Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ANTONIO MELIDORI; DRAMATIC SKETCH, by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ANTONIO MELIDORI; DRAMATIC SKETCH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Why comes he not? Here on this emerald sward
Last Line: [he dies.]
Subject(s): Greek War Of Independence (1821-1832)


SCENE I.

[A place not far from the summit of Mount Psiloriti, in the Isle of Candia. Philota discovered
with a basket of grapes upon her head; she looks eagerly upward. Time, a little before
sunset.]

PHILOTA.

WHY comes he not? Here on this emerald sward,
Close to the cool shade of these ancient rocks,
We have met, and fondly lingered in the sunset,
Eve after eve, since first he said, "I love thee!"
Never, Antonio, hast thou been ere now
A loiterer! wherefore should my heart beat fast,
And my breath thicken, and the dew of fear
Stand chill upon my forehead? Is't an omen?

[At this moment Antonio is seen bounding quickly down the mountain; he reaches Philota and
embraces her.]

ANTONIO.

Thou hast waited long, Philota, hast thou not?

PHILOTA.

'Tis true, Antonio! but thou know'st an hour,
Nay, a bare minute, drags the weariest length
When thou art from me!

ANTONIO.

Thanks, dearest, and, forgive me,
I did but dream upon the hill-top yonder
And, dreaming thus, forgot thee.

PHILOTA.

Forgot me!

ANTONIO.

Nay, nay, I mean not that! thy face, thy smiles,
Thy deep devotion, in my heart of hearts,
I keep them shrined forever, but my thoughts
Turned truant; who can hold his thoughts, Philota,
In a leash always? prithee reascend
The mountain with me, I would show the place
Which tempted my weak thoughts to wander thus.

[They reach the most elevated portion of the mountain, whence a wide circuit of land and sea
becomes visible.]

PHILOTA.

How beautiful! how glorious! see, my love,
There's not a cloud, or shadow of cloud in heaven;
Even here, the winds breathe faintly, and afar
O'er the broad circuit of the watery calm,
Peace broods upon the ocean, rules the air,
And up the sunset's dazzling pathway walks
Like a saint entering Paradise.
'Twere sweet,
How sweet, Antonio, amid scenes like these,
To live and love forever!

ANTONIO [absently].

Dost thou think so?
Ay! -- well -- perhaps -----

PHILOTA.

He heeds me not, his eye
Is cold and stern; what troubles thee, Antonio?

ANTONIO.

Trouble! I am not troubled.

PHILOTA.

But thou art,
I know thou art; would'st thou deceive Philota?

ANTONIO.

Now by the saints, not so; dismiss the fear
Which, like a tremulous shadow, breaks the calm
Of those soft eyes! [after a pause]
The matter, in brief, is this:
Tracking our mountain paths at early dawn,
Rousso -- thou knowest him -- hailed me from the rocks,
With words that sounded like the battle trumpets;
"It comes!" he cried; "the war-cloud rolls this way;
We too shall hear its thunders" -------

PHILOTA.

Ay! and feel
Its bolts perchance, -- there's lightning in such clouds!

ANTONIO.

What if there be! who would not brave them all, --
All, for a cause like ours? Believe me, Love,
We stand upon the brink of troublous times:
All shall be changed here: men, -- brave Grecian men, --
The blood of heroes in them, -- cannot pause,
Storing the honey, harvesting the olive,
Or humbly following the tame herdsman's trade,
Whilst Freedom calls to conflict.
Look, Philota!
Dost mark yon lurid flash across the bay?
Our soldiers test their cannon! hark, below,
The drums of Affendouli -- how they ring!
Already thousands of bold mountaineers
Have formed beneath his banners; dost thou hear me?

PHILOTA.

And wouldst thou wish to join them? Ah! I see,
I see it all! -- a trouble on thy brow,
Borne upward from the restless gloom within,
Hath clouded o'er thy peace. I, -- a frail girl,
And gifted only with the wealth of love,
How can I satisfy the burning need
Of a strong man's ambition? Yes, tis so,
'Tis even so! -- love is the woman's heaven,
Her hope, her god, her life-blood! yet to man,
What is it but a pastime?

ANTONIO.

Speak not thus
Oh, speak not thus, Philota! I have loved
Thee, only thee, -- so help me, Virgin Mother!
But comrades from whose lips a taunt is bitter,
Have dared to hint -----

PHILOTA.

What!

ANTONIO.

That I chose to stay,
Delving, like some base slave, our barren soil,
When not a Sphakiote that can carry arms
Has failed to seize them. Liars! pestilent liars,
I would have proved the falsehood were it not -----

PHILOTA.

For me -- Philota! -- well! I love thee dearly,
Deeply, -- God knows, -- but I would have this love
To crown thee as a garland, -- not as a chain
To bind and fetter -- thou art free, Antonio! --

ANTONIO.

But hast thou thought of all which follows this?
Thou shalt be left alone, no bridal feast
Can cheer the olive harvest!

PHILOTA.

I have thought,
And am determined; -- thou art free, Antonio!

ANTONIO.

Oh, thanks, thanks, thanks! -- lift up thy hopes, Philota,
Up to the height of mine! our cause is just,
And a just Fate shall guard it; wheresoe'er
Free thought finds utterance, and the patriot-soul
Thrills at the deeds of heroes, -- we may look
For a "God speed!" The prayers of noble men,
The tears of women, -- the whole world's applause
Do wait upon us!
Methinks I see the end,
A free, grand Commonwealth of Grecian States,
Built upon chartered rights, -- each sealed with blood!

PHILOTA.

Enough! enough! Antonio, thou shalt go!
Greece is thy mistress, now.

SCENE II.

[The cottage of Philota, at the foot of Mount Psiloriti. Philota discovered at the window,
looking out upon the night, which is bleak and stormy.]

PHILOTA.

Hark! how those lusty trumpeters, the winds,
Urge on the black battalions of the clouds;
And see! the swollen rivulets rushing down
The sides of Psiloriti! Yesterday,
'Neath the clear calm of the serenest morn
Earth ever stole from Paradise, they swept,
Bright curves of laughing silver in the sunshine;
But now, an overmastering rush of floods,
They thunder to the heavens, that answer back
From the wild depths of gloom, -- an awful tempest!

[Enter ANTONIO hastily.]

ANTONIO.

Where is the priest, Philota? where is Andreas?
Was he not here to-night?

PHILOTA.

Ay! but left some half hour since!

ANTONIO.

What say you?
Oh, the poor father! -- then 'twas him I saw
Pent 'twixt the mountain torrents; he is lost!
The good old man! -- and yet, not so, not so!
Give me yon oaken staff, -- and, hold; a flask
Of the best vintage; I'll be back anon,
And the dear father with me: --

[Exit Antonio. Philota kneels before an image of the Virgin, and prays for the safety of her
lover. After the lapse of some minutes, enter Rousso stealthily, wrapped in a cloak, which
partly conceals his features.]

ROUSSO [aside].

Faith! a pretty picture!
Now, were I what fools call poetical,
I'd worship her, whilst she adores the saint, --
A lovelier saint herself, and nearer truly
To the just standard of divinity
Than yonder painted image; there's the curve,
The old Greek curve, in the voluptuous swell
Of those full lips; the passion in her eyes
Is shadowed off to melancholy meaning,
Only to waken to meridian life,
When a like passion touches it to flame.

PHILOTA [praying].

Oh, merciful Mother! save him, -- save Antonio!

ROUSSO [aside].

Oh, potent Devil! claim him, -- claim Antonio!
What! shall this malapert boy dispute my love?

[Philota, rising, discovers Rousso, towards whom (mistaking him for Antonio), she rushes, as if
about to cast herself into his arms, but discovering her error, she shrinks back.]

PHILOTA.

You here!

ROUSSO [advancing].

I crave protection, shelter, -- may I stay?

PHILOTA.

At a safe distance, Sir!

ROUSSO.

Why, what means this?
I looked for kindlier welcome!

PHILOTA.

Wherefore, Rousso?
What thou hast asked, I grant, -- protection, shelter;
Durst thou claim more than these?

ROUSSO.

I' faith thy temper is most strange and wayward!
Because, some months agone, not quite myself,
I ventured at the harvest of the olive,
Upon one innocent liberty --

PHILOTA.

No liberty,
With me, at least, bold man! is rated thus!

ROUSSO.

I do repeat, that I was not myself;
Blame the hot wine of Cyprus; spare your slave! [Kneeling.]

PHILOTA.

A slave, indeed! --

ROUSSO.

But one who stoops to conquer, fair Philota;
If I have knelt, 'tis only that I may
Rise thus, and clasp thee! Hold, no foolish cries,
No weak, vain strugglings! Think'st thou that the storm
Pealing adown the mountain's rugged steeps
Can bear these feeble wailings to thy friends?
Come, come, Philota! -- if thou could'st believe it,
I am the very worthiest of thy vassals;
List for an instant, while I paint the beauty
Of a far Eden waiting for the light,
The sundawn of thine eyes: --
Amid the waves
Of the AEgean, bosomed in the calm
Of ever-during summer, sleeps an isle
Whereon the ocean ripples into music;
Through whose luxuriant wilderness of blooms,
The soft winds sigh their breath away in dreams,
Where -- (the deuce take me! I forget my part) --
Where -- where -- where -- i' sooth, a place
To live, to love, to die in, and revisit
From the sad vale of shadows, with a touch
Of mortal fondness, overmastering death:
Wilt thou go thither with me? Nay, thou must!

[As Rousso attempts to carry Philota from the apartment, she recovers, and, by a sudden effort,
releases herself from his arms.]

ROUSSO.

Pardon, Philota! 'tis my eager love
Which thus hath urged me on; thou tremblest! what?
I would not make thee fear me.

PHILOTA.

Fear! fear!
If my cheek pales, it is not cowardice
That plays the tyrant to the exiled blood;
If my frame trembles, there are other moods
Than that thou speak'st of, to unstring its firmness;
Thy presence brings no terrors; dost thou talk
Of fear to a Greek woman?

ROUSSO.

No! no! not fear, but love!

PHILOTA.

Man, man! I pray thee
Blaspheme not thus! what canst thou know of love?
'Tis true thou speak'st it boldly; from thy lips
The word falls with a rounded fullness off,
And yet, believe me, thou hast used a phrase,
(A sacred phrase, and wretchedly profaned),
Which, were thy years thrice lengthened out beyond
The general limit of our mortal lives,
And thou be made to pass through all extremes
Of multiform experience, it could never
Enter thy sordid soul to comprehend!

ROUSSO.

Bravely delivered! by my soul, I think
We both make good declaimers! Where did'st learn
That pretty speech, Philota?

PHILOTA.

Wilt thou leave me?

ROUSSO.

Pshaw! thou art less than courteous. Leave thee? no!
I will not leave thee! Hark ye, my proud damsel,
I am not one with whom 'tis safe to trifle,
Thou knowest, or shalt know this; so, mark my words,
Long have I wooed thee fairly, would have won thee,
Yea, and endowed thee with both wealth and station;
Twice hast thou heard my proffer, twice with loathing
Spurned it, and me; I shall not woo thee thrice
With honeyed words; no, 'tis the strong arm now.
I am prepared for all; come on!

[He seizes Philota a second time, but enter on the instant Antonio, with the Monk Andreas
leaning upon him.]

PHILOTA [faintly].

Saved! saved!

ANTONIO.

Ha, Rousso, I have heard it whispered oft
Amongst thy watchful brethren in this isle,
That underneath that smooth and flattering front
There lurked a mine of blackest villany!
Faith! I denied it once; what shall I say
When next the public voice decries you, sir?

ROUSSO.

A jest! I do assure you but a jest!
This cloak, which in your self-devoted flight
To rescue the dear father, Andreas
(How glad I am to see his saintship safe),
You dropped some furlongs from the mountain's base,
I cast, in sportive fashion, on my person,
And deeming that Philota would rejoice
To hear that thou had'st to far braved the force
O' th' treacherous elements, I called upon her;
She did me the vast honor to confound
Your humble servant with Antonio,
And 'ere I was aware, sprang to my arms,
With such a blinded ecstasy of rapture,
That I had wellnigh sunk into the earth,
From the mere stress of native modesty!
A jest, a jest, and nothing but a jest.

ANTONIO.

Such jesting may be dangerous, -- beware!

SCENE III.

[A year is supposed to have elapsed. The town of Sphakia after nightfall. Enter confusedly a
band of Sphakiote soldiers, with Rousso amongst them. The streets are crowded with women,
many of whom are heard lamenting the death of Antonio Melidori.]

ROUSSO [in a disguised voice].

Why will ye clamor thus, ye foolish jades?
Your handsome favorite, your renowned commander,
Is no more dead than I am!

A WOMAN.

Say'st thou so?
Where then is Melidori?

ROUSSO [still disguising his voice].

Would'st thou learn?
Women of Sphakia, your immaculate captain,
He for whose welfare, upon bended knees,
Ye nightly pray to heaven, whose name your infants
Lisp in their very slumbers, hath betrayed us!
Hold! hear me out! I am no dubious witness;
Thrice, whilst the battle raged along our front,
I saw the traitor creeping like a dog
Between the Turkish outposts!

[Antonio appears in the rear, with a child in his arms.]

ANTONIO.

It is false!
Here is your leader, Sphakiotes; what base slanderer
Dares to pronounce me traitor? I but paused
To save this weeping innocent, whose mother
Fell by some coward's sword!

ROUSSO.

Ha, Sphakiotes, see,
The noble Melidori waxes tender,
Soft as a woman! he must love the Moslem,
Who fosters thus their offspring! by the saints
A lusty brat! He'll thrive, good friends, believe me,
And grow betimes, to cut our infants' throats!

ANTONIO.

Let him who speaks stand forth; I would confront
My bold accuser. What! he clings to the dark!
Fit place for lies and liars!
Friends, I scorn
To parley with this viper; there's a way,
One only way, to deal with reptiles, crush them,
Thus, thus, and thus,
When they have crawled too near us;

[Stamping violently upon the earth.]

Till then, why let the ugly beasts hiss on,
And spit their harmless venom.

[Turning to the women.]

Mothers, wives,
Maidens of Sphakia, are there none amongst ye
Ready to take this poor unfortunate?
Just for my sake, fair countrywomen, list,
List to the blessed word: -- "The merciful
Shall obtain mercy!"

ROUSSO.

Heed him not, I say,
But seize the infidel whelp, and let him rock
On a steel bayonet! What! have we repelled
The invading foe, exterminated wholly
His forces and his empire, that we dare
Cherish his cubs among us? -- and for what?
"Just for his sake, fair countrywomen, -- his,
And mercy's!" Who showed mercy to our children,
When the Turk ravaged Scio? The young devil, --
Hear how he shrieks! ho! send him down to hell!
Down to his father! he's a grateful spirit,
And thankful for small favors!

[The crowd begin to murmur, and move threateningly towards ANTONIO.]

ANTONIO.

Shame upon you!
Though the poor boy were fifty times a Moslem,
I'll rear him as my own; he shall not perish;
Perchance, who knows, when I have died for you,
For you, and Grecian liberty, this babe,
Reared as a Greek, may yet avenge my death,
As none of you, false brethren, dare avenge it!
Once more I say, -- Mothers, wives, maids of Sphakia,
Is there not one amongst ye to whose tendance
I may commit this trembling castaway?

PHILOTA [veiled].

Give me the child, -- I'll nurture him with love,
And gentlest usage.

ANTONIO [starting].

Heavens! what voice is that?
You here, Philota? I had hoped you dwelt
Safely within the close heart of the mountains!

PHILOTA.

The mountains are not safe.

ANTONIO.

Why then did'st thou
Keep such strict silence? Answer me, Philota,
How hast thou lived. This peasant's dress ------

PHILOTA.

Is fittest
For me, Antonio, -- by my handiwork,
And daily labor, I now earn my bread, --
For was it meet an unknown peasant girl
Should claim, as her betrothed, great Melidori,
Captain of Sphakia?

ANTONIO.

O, thou generous heart!
But stay, -- the rabble must not catch our words;
Take thou the babe, -- under the city-walls
I'll meet thee in the gloaming,

SCENE IV.

[A place under the city walls, -- time, an hour after sunset.]

ANTONIO, [embracing PHILOTA constrainedly].

How kind thou art!

PHILOTA.

I but obeyed your mandate!

ANTONIO.

Nay, why so cold? my troth is thine, Philota, --
Dost thou remember?

PHILOTA.

Would'st thou have me do so?
Methought that dream was over, -- by thy wish.

ANTONIO.

By heaven! I never said so!

PHILOTA.

Yet thy heart,
Thy heart, Antonio, spake the keen desire,
Although thy lips kept silence; -- I have learned
To read thy spirit like an open book,
And cannot be deceived; -- all's changed with us;
Never again, as in the time that's past,
Shall we, hand linked in hand, explore the vales,
Or walk the shining hill-tops; thou hast risen
Far, far above my level; a great man,
Among the greatest, -- thou wert mad t' espouse
A humble girl like me; I ask it not;
My love but burdens thy aspiring hopes,
So, I beseech thee, dwell no more upon it:
Antonio, for thy welfare I would give
My soul's life; shall I then refuse to yield
A personal joy, that thou may'st win and wed
The immortal virgin -- Glory? Dream it not!
Oh! dream it not!

ANTONIO.

Now, gracious God, forgive me!
It were presumption, should I kiss thy feet,
Thou pure, unselfish woman! yet thy words
Are true, too true, and I dare not gainsay them.
One thing believe, Philota, I am wretched,
Yes, far more so than thou art:

[After a pause.]

-- Did'st thou know
The terrible life I lead in this dread warfare,
Through what an atmosphere of blood and carnage
It is my doom to move, as through the air
Of some plague-stricken city, thick with curses;
Did'st know the numberless dangers, that like demons
(Many unseen, -- and therefore doubly fearful),
Which hover 'round the soldier, hour by hour
O'ershadowing life with the black gloom of death;
Did'st know the coarse companions, the rude manners
Of vile extortioners, bent alone on prey,
And personal profit, and the thousand evils
Gendered of strife, and strife's unhallowed passions,
O, thou would'st shrink from following such base courses,
Even as an angel from the brink of hell!

PHILOTA.

Thou wrong'st my love, and hast deceived thyself;
Where'er thou art, to me that place is heaven;
Antonio, God alone, God and my soul
Know what I might, and would have been to thee!
I would have shared thy fortunes, joined my fate
For weal or woe, for honor or disgrace,
For life or death to thine; have tracked thy steps,
(If need it were,) through seas of blood and carnage,
Strengthened thy weakness, buoyed thy sinking hopes,
Nor, at the worst, have shed one woman's tear
To shake thy manhood. Had heaven blessed thy cause,
I would have striven to make my spirit worthy
To mount with thee; so, when the orbed glory
Shone like the fire of sunrise round thy brow,
No man dare say that with that lustre mingled
One blush of shame for Melidori's wife!
This might have been, and this shall never be. [Wildly.]
I' th' name of mercy, by thy mother's soul,
And the dear past, I pray thee leave me now,
While still thou lov'st me (dost thou not?) a little.

ANTONIO.

And thou -- and thou, Philota? ------

PHILOTA.

I shall dwell
In peace; [aside] ay! broken hearts are peaceful!

ANTONIO.

But where? -------

PHILOTA.

What matter where, so that I live in peace?
Grieve not, Antonio. In my humble station
One thought shall bring content; -- "he was not false,"
No mortal maiden stole Antonio's heart!

ANTONIO.

Blessed words!
'Tis true I love but thee!

PHILOTA.

Then do not sorrow.
Love, I forgive thee; thou hast wronged me not.
And for the child -- ah, I shall dream it thine;
Tend it as thine, and when the years have ripened
That infant soul, 'tis mine to lead to virtue,
I'll teach the boy how noble was the act
Whereby Antonio saved him; I'll be happy,
Oh, trust me, Love! so very, very happy!

ANTONIO.

Then be it so, Philota. I would bless thee,
But am not worthy; still, thou shalt be blessed.

PHILOTA.

And thou, too, if the Virgin hear my prayers;
And now that we are friends, but friends, though firm ones,
Beseech thee, list my tidings. There's a foe,
A deadly, treacherous foe in thine own camp,
And one who vows thy ruin; it is Rousso;
Thou knowest how first his envious, bitter temper
Was stung to hatred; since that time, thy will
Hath often clashed with his; besides, thy fame
In these fierce wars hath far o'ertopped his credit;
So he has sworn thy death; the voice was his,
That goaded on thy soldiers to rebellion;
And, as I threaded my uncertain pathway,
A short hour since, through the dark streets of Sphakia,
I heard thy name in whispers; two dim forms
(Men, as I knew by their hoarse tones,) conferred
With hurried, stealthy gestures, and one sentence
Startled me like a knell: -- "His tomb is open,"
A deep voice said; "Antonio's tomb is open!"
Oh, then, beware. As lowly as thou deem'st me,
I'll watch above thy safety; the soft dove
May warn the eagle of the midnight spoiler!

ANTONIO.

And thy own life and safety -------

PHILOTA.

I am here
To spend them both for thee. But hark! thy name
Is shouted by thy comrades in the valley.
The hour has come that parts us. Fare thee well!

[She gives him her hand.]

ANTONIO.

'Twas not our wont to part in this cold fashion;
Come, one more kiss, Philota! let me feel
We were indeed betrothed; one last, last kiss! [They embrace and part.]

SCENE V.

[An apartment in the house of Affendouli, the Governor-General of Candia. Enter Antonio, and
Affendouli, conversing.]

AFFENDOULI.

These private bickerings are the fruitful cause
Of all disgrace and failure; let us end them!

ANTONIO.

Most willingly! I have no feud with any,
Saving one quarrel, forced upon me, chief!

AFFENDOULI.

True, true! but even now a courier waits,
Charged with a special message of good will,
From Rousso, and his brother, Anagnosti;
They say, "We plead for peace! all personal hate
Henceforth be quelled between us; we would join
Our troop to Melidori's, and our banners
Wave side by side with his." Accept their proffer!

ANTONIO.

I will!

AFFENDOULI.

To show thou art sincere, fail not to test
Their hospitality.

ANTONIO.

As how?

AFFENDOULI.

They give
A solemn feast of unity and friendship,
To which thou art invited. Go, I charge thee.

ANTONIO.

Trust me, I shall be there, what day's appointed
Whereon to hold this festival of love?

AFFENDOULI.

This very day; thou knowest the camp of Rousso?

ANTONIO.

Ay! I'll be there anon!

[Exit Antonio. Enter, after a brief interval, Philota, with a hurried and anxious mien.]

PHILOTA.

Oh, pardon, pardon!
Most gracious Governor! but I come to seek
Ant ----- Ant -----, that is, the Captain Melidori,
With tidings of grave import.

AFFENDOULI.

Ha!
Thou luckless messenger! he has departed.
Gone ----

PHILOTA [wildly].

Where, where?

AFFENDOULI.

To feast with Rousso.

PHILOTA [rushing out].

Then is he lost! O merciful God, protect us!

SCENE VI.

[An open space in a wood, -- tables arranged for a banquet, -- Rousso, Anagnosti, Antonio
Melidori, and their followers, discovered feasting.]

ANAGNOSTI.

A soldier's life forever! free to pass
In feast or fray! how glorious this wild banquet
Compared to those dull, formal feasts of old,
Held at the olive harvest! Speak, Antonio,
Give us thy thought upon it: what! art silent?

ROUSSO.

Urge him no more; perchance Antonio pines
For the sweet quiet of that mountain life,
Which thou hast called so dull; its days of dream,
Its nights of warm voluptuous dalliance!

ANTONIO.

No, no, by heaven! those times are dead to me;
They had their pleasures, but not one to match
The keen delights of glory, the true honor
Which follows patriot service.

ROUSSO.

Gallant words,
Brave, and high-sounding; but for me and mine,
We do not fight for shadows!

ANTONIO [coldly].

I'm at fault,
Not clearly comprehending, sir, your meaning.

ROUSSO.

Oh! thou dost well to speak of glory, honors,
We know what rich rewards await thee, chief,
When the war's ended; spoils, and wealth and beauty.
But yestermorn, I saw thy winsome lady,
The bride to be, old Affendouli's daughter.
Nay, shrink not, man, she is a lovely maid,
Fair as her father's generous; what an eye!
Half arch, half languishing; and what a breast!
That heaves as 'twould burst outward to the day,
And strike men mad with its white panting passion!
No lovelier woman lives, unless, unless --
It be that poor young thing who doted on thee,
Before the war, -- what was her name? Philota?

ANTONIO.

Thy thoughts run on fair damsels; let us talk
Like soldiers, not like brain-sick boys in love.

ROUSSO.

With all my heart; only, one pledge to thee,
And Affendouli's daughter!

ANTONIO.

I have borne
This jesting with the patience of a saint,
But now 'tis stretched to license. Prithee, cease!

ROUSSO.

God, how he winces! if Philota --

ANTONIO.

Villain!
Utter that sacred name again -----

ROUSSO [rising suddenly and drawing his dagger].

Oh, ho!
Wilt fight, wilt fight! I'm ready for thee; come.

ANTONIO [aside].

(He shall not trap me thus.) Thou art my host;
'Twere shame, yea, bitter shame, this brawl should end
In blows and bloodshed! when the time befits,
[To ROUSSO].
Doubt not that I shall call thee to account
For this day's work; meanwhile I leave a board
Where clownish insult poisons all your cups!

[As he is about to depart, Anagnosti approaches, with an air of conciliation.]

ANAGNOSTI.

Well spoken, noble captain, thou wert wronged;
But Rousso is so hasty! He repents;
Let not this solemn feast of unity
Break up in discord.

ROUSSO.

No, no, no, Antonio!
I do repent! Prithee embrace me, friend,
In sign of reconcilement.

[Rousso approaches Melidori with an unsteady step; while in the act of embracing, he stabs him
in the side. Philota rushes upon the scene, with a cry of agony, and throws herself beside
Antonio, whose head she supports.]

PHILOTA.

Too late! O God, too late! He faints, he dies!
Why stare ye thus upon us, cruel men?
Wine, wine, another cup, how slow ye move!
My scarf is drenched with blood, -- ye pitiless fools!
Will not a creature loan me wherewithal
To bind his wretched wound up? There, 'tis stanched,
And he revives! Antonio, speak to me,
I am Philota!

ANTONIO [his mind wandering].

Where hast thou been, my love, this weary time?
Am I not true? I charge thee, heed them not!
The girl is nothing to me; Rousso's tongue,
His sharp false tongue first joined our names together;
She loves another, and I love but thee;
Draw nearer, let me whisper. I have dreamed,
Oh, such a dream! the valleys flowed with blood,
And ruin compassed all our island round,
And every town was sacked, and, hark ye, nearer!
I saw a mother murdered by a knave,
A coward knave, because she would not yield
Her body to him; but I saved her child,
And here he is, a pretty, pretty boy!
Take him, Philota. Ah, my heart, my heart!
It pains me sorely; 'twas a terrible dream,
But now, thank Heaven, 'tis over! Thou art pale;
What makes thee pale? Bear up, my dearest love!
This morn we shall be wedded, and I think
We will not part again. I had a foe,
His name is Rousso; but we are so happy,
Let us forgive all foes; invite him thither,

PHILOTA [weeping].

He breaks my heart --

ANTONIO.

How keen the wind is!
Keen, keen, and chill; it was not wont to blow
So coldly at this season: I am sick,
Yea, sick of very joy; but joy kills not;
My lids are heavy; I would sleep, Philota.
Wake me at early dawn; I told my mother,
That I would bring thee home, to-morrow morn.
[He dies.]





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net