The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes - Volume 1, George MacDonald [universal ebook reader txt] 📗

Woman .
All very right;
But take her as she was, she might do worse
Than wed the Count Nembroni.

Man .
Possible.
But are you sure there is no other man
Stands in his way?

Woman .
How can I tell? So be,
He should be here to help her. What she'll do
I am sure I do not know. We cannot keep her.
And for her work, she does it far too well
To earn a living by it. Her times are changed-
She should not give herself such prideful airs.

Man .
Come, come, old wife! you women are so hard
On one another! You speak fair for men,
And make allowances; but when a woman
Crosses your way, you speak the worst of her.
But where is this you're going then to-night?
Do they want me to go as well as you?

Woman .
Yes, you must go, or else it is no use.
They cannot give the money to me, except
My husband go with me. He told me so.

Man .
Well, wife, it's worth the going-but to see:
I don't expect a groat to come of it.


SCENE III.- Kitchen of a small inn . Host and Hostess.


Host .
That's a queer customer you've got upstairs!
What the deuce is he?

Hostess .
What is that to us?
He always pays his way, and handsomely.
I wish there were more like him.

Host .
Has he been
At home all day?

Hostess .
He has not stirred a foot
Across the threshold. That's his only fault-
He's always in the way.

Host .
What does he do?

Hostess .
Paces about the room, or sits at the window.
I sometimes make an errand to the cupboard,
To see what he's about: he looks annoyed,
But does not speak a word.
Host .
He must be crazed,
Or else in hiding for some scrape or other.

Hostess .
He has a wild look in his eye sometimes;
But sure he would not sit so much in the dark,
If he were mad, or anything on his conscience;
And though he does not say much, when he speaks
A civiller man ne'er came in woman's way.

Host .
Oh! he's all right, I warrant. Is the wine come?


SCENE IV.- The inn; a room upstairs . JULIAN at the window, half hidden by the curtain .

Julian .
With what profusion her white fingers spend
Delicate motions on the insensate cloth!
It was so late this morning ere she came!
I fear she has been ill. She looks so pale!
Her beauty is much less, but she more lovely.
Do I not love he? more than when that beauty
Beamed out like starlight, radiating beyond
The confines of her wondrous face and form,
And animated with a present power
Her garment's folds, even to the very hem!

Ha! there is something now: the old woman drest
In her Sunday clothes, and waiting at the door,
As for her husband. Something will follow this.
And here he comes, all in his best like her.
They will be gone a while. Slowly they walk,
With short steps down the street. Now I must wake
The sleeping hunter-eagle in my eyes!


SCENE V.- A back street. Two Servants with a carriage and pair .

1st Serv .
Heavens, what a cloud! as big as Aetna! There!
That gust blew stormy. Take Juno by the head,
I'll stand by Neptune. Take her head, I say;
We'll have enough to do, if it should lighten.

2nd Serv .
Such drops! That's the first of it. I declare
She spreads her nostrils and looks wild already,
As if she smelt it coming. I wish we were
Under some roof or other. I fear this business
Is not of the right sort.

1st Serv .
He looked as black
As if he too had lightning in his bosom.
There! Down, you brute! Mind the pole, Beppo!


SCENE VI.- Julian's room. JULIAN standing at the window, his face pressed against a pane. Storm and gathering darkness without .

Julian .
Plague on the lamp! 'tis gone-no, there it flares!
I wish the wind would leave or blow it out.
Heavens! how it thunders! This terrific storm
Will either cow or harden him. I'm blind!
That lightning! Oh, let me see again, lest he
Should enter in the dark! I cannot bear
This glimmering longer. Now that gush of rain
Has blotted all my view with crossing lights.
'Tis no use waiting here. I must cross over,
And take my stand in the corner by the door.
But if he comes while I go down the stairs,
And I not see? To make sure, I'll go gently
Up the stair to the landing by her door.

[ He goes quickly toward the door .]

Hostess (opening the door and looking in ).
If you please, sir-

[ He hurries past ]

The devil's in the man!


SCENE VII.- The landing .

Voice within .
If you scream, I must muffle you.

Julian (rushing up the stair ).
He is there!
His hand is on her mouth! She tries to scream!

[ Flinging the door open, as NEMBRONI springs
forward on the other side .]

Back!

Nembroni .
What the devil!-Beggar!

[ Drawing his sword, and making a thrust at JULIAN, which
he parries with his left arm, as, drawing his dagger, he
springs within NEMBRONI'S guard .]

Julian (taking him by the throat ).
I have faced worse
storms than you.

[ They struggle .]

Heart point and hilt strung on the line of force,

[ He stabs him .]

Your ribs will not mail your heart!

[NEMBRONI falls dead . JULIAN wipes his dagger on the
dead man's coat .]

If men will be devils,
They are better in hell than here.

[ Lightning flashes on the blade .]

What a night
For a soul to go out of doors! God in heaven!

[ Approaches the lady within .]

Ah! she has fainted. That is well. I hope
It will not pass too soon. It is not far
To the half-hidden door in my own fence,
And that is well. If I step carefully,
Such rain will soon wash out the tell-tale footprints.
What! blood? He does not bleed much, I should think!
Oh, I see! it is mine-he has wounded me.
That's awkward now.

[ Takes a handkerchief from the floor by the window .]

Pardon me, dear lady;

[ Ties the handkerchief with hand and teeth round his arm .]

'Tis not to save my blood I would defile
Even your handkerchief.

[ Coming towards the door, carrying her .]

I am pleased to think
Ten monkish months have not ta'en all my strength.

[ Looking out of the window on the landing .]

For once, thank darkness! 'Twas sent for us, not him.

[ He goes down the stair ]


SCENE VIII.- A room in the castle . JULIAN and the Nurse.

Julian .
Ask me no questions now, my dear old nurse.
You have put your charge to bed?

Nurse .
Yes, my dear lord.

Julian .
And has she spoken yet?