Charles Di Tocca: A Tragedy

(Let alone love, it burns!)

My lady! O my lady! my sweet lady!

(She is led out.)

Fulvia: This is most sad – most sad, and pitiful.
Charles: I cannot bear her voice upon my heart

Enter Agabus gazing into the air

Again this monk? this dog of death? – and now?

Agabus: My trusty Shadow (Laughs madly.) Ha, he has been here!
My king o' the worms and all corruption! —
(Approaching Charles.) Lovers, and lovers! O she leapt as 'twere
To Christ and not sin's Pit! And he is gone
To follow her! The devil's nine wits are
Too many!

(Wanders about.)

Fulvia: My lord! Your limbs are frozen,
And bloodlessly you stand! Move, rouse, O breathe!
It is not truth but madness that he speaks.

(A cry and clanking of armor are heard in the Hall. A Soldier bursts into the chamber.)

Soldier: O duke! O duke! (Sinks to his knee.)

Charles: (gazes at him, struggling to speak): Rise – go – and, if thou canst —
To pray.

Soldier: O sir – !

Charles: You have no tidings.

Soldier: Sir —

Charles (desperately): None, fool! but come to say what silence groans,
What earth numb and in deadness raves to me.
To tell Antonio hath gone out and o'er
A precipice hath stepped for sake of love.
This is not tidings – hath it not on me
Been fixed forever? It is older than
Despair, as old as pain! (To Hæmon, who has entered.) Your sister —

Bardas: Hæmon – !

Cardinal: Hold him not in this anguish.

Fulvia: She and our
Antonio have left us to our tears.

(Hæmon stands motionless.)

Charles: Let no one groan. I say let no one groan —
Fury on him that groans! (He blindly rocks to and fro.)

Fulvia: My lord!

Charles (taking her hand): Well – come.
(As in a trance.)
There's much to do. We will think of the dead.
Perchance 'twill keep them near us: speak to them,
And they may answer while we wait, may float
Dim words on moonbeams to us. O for one
That shall sound of forgiveness and of rest!
(More wildly.)
O I have started on the mountain's brow
A tremor that has loosed the avalanche;
And penitence too late – too late – too late —
Was powerless as flowers along its path!

(He sinks back into his chair and stares hopelessly before him.)

Curtain