ACT THE THIRD. [footnote] *Asonante in 1-3, to the end of the speech. CYPRIAN. Well to the sea, my thanks are due, that bore You struggling to the shore, And led you to this grove, Where you will quickly prove The friendly feelings that inflame my breast, If happily I merit such a guest. Then let us homeward wend, For I esteem you now as an old friend. My guest you are, and so you must not leave me While my house suits you. DEMON. Do you then receive me Wholly as yours? CYPRIAN [embracing him]. This act doth prove it true, That seals an eternal bond betwixt us two.— [Aside. Oh! if I could win o'er This man to instruct me in his magic lore! Since by that art my love might gain Some solace for its pain; Or yielding to its mighty laws My love at length might win my love's sweet cause— The cause of all my torment, madness, rage. DEMON [aside]. The working of his mind and love I gauge. SCENE VIII. CLARIN and MOSCON enter running from opposite sides. CYPRIAN and The Demon. CLARIN. Oh! are you sir, alive? MOSCON. My friend, do you Speak civilly for once as something new? That he's alive requires no demonstration. CLARIN. I struck this lofty note of admiration, Thou noble lackey, to express my wonder, How from this storm of lightning, rain, and thunder, Without a miracle he could survive. MOSCON. Will you stop wondering, now you see him alive? CYPRIAN. These are my servants, sir.— What brings you here? MOSCON. Your spleen once more to stir. DEMON. They have a pleasant humour. CYPRIAN. Foolish pair, Their weary wit is oft too hard to bear. MOSCON. This man, sir, waiting here, Who is he? CYPRIAN. He's my guest, so do not fear. CLARIN. Wherefore have guests at such a time as this? CYPRIAN [to The Demon]. Your worth is lost on ignorance such as his. MOSCON. My master's right. Are you, forsooth, his heir? CLARIN. No; but our new friend there, Looks like a guest, unless I deceive me, who Will honour our poor house a year or two. MOSCON. Why? CLARIN. When a guest soon means to go away, Well, he'll not make much smoke in the house, we say. But this.... MOSCON. Speak out. CLARIN. Will make, I do not joke.. MOSCON. What? CLARIN. In the house a deuced deal of smoke. CYPRIAN. In order to repair The danger done by the rude sea and air, Come thou with me. DEMON. [Aside.] I'm thine, while thou hast breath. CYPRIAN. I go to prepare thy rest. DEMON [aside]. And I thy death:— An entrance having gained Within his breast, and thus my end obtained; My rage insatiate now without control Seeks by another way to win Justina's soul. [Exit. CLARIN. Guess, if you can, what I am thinking about. MOSCON. What is it? CLARIN. That a new volcano has burst out In the late storm, there's such a sulphur smell. MOSCON. It came from the guest, as my good nose could tell. CLARIN. He uses bad pastilles, then; but I can Infer the cause. MOSCON. What is it? CLARIN. The poor gentleman Has a slight rash on his skin, a ticklish glow, And uses sulphur ointment. MOSCON. Gad! 'tis so. [Exeunt. SCENE IX. THE STREET. LELIUS and FABIUS. FABIUS. You return, then, to this street. LELIUS. Yes; the life that I deplore I return to seek once more Where 'twas lost. Ah! guide my feet, Love, to find it!— FABIUS. That house there Is Justina's; come away. LELIUS. Wherefore, when I will to-day Once again my love declare. And as she, I saw it plain, Trusted some one else at night, 'Tis not strange, in open light, That I try to soothe my pain. Leave me, go; for it is best That I enter here alone. My rank in Antioch is known, My father Governor; thus drest In his robe as 'twere, my strong Passion listening to no mentor, I Justina's house will enter To protest against my wrong. [Exeunt. SCENE X. A HALL IN THE HOUSE OF LYSANDER. JUSTINA, and afterwards LELIUS. JUSTINA. Livia.... But a step! who's there? [LELIUS enters LELIUS. It is I. JUSTINA. What novelty, What extreme temerity, Thus, my lord, compels you?... LELIUS. Spare Your reproaches. Jealous-grown, I can bear that you reprove. Pardon me, for with my love My respect has also flown. JUSTINA. Why, at such a perilous cost Have you dared... LELIUS. Because I'm mad. JUSTINA. To intrude.... LELIUS. Heart-broken, sad. JUSTINA. Here.... LELIUS. Because, in truth, I'm lost. JUSTINA. Nor perceive how scandal views Such an act as now you do 'Gainst.... LELIUS. Be not so moved, for you Little honour now can lose. JUSTINA. Lelius, spare at least my fame. LELIUS. Ah, Justina, it were best That this language you addressed Unto him who nightly came Down here from this balcony;— 'Tis enough for me to show All your lightness that I know, That less coy and cold to me Your pretended honour prove. If I am disdained, displaced, 'Tis another suits your taste, Not that you your honour love. JUSTINA. Silence, cease, your words withhold. Who with insult e'er before Dared to pass my threshold's door? Are you then so blind and bold, So audacious, so insane, As my pure light to eclipse, Through the libel of your lips, By chimeras false and vain?— In my house a man? LELIUS. 'Tis so. JUSTINA. From my balcony? LELIUS. With shame I repeat it. JUSTINA. O, my fame, O'er us twain your Aegis throw. SCENE XI. THE SAME. The Demon appears at the door which is behind JUSTINA. DEMON [aside]. For the deep design I handle, For my double plot I come Raging to this simple home, Now to work the greatest scandal Ever seen. Here, brooding o'er him, This wild lover mad with ire, I will fan his jealous fire, I will place myself before him, Catch his eye, and then as fleeing, In invisible gloom array me. [He affects to come in, and being seen by LELIUS muffles himself in his cloak, and re-enters the inner apartment. JUSTINA. Man, do you come here to slay me? LELIUS. No, to die. JUSTINA. What object seeing Paralyses thus your senses? LELIUS. What I see is your untruth. Tell me now, the wish, forsooth, Has invented my offences. From that very chamber there Came a man, I turned my head, When he saw my face he fled Back into the room. JUSTINA. The air Must this phantasy display— This illusion. LELIUS. Oh, that sight! JUSTINA. Is it not enough by night, Lelius, but in open day Thus fictitious forms to see? LELIUS. Phantom shape or real lover, Now the truth I will discover. [He goes into the room where The Demon had disappeared. JUSTINA. I no hindrance offer thee, For my innocence, a way, At the cost of this permission, Thus finds out the night's submission To correct by the light of day. SCENE XII. LYSANDER and JUSTINA; LELIUS, within. LYSANDER. My Justina. JUSTINA [aside]. Woe is me! Ah, if here before Lysander* Lelius from that room comes forth! [footnote] *Asonante in a-i to the end of Scene XVII. LYSANDER. My misfortunes, my disasters Fly to be consoled by thee. JUSTINA. What can be the grief, the sadness, That your face betrays so plainly? LYSANDER. And no wonder, when the pallor Springs even from the heart. This sobbing Stops my weak words in their passage. [LELIUS appears at the door of the apartment. LELIUS [aside]. I begin now to believe, Since he is not in this chamber, Jealousy can cause these spectres. He, the man I saw, has vanished, How I know not. JUSTINA [aside to Lelius]. Come not forth, Lelius, here before my father. LELIUS. Convalescent in my sickness I will wait till he is absent. [Retires. JUSTINA. Why this weeping? why this sighing? What, sir, moves thee, what unmans thee? LYSANDER. I am moved by a misfortune, I'm unmanned by a disaster, Greater far than tender pity Ever wept,—the dread example Cruelty has sworn to make In the innocent blood of martyrs. To the Governor of this city Decius Caesar a strict mandate Has despatched... I can speak no more. JUSTINA [aside]. What position e'er was harder? Moved with pity for the Christians Hither comes to me Lysander The sad news to tell, not knowing Lelius to his words may hearken,— Lelius, the Governor's son. LYSANDER. So Justina... JUSTINA. Sir, no farther, Since you feel it so acutely, Speak upon this painful matter. LYSANDER. Let me, for I'll feel some solace When to thee it is imparted. In it he commands... JUSTINA. Proceed not Further now, when you should rather Cheat your years with more repose. LYSANDER. How? when I, to make you partner In those lively fears whose bodings Are sufficient to despatch me, Would inform you of the edict, The most cruel that the margin Of the Tiber ever saw Writ in blood to stain its waters, Do you stop me? Ah, Justina, You were wont in another manner Once to listen to me. JUSTINA. Sir, Different were the circumstances. LELIUS [at the door, aside]. I can hear but indistinctly Half-formed words and broken accents. SCENE XIII. FLORUS enters.—JUSTINA and LYSANDER; LELIUS, peeping at the door of the inner room. FLORUS [aside]. Licence has a jealous lover, Who but enters to unmask here A pretended purity, To forego politer manners. I come here with that intention... But as she is with her father I will wait a new occasion. LYSANDER. Who is there? Some footstep passes. FLORUS [aside]. Ah! 'tis now impossible Without speaking to get back here. Some excuse I'll try to offer:— I am... LYSANDER. You here, sir? FLORUS. Your pardon. I ask leave, sir, to speak with you On a most important matter. JUSTINA [aside]. Oh! take pity on me, fortune, For these trials are too many. LYSANDER. Well, sir, speak. FLORUS [aside, at the door]. Florus in Justina's house Leaves and enters like a master!— These are not unfounded jealousies, These are real and substantial. LYSANDER. You grow pale, you change your colour. FLORUS. Do not wonder, be not startled, For I came to give a warning, To your life of utmost value, Of an enemy that you have, Who your swift destruction planneth. What I've said is quite sufficient. LYSANDER [aside]. Florus, doubtless, must have gathered Somehow that I am a Christian, And thus comes in kindliest manner Of my danger to apprise me.— [Aloud. Speak, hide nothing in this matter. SCENE XIV. LIVIA enters.— JUSTINA, LYSANDER, and FLORUS; LELIUS at the door of the room. LIVIA. Sir, the Governor, who is waiting At the door of the house, commanded Me to call you to his presence. FLORUS. Best I wait for his departure:— [Aside. (Meantime my excuse I'll think of.) So 'tis well that you despatch him. LYSANDER. I appreciate your politeness. Here I will return instanter. [Exeunt LYSANDER and LIVIA. SCENE XV. JUSTINA and FLORUS; LELIUS at the door. FLORUS. Are you then that virtuous maiden, Who, the very breeze that flatters With its soft and sweet caresses, You would call rude, bold, unmannered? How then is it you surrendered Even the very keys of the casket Of your honour? JUSTINA. Hold, hold, Florus, Do not dare to throw a shadow On that honour which the sun After the most strict examen Has proved bright and pure. FLORUS. Too late Comes this idle boast. It happens That I know to whom you have given Free access... JUSTINA. You dare this scandal?— FLORUS. By a balcony... JUSTINA. Do not say it. FLORUS. To your honour. JUSTINA. Thus will you blast me? FLORUS. Yes, for hypocritical virtue Merits something even harsher. LELIUS [at the door, aside]. Florus was not then the hero Of the balcony; some more happy Lover than us twain she welcomes. JUSTINA. Oh! defame not noble damsels, Since you noble blood inherit. FLORUS. Noble damsel, dar'st thou call thee, When thy very arms received him, And from thy balcony he departed? Power subdued thee; from the fact That the Governor is his father, Vanity led thee on to show That in Antioch he commanded... LELIUS [aside]. Here he speaks of me. FLORUS. Not seeing Any graver defect of manner, Than what in his birth and breeding Rank may cover with its mantle, But not so.... [LELIUS enters. LELIUS. Be silent, Florus, Nor attack me in my absence; For of a rival to speak ill, Is the act but of a dastard. 'Tis to stop this I come forward, Angry after so many passes Which my sword has had with thine, That I have not yet dispatched thee. JUSTINA. Who, not guilty, ever saw her In such dangerous straits entangled? FLORUS. What behind your back was spoken, I before you will establish, Truth is truth where'er 'tis uttered. [They grasp their swords. JUSTINA. Florus! Lelius! what would you have then. LELIUS. I would have full satisfaction Where I heard th'insulting language. FLORUS. I'll maintain what I have said Where I said it. JUSTINA. From so many Strokes of fortune, free me, Heaven!— FLORUS. And I'll learn to chastise your rashness. SCENE XVI. The Governor enters with LYSANDER and attendants.—JUSTINA, LELIUS, and FLORUS. [All who enter]. Hold! stand back! JUSTINA. Unhappy me! GOVERNOR. What is this? But empty scabbards, Naked swords, are quite sufficient To inform me what has happened. JUSTINA. What misfortune! LYSANDER. What affliction!— LELIUS. Ah, my lord... GOVERNOR. Enough, no farther. Lelius, thou a son of mine, A disturber? Thou a scandal To all Antioch through my favour? LELIUS. Think, my lord... GOVERNOR. Arrest, disarm them, Take them hence. Make no distinction On account of blood or rank here. Let them suffer both alike, Since in guilt alike they acted. LELIUS [aside]. I came jealous, and go outraged. FLORUS [aside]. To my pains new pains are added. GOVERNOR. In distinct and separate prisons, And with watchful eyes to guard them, Place the two.—And you, Lysander, Is it possible you have tarnished Such a noble reputation, Suffering.... LYSANDER. No; let not these dazzling False appearances mislead you, For Justina in what happened Was quite blameless. GOVERNOR. In her house here, Would you have her live regardless Of the fact that they were young, And that she was fair; My anger I restrain, lest people say, I, an interested party, Sentence passed as partial judge.— But of you who caused this quarrel, Now that maiden shame has left you, Well I know that you will glad me With the occasion I desire, Of exposing, of unmasking, In the light of actual vices, The false virtuous part you've acted. [Exeunt The Governor and his attendants; LELIUS and FLORUS follow as prisoners. SCENE XVII. JUSTINA and LYSANDER. JUSTINA. I reply but with my tears. LYSANDER. Tears as vain as they are tardy. What an act was mine, Justina, When to thee my lips imparted Who thou art! Oh, would I never Told thee, that upon the margin Of a rivulet in this forest, A dead mother's womb here cast thee! JUSTINA. I.... LYSANDER. Do not attempt excuses. JUSTINA. Heaven will make them, then, hereafter LYSANDER. When too late, perhaps. JUSTINA. No limit Can be late here while life lasteth. LYSANDER. For the punishment of crimes. JUSTINA. Injured truth to re-establish. LYSANDER. I, from what I have seen, condemn thee. JUSTINA. I thee, from what thou knowest not, rather. LYSANDER. Leave me; I go forth to die Where my grief will soon dispatch me. JUSTINA. At thy feet I would lose my life; But do not reject me, father. [Exeunt. SCENE XVIII. A HALL IN CYPRIAN'S HOUSE. At the end is an open gallery, through which is seen the country. CYPRIAN, the Demon, MOSCON, and CLARIN. DEMON. Since the hour that I have been In your house a guest, you ne'er Show a gay and cheerful air. Sadness in your face is seen. It is wrong your cure to shun, Seeking to mislead mine eyes, Since I would unsphere the skies, Shake the stars, and shroud the sun, For the least desire you feel That more pleasantly you might live. CYPRIAN. Magic has no power to give The impossible I conceal, Though the misery I betray. DEMON. Come, confess the longed-for bliss. CYPRIAN. I love a woman. DEMON. And is this The impossible that you say? CYPRIAN. If you knew her, you'd agree. DEMON. Well, describe her, I'm resigned; Though I can't but smile to find What a coward you must be. CYPRIAN. The fair cradle of the skies, Where the infant sun reposes, Ere he rises, decked with roses, Robed in snow, to dry heaven's eyes. The green prison-bud that tries To restrain the conscious rose, When the crimson captive knows April treads its gardens near, Turning dawn's half frozen tear To a smile where sunshine glows. The sweet streamlet gliding by, Though it scarcely dares to breathe Softest murmurs through its teeth, From the frosts that on it lie. The bright pink, in its small sky Shining like a coral star. The blithe bird that flies afar, Drest in shifting shades and blooms— Soaring cithern of plumes Harping high o'er heaven's blue bar. The white rock that cheats the sun When it tries to melt it down, What it melts is but the crown Which from winter's snow it won. The green bay that will not shun, Though the heavens are all aglow, For its feet a bath of snow,— Green Narcissus of the brook, Fearless leaning o'er to look, Though the stream runs chill below In a word, the crimson dawn, Sun, mead, streamlet, rosebud, May Bird that sings his amorous lay, April's laugh that gems the lawn, Pink that sips the dews up-drawn, Rock that stands in storm and shine, Bay-tree that delights to twine Round its fadeless leaves the sun, All are parts which met in one Form this woman most divine. For myself, in blind unrest, (Guess my madness if you can) I, to seem another man, In these courtly robes am drest, Studious calm I now detest, Fame no longer fires my mind, Passion reigns where thought refined, I my firmness fling to tears, Courage I resign to fears, And my hopes I give the wind. I have said, and so will do, That to some infernal sprite I would offer with delight (And the pledge I now renew) Even my soul for her I woo. But my offer is in vain, Hell rejects it with disdain, For my soul, it may allege, Is a disproportionate pledge For the interest I would gain. DEMON. Is this, then your boasted courage, In the footsteps of dejected* Swains to follow, who grow timid When their first assault's rejected? Are examples then so distant Of fair ladies who surrender All their vanities to entreaties, All their pride to fond addresses? Would you make your breast the prison Of your love, your arms her fetters? [footnote] *Asonante in e-e to the end of the Act. CYPRIAN. Can you doubt it? DEMON. Then command them To retire, those two, your servants, So that we remain here only. CYPRIAN. Go: both leave me for the present. MOSCON. I obey. [Exit. CLARIN. And I as well.— [Aside, concealing himself. Such a guest must be the devil. CYPRIAN. They are gone. DEMON [aside]. That Clarin's hiding, Is to me of small concernment. CYPRIAN. What more wish you now? DEMON. First fasten Well this door. CYPRIAN. Yes; none can enter. DEMON. For the possession of this woman, With your lips you have asserted You would give your soul. CYPRIAN. 'Tis so. DEMON. Then the contract is accepted. CYPRIAN. What do you say? DEMON. That I accept it. CYPRIAN. How? DEMON. So much have I effected By my science, that I will teach you How by it to get possession Of the woman that you worship; For I (though so wise and learned) Have no other means to win her. Let us now in writing settle What we have resolved between us. CYPRIAN. Do you wish by new pretences To prolong the pains I suffer? In my hand is what I tender, But in yours is not the offer That you make me; no, for never Conjurations or enchantments Can free will control or fetter. DEMON. Give me, on the terms you spoke of, Your signed bond. CLARIN. [peeping]. The deuce! This fellow Is no fool, I see. No greenhorn In his business is this devil. I give him my bond! No, truly, Though my lodgings wanted a tenant For the space of twenty ages, I wouldn't do it. CYPRIAN. Sir, much jesting May with merry friends be pastime, Not with those who are dejected. DEMON. I, in proof of what I am able To effect, will now present you With an example, though it faintly Shows the power my art possesses. From this gallery what is seen? CYPRIAN. Much of sky, and much of meadow, Wood, a rivulet, and a mountain. DEMON. Which to you doth seem most pleasant? CYPRIAN. The proud mountain, for in it Is my adored one represented. DEMON. Proud competitor of time, Rival of the years for ever, Who as king of fields and plains Crown'st thee with the cloud and tempest, Move thyself, change earth and air; Look, see who I am that tell thee.— And, look thou, too, since a mountain I can move, thou mayest a maiden. [The mountain moves from one side to the other in the perspective of the theatre. CYPRIAN. Never saw I such a wonder! Ne'er a sight of so much terror! CLARIN [peeping]. With the fright and with the fear, I enjoy a twofold tremble. CYPRIAN. Mighty mountain bird that fliest, Trees for wings replacing feathers, Boat, whose rocks supply the tackle, As thou furrowest through the zephyr, To thy centre back return thee, And so end this fear, this terror. [The mountain returns to its original position. DEMON. If one proof is not sufficient, I will give you then a second. Do you wish to see the woman You adore? CYPRIAN. Yes. DEMON. Then, thy entrails Ope, thou monster, to whose being The four elements are servants. Show to us the perfect beauty That thou hidest in thy centre. [A rock opens and JUSTINA is seen sleeping. Is this she whom you adore? CYPRIAN. Whom I idolize beyond measure. DEMON. But since I have power to give her, I can take her too, remember. CYPRIAN. Now impossible dream of mine, Now thy arms will be the centre Of my love, thy lips the sun, Burning, brimming as with nectar. DEMON. Stay; for till the word you gave me Is affirmed, and well attested, You can touch her not. [CYPRIAN rushes towards the rock, which closes. CYPRIAN. Oh, stay Cloud that hides the most resplendent Sun, that on my bliss e'er dawned!— But 'tis air my void arm presses.— I believe your art, acknowledge Now I am your slave for ever. What do you wish I do for thee? What do you ask? DEMON. To be protected By your signature here written In your blood, at the foot of a letter. CLARIN [peeping]. Oh! I'd give my soul that I To stay here had not been tempted. CYPRIAN. For my pen I use this dagger, Paper let this white cloth serve for, And the ink wherewith I write it, Be the blood my arm presents me. [He writes with the point of a dagger upon a piece of linen, having drawn blood from one of his arms. CYPRIAN [Aside]. Oh! I freeze with fear, with horror! I, great Cyprian, say expressly I will give my immortal soul, (Oh! what lethargy, what frenzy!) Unto him whose art will teach me (What confusion! what strange terror!) How I may of fair Justina, Haughty mistress mine, possess me. I have signed it with my name. DEMON [aside]. Now to my deceits is rendered Valid homage, when such reason, When discourse like his must tremble Even when my help is sought for.— Have you written? CYPRIAN. And signed the letter. DEMON. Then the sun you adore is thine. CYPRIAN. Thine too, for the years eternal, Is the soul I offer thee. DEMON. Soul for soul I pay my debtors, Then for thine I give to thee Thy Justina's CYPRIAN. In what term then, Think you you can teach to me All your magic art? DEMON. A twelvemonth; But on this condition.... CYPRIAN. Speak. DEMON. That within a cavern buried, Without any other study, We may live there both together, In our service having no one For us two but this attendant, [Drags out CLARIN. Who being curious hid him here;— By securing thus his person That our secret is well kept, We, I think, may be quite certain. CLARIN [aside]. Oh, that I had never waited! How does it happen though, so many Neighbours prone to pry, as I am, Are not caught thus by the devil? CYPRIAN. So far well. My love, my genius Have this happy end effected: First Justina will be mine, Then by my new lights, new learning, I will wake the world's surprise. DEMON. I have gained what I intended. CLARIN. I not so. DEMON. You come with us.— [Aside. O'er my great foe I've got the better. CYPRIAN. Ah, how happy my desires, If I reach to such possession!— DEMON [aside]. Never will my envy rest Till I gain both souls to serve me.— Let us go, and in the deepest Cavern this wild world presenteth You to-day will learn in magic Your first lesson. CYPRIAN. Let us enter, For my mind with such a master, For my love with such incentive, Will the sorcerer Cyprian's name Live before the world for ever. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. A WOOD; AT THE EXTREMITY A GROTTO. CYPRIAN. CYPRIAN. Ungrateful beauty mine, At length the day, the happy day doth shine— My hope's remotest range, The limits of my love and of thy change, Since I to-day will gain At last my triumph over thy disdain. This lofty mountain nigh, Raised to the star-lit palace of the sky, And this dark cavern's gloom, Of two that live, so long the dismal tomb, Are the rough school wherein From magic art its mystic lore I win, And such perfection reach That I can now my mighty master teach. Seeing, that on this day, since I came here The sun completes its course from sphere to sphere, I from my prison cell come forth to view What in the light I now have power to do. Ye skies of cloudless day List to my magic spell-words and obey; Swift zephyrs that rejoice In heaven's warm light, stand still and hear my voice; Stupendous mountain rock Shake at my words as at an earthquake shock; Ye trees in rough bark drest Be frightened at the groanings of my breast; Ye flowers so fair and frail Faint at the echoing terror of my wail; Ye sweet melodious birds Hush all your songs before my awful words; Ye cruel beasts of prey See the first fruits of my long toil to-day; For blinded, dazzled, dazed, Confused, disturbed, astonished and amazed, Ye skies and zephyrs, rocks, and trees, and flowers, And birds, and beasts, behold my magic powers, And thus to all make plain Cyprian's infernal study is not vain. SCENE II. The Demon and CYPRIAN. DEMON. Cyprian! CYPRIAN. Wise friend and master still! DEMON. Why, how is this, that using your free-will More than my precept meant, Say for what end, what object, what intent, Through ignorance or boldness can it be, You thus come forth the sun's bright face to see? CYPRIAN. Seeing that now my spell Can fill with fear, with horror even hell, Since I, with so much care Have studied magic and its depths laid bare, So that yourself can scarcely tell Whether 'tis I or you that most excel, Seeing that now there is no place or part That I with study, diligence and art, have not attained, Since necromancy's secret I have gained, That art whose lines of gloom Can ope to me the dark funereal tomb, And bring before mine eyes Each corpse that in it lies, Regaining them, as 'twere by a new birth From the hard avarice of the grasping earth. The pale ghosts, one and all, Rise and respond my call;— And seeing that at length the sun My goal of life had won, Since from its innate force Swift-speeding on its course, Climbing the heavens each day, It turns as 'twere reluctantly away, And with a natural fear Completes to-day the lifetime of a year, I wish to attain the scope To last of all my dreams, of all my hope. To-day the rare, the beautiful, the divine Justina will be mine, Here summoned by my charms, Here lured by love she'll come unto my arms, For you from me no longer can require Postponement of my hope's, my heart's desire. DEMON. Nor do I wish to do it, no, Since thus so earnestly you wish it so. Now trace upon the ground Mute mystic symbols, and the deep profound Of air, with powerful incantations move Obedient to your hope and to your love. CYPRIAN. For that I will retire; You soon shall see the heaven and earth admire. [Exit. DEMON. I give you leave to go, Because our science being the same, I know That the abyss of hell Obedient to your spell Will yield through me, this way, The fair Justina to your arms to-day: For, though my mighty power Cannot enslave free-will even for an hour, It may present The outward show of rapture and content, Suggesting thoughts impure:— If force I cannot use, at least I lure. SCENE III. CLARIN and The Demon. CLARIN. Ungrateful fair, who still my heart doth hold, Not burning Libya sure, but Livia cold, The time is come to show Whether in love you have been true or no, Whether, since I within this cave was placed, Not chased by me you have yourself been chaste; For I have studied here At second hand some magic for a year, Just to find out (alack! I can't but wince) Whether with Moscon you have wronged me since:— Ye watery skies (some people call them pure) List to my conjurations I conjure, Mountains.... DEMON. How, Clarin? CLARIN. Oh! my master wise! By the concomitance of my hands and eyes, I've learned some magic, and would know by it If Livia, that ungrateful little chit, Has played me false since I have been away, Embracing that rogue Moscon on my day. DEMON. Have done with these buffooneries: leave me, go. And 'mid these intricate rocks whose paths you know, Assist your master, who will let you see (If you would witness such a prodigy) The end of all his woe. I wish to be alone. CLARIN. And I not so. I now perceive Why to use magic I have not your leave, The fault was mine, neglecting to attest My bond, and sign it with the blood of my breast.— [He takes out a soiled pocket-handkerchief. Upon this linen handkerchief (None cleaner he can have who cries for grief) I'll sign it now, the method I propose Is but to give myself a box on the nose, For there is little harm Whether the blood is drawn from nose or arm. [He writes with his finger on the handkerchief, after having drawn some blood. I, the great Clarin, say, if I can level Pert Livia's cruel pride, whom I give to the devil.... DEMON. Leave me, I say again, Go seek your master and with him remain. CLARIN. Yes, I will do so, don't get angry though. The reason you reject my bond I know: 'Tis this, because you see, Do what I will that you are sure of me. SCENE IV. The Demon. DEMON. Abyss of hell prepare! Thyself the region of thine own despair.— From out each dungeon's dark recess Let loose the spirits of voluptuousness, To rain and o'erthrow Justina's virgin fabric pure as snow. A thousand filthy phantoms with thee brought So people her chaste thought That all her maiden fancies may be filled With their deceits; let sweetest notes be trilled From every tuneful grove, And all, birds, plants, and flowers, provoke to love. Let nothing meet her eyes But spoils of love's delicious victories, Let nothing meet her ears But languid sighs that listening passion hears: That thus unguarded by the faith, and weak, She here may Cyprian seek Invoked by his strong spell, And by my blinding spirit lured as well. Begin, in silence I will here remain Unseen, that you may now begin the strain. [Exit. SCENE V. JUSTINA; music within. [They sing within.] A VOICE. What is the glory far above, All else that life can give? CHORUS OF VARIOUS VOICES. Love love. A VOICE. No creature lives on which love's flame Has not impressed its burning seal, The man feels more who love doth feel Than when Life's breath first warmed his frame. Love owns one universal claim,— To Love, it only needs To Be,— Whether a bird, a flower, a tree: Then the chief glory, far above All else in life must be.... CHORUS [within]. Love, love. JUSTINA [alarmed and restless]. Fancy, flatter that thou art, Though thou should'st be sad to-day, When did I to thee impart, In this strange and sudden way, Licence to afflict my heart? What thus makes my pulses move? What strange fire is this I prove Which each moment doth increase? Ah! this pain that ends my peace, This sweet unrest, ah, what? CHORUS. Love, love. JUSTINA [more composed]. 'Tis that enamoured nightingale Who thus gives me the reply:— To his partner in the vale Listening on a bough hard by Warbling thus his tuneful wail. Cease, sweet nightingale, nor show By thy softly witching strain Trilling forth thy bliss and woe, How a man might feel love's pain, When a bird can feel his so. No: it was that wanton vine That in fond pursuit has sought The tall tree it doth entwine, Till the green weight it hath brought Makes the noble trunk decline. Green entwining boughs that hold What you love in your embrace, Make my fancy not too bold:— Ah, if boughs thus interlace, How would clasping arms infold!— And if not the vine, 'twill be That bright sunflower which we see Turning with its tearful eyes To its sun-god in the skies, Whatsoe'er his movements be. Flower thy watch no longer keep, Drooping leaflets fold in sleep, For the fond thought reappears, Ah, if leaves can shed such tears, What are those that eyes can weep! Cease then, lyrist of the grove, Leafy vine, unclasp thy arms, Fickle flower, no longer move, And declare, these poisoned charms That you use, what yields? CHORUS [within]. Love, love. JUSTINA. Love! it cannot be. Its chain Have I ever worn for man? No, the fond deceit is vain. All received a like disdain, Lelius, Florus, Cyprian. Lelius did I not despise? Florus did I not detest? Cyprian, the good and wise, [She pauses at Cyprian's name and resumes for a time her unquiet manner. Spurn with such a haughty breast, That he vanished from my eyes, As if frightened by their ire?— Where he went I do not know. But save this, the faintest fire Love e'er lit, ne'er dared to glow In the depths of my desire. Yes, for since I said that he Should submit without appeal Never more my face to see, Ah, I know and what I feel!— [She grows calmer. Pity it must surely be, That a man so widely known Should through love of me be lost, When he pays at such a cost For the preference he has shown. [She becomes troubled again. Were it pity though, 'tis true, The same pity I should give Lelius and to Florus too, Who in separate dungeons live, Ah! for daring me to woo. [She grows calmer. But my thoughts, ye mutinous crew, If my pity is enough It should not be clogged by you. Still your promptings press me so, That I feel in my despair, Where he is, if I could know, I to seek him now would go.