Whither?
3rd OLD MONK.
Besides we are not of one mind
Now he stops preaching; it was like a spell.
Now he stops preaching; it was like a spell.
4th OLD MONK.
The heretic!
OLD MONK.
CARLOMAN.
No, good old monk,
God’s servants must not listen but to Him.
You have grown comfortable as the years
Rolled on,—no matter. What the novice suffers,
What every novice suffers, speak of that.
God’s servants must not listen but to Him.
You have grown comfortable as the years
Rolled on,—no matter. What the novice suffers,
What every novice suffers, speak of that.
OLD MONK.
I have forgotten it.
CARLOMAN.
You can forget
What you have suffered; then ’tis waste of time
To listen to you. What we suffer once
In youth—in childhood and our secret youth,
We suffer to our grave.
[turning to another monk] Have you forgotten?
What you have suffered; then ’tis waste of time
To listen to you. What we suffer once
In youth—in childhood and our secret youth,
We suffer to our grave.
[turning to another monk] Have you forgotten?
Ist OLD MONK.
No, but the pain is numb, so long ago
My parents spoilt my life to have their will;
I must endure the best they could conceive,
And save their souls.
My parents spoilt my life to have their will;
I must endure the best they could conceive,
And save their souls.
CARLOMAN.
If you should lose your own!
A curse on parents! The one truth that led me
To seek the cloister was my certitude
A man’s existence lodges in himself
And is not owned by kindred.
A curse on parents! The one truth that led me
To seek the cloister was my certitude
A man’s existence lodges in himself
And is not owned by kindred.
OLD MONK.
Gently, brother,
You had your way, and made yourself a monk;
Now you are all for change—so is the world
For bitter change.
You had your way, and made yourself a monk;
Now you are all for change—so is the world
For bitter change.
Ist OLD MONK.
OLD MONK.
Time works such wonders
If we will give him time to work them in.
If we will give him time to work them in.
IST MONK.
It is too late.
CARLOMAN.
A maxim for the dead.
It never is too late for any seeing,
For any recognition we are wrong.
It is a man’s despair, not his confession
Proves him contemptible. Too late, you say,
Too late—but there are countries where ’tis spring
And harvest many times within the year.
Besides, we must not tarry in a place
The moments do not wash with dew; we wither,
Death has his secret will with us. Believe!
Act on the instant.
It never is too late for any seeing,
For any recognition we are wrong.
It is a man’s despair, not his confession
Proves him contemptible. Too late, you say,
Too late—but there are countries where ’tis spring
And harvest many times within the year.
Besides, we must not tarry in a place
The moments do not wash with dew; we wither,
Death has his secret will with us. Believe!
Act on the instant.
OLD MONK.
The high gates are barred,
And yonder is the Prior.
And yonder is the Prior.
[Damiani, with Rachis and a large troop of monks, is seen coming from the Chapel.]
CARLOMAN.
The gates are strong;
But you and I and all of us can pass
Through them in simple triumph if we will—
With one consent.
Why, they are opening now!
How gloriously! Armed riders!
But you and I and all of us can pass
Through them in simple triumph if we will—
With one consent.
Why, they are opening now!
How gloriously! Armed riders!
[Enter Astolph with a band of Lombard soldiers.]
MONKS.
CARLOMAN.
Not one of you shall come.
What, flocking to my side because a door
Turns on its hinges—shame!
What, flocking to my side because a door
Turns on its hinges—shame!
ASTOLPH.
Where’s Carloman?
DAMIANI.
[advancing] Who asks?
ASTOLPH.
The King of Lombardy.
Give place!
Give place!
CARLOMAN.
My saviour!
ASTOLPH.
Are you Carloman the Frank?
I like you—yes, your face is eloquent.
You do not keep your eyes upon the ground,
Like this dear relative.
I like you—yes, your face is eloquent.
You do not keep your eyes upon the ground,
Like this dear relative.
CARLOMAN.
[staring fixedly at Astolph] You glitter so,
You glitter like the golden Vines, your hair
Is gold, your armour full of spokes and rays.
You glitter like the golden Vines, your hair
Is gold, your armour full of spokes and rays.
ASTOLPH.
And you are muffled in a sackcloth-bag;
The contrast strikes you.
[to Damiani] Lunatic?
The contrast strikes you.
[to Damiani] Lunatic?
DAMIANI.
ASTOLPH.
And I
An extra horse; for, lunatic or sane,
I must have speech with——
An extra horse; for, lunatic or sane,
I must have speech with——
[turning to Carloman with a laugh]
Do you know your name?
We who are kings and soldiers know it well,
And Christendom remembers. Ah, I see!
You are not happy, so they call you mad.
We who are kings and soldiers know it well,
And Christendom remembers. Ah, I see!
You are not happy, so they call you mad.
RACHIS.
Have you no word for me? I am a King,
A King discrowned—and more, you have my crown.
Are you grown sick of it?
A King discrowned—and more, you have my crown.
Are you grown sick of it?
ASTOLPH.
My dear old Rachis,
Do not look covetous! I am not come
To take you from your prayers.
Do not look covetous! I am not come
To take you from your prayers.
RACHIS.
You think you triumph,
But when you roll your thirsty tongue in hell,
And see me in the peace of Abraham’s bosom,
Watching your pain—
But when you roll your thirsty tongue in hell,
And see me in the peace of Abraham’s bosom,
Watching your pain—
ASTOLPH.
To every dog his day!
[with a shudder]
Ah, then—meanwhile there is a blowing wind,
And all the world to ravish ... Carloman,
We are the brothers now ... [to Damiani] Yes, I and this
[Rachis sneaks off, hissing curses.]
Fraternal soul, your madman.
[with a shudder]
Ah, then—meanwhile there is a blowing wind,
And all the world to ravish ... Carloman,
We are the brothers now ... [to Damiani] Yes, I and this
[Rachis sneaks off, hissing curses.]
Fraternal soul, your madman.
DAMIANI.
ASTOLPH.
I take it, thank you. Glance
A moment at my soldiers—and retire.
A moment at my soldiers—and retire.
[They all withdraw.]
Come to the well, where we can sit and talk,
And I can have a draught.
And I can have a draught.
[He looses his helmet and dips it in the well. Carloman puts both hands round it as soon as it is full of water.]
CARLOMAN.
Wait! [drinking] Cool and strong!
That prison-stuff was stagnant. Sunshine’s warmth,
The cool of water, how they both refresh!
[looking up with a smile]
Now, brilliant one, your business?
That prison-stuff was stagnant. Sunshine’s warmth,
The cool of water, how they both refresh!
[looking up with a smile]
Now, brilliant one, your business?
ASTOLPH.
Will you leave
The Monastery?
The Monastery?
CARLOMAN.
At once.
ASTOLPH.
You have no terror?
You will not creep back, conscience in your nerves?
You will not creep back, conscience in your nerves?
CARLOMAN.
Let me but pass the door.
ASTOLPH.
[laughing] You see it swings.
I left it open.
I left it open.
CARLOMAN.
Then we start at once.
ASTOLPH.
CARLOMAN.
He is great.
ASTOLPH.
No doubt—
And most sagacious, for he seeks your brother
To win him with the bribe of sacred oil
As vassal and ally against myself.
I started here from Rome the hour I heard
That Zacharias had crept out by night
To travel northward and defeat my hopes.
You must arrive before him! I am come
Sure, from report, that you will help my cause,
You, who have been a ruler. I contend
No supernatural power should have control
Of lands and cities, troops and civil rights,
Matters distinct from God, as from the world
The service he requires. Life is so easy
If we will keep it human—quarrel, murder,
And then make friends: we have so short a time
To sin together ... but this hate deferred,
These pestilential menaces!—
And most sagacious, for he seeks your brother
To win him with the bribe of sacred oil
As vassal and ally against myself.
I started here from Rome the hour I heard
That Zacharias had crept out by night
To travel northward and defeat my hopes.
You must arrive before him! I am come
Sure, from report, that you will help my cause,
You, who have been a ruler. I contend
No supernatural power should have control
Of lands and cities, troops and civil rights,
Matters distinct from God, as from the world
The service he requires. Life is so easy
If we will keep it human—quarrel, murder,
And then make friends: we have so short a time
To sin together ... but this hate deferred,
These pestilential menaces!—
CARLOMAN.
The Pope
Shall never injure France!
Shall never injure France!
ASTOLPH.
It lies with you
To break the threatened treaty. You have owned
Power over Pepin?
To break the threatened treaty. You have owned
Power over Pepin?
CARLOMAN.
Yes; tho’ tardily,
He followed all my counsels.
He followed all my counsels.
ASTOLPH.
CARLOMAN.
Hills and plains
And trees—the olives, cypresses and vines;
Then France with nuts and poplars! But you keep me
In one great palpitation.
And trees—the olives, cypresses and vines;
Then France with nuts and poplars! But you keep me
In one great palpitation.
ASTOLPH.
Zacharias,
Besetting me from north and southward, crushes
My strongest forces. What a splendid thing
For the old man to travel in the heat
So far to work my ruin!
Besetting me from north and southward, crushes
My strongest forces. What a splendid thing
For the old man to travel in the heat
So far to work my ruin!
CARLOMAN.
But the world
Is for the young, my Astolph.
Is for the young, my Astolph.
ASTOLPH.
Carloman,
I love you. Why, I feel a lad, eighteen,
When looking on you. Come, we two must kiss;
We may not burn together, flame in flame,
Again—so we must kiss.
I love you. Why, I feel a lad, eighteen,
When looking on you. Come, we two must kiss;
We may not burn together, flame in flame,
Again—so we must kiss.
CARLOMAN.
My blessed one,
Would I could cleave to you! You give me freedom,
A gift so rarely thought of.
Would I could cleave to you! You give me freedom,
A gift so rarely thought of.
ASTOLPH.
[calling a monk] Fetch the Prior,
The brethren, now—this instant. We must start.
The brethren, now—this instant. We must start.
CARLOMAN.
ASTOLPH.
What, a monk
Still half of you! Such trouble for men’s souls—
But have your wish. Once on the battlefield,
Men will become your prey. This solid jaw
Means grip you will not loose. O Carloman,
If I can circumvent the Pope, and then
Stretch him a bleeding quarry at my feet—
Still half of you! Such trouble for men’s souls—
But have your wish. Once on the battlefield,
Men will become your prey. This solid jaw
Means grip you will not loose. O Carloman,
If I can circumvent the Pope, and then
Stretch him a bleeding quarry at my feet—
CARLOMAN.
What, Zacharias!
But I plead for France;
Popes must not meddle with her.
But I plead for France;
Popes must not meddle with her.
ASTOLPH.
[as the Prior and Monks re-enter] I require
The services of Carloman: another
Whom he will choose attends him.
The services of Carloman: another
Whom he will choose attends him.
DAMIANI.
Impious wretch,
You steal from God His servants!
You steal from God His servants!
[Astolph laughs and moves up the courtyard to summon his men: Damiani and Rachis talk to each other; the monks listen in a scared group.]
CARLOMAN.
[drawing Marcomir to the front] Marcomir,
Come from this graveyard.
Come from this graveyard.
MARCOMIR.
No, I must not come,
I dare not; she is yours.
I dare not; she is yours.
CARLOMAN.
MARCOMIR.
It is not so
I look; I have a lust to gratify,
A lust for very shame I loathe to mix
With Geneviva’s image.
I look; I have a lust to gratify,
A lust for very shame I loathe to mix
With Geneviva’s image.
CARLOMAN.
Faugh! because
You think that I possess her! Cursèd bonds,
Cursed law that makes this riot in the heart!
Come forth; all will be gentle out of doors.
Gird up your habit.
You think that I possess her! Cursèd bonds,
Cursed law that makes this riot in the heart!
Come forth; all will be gentle out of doors.
Gird up your habit.
MARCOMIR.
She?—
CARLOMAN.
Is but herself,
O Marcomir, we tarry—and the leaves
Are tossing through the air—
O Marcomir, we tarry—and the leaves
Are tossing through the air—
[Astolph throws his scarlet riding-cloak over Carloman, who seizes Marcomir with an impetuous movement and draws him toward the horses that champ at the gate.]
ACT IV
Scene: The Hall of the Frankish Palace. Early morning; the remains of a banquet on the table, drinking-cups, wine bottles, faded leaves.
[A Servant is wiping away the stains of wine from the floor.]
SERVANT.
It is a cheerful thing to make all clean
When one is brisk and cool: this early air
Before the sun gets up is fit for men
To breathe when they are working.
Spot on spot!
A stranger to the revel of last night
Would take it there had been a massacre
To daub the floor so thickly.
When one is brisk and cool: this early air
Before the sun gets up is fit for men
To breathe when they are working.
Spot on spot!
A stranger to the revel of last night
Would take it there had been a massacre
To daub the floor so thickly.
[Enter another Servant.]
2ND SERVANT.
What a strew
Of glass and muddy wine-drops! Come up close
And listen. There’s a curious monk outside
Who asks to see the King—almost a beggar,
And yet a red embroidered riding-cloak
Flaunts round his ragged sackcloth; while his voice
Has such a wanton ring we need not trouble
Lest he should take the scandal of this room
Too much to heart. The jolly soul can pipe!
Of glass and muddy wine-drops! Come up close
And listen. There’s a curious monk outside
Who asks to see the King—almost a beggar,
And yet a red embroidered riding-cloak
Flaunts round his ragged sackcloth; while his voice
Has such a wanton ring we need not trouble
Lest he should take the scandal of this room
Too much to heart. The jolly soul can pipe!
[A voice is heard richly humming.]
1ST SERVANT.
A monk indeed! Why we must drink again!
A minstrel!
A minstrel!
2ND SERVANT.
And his comrade took the horses
As he had been a squire.
As he had been a squire.
1ST SERVANT.
Oh, but the song!
I never heard another one like this.
I never heard another one like this.
2ND SERVANT.
Man, they are all the same: but then he sings it
As if he had just learnt that grapes have juice,
That makes it sound so well. You’re pouring wine?
As if he had just learnt that grapes have juice,
That makes it sound so well. You’re pouring wine?
1ST SERVANT.
Yes, he must drink for that. Ho, there again!
Have you not caught the line?
Have you not caught the line?
[They join in as the voice sings]
These are the treasure
Of the full cup;
Lift it up, lift it up!
And let us be gay and be friends without measure.
Ha, ha!
Of the full cup;
Lift it up, lift it up!
And let us be gay and be friends without measure.
Ha, ha!
2ND SERVANT.
Come in!
[Enter Carloman.]
You praise deep drinking—you ...
For shame! A churchman! But ...
How thin!
For shame! A churchman! But ...
How thin!
1ST SERVANT.
What eyes!
CARLOMAN.
1ST SERVANT.
No, father.
CARLOMAN.
Call me brother if you will.
Why do you choke with laughter? I am ready
To laugh with you, to laugh to very tears
At what I am and have been. Do not hide
A thing so good and bright as laughter—Eh?
Why do you choke with laughter? I am ready
To laugh with you, to laugh to very tears
At what I am and have been. Do not hide
A thing so good and bright as laughter—Eh?
2ND SERVANT.
Mad! It were best to leave him to himself.
[They draw back.]
CARLOMAN.
[Looking round the room]
Throw the door wide open. Here we need
Fresh air even more than water. How the wine
Cries from the ground—shut in with walls, and cast
Below men’s feet, a slough where animals
Might wallow, and so sour! Let in the breeze.
Let in the dawn outside there!
Throw the door wide open. Here we need
Fresh air even more than water. How the wine
Cries from the ground—shut in with walls, and cast
Below men’s feet, a slough where animals
Might wallow, and so sour! Let in the breeze.
Let in the dawn outside there!
1ST SERVANT.
[propping the door] After all
He is abstemious and sad at sin.
Look how profoundly sad!
He is abstemious and sad at sin.
Look how profoundly sad!
2ND SERVANT.
Such twins of temper
Are frequent with the crazy. Now he drops
His mantle, have you ever seen such limbs—
A very scare-crow’s!
Are frequent with the crazy. Now he drops
His mantle, have you ever seen such limbs—
A very scare-crow’s!
1ST SERVANT.
But a kindly smile.
2ND SERVANT.
He touches things and lifts them up and down
Just like an idiot. We must warn the King.
Just like an idiot. We must warn the King.
CARLOMAN.
A feast, how nasty! Dabbled vine-leaves, vessels
Broken to shivers, the inspiring juice
Black on the boards—a feast! Can happiness
Leave refuse such as this? It visits slaves,
And then its track is loathsome. Ah, the air
Has entered like a wedge, keen, reaching me
Through all the mustiness ... and now I breathe!
The door is not enough, the windows too ...
[opening one]
There! How it enters!
[turning toward another window]
In this room I lived;
It is not altered? No, the fireplace, east;
My chair in front, and hers ... but they are crowned
At present; and my name upon that bench.
It is more terrible than nightmare—this
Besieging of one’s life by chairs and walls
And memories. Ah yes, the walls, the walls,
They do the mischief; and this reek of age
From every corner sickens worse than stale
Imprisoned fumes of wine. More air!
Broken to shivers, the inspiring juice
Black on the boards—a feast! Can happiness
Leave refuse such as this? It visits slaves,
And then its track is loathsome. Ah, the air
Has entered like a wedge, keen, reaching me
Through all the mustiness ... and now I breathe!
The door is not enough, the windows too ...
[opening one]
There! How it enters!
[turning toward another window]
In this room I lived;
It is not altered? No, the fireplace, east;
My chair in front, and hers ... but they are crowned
At present; and my name upon that bench.
It is more terrible than nightmare—this
Besieging of one’s life by chairs and walls
And memories. Ah yes, the walls, the walls,
They do the mischief; and this reek of age
From every corner sickens worse than stale
Imprisoned fumes of wine. More air!
[He throws wide all the windows: then leans out of the last. While his back is turned, Geneviva staggers drowsily in, reels to the board, tries to drink, then flings herself against the throne sleeping.]
O Earth,
How beautiful to think I travelled on
And on, yet rode against no wall, so freely
The outworks of your sky gave up their space.
My brain is tired with interest: what men do
Or speak enthrals me, I who often paced
This room as blind to anything alive
As if a child unborn.
How beautiful to think I travelled on
And on, yet rode against no wall, so freely
The outworks of your sky gave up their space.
My brain is tired with interest: what men do
Or speak enthrals me, I who often paced
This room as blind to anything alive
As if a child unborn.
[Impulsively beginning to pace.]
[pausing at sight of Geneviva.]
But who is this
Strange, beautiful, wild woman?
Oh, how delicious
Her arms, her bosom! Through the sodden hair,
Trailing the ground, what glitter, and how clean
This naked shoulder lies against the floor.
Why, this is Sleep itself!
Strange, beautiful, wild woman?
Oh, how delicious
Her arms, her bosom! Through the sodden hair,
Trailing the ground, what glitter, and how clean
This naked shoulder lies against the floor.
Why, this is Sleep itself!
[He comes close.]
O Geneviva,
So you too have learnt freedom, and are grown
How marvellous in beauty!—Marcomir!—
So you too have learnt freedom, and are grown
How marvellous in beauty!—Marcomir!—
[Marcomir stands at the door.]
He must not see her drunken and so flushed;
He shall not.
[moving quickly to the door.]
He shall not.
[moving quickly to the door.]
I am looking every moment
For Pepin; do not enter.
For Pepin; do not enter.
[Marcomir turns and goes out.]
Oh, my shame,
If she should open her gray eyes on me,
And find me frocked and tonsured ... for the sun
Strikes sheer across her face.
If she should open her gray eyes on me,
And find me frocked and tonsured ... for the sun
Strikes sheer across her face.
[He bends over her; she wakes, looks up, laughs in his face, and then speaks.]
GENEVIVA.
So young a guardian!
Most holy father, but I am not dead;
Do not bring rosemary, or sprinkle me
With holy drops.
[rubbing her eyes] They call this morning sleep
A beauty sleep. You must not stare so hard.
Most holy father, but I am not dead;
Do not bring rosemary, or sprinkle me
With holy drops.
[rubbing her eyes] They call this morning sleep
A beauty sleep. You must not stare so hard.
CARLOMAN.
GENEVIVA.
I must; you are a monk
Shame-faced and awkward. [rising] Have you travelled far?
Shame-faced and awkward. [rising] Have you travelled far?
CARLOMAN.
I came on embassy: the Lombard King ...
GENEVIVA.
These kings and princes! But whoever rules
Young men must have their pleasure. You and I—
Shall we not drink together?
Young men must have their pleasure. You and I—
Shall we not drink together?
[She pours wine into a goblet—he drinks]
God, what thirst!
Now you must rest awhile.
Now you must rest awhile.
CARLOMAN.
Who are you, lady?
GENEVIVA.
So should a novice lisp. I am a woman.
CARLOMAN.
Glorious!
GENEVIVA.
And you? [she laughs.]
CARLOMAN.
Oh, do not jest with me;
You bring a devil to the paradise
It is to gaze on you. I am escaped
From convent-walls, the wrong, the bitterness!
You bring a devil to the paradise
It is to gaze on you. I am escaped
From convent-walls, the wrong, the bitterness!
GENEVIVA.
CARLOMAN.
I have left the convent
A novice, as you say. But who are you
So terrible in pity that you touch
My hand and draw me to you, though my habit
And shaven hair insult you worse, more grossly
Than the most wanton bearing you have met
In any other man? I am ashamed
That you should see me thus.
A novice, as you say. But who are you
So terrible in pity that you touch
My hand and draw me to you, though my habit
And shaven hair insult you worse, more grossly
Than the most wanton bearing you have met
In any other man? I am ashamed
That you should see me thus.
GENEVIVA.
My dearest lovers
Forsook me to be monks. You are as one
That comes to bring me tidings of the dead,
The holy dead who have no evil thoughts
Or trouble from temptation.
[She laughs bitterly] For their sakes
You are beloved.
Forsook me to be monks. You are as one
That comes to bring me tidings of the dead,
The holy dead who have no evil thoughts
Or trouble from temptation.
[She laughs bitterly] For their sakes
You are beloved.
CARLOMAN.
Then put away all speech:
When love draws on me put it by as scholars
Their task when night falls thick upon the page.
Bend over me and kiss me. Do not laugh—
I love you.
When love draws on me put it by as scholars
Their task when night falls thick upon the page.
Bend over me and kiss me. Do not laugh—
I love you.