sweet words have softened the harshness of your father’s grief! Henceforth I will not give way to anxiety. Constance There is no need. Constantine I will return to Gallicanus and satisfy him with this promise. Constance Go in peace, my lord. Scene III Gallicanus O princes, I die of impatience to learn what has come of this long conference between our august sovereign and his daughter. The Lords He promised to plead your cause. Gallicanus Oh, that his arguments may prevail! The Lords Maybe they will. Gallicanus Peace! Silence all of you! The Emperor comes. His face is not anxious as when he left us, but serene and glad. The Lords A good omen! Gallicanus It is said that the face is the mirror of the soul. If this be true, the calm joy in his reflects a kindly mood. The Lords We trust so. Scene IV Constantine Gallicanus! Gallicanus What did he say? The Lords Forward, forward. He is asking for you. Gallicanus Now the good gods help me! Constantine Gallicanus, set out for the war with an easy mind. On your return you shall receive the reward you covet. Gallicanus This is not a jest? Constantine How can you ask? Gallicanus I should be happy indeed if I could know one thing. Constantine What may that be? Gallicanus Her answer. Constantine My daughter’s answer? Gallicanus Yes. What did she say? Constantine It is unreasonable to expect a young maid to answer in so many words. Events will prove that she consents. Gallicanus If I could be assured of that, I should trouble little about the manner of her answer. Constantine You want proof? Gallicanus I hunger for it. Constantine Then listen. She has given orders that her Almoners, John and Paul, shall stay with you until the day of your nuptials. Gallicanus And her reason? Constantine That by constant intercourse with them you may learn to know how she lives⁠—her habits and her tastes. Gallicanus An excellent plan, and one that pleases me beyond measure. Constantine She would like you in return to allow your two young daughters to live with her for the same period. She thinks she can learn from them how to please you. Gallicanus Oh, joy, joy! All things are falling out as I wished. Constantine Send for your daughters without delay. Gallicanus Are my soldiers still there? Come, fellows, hasten! Run to my daughters and bring them to their sovereign’s presence. Scene V Soldiers Most noble Constance, the illustrious daughters of Gallicanus are here. They are beautiful, wise and virtuous, and in every way worthy of your friendship. Constance They are welcome. They are introduced with ceremony.6 O Christ, lover of virginity and fount of chastity! Thou Who through the intercession of Thy holy martyr Agnes hast preserved my body from stain and my mind from pagan errors! Thou Who hast shown me as an example Thy Mother’s virgin bed where Thou didst manifest Thyself true God! Thou Who before time began wast born of God the Father, and in the fullness of time wast born again true man, of a mother’s womb⁠—I implore Thee, true Wisdom, co-eternal with the Father, the Creator, Upholder and Governor of the Universe, to grant my prayer! May Gallicanus,