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MIDI File [13' 21", 72Kb] |
| GUNTRAN. | ||
| I'll tell them what thou wast when first I knew thee; | ||
| A stripling boy in deeds of valour nursed, | ||
| Ere yet this plague of beauty came and slew thee, | ||
| And left the thing thou art — accurst! accurst! | ||
| Aye, slew thee! for 'tis beauty hath bereft us | ||
| Of all we loved, and he that fills thy place — | ||
| This craven knight the ruined years have left us — | ||
| Bears but the waxen image of thy face! | ||
| Yea, Philip, for thy soul is dead | ||
| That made thee once fit mate for men, | ||
| As steadfast midst the rout that fled. | ||
| Thy sword withstood the Saracen! | ||
| 'Twas there I knew thee, loved thee, first! Behold thee now — accurst! accurst! |
||
| 'Twas not enough thy youth should waste and wither | ||
| Beneath yon Eastern wanton's blighting spell; | ||
| Nay, though her charm be spent, yet now comes hither | ||
| This flaxen toy to lure thy soul to hell! | ||
| Whate'er was left of manhood when she found thee — | ||
| Ah, none can say from whence her beauty came! — | ||
| Is hers to win; her arms shall wind around thee, | ||
| And hers the honeyed kiss shall end thy shame! | ||
| Then take the poison from her lips, | ||
| The hours are few that are left to thee; | ||
| Yea, for thy heart's blood drains and drips, | ||
| And Time draws near to claim his fee. | ||
| Go, go fan ye passion's lingering flame, Or love himself shall cry thee shame! |
||
GUNTRAN goes out, on the left.
| PHILIP (to the DEVIL, who has been holding him back). | |
| Release me! Shame! My sword! my sword! He may not live that spake that word! |
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| LAINE. | Ah! let me hence! |
| DEVIL (releasing PHILIP). | |
| Heed not what this poor dotard cries; 'Tis naught to thee — thou hast Love's prize! |
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| LAINE. | Let me go hence! |
| SAIDA (in scorn). | |
| Yet see those angel eyes are wet With scalding tears! |
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| PHILIP (to LAINE). | |
| Weep not, thy heart shalt soon forget These passing fears! |
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| LAINE. | Nay, let me go! I must! I must! My heart is stricken to the dust, Each word as with a javelin thrust Did pierce it through! |
| PHILIP. | Thou shalt not go. I'll hear no more; I hold thee close! Shut fast the door! |
| LAINE. | What wouldst thou do? |
The DEVIL goes into the arcade and gives orders. The doors admitting to the arcade
are shut by attendants; and, one by one, other doors are heard to close with a clang
and rattle.
| LAINE. | ||
| Nay, wert thou more than all he said thou art, | ||
| Yet even so, | ||
| Some pity lingering in thy fallen heart | ||
| Would bid me go! | ||
| What have I done? If love were my offence, | ||
| That love is slain; | ||
| It cannot hurt thee more, then let me hence | ||
| Or end my pain! | ||
| Aye, kill me! or should beauty prove my fault, I'll pray to Heaven to make this body halt |
||
| And lame again, | ||
| So thou wilt let me go from whence I came, | ||
| And hide my head! | ||
| Thou wilt not? Then I too do cry thee shame! | ||
| 'Twas sooth he said — | ||
| This is some other lord that bears thy name; | ||
| And thou art dead! | ||
| PHILIP. | I prithee peace! Let be! Let be! |
| Go, take thy way! For thou art free! |
The doors are opened at his command and LAINE runs out, leaving PHILIP overcome
with remorse. When she has gone he sinks upon a seat and bows his head upon
the table despairingly.
| SAIDA (to the DEVIL). | ||
| She's gone! my power returns at last! | ||
| DEVIL (restraining her). | ||
| Not yet! not yet! The memory of her holds him fast. | ||
| SAIDA. | ||
| He shall forget. | ||
| (to PHILIP). Nay, grieve not; in a little while | ||
| Thine eyes shall gaze on that sweet isle | ||
| Where first we met! | ||
| 'Tis there, where flowering valleys smile, | ||
| Love's bower is set! | ||
| PHILIP. | ||
| I see her tears: I hear her cry, | ||
| "'Twas sooth he said"! | ||
| Away! away! The end draws nigh, The broken cup of life runs dry; |
||
| My heart is dead! | ||
| SAIDA (to the DEVIL). | ||
| He will not heed! What need to stay? | ||
| All, all is gone! | ||
| DEVIL. | ||
| Nay, nay, didst hear that maiden say That now she fain would fling away |
||
| What scarce was won? | ||
| SAIDA. | ||
| Think you that beauty may be mine? | ||
| DEVIL. | ||
| Yea, thou shalt taste of life's new wine! Or magic spell, or gift divine, This maiden's beauty must be thine |
||
| Ere night be done! | ||
| SAIDA and DEVIL. | ||
| Or magic spell, or gift divine, This maiden's beauty must be mine/thine |
||
| Ere night be done! | ||
SAIDA and the DEVIL creep away after LAINE. As they go, GUNTRAN enters from the
left, followed by the Lords of Sirault, Velaines, and St. Sauveur — three grim-looking warriors — and the knights of their retinue.
| GUNTRAN. | ||
| Lords of Sirault, Velaines, and St. Sauveur, | ||
| Would seek lord Philip? Then behold him now! | ||
| Ye that have known him in the days that were, | ||
| Say whence hath come that brand upon his brow? | ||
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Gradually the knights of PHILIP's retinue have assembled in the arcade with their dames; the knights now enter the apartment, while their
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End of Scene 1.
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MIDI File [1' 27", 4Kb] Change of scene |
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Page modified 2 October 2011