CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE Joseph Whitmore Barry dramatic library THE GIFT OF TWO FRIENDS OF Cornell University 1934 Cornell University Library PR4821.I6G51898 Godefroi and Yolande.A mediaeval play in 3 1924 013 487 362 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013487362 GODEFROI AND YOLANDE A MEDIEVAL PLAY IN ONE ACT BY LAURENCE IRVING LONDON AND NEW YORK JOHN LANE AT THE SIGN OF THE BODLEY HEAD 5^ MDCCqXCVIII 5«» ABBEY'S THEATRE BROADWAY and 38th STREET. ABBEY, 8CH0EFFEL & GRAU, Props, and Mgrs. Week Beginning Monday, Maf 4, 1898. Eyenings it 8. ^ Matinee Saturday at 2. Engagement for two weeks only of HENRY IRVING, Miss ELLEN TERRY, And the LONDON LVOBUNd COMPANIV Direction of Abbey, Schoeffel & Grau. MONDAY EVENING, MAY 4th, The Performance will begin with (first time in New York), CODEFROI AND YOLANDE A Mediaeval Play in One Act, by Laurence l.ving. Philippe Le Bel, King of France Mr. Percival The Archbishop, his brother Mr. S. M acy Sir Sagramour, a young Paladin i . . .. . .Mr. Ben. Webster Godefroi ..Mr. F. Cooper A Doctor Mr. S. Valentine A Frantic Hermit ' Mr. F. Tyars A Porter Mr G F. Black A King's Officer Mr. G. Taylor A Chamberlain .^ M r. L. Belmore Megarde.ah old blind wom^n,m6ther to Godjfroi. M iSs Mary H orke Lisette,daughterto .VIegarde, sister to Godefroi. Miss R Espinosa. Nimue..\. "j T .. Miss J uUa Arthur Izab^au ... I ^^i j^ Yolande \ - ^^'^^^ '}^^^'f«, Clarisin... ( » .1 . . . . . .Miss Foster .Elaine J [. '."Miss May Whitty Irene ,, .Miss May Munden AND Yolande .,.. Miss Ellen Tt rry Srrvauts; Guests, Masqutrs, iVloiikf;, Officers, Exedutioner, en-at Arms, etc. Scene ; A ball li-the ca'-ile of Yolinde.- R. Bian'OnV THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY PHILIPPE LE BEL, King of France THE ARCHBISHOP, his brother SIR SAGRAMOUR, a young Paladin GODEFROI A DOCTOR A Frantic Hermit A Porter A King's Officer YOLANDE MEGARDE, an old blind woman, mother to Godefroi LISETTE, daughter to Megarde, sister to Godefroi NIMUE, \ IZABEAU, CLARISIN, ELAINE. - waiting-women to Volande Servants, Guests, Masquers, Monks, Officers, Executioners, Men-at-arms, etc. GODEFROI AND YOLANDE. Scene. A spacious hall in the castle of Yolande. The hall presents the appear- ance of preparation for a festivity, festoons, garlands, etc. At back of stage a platform, along which are ranged several chairs; behind the platform a large window, above which window runs a gallery, approached by a staircase. In the right wall a door, below which a fireplace, in front of which fireplace two stools, the fire emits a ruddy light. In the left wall another door. Torches wreathed in branches are set all round the room,, two only of the torches are alight. The wind is moaning, snow is falling against the large window at back. NIMUE [ With wide-staring eyes and slightly parted lips, standing upon platform., gazing out of window, a bundle of rushes on her arm.~\ What a night ! What snow ! What a wind ! The tapestries flap and flutter ; the flames of the torches stream all one way. The snow — the snow — the wind — the snow — the wind ! How say you, is the snow enwrapping the wind, is the wind enwrapping the snow ? IZABEAU Come from the window! NIMUE What with the sea dashing along the shore, what with the wind howling about the house IZABEAU [ Twining garlands and strewing rushes the whileJ] What with the time being but short, — [come from the window !] — the prepara- tions being but half completed ; we are behindhand as it is — , what with [come down from the window !] my fair lady, sick \^A faint, far, indistinguishable cryj] NIMUE [Lets fall rushes7\ What was that — ? IZABEAU [Shrinking:~\ I will not stay with you. You try to frighten me. NIMUE What with the preparations but half completed, — [What a n^ht !]■ — What with my fair lady, sick IZABEAU Why should you speak in a whisper, Nimue ? NIMUE Why should you ^eak in a whis — \a faint, far, indistinguishable cry. \ Now ! \Both stand intently listening^ IZABEAU I heard nothing. What did you think you heard.'' NIMUE A cry. IZABEAU Some ship, belike, in anguish on the seas. \Busying herself about the room.l Pick up your rushes ! If you see not quickly to the NIMUE It is some trouble, methinks, clerk Master Godefroi will be having in his search ; he has been long gone now. IZABEAU Never mind Godefroi ; none but a frantic fool had gone on such a night on such an errand ! NIMUE Poor fellow! He first might trudge to Paris ere he'd find a doctor hereabouts ! IZABEAU Come from the window ! CLARISIN {Calling from gallery.'] Master Clerk, is not he yet come back ? IZABEAU \Running to Clarisin.'] Thank Heaven you be come ! here has Nimue YOLANDE {Voice heard off. '\ Clarisin, wench, Clarisin ! 4 CLARISIN [Answering Yolande.] My fair lady! [Faint far long cry hear for the third time^ followed by sound of ringing. Leaning out of gallej^y, in a loud whisper ?\ Intolerable ! [Enter Elaine also into gallery. ELAINE [ To Clarisin.l Go to my lady ! CLARISIN Insupportable ! YOLANDE [Voice. '\ Here, wench ! here, here ! CLARISIN I come ! [Exit Clarisin. ELAINE What was that cry just now ? NIMUE You heard the cry ? — Now ! — Hark ! [Cry more distinctly heard, followed by a sound of ringing : Nimue comes down from platform with a smile on herface.^ IZABEAU / heard it then. NIMUE Go there enquire, Izabeau, what is it, Yolande would know. IZABEAU There nothing will be ready if my lady ELAINE Do as she bids you ; hers the fault ! IZABEAU I go. Then be it so! I go, I go! IBxii Izabeau. NIMUE Know you like what it Sounded in rhine ears ; — as one-beat upon a bell. ELAINE {^Affirmatively. \ A ringing sound. NIMUE And then one cried "unclean, unclean, unclean." ELAINE Nimue, thou shouldst but hear our beau- teous lady how she will sit and rail at Master Godefroi for that he cometh not. In front of her lie littered on a pile all the 6 trinkets, damasks, silks ever she owned. There doth she sit^-^sit, when she does not stand, for she does nothing long,.-r.-e?ccept to hold her mirror in her hand ; she does not want to, but she cannot keep from looking . . this way — that ! . . . She moves : she shifts : she calls. Turns she on me ; — " Am not I white ? " — And, what- soever answer I may make, or "Yes" or " No," she all the same flies out. NIMUE Is she white.? ELAINE Oh ask not me ! With such a life as hers one may grow pale ! — And then it's ever " Godefroi sluggard ! Godefroi ! " NIMUE Alas, poor youth ! Alas ! How strange a youth he is, how strange! ELAINE Ay, passing strange ! NIMUE I never yet beheld his countenance. ELAINE [In astoniskment.l You never yet — — « 7 NIMUE That is his face we see, but not his countenance ; his face smoulders, but his countenance — that were a flash, a flame, a flickering thing. ELAINE Nimue, how curious thou art. Methinks thou own'st some lurking fancy for this sad, sombre youth. NIMUE Ay, so you say ! ELAINE And you gainsay us not. NIMUE But he is proud ELAINE And virtuous NIMUE And here! — Would he solicit my best favours there is nothing he — he is so curious — might not obtain. ELAINE Nay, fly thou higher than a scrivening clerk. But know you what ? 8 NIMUE What? ELAINE I verily believe he languishes — he ! — mark you, he ! ! — she,' that has kings and bishops at her feet! — and a what?— a nothing ! — I believe ■ - > NIMUE And so do I. ELAINE What? NIMUE That he languishes for love of her. ELAINE Hence is his face become so lank and gaunt. Who but a foolish, frantic, love- sick youth ? [Cry and bell heard still more distinctly. \ NIMUE It will emerge, that cry, at last, above both wind and sea. \Enter into gallery Clarisin. 9 c CLARISIN What cry was that ? But where is Iza- beau ? But where is Godefroi ? [A knock heard. Here is Godefroi, my lady. [Exii Claridn. YOLANDE [ Voice^ A doctor with him ? [Re-enter Izabeau. IZABEAU Is it not Godefroi ? ELAINE \Leaping up steps leading to gallery]. It is not Godefroi? [Re-enter Clarisin, CLARISIN It is not Godefroi ! ELAINE It is not he ! [Exeunt Clarisin and Elaine. Sound of Yolande's voice from within. NIMUE Who is it then ? lO IZABEAU Some old blind woman. NIMUE Is it she has been crying so outside ? IZABEAU Why, she is coming hither. NIMUE Led by a child. IZABEAU Take thou a torch, inspect her ! NIMUE Do so thyself ! IZABEAU [Taking down torch, crossing with it to door R.] Of what are ye afraid ? \Takes stand by door. [Enter Megarde led by Lisette, snow upon the garments of both of them. Megarde carries basket on her arm. IZABEAU What want ye here ? MEGARDE Go to the fire, Lisette ! {Lisette goes and crouches by the fire.'\ 1 came to see my son, Godefroi. n IZABEAU Thy son ? NIMUE Is he thy son ? MEGARDE He is my son. NIMUE Come, sit you here, then. [Draws Megarde towards the fire. MEGARDE Is one of you the lady of the house ? NIMUE Not we indeed ! MEGARDE I wish to see the lady of the house. IZABEAU Know you — why, go thy ways ! I must be making ready for the masque. Nimue, see thou ... to what wants seeing to ! \Exit Isabeau. NIMUE My lady is not well. MEGARDE She is not well ? 12 NIMUE Thy son is gone to find a doctor for her. [Liseite has set herself upon her mother's knee and is fallen asleep. '\ MEGARDE He has done well then. NIMUE Why? MEGARDE Because to him she has been very kind. NIMUE Yolande, our Lady!— kind to him, your son ! Who could have told you so ? \A loudimpatient knocking. NIMUE There is your son. CLARisiN and elaine [Entering adove.^ Nimue ! NIMUE I run — run ! [Exeunt Nimue and Clarisin. MEGARDE [Awaking the child.l Lisette, wake up, Lisette ! — Nay, sleep then, sleep. 13 ELAINE Who is that there ? [^Re-enter Nimue hastily. NIMUE He has brought one with him ! He has brought one with him ! ELAINE My lady ! My lady ! {Exit Elaine. {Re-enter Clarisin. CLARISIN Mercy on us ! A mighty strange doctor this of Master Godefroi's ! MEGARDE Where is my son ? CLARISIN He will be here. [Doctor heard coming singing along the passage. Clarisin and Nimue stand together in sofne trepidation^ Doctor's song. Merry old skeleton, flesh underlying, Living or dying, 14 Laughing or crying . . . Merry old skull ! Flesh may fall in, Old skull still doth grin, Grin skull, grin skull, grin . . . grin skull . . . grin . . . grin . . . NIMUE He is singing of death. [Enter Doctor. Goes straight to fireplace, draws himself close up to the fire^ there remains mumbling to himself, warming his hands and removing the snow from his garments. I cannot see him. CLARISIN I scarcely saw him. NIMUE Best go fetch Godefroi. He has found him and may know how best to deal with him. \Crosses, calls in a loud whisper^ Godefroi ! Godefroi ! [Enter Godefroi hastily, snow upon his clothes ; he half ascends gallery staircase. 15 [As Godefroi enters^ What of the Doctor? GODEFROI My lady is in her room ? MEGARDE \Not rising, so as not to disturb Lisette sleeping?^ Godefroi, I am here. \Pause. Godefroi stands half way up staircase, all the feverish haste of his entrance seeming suddenly to have deserted himi\ GODEFROI Mother ! what, you ! \Slowly descending steps, MEGARDE I cannot come to you. Lisette is with me. [^Godefroi kisses Megarde on the cheek, she takes his head between her hands and kisses him^ GODEFROI Mother, what are you come here for } MEGARDE To take you away with me, my son. i6 GODEFROI To take me away with you ? ELAINE [/« galley above.} Quick, Master Doctor, my lady is waiting. CLARISIN \To Godefroi7\ Best you go forewarn our lady what manner of doctor this is. YOLANDE [Heard calling off."] Godefroi, laggard ! Godefroi, laggard ! GODEFROI Wait . . . dear mother . . . anon. . . . I will . . . come back ! NIMUE But leave us not with him alone ! [Exit Godefroi at door in gallery, ELAINE Now then, Master Doctor ! . . . Master Doctor ! CLARISIN Master Doctor !, 17 D ELAINE, CLARISIN, and NIMUE Master Doctor I DOCTOR [Turning slowly from fire.~\ Well? [Nimue makes a start of repulsion, uttering a sharp little cry. Motioning with his hand at NimueJ\ Pretty mistress, pretty mistress ! Pah ! [Spits into the fire. ELAINE [Stealing forward to take a look at Doctor^ The fair lady Yolande is waiting, Master Doctor ! DOCTOR [Sneeringly^ Fair Lady Yolande ! [Turn- ing from fire as before, his appearance has a similar effect on Elaine to what it had on Nimue\ Mine hands are numb. Before I can feel the flesh of others I must needs have some feeling in these bony feekrs of my own. [Holding up his hands. Turning from Jire as before^ What aileth this fair lady of thine that she should send for me, eh .'' [No answer.^ What is it aileth this lady of thine that she should send for me to her on such a night as this, eh ? i8 ELAINE That needs must thou tell her. Leave warming of thy hands \ DOCTOR Fair Lady Yolande ! What doth she want of me ? — Ye look from one another and say nothing. ISurveys the kalf] What great matter of tomfoolery have you on here this night ? A fool made the days and fools fete the days. [Spits into the fire\ What does thy lady require of me — a philtre, a love potion "i NIMUE Not so, indeed. Our Jady hath both philtre, ay, and potions, more potent far than any thou couldst make, in the fair form and features of her face ; she hath more lovers than any lady of the land. DOCTOR Ho ! ho ! Has she so many paramours } Is it, then, the philosopher's secret, the stone } Would she turn all things into gold } 19 NIMUE Nor yet that neither. For by the love her beauty doth inspire, she turneth all things into gold. DOCTOR By love she turneth all things into gold ! Then am I in a love mint, and thy fair lady frankly is but a simple courtezan ? NIMUE A king's courtezan ! MEGARDE [In a great perturbation.'\ A courtezan ! DOCTOR Nay, nay, old wife, I care not. They have said it. MEGARDE But ye do not gainsay him ! NIMUE If he says true. MEGARDE She is a courtezan ; but then, my son 20 DOCTOR Thy son ! Was it thy son that dragged me through the snow ? No doubt he loves her, too. MEGARDE It cannot be ! DOCTOR She is a courtezan ! MEGARDE It cannot be ! DOCTOR It is. NIMUE He loves her, too. MEGARDE Godefroi deceive me ?— but he loves her not. — He must away from here ! [Megarde rises. DOCTOR Keep still ! Keep still ! 21 MEGARDE [^Reseating herself.'] I trust him — he will tell me — I do trust him. [^Enier Godefroi. GODEFROI Master Doctor, go to my lady, she is most impatient. Mother, shall I not take Lisette and put her to sleep on my bed in my room } MEGARDE Do SO, my son. [Godefroi takes Lisette up in his arms and exit carrying her.] NIMUE This it is aileth this fair lady of ours. For some days, day by day, and every day, since many days, — she is waxed pale, and pale, and ever paler. \Cry and bell heard faint. DOCTOR Pah ! This is a mere matter of com- plexion. NIMUE Until, at last, this night, on which of all nights, 22 DOCTOR Why this night more than any other night ? NIMUE Because this night, in honour of the return from the Holy Land of one of her young lovers [Megarde makes a movement^ DOCTOR Ay, ay, young lovers ! Go on ! NIMUE There will be held a high festivity, at which are to be present, and in which are to take part— for also there is a pageant, or masque, or action %rit by thy son — DOCTOR Writ by thy son ? MEGARDE No, no ! NIMUE And the King of France, le Bel King, and the gallant churchman, the king's brother, the Archbishop 23 MEGARDE The Archbishop ? DOCTOR The Archbishop ! NIMUE Both will be here. And as I said, this night of great rejoicing, whereon of all the nights that ever were, my lady she would wish to be most fair — behold, if she be not become quite white ! [Crj/ and bell. DOCTOR Not white? How white? NIMUE Well, very pale. DOCTOR How white? As white as ivory? NIMUE Well, very white. DOCTOR As white as milk ? 24 NIMUE Go thou and see her. DOCTOR As white as chalk? Conduct me to thy lady. {Doctor snatches up torch, goes to staircase, followed by ClarisinJ] Is she so white ? Is she so very white ? [Exeunt Doctor and Clarisin, NIMUE Strange things are creeping in by stealth. MEGARDE A house of sin, a house of lechery ! NIMUE Come, Master Clerk, I must be getting dressed. Prythee, see to the proper ordering of all this. \With a vagtte movement of the handJ] [Exit skippingly^ \Godefroi stands in the middle of the room.'\ MEGARDE Come to me, Godefroi, come to me. GODEFROI [Approaching Megarde.] Mother, mother! 25 E MEGARDE Thy face is burning . . . thy clothes are wet. — Speak to me, Godefroi, speak to me, Godefroi, speak to me ! GODEFROI How is my brother ? MEGARDE Well. He greets thee lovingly. — Thy hair is thinner, and thy cheeks are sunken — Speak to me, Godefroi, speak to me ; let me hear your voice. GODEFROI And all the neighbours ? MEGARDE Jacob is dead, old Jacob he is dead. — And you say nothing. GODEFROI What, is Jacob dead ? MEGARDE Why, Godefroi, are you listless ? 26 GODEFROI I am not. How— how does the garden look ? \Godefroi breaks down, buries his head in his hands and sobsi\ MEGARDE My son, my son ! GODEFROI — It dripped from my garment on to hers, the snow 1 came by on her errand. She chid me. — Why art thou come here, mother? 'Tis but to wring thy heart, to wrench my soul. MEGARDE son, your words are wild ! GODEFROI ; 1 have no hope, mother, I have no hope, — I have deceived thee, mother, I have de- ceived thee. MEGARDE Thou hast lied to me. GODEFROI I know it. I have lied to thee. 27 MEGARDE I blame thee nothing ; I but blame myself. I should have known, but you insisted. GODEFROI Insisted? What on, mother ? MEGARDE To go and earn us bread. GODEFROI That have I done. MEGARDE Ah, my son, whose bread.? A harlot's bread ! GODEFROI Ah, mother ! MEGARDE What danger hast thou been in ? Ah, my son ! But God hath sent me hither through the snow to take thee hence ere worse befall thee. GODEFROI {Half aside.] Worse has befallen me. 28 CLARISIN [In gallery^ Come from thy mother! See to the setting of the thrones upon the platform. {Exit Clarisin. MEGARDE What art thou here ? What unconsidered thing art thou, my son ? GODEFROI What am I here ? I am Sir Dolorous ! Sir Long-visage ! MEGARDE Thy father poor he was, but he was proud ! GODEFROI Sad am I here, sadder were I elsewhere. I am one made to suffer and eat out my heart in hopeless hope. MEGARDE Come hence, come hence ! GODEFROI No ; leave me, mother, here ! 29 MEGARDE Son, leave thee here ? Thou wouldst not stay here. Then GODEFROI I cannot hence. MEGARDE What can thus keep you here ? You love this life } GODEFROI Not I — I hate this life ! MEGARDE What is it then ? GODEFROI Oh, leave me, ask me not ! MEGARDE I charge thee, speak ! My son, I am thy mother ! GODEFROI Ay, ay, I love one here. 30 MEGARDE One of these — women ? GODEFROI One — the one ! Yolande ! — I love Yolande ! MEGARDE Ah no, you cannot love — a courtezan ! GODEFROI A courtezan ! I love a courtezan. [Megarde makes a movement^ Where art thou going ? MEGARDE Unto her. GODEFROI Not SO ; she would but scoflF at thee. MEGARDE She scoff at me — a wretched — ■ — GODEFROI Mother, say it not ! Be she what she may, she still must be the woman I must love. This love is stronger, mightier than myself; I only know 'tis irresistible. 31 MEGARDE Because thou hast not striven. Turn thou back, turn back, my son ! it is not irresistible. Son, strive! — This current of thy nature, this fierce wind — it has to be resisted ; 'tis the fiend ! Oh, take it not for God. — Who cannot drift ? so sheer is the descent ! Tear this weed from thee ere it is too late. GODEFROI Mother, it was too late from the first moment I set eyes on her. She has usurped me. MEGARDE And deposed thy mother, and thy sister, and thy home. Oh, re-assert thy manhood ; be a man ! GODEFROI More am I, mother, than a man ; for men love not as I love ! MEGARDE Remove from here, and she will fade out of thy memory, 32 GODEFROI But memory will ga with her — -with her ! MEGARDE You think so now, you see her day by day. Your senses feed your fancy, your fancy fans the ardour of your love. A courtezan ! You should have been a priest, — you, erst so virtuous, — what, fallen doting on a courtezan ! GODEFROI My love you guess not at. You judge of mine by those you see around you. I love her — [^Lisette heard calling her mother. \ — as she loves you ! \Lisette stands in the doorway /\ MEGARDE Blasphemer! [Megarde crosses to Lisette.] Look thou, Godefroi, upon us 1 GODEFROI God, oh, God ! MEGARDE Wilt thou stay here ? [ Volande's voice.'] 33 F GODEFROI I cannot, cannot hence. MEGARDE Son, I am blind and I take one to guide me. Son, thou art blind, and take thou one to lead thee. GODEFROI Mother! . . . Lisettel . . . my home! MEGARDE Lisette shall lead us both. She — me! I — thee ! GODEFROI She shall! \_Yolande'~s voice.'] MEGARDE Out, out of earshot of that fatal voice ! GODEFROI Mother, Lisette, I will away, I will away ! MEGARDE You will ? You will ? 34 GODEFROI I Will, I will away, though my heart break. MEGARDE Godefroi, the victory, the victory ! Will you away to-night ? GODEFROI If not to-night, to-morrow early. MEGARDE But this wicked masque ? GODEFROI It will not be, I know it will not be. They shall not . Now, mother, sleep, go sleep f MEGARDE My son, be firm ! — and I will join my hands and pray for you. GODEFROI Pray, lest I enter into heaven ! MEGARDE Godefroi ! 35 GODEFROI Take mather to her room ! Good night ! Good night ! [^Exeunt Megarde and Lisette. Yolande is heard calling. Godefroi stops his ears, then opens them and calls loudly^ Mother and brother, sister and myself, something I owe myself . . . knave, knave thyself. \Frantically arranging gar- lands, etc ^^ Myself! myself! Put thou that here ! — Yolande ! and put that there ! — Yolande ! Garlands ! festoon ! goblets ! oh, rejoice ! — Rain snow ! howl wind ! — Yolande ! Yolande ! Yolande ! — She will not dream that ever I did love her. Can one man's soul so fold another's round and she reck nothing ? Oh, Yolande ! Yolande ! [Enter Doctor above, Izabeau, Clarisin, and Elaine clustering round him. DOCTOR [Leaning out of gallery. '\ Yolande, ho, ho, Yolande ! IZABEAU, CLARISIN, ELAINE [Crowding round Doctor as he descends staircase.'] And is she well, and will the masque hold good ? 36 DOCTOR [More to himself than to them.'] Ay, she is bleached and blanched and milky white. What is it to be white ? \_Turning on women who disperse.] Peace, sea-gulls, peace ! [Stands at foot of staircase gesticulating and fantastically grimacing.] King and Arch- bishop, oh, thou savoury dish, served with white sauce! [Cry and ringing as before.] What scent they that they cry '• unclean, unclean," [Pause. DOCTOR [Gripping hold of GodefroVs wrist.] I tell thee what ; — to-day. Master Clerk, thy lady will have none of thee ; to-morrow, maybe, thou wouldst none of her. GODEFROI I go from here to-night. DOCTOR Stay for this masque. Oh, not for all the world would I forego this masque. I love a merry-making, a masque, a mystery, a mira- cle play, a morality — mayhap all these, a masque — for she is masked and will be 37 masked — a mask upon a mask ; a mystery — how the worm gets in the nut, the nut, the very kernel ; a miracle — now courted and now shunned, precipitated by one little word, one little word ; and a morality such things to see, — God of affliction, thou alone art God. [^Pause. GODEFROI What is it ails Yolande ? DOCTOR She says it should not fall snow in spring season ; and she says truly. CLARISIN The weather then it is that vexeth her ! DOCTOR Ay, to be sure, the weather. \_Ilas crossed over to window and mounted upon platform^ Like what does the snow fall ? Come, Master Clerk, up here ! — Does it fall like a harsh, cold word? Does it fall like a kiss withheld ? GODEFROI Most like, most like ! S8 DOCTOR Like what does it lie on the ground ? Does it lie like a wedding garment ? Does it lie like a winding sheet ? But, Master Clerk, one thing there is, one thing like which it falls, and lies liker than these, that is — that is — that is the leprosy ! [^Enier JVtmue, above. NIMUE Here comes my lady, is all ready ? IZABEAU Ay, well nigh. NIMUE But is all ready ? IZABEAU \Busying adoui.l Nearly, almost, quite. GODEFROI. To-morrow, in the morning, not to-night ! [Enter Servants carrying thrones and a tripod. The tripod there, the thrones up here, come. 39 YOLANDE [Calling off.'] Izabeau! IzabeauF Master Doctor ! Master Doctor ! [Enter Yolande impetuously. She is comb- ing her hair. Izabeau follows her. But nought is ready. Bring me my glass ! [Eocit Izabeau, and returns with glass,] What a foul comb ! [Flings comb from her. Cry and bell.] What cry is that? I will not have it here ! Fetch me the porter ! [Exit Clarisin.] Here is nothing ready ! [Enter Godefroi, stands looking on Yolande, flowers in hand and sea-weed on his arm. YOLANDE My glass. [Izabeau hands glass.] I am so white ! GODEFROI Here are your flowers. YOLANDE There you are — you sluggard ; nothing is ready ! GODEFROI I will give orders. 40 YOLANDE Needs must you take them first. YOLANDE \_Looks at him.'\ Give me my glass. IZABEAU You have it in your hand. [^Yolande puts snowdrops to her hair.~\ YOLANDE Ah, no ! [Flings away snowdrops. 1 They are so white ! I am so white ! DOCTOR What of that ? Your hair is not white. YOLANDE My hair is streaming gold. DOCTOR Sunset on snow. \ Aside to Godefroi.'] Like what does the snow fall ? YOLANDE You will restore my colour ? 41 G DOCTOR Am I a gardener to replant your roses in your cheeks ? Cannot your lovers pinch you pink ? yOLANDE Fie, sir ? [jDocior reseats himself over the fireJ] GODEFROI My lady, were it not better ? YOLANDE What of you, clerk? We will change nothing now. GODEFROI My lady, were it not wise, seeing you are so white ? YOLANDE Am I so very white ? GODEFROI To put this business off? 42 YOLANDB Who says that it were wise ? The King, and the Archbishop, and the gay knight. Sir Sagramour. Why were it wise ? Who says that it were wise ? GODEFROI I fear, my lady yolan.de What do you fear? Tboti art meddlesome to-night. GODEFROI Lest Master Doctor — ^lest Master Doctor does not tell you all. YOLANDE Master Doctor, am I ill? L am not ill? Tell me the truth ; fear not, I am not ill 1 DOCTOR If now you are ill, you never will be well then. YOLANDE Hear what he says. I ne'er was better, knave. I have sat up too late, and I am 43 white, but in the flash and sparkle of the feast — men always tell me so — my colour rises. [Ti? GodefroiJ] Go gather roses for my flaming hair. \Godefroi is looking at *Yolande intently. Doctor has come up to and knelt down beside Yolande.'\ DOCTOR It should not fall snow in spring season. YOLANDE [Zb Godefroi.^ I bade you gather roses. eODEFROI There are no roses. YOLANDE Are there no roses, Sir Glum, Sir Dolo- rous. Do you sleep with your face betwixt two planks .'' DOCTOR You have a pretty trick of raillery ; you believe not in God. YOLANDE What are you, an ape .'* 44 DOCTOR By my skeleton. YOLANDE But will you make me pink again ? DOCTOR By slapping of your fair face for you. GODEFROI \Looking intently upon Yolande]. Yo' lande ! YOLANDE Do you "Yolande" me, sir? Take your eyes off me ! GODEFROI \Still looking intently. \ I had forgot I must away from you to-night. YOLANDE Away from me to-night. Will not you look so ? GODEFROI My mother is come to take me from thy service. 45 YOLANDE Where is thy mother? Is thy mother here ? GODEFROI She is here. YOLANDE Set her before me. GODEFROI \Hesitates evasively.^ She is old and blind. YOLANDE I did not ask thee to make her see me. GODEFROI She is my mother. YOLANDE I take thy meaning, insolent ! Shall she lie 'neath my roof, partake my shelter, yet not obey mine orders ? Drive her forth ! GODEFROI Into the snow and wind ? 46 YOLANDE Then let her stay. You disputatious clerk, what should you know of love — nay, do not smile — of life — of joy? Silence! maybe a courtezan I am ; but you, who eat my bread, it is not you should tell me so. [Enter Porter followed by Izabeau. At last ! What were those cries and ring- ing that I heard ? PORTER They come from two grey figures — what they be I know not — stand jibbering, shuddering in the dark near to the gate. They ask for alms. YOLANDE \To Godefroi.'] This is thy doing, thou hast emboldened them with thy faint heart and sickly pity. PORTER When I would drive them off they answer back with filth and blasphemies. What they may be I know not, but I know I should not care to touch them. 47 YOLANDE But be they human ? \^A II shudder. Horses heard. YOLANDE I hear the horses. [To Porier.'\ Take thou thy cross-bow, drive them hence with bolts. \Godefroi expostulates?^ Peace, I say, recalcitrant ! Shall not I be obeyed in mine own house ? DOCTOR Curse them and scourge them ! YOLANDE Drive them hence with bolts ! \Exit Porter. Servants carrying torches pass over stage^ The King is coming hither, the Archbishop ! [ Yolande leaps up on to plat- form, seats herself in the largest of the thrones that are upon the stage ^ I am Queen Courtezan. I cast off care ! I laugh at life ! Of what is life for me ? The produce of their hours of sweat and toil men pour into my lap. O men, blind fools ! ye set each one above the other, but God hath set me high above ye all ! Men shall forsake 48 homes, wives, faith, duty, hope, dominion, Christ — all, all ye shall forsake and follow me. And that is love. Learn what love is of me. I will have Troy rebuilded and reta'en, and Actium o'er fought for me, — and won. For what is love } The sceptre of the wind, the spear of the frost, the breeze unto the breast, the sun upon the cheek, these all are love ! Bow down before me ! Homage ! Way for me ! For such as I — not Solomon in all his glory was ! {Cry of lepers, ^^ unclean," distinctly heard. A pause J\ YOLANDE Dare such cries pierce my walls. [Sound of music.'] They come, they come ! [Enter a throng of Maidens dressed as Naiads. MAIDENS The masquers are approaching. YOLANDE [Glass in hand, putting on mask.] Would I were not so white. Come, Naiads, come ! [Exeunt Yolande and Naiads. 49 H DOCTOR. When next the moon runs out from 'neath that cloud, there some will be struck silly. GODEFROI [Ansdousfy.'] Is she not ill ? If she were ill, then might they — and I might — be near her, with her day long and night through. Ah, no, no, no ! DOCTOR Have you so loved her ? l^Enter many Musicians. GODEFROI Get up into the gallery. \Musicians do so^ [Enter one like a Chamberlain. CHAMBERLAIN Jupiter's train is preparing. GODEFROI Venus's train is preparit^. [ They salute one another, and exit Chamber- lain, simultaneously with whose exit enter Sir Sagramour running.~\ SO SIR SAGRAMOUR May I not see Yolande before the masque commences ? DOCTOR Not yet, not yet ! SIR SAGItA.MOUR Ho, Master Godefroi ! Is this good ? Does this like you ? I am Hermes [^He turns about so as ta display his dress.~\ This masque that thou hast written, Master Gode- froi, it is a knavish pretty piece of work. \Sir Sagramour sings a snatch of song.\ Oh, let me see Yolande — one kiss, just one ! DOCTOR Not yet, not yet ! Tell me, Sir Sagramour, you come back from the Holy Land SIR SAGRAMOUR Who knows it not ? I have done mightily. DOCTOR I am a doctor. In the Holy Land have you seen many lepers ? 51 SIR SAGRAMOUR That I have. DOCTOR You stand in fear of a leper ? SIR SAGRAMOUR Sir, not I. DOCTOR And could you know a leper by the touch or look — ^say of the hand ? SIR SAGRAMOUR Indeed I could. I must be getting back to the King's masque. IT^e music off has ceased^ \Exit Sir Sagramour. DOCTOR \Eagerly^ Who is the first to take my lady's hand ? GODEFROI Sir Sagramour. DOCTOR Ha ! ha ! When does he take her hand ? 52 GODEFROI Wait, watch and see ! {Enter Chamberlain. CHAMBERLAIN Jupiter's train is marshalled ! GODEFROI My lady's train is marshalled ! CHAMBERLAIN Then begin. \Exit Chamberlain. [Godefroi signs to Musicians in Gallery, to strike up, they do so ; during what follows Godefroi and Doctor remain by thefire^ The Masque. \Four Women, respectively representing the Four Seasons, enter singing.^ The Four Seasons are we ; Come down to the brows of the Cyprian sea. The gods have decreed at break of dawn From foam of the sea the Queen of Love shall be born. 53 l^nier several Masquers leading the way, then Sir Sagramour as Mercury, with others presenting the other Olympian gods ; last of all come King Philippe and the Archbishop as Jupiter and Pluto respectively^] KING I am athirst, brother, to behold this woman. [^King and Archbishop stand smiling at one another.] DOCTOR The King! GODEFROI Ay, ay ! ARCHBISHOP I am aglow, for by report her beauty [ They pass along. DOCTOR The Archbishop, the lascivious cleric, is it not ? \_Nudges Godefroi.'] Here is a merry- making ! GODEFROI Leave me — leave me ! 54 \_Durtn£^ the foregoing^ as the procession of the Olympian gods wends its way up to the platform, and ranges itself on the thrones there, they have been singing^ High Olympian gods, Our mandate it is from froth of the sea, To yield to us up the Queen of Love, To dwell with us in the heavens above. \JPause. All sing. White curls of love on the deep blue brows, Queen of Love be born ! Long have we waited for thee ; Come with the gods to carouse. Queen of Love be born ! The high gods sit waiting for thee. [Silence, wind and sea heard, and the cry of the lepers i\ [Chorus of Nymphs and Naiads within^ The Queen of Love is born. The Queen of Beauty and life, White as the foam on the sea. DOCTOR White as the leprosy. 55 \Godefroi is seated, his head buried in his hands. Enter Yolande, representing Venus^ masked, escorted by her Nymphs and Naiads. Yolande stands on the threshold ; a murm,ur of admiration runs through the assembled ; many get up and crane their necks to obtain a better view.~\ [All burst out with — Queen of Beauty, all hail ! Queen of Life and of Love ! Love is born upon earth. DOCTOR [Eagerly to Godefroi.'] Now what ? Now what ? GODEFROI Hermes will bind Venus's waist with the girdle of love. DOCTOR Here he comes ! [Sir Sagramour comes down from the plat- form holding in his hand a carcanet.^ • 56 SIR SAGRAMOUR [Doing obeisance.'] This is the gift of the gods to the most fair. Suffer me, sweet Venus, to gird it round thy girdle. It con- ferreth everlasting power of love. [ Yotande raises her arms above her head.] ARCHBISHOP [To King.} What a Swan! {Sir Sagramour kneels down and proceeds to fasten the girdle round her waist ; mean- while they sing.'\ Power everlasting we confer. Upon the sweetest goddess, to inspire The hearts of men with love unquenchable. KING Would his office were mine. DOCTOR Oh, lechery, lechery! SIR SAGRAMOUR Lady Venus, may I as guerdon crave to put my lips to thy fair, slight, bright hand. [ Yolande slowly lowers one hand.] 57 I DOCTOR Now they converge ! now they converge ! lips to hand — wine on white marble — sunset on snow. [^Str Sagrantour takes Yolandes hand; almost puts his lips to it, draws his head suddenly back, lets go the hand ; lets his eyes travel fearfully up her iody, so as to see under her chin. Coming up to Sir Sagra- mour.^ On, my lord, on ! [People take up the cry, " On, Sir Sagra- mour, on ! " The King comes swinging down off the platform.^ KING Take your kiss, let us to ours ! SIR SAGRAMOUR [Starting up off his knees and preventing the King.'\ My king ! KING Fool, lower ! [The Archbishop comes down.] ARCHBISHOP [Seeking to put Sir Sagramour roughly aside.] Out of the way ! 58 SIR SAGRAMOUR No — no ! My liege, my lord ! PEOPLE [Murmur.'] " Liege," " lord." SIR SAGRAMOUR [Designating Yolande.] Do not you see ? Do not you see ? PEOPLE [Murmur.'] Is he drunken ? What is it ? Is he mad? [Vo/anc^ makes a negatory gesture. The music keeps on playing^ SOME [Cry.] Out of the way with him ! KING Out of the way I Are ye grown sudden jealous ? SIR SAGRAMOUR No, no ! you must not ! [Forcibly restrains King and Archbishop^ O, lady, give me time ! if thy face be as white as is thy hand, as is thy chin, then art thou stricken 59 PEOPLE [Murmur.} What says he? What says he? [A hubbub, begins, and goes m increasing until the word " leprosy."] SIR SAGRAMOUR Then art thou stricken — — SIR SAGRAMOUR and DOCTOR With the leprosy ! \_A hush falls on all. A shudder runs through Yolande s frame J\ GODEFROI [Leaping up suddenly.} Liar sir knight ! DOCTOR Why, this is April Fool's Day ! [Some laugh, Yolande laughs^ SIR SAGRAMOUR • No fooling here ! Lady, lift off your mask. KING [In a choked voiced Off with your mask ! 60 DOCTOR [In Yolande's ear.'] Do not ; you are so white. YOLANDE It is a lie ! I am not white, Sir Sagraraour ! GQDEFROI IWildly.l It is a lie! It is a lie! KING Off with your mask ! ARCHBISHOP Off with your mask ! MANY Off with your mask ! \_Yolande raises hand to mask.] DOCTOR [In her ear.] Do not ! [Vo/ande appears to hesitate, a pause, then suddenly and defiantly she withdraws her mask; a murmur of admiration, then of horror, runs through the assembly. " The leprosy ! " Yolande sinks down on the floor.] 6i DOCTOR [Capering about.'] The leprosy \ the lep- rosy ! God hath forestalled ; God was there before ye. A miracle, a god, a leprosy ! [Rushes madly forth. \Godefroi signs to the Musicians to stop playing ; they do not hear him — he goes up into the gallery^ Cease ! cease 1 SIR SAGRAMOUR [Throwing himself down before Yolande.~\ Forgive me. Lady Yolande ! YOLANDE [Raising her head and stretching out her arms.] It is not true ? MANY It is not true ! GODEFROI [On the staircase.] Is it not true ? SIR SAGRAMOUR [As Yolande approaches him.] Only touch me not ! 62 YOLANDE [Crawling' toward Sir Sagramour on her knees.~\ It is not true, Sir Sagramour, [She touches him on the leg, Sir Sagramour draws his dagger and rushes frenziedly through the onlookers, crying out, " Help ! " Many take up the cry and fly panic-stricken away. Yolande sinks back on the ground. KING [To Archbishop^ Brother ! ARCHBISHOP Brother, it is God's doing ! Brother, I will stand forth and I will curse her. [Stretches out his arm.J Before God and before ye I do confess my sin. [ Tearing away his masking gear.^ Know me for the Lord Archbishop ! [Consternation. KING [Tearing away his masking gear^ Know me for Philippe, King of France ! [Further consternation. ARCHBISHOP How dear God hath His Church, behold in me ! For in His mercy He hath brought 63 us out to vindicate His strong arm in our eyes. He would not let us fall 'Fore Thee, O God, before ye all I swear from this day forth I ne'er more will neglect mine holy charge. Behold your Queen of Love, melted in God's wrath. I cast at thee my stone. Anathema ! KING I cast at thee my stone. Anathema ! ARCHBISHOP Flee the unclean thing ! KING Flee the unclean thing ! {Impulsively kneel- ing before the Archbishop^ Brother, oh,, bless me [ PEOPLE \KneeRng round the Archbishop?^ Bless us, father! ARCHBISHOP [Stretching out his arms.] Bless ye, and sin no more ! 64 KING To horse ! to horse ! Away ! away ! away ! [Archbishop and others take up and repeat the several cries ; many of them take hold of torches : some, in the general consternation, gather up goblets, plates, etc. Exeunt King, Archbishop, and others ; many are still left lingering about: they exeunt gradually, casting tearful glances at Yolande. Horses heard galloping over stone-paved courtyard. The snow has ceased falling, the moon is shining out.'\ GODEFROI [/« great exultation^ Have pity on me, Lord, have pity on me ! And help me farther forward, oh my God ! \A long silence^ YOLANDE [Rolling in the rushes on the floor. '\ Leprosy ! leprosy ! [Godefroi comes slowly down stage ; stands over Yolande.'\ GODEFROI [In a low voice.'] My lady 65 K YOLANDE The leprosy ! the leprosy, ! the leprosy ! the leprosy ! GODEFROI Yolande, my Lady Yolande ! YOLANDE [In a kneeling posture, drawing her hand across her forehead^ Let me see. It is not true ! , , . come back ! . . . come back ! . . . \Crosses to the window.^ Come back ! . . . come back ! . . . [She looks at the disorder in the room.^ Why ! . . . how ! . . . here ! . . . Oh, wake me, wake me, wake me ! [Her eyes rest on her hands and arms, she seats herself on the platform^ Ah, the whiteness, the white- ness. [Rolls again in the rushes^ Wake me, wake me ! [She is sitting on the floor. Gode- froi stretches out his hand.~\ [Yolande takes Godefrois hand, springs up from the ground^ and kisses him. once, twice, and again.'\ YOLANDE It is not true ! I am not — you let me kiss you ! 66 GODEFROI Lady, alas, alas ! YOLANDE Yes, it is true ! Oh, God ! oh, God ! [She sinks helplessly to the groundJ] Ah ! ah ! ah ! GODEFROI {Having brought Yolande a seat, against •which she supports her body.'\ My lady YOLANDE I will to bed. The sheets are white, it will not show so much. {The last words are scarcely atulible.^ Wine ! Fetch me wine ! GODEFROI My lady YOLANDE Fetch me some wine, I said. Do as I bid you ! {Godefroi does so ; pours out a gobletful of wine, holds it out to Yolande, who puts out her hand to take the goblet; she suddenly plunges it into the wine and sniggers to her- self, saying, " so white, so white ! " tVhat remains in the goblet she pours over her dress. Godefroi picks up the goblet, refills it, and hands it to Yolande. 67 YOLANDE [As she takes the cup from him.] Gany- mede, Ganymede ! More, more ! \Godefroi once more refills goblet, which Yolande empties. Struggling to her feet.] I will to bed now, I will to bed now. Where is Sir Sagramour ? GODEFROI My Lady, Sir Sagramour is run away. YOLANDE Where are my servants ? \Izabeau is look- ing timorously in at one of the doors. Yolande sees her.] Izabeau, slattern, come here ! \Izabeau flees away screaming ; Yolande sinks into the chair; Izabeau' s screams die away gradually ; silence. Beginning to cry.] But my servants ."* Shall I — oh God ! oh, God ! Where are my servants } GODEFROI They are gone, my lady. \Yolande bursts into tears.] I will fetch them back. [He goes towards the door, then comes back.] My lady, they are fled away from us. YOLANDE From us ! From me ? 68 GODEFROI From us ! YOLANDE From us . . . from us . . . No, no, no, no ! I do not believe it all. You are her poor clerk ; I am the Lady Yolande. I will sleep, and wake up to-morrow. \_Sin^s into chair.l Who is to do for me ; who is to undress me ? GODEFROI I will do for you, lady ! YOLANDE Who is to undress me ? GODEFROI I will undress you. YOLANDE Sirrah ! [Yolande strikes Godefroi, then stands rubbing her hands between her knees and laughing the while. Godefroi stands looking at Yolande, Yolande at Godefroi. Suddenly cowering before Godefroi.^ Ah, do not harm me ! 69 GO0EFROI Lady ! I harm you ! YOLANDE You hate me. I have slighted you : you hate me. GODEFROI I hate you, lady ! Lady, I do love you ! YOLANDE You love me ? How — how your face- seems cleared ! I am the Lady Yolande ! you are her poor clerk. Are you not that same Godefroi .'' No, no, you do not love me — you take pity on me ! GODEFROI Pity, my lady, is it pity that clears up my face ? No, it is joy, the joy to be alone — alone with you. YOLANDE [Starting away from GodefroiJ] You — ^you are glad of — what has befallen me ? GODEFROI I try to feel, to think, I am not glad ! 70 YOLANDE Beast, beast, you have no pity — cleave me — leave me ! GODEFROI Go from you, lady, leave you all alone? For you would be alone should I go from you. YOLANDE I must bethink me ... I must bethink me. What is it for me to be a leper ? GODEFROI For me, it is to be alone with you ! Alone with you, Yolande, to be with you ! For you, it is to be alone with me. YOLANDE Alone — alone with you ? Yes. Sit by me, Godefroi, [Moving her skirts, making room for Godefroi.^ Here now ! GODEFROI Let me touch your hand. \Yolande with- draws her hand.} What, not your fair, bright little hand ? 71 YOLANDE No. Then you would become GODEFROI The liker you ! YOLANDE Oh, tell me what I am — and what you are. You seem to know. To be alone with you, always alone with you, oh, my poor heart ! — What shall we talk of? For now the time will be so long 1 GODEFROI Not longer than it was. YOLANDE Oh, yes, for now will come to me no gallants. GODEFROI None but me ! YOLANDE My poor Godefroi, you are no gallant I [Pause.] Why do you stay with me ? 73 GODEFROI Because thou art Yolande, the thing on earth, the thing on earth I love . . . YOLANDE [Sinking her head on h£r hands !\ Oh, I am very weary. The thing on earth you love. But they all loved me, they are fled from me ! GODEFROI They did not love thee — not as I love thee — else wherefore are they fled away from thee.f* You still are you, and you are still the same. YOLANDE Oh, not the same ! [Breaking out^ My beauty, oh, my life ! Oh, if you love me, kill me, kill me, kill me ! \0n her knees before Godefroi-I GODEFROI Kill you ! I love you. What love can do — Yolande, what can it not ? What can it not ? 7^ L YOLANDE But much of this was in the masque, had jt gone on. GODEFROI Lady, you said I did not know what love was. YOLANDE [S/irinking suddenly from Godefroi.'\ Oh no, no, no ! You do not love my body ! GODEFROI No, lady, not thy body, but thy sweet soul, that is the thing I love ! My pilgrimage is over, and I kneel, I kneel before the shrine ! Yolande! Yolande! YOLANDE [After looking fixedly at kirn for some time, in a low voice!] What art — ^art one of the saints, art He ? GODEFROI I am but one that loveth, that is all ! but one that loveth ! 74 VOLANDE But with Christ's love. A mighty light is breaking in upon me. GODEFROI [/« a sudden great ecstasy P\^ Yolande, He hath done this to save thy soul ! I see it all now ! Perish thy body, so thy soul survive. YOLANDE Perish my body, so my soul survive ! Oh, Godefroi, Godefroi ! Let's down upon our knees and pray to God! \Xhey kneel down opposite to one another^ GODEFROI Like two stone images above a tomb — of my sorrowing. YOLANDE Of my loveliness. [ Writhing.'\ It creeps; like shoals of flies all through, all through me. Thou canst save me. Lead me — lead me to God ! Do not kill me though I ask of you, not though I beg of you. I shall — I shall — but do it not! let me live on and suffer ! so that by suffering I may win forgive- 75 ness. Only, as thou dost love me, let me never look into a mirror ; let me never see the horror of my countenance. God hath laid hold upon my body, and He will rend it piecemeal joint from joint, and He will tear it up and scatter it, and cast it from Him. Thy will be done ! Splotch me and spatter me. Thy will be done ! Only, do never let me see myself. — But you will see me. — But then, ah, Godefroi ! . . . then one day will come . . . when I am hideous to look upon . . . then one will cross thy path as I still am, and thou wilt steal away from me by night. GODEFROI No, lady, never! YOLANDE Thou wilt stay with me ? GODEFROI Through life, through death ; through life beyond the grave ; up to the throne of God ! MEGARDE [Calling off.'] Godefroi ! Godefroi ! 76 YOLANDE There is one calling thee. [Lepers heard calling off.'\ YOLANDE There is one calling me. They are calling you to yours, and me to mine. GODEFROI Cling close to me and I will cleave to you., YOLANDE They are calling you to heaven and me to hell. GODEFROI There were no heaven for me without you, Yolande ; and hell were painless were you there. [Enter Megarde led by Lisette. MEGARDE Godefroi ! GODEFROI Oh, God, my mother! [Withdraws into the shade. Silence. '\ 77. LISETTE There is Godefroi. MEGARDE Godefroi, come home with us ; we cannot sleep beneath this wicked roof, come home to us. Speak to me, Godefroi. LISETTE There is a lady hanging round his neck. MEGARDE O, Godefroi, Godefroi ! I stretch out mine arms in the darkness. Easy it is to elude me ; come from her, Godefroi, come to me. YOLANDE [ Weakly.'] Godefroi, Godefroi, do not leave me, Godefroi. MEGARDE [^Moving off.] Son, I am going home. Where your home is you know. May God forgive you ! GODEFROI Mother, dear mother I 7»^ MEGARDE Or she or me, mother or courtezan ? GODEFROI ^ She is no courtezan. She hath atoned her sins, she is a leper. I cannot come to you, for I have touched her, MEGARDE Oh, my God, my son ! LEPERS [Heard calling off.'] Come unto us, sister leper. YOLANDE Keep them away ; keep them away ! GODEFROI [Calling down the passage.] Away! away! MEGARDE I Stretch out mine arms in the darkness. GODEFROI Mother ! you do not know. 79 LEPERS [Nearer and nearer.'] Come unto us, sister leper, come unto us. yOLANDE Keep them off! GODEFROI Away ! away ! LEPERS \_OffJ] We want our sister leper. GODEFROI She is not for thee. LEPERS. Clean art thou } GODEFROI I am clean. [Lepers heard retreating, call- ing out " unclean," and beating their clappers.] Mother, God hath so willed it! You have my brother, you have Lisette — but she hath no one. Mother, in God's sight I am doing well I I must go forth and testify to Him 1 There are blind forces driving at my back. 80 MEGARDE We Stretch out our arms in the darkness. [^Several demolishers, dressed in red, rush across the stage, smashing up to right and left with huge mallets; they cry as they do so, "Demolish! Demolish!" A sound of chant- ing. During the remainder of the play, crashings are heard from time to time.'\ [£nter the Prantic Hermit followed by a King's Officer, an Executioner, hanging on his arm, a grey garment, and in his hand a clapper, other Monks chanting. HERMIT \Seeing Yolande.\ Here is the foul thing I \ToGodefroi^ Up, and away from her! Go through the house ; smash, purge, destroy, and purify ! Leave her to me. \He moves slowly down the stage, then with the mast intense ferocity. '\ Pollution ! Monstrous curse 1 GODEFROI Her fall is recent, and from a great height. HERMIT She made a traffic of her flesh, behold what God hath made of her commodity, her 8i M marketable wares ! like a white tent whereof the pole is cut - — — - GODEFROI Some pity, priest ! HERMIT What man would touch her now ? GODEFROI Wouldst break the bruised reed ? take some Christ's pity, priest ! HERMIT Who is this — this extenuator of God's judgments ? MEGARDE That is my son. HERMIT Why doth he cling to her ? GODEFROI Because I love her ! 82 HERMIT Beetle ! wouldst thou lay thine eggs in this fair garbage-heap ? GODEFROI Have you no pity ? HERMIT I say stand from her ! lest in one c»mmon ban I comprehend ye both. GODEFROI Ay, do so ! wall us round and fence us off! leave us to be with God ! . . Shriek ! shriek ! but learn from me 1 HERMIT From thee ? GODEFROI From me ! HERMIT What is this vile blasphemer ? BYSTANDER He is a poor clerk. 83 HERMIT One of the profane of Paris ? Stand thou accursed, Hkewise ! and hear ye the Arch- bishop's excommunication. GODEFROI What is thine Archbishop, that he should excommunicate ? HERMIT Dost thou dispute the thunders of the Church ? GODEFROI I do dispute the Church. I tell thee, God hath cast them out from, her . . . King and Archbishop, and not she from them. HERMIT [To the Executioner^ Then put her on the robe and drive her forth ! Thy goods are given over to the King ; thy bodies to the leprosy ; thy souls to Satan ; — Anathema ! Shall not man follow in God's footsteps when so clearly one is set aside as she for execration ? 84 MEGARDE My son, my son ! HERMIT And thou, blaspheming, filthy paramour I GODEFROI '[Taking- the grey garment from the Execu- tioner^ Nay, suffer me ! YOLANDE Nay, do not drive me out ; this is my house ! HERMIT At the sword's point, if need be ! GODEFROI [Putting the garment over Yolande, who seems to shrink from it.] Nay, lady, 'tis thy sackcloth ; think of God ! HERMIT Give her the bell ! GODEFROI [Taking the bell from the Executioner. Yolande is half fainting.^ Nay, sir ! — Lady, take this ! are not we ready now ? 85 BYSTANDER He is lewd ! he is disgusting ! HERMIT Now get ye forth and wander through the world. And with thy lips, as long as thou hast lips, cry out " unclean, unclean." Ye shall come nigh no human habitation within three miles. Ye shall not wash in any running stream, nor shall ye go in any narrow pathways, but ye shall wander in a wilderness, two voices testifying to God's justice. Oh, God, oh, God ! Thy glorious covenant ! Thy great just dealing ! [To the bystanders."] Oh, rejoice, rejoice ! for the ungodly perish 'neath thine eyes. [Bell, and voice crying "un- clean."] Out to thy brethren ! GODEFROI Thy message thou hast spoken ; — hear thou mine! HERMIT But as for thee, — hast sought pollution out, and clasped corruption to thee, — worse shall be thy fate than hers, at God's great judgment day. 86 GODEFROI Thy message thou hast spoken ; hear thou mine ! That there is love on earth we will show God ; we will show man that there is God in heaven. That she might be acceptable to Him, He made her first abhorrent unto men. He cast a seed of love into my heart ; and when that seed had grown up strong and stout ^strong to resist God's weather and man's hate), then did this little thicket blossom forth ; and then God said : go forth ! and testify to men before My face ! . . All ye are misin- terpreters of God ! . . And we will cry " un- clean" — "unclean," to your uncleanly world! Where is no love, but lust usurping love ! — Come forth, Yolande, into the night and wind ! — ^When we appear together at the last, together He must judge us ! We are one ! Say, we are one ! Out, out into the night ! \To onlookersJ^ Unclean — -ye are unclean ! \Godefroi appears to drag Volande.'\ HERMIT She hath bewitched him. king's officer Tear him from her ! [Several men-at-arms draw their swords. 2 87 YOLANDE [Clinging wildly to GodefroiJ\ Ah, no, no, no, no, no ! GODEFROI \In a great exultation.'\ That she should have desired me ! — Yolande, stretch out thine arms ! they shall not part us. [ Yolande does so, the men-at-arms retreat,'] HERMIT Hew her arms off! GODEFROI Cowards, ye are afraid ! Come, Yolande ; come, lady, come ! . . . Uncleanly world ! . . . Out — out into the night, into the wind ! . . . Oh, mother, mother, tell me I do well. MEGARDE I would not have thee other than thou art ! That I did bear thee ! Oh, my son, my son ! for thou art surely Christ-like ! GODEFROI Away, away ! 88 VOLANDE But they are waiting for us. GODEFROl What of that ? Oh, better they than these ! Mother, farewell! — Unclean, unclean, unclean! \_£xeuni Godefroi and Yolande, crashing and chanting is still going on. Silence falls on all. Redoubled cries of "unclean," "un- clean," "unclean!" Curtain falls. 89 N