Chapter 9

festival-- the back part is filled up by a dark-coloured curtain-- night._

The _prior_ enters preceded by a friar with a torch, and followed by _Veronica_.

_Ve._ Yet hear me, Cœlestino!

_Pri._ Idle remonstrances! what! shall I have plunged into guilt, and reap no fruits from it but the danger? abbess, Josepha must be mine: remember my power, and obey me!

_Ve._ You have been obeyed; your victim is even now conducting hither; the banquet-- the lights-- the choral harmony-- every thing is prepared, that can seduce her senses; but all these temptations she has already resisted-- she will resist them still: then spare me the odious-- the unavailing office--

_Pri._ Perform it well, and it will not be unavailing. For twelve long months cut off from all society-- deprived of every joy, of every comfort, even deprived of light-- then, when suddenly the radience of a thousand torches blazes upon her wondering eye, when music swells upon her ear and, still more melting still more melodious, when the voice of affection speaks touchingly to her heart; nay, if she then prefers her gloomy cell to liberty and pleasure, Josepha’s virtue must be more than human.

_Ve._ But should it prove so-- oh! then at least forbear to persecute the unfortunate! let her swear never to divulge our secrets-- let some well imagined tale account for her reported death, and--

_Pri._ How? and dare you, the creature of my will, whose life depends but upon my breath--

_Ve._ While you speak, forget not also that my fate involves your own; I too can divulge--

_Pri._ Speak but such another threatening word, and the whole measure of your offences shall be made public throughout Messina-- my mind is resolved; my resolutions are taken: I can dare every thing; but you-- weak, trembling, doubting woman-- dare you die!

_Ve._ O! no, no, no! you know but too well, I dare not.

_Pri._ No more, then, but obey me. Tonight be it your care to fascinate Josepha’s senses and inflame her heart. Tomorrow I will once more present myself before her and prove, whether virtue and Venoni can counterbalance at once the allurements of present pleasure, and the apprehension of future pain. You have heard my will; obey it! should Josepha escape, I swear, that my vengeance shall drag you to the scaffold, even though I ascend it with you myself, (_to the friar_) Lead to the monastery.

[Exeunt.

_Ve._ I struggle in vain to escape; the snares of guilt are wound too closely round me. Hark! she comes! tis Josepha! I heard the plaintive murmur of that voice, so sweet, so tender, so touching! I dare not meet her yet-- oh! Josepha, gladly would I share thy gloomy dungeon, could I but share with it thy uncorrupted heart.

[Exeunt.

A nun enters with a lamp followed by sister _Lucia_, who conducts _Josepha_ blind-folded.

_Jo._ Oh! why is this mysterious silence? for what purpose have you taken me from my prison? who are you, and whither have you brought me? have mercy on my agony! see, how this silence terrifies me: see how I kneel at your feet; see how I kiss them and bathe them with my tears. Answer me-- in pity answer. Still no reply? still no kind consoling sound? (_Lucia motions to leave her_) oh! no, no, no! do not leave me! even though you speak not, stay, oh, stay! let me at least be conscious, that there is a human being near me-- that I am not the only thing within these mournful walls, which possesses life and feeling! stay, stay, in charity! (_the nun breaks from her and exit_) they leave me-- they are gone! hark! a door closes! I hear their retiring footsteps! alas! alas! even in the noise of that closing door, even in the echo of those departing steps, there was some little comfort: they at least betokened the existence of a human being. I am alone-- let me remove the bandage, and examine. Dark! dark! all dark! still all silence, still all gloom! where am I? I dare not advance lest some abyss-- oh! light, light! glorious light! shall I then never see thee more? any thing but this dead and hollow silence! any thing but this sepulchral, this dreadful, this heart-oppressing gloom.

_Chorus_ within, very full and sweet.

--“O! love! sweet love!”--

_Jo._ Hark! voices! I heard them! I am sure I heard them! it was music! melody! enchantment-- hark! hark! again.

CHORUS.

“Love rules the court, the camp, the grove. For love is heaven, and heaven is love.”

_During this chorus, the curtain rolls up, and discovers a banquet splendidly illuminated; large folding doors are in the centre; chandeliers descend, and the stage becomes as light as possible-- Veronica and nuns are in the front._

_Jos._ See! see! all bright! all brilliant; a dream-- a fairy vision-- the blaze overpowers me, my eyes are dazzled; my brain grows dizzy: I cannot support the rapture-- (_sinks against a pillar_)

_Ve._ Josepha!

_Jos._ (_starting_) Surely that voice-- the abbess, what can mean--

_Ve._ How? not speak to me, my child? not look upon your mother?

_Jos._ Mother? child? oh! it is long since I heard those dear, dear names-- my heart-- my feelings-- (_throwing herself into her arms_) oh! if I am your child, then mother, mother! be to me a mother indeed!

_Ve._ And do I not prove myself one, my Josepha, when now, in spite of all your past perverseness I again clasp you to my bosom, I again put it in your own choice to live in liberty, in society, in delight? look round you, my daughter! see how every countenance smiles to welcome you; see, how every heart springs towards you; see, how--

_Jos._ (_starting away from her, exclaims with energy_) Ha! now I understand it all! the mystery is cleared! the web is unravelled! yes, yes, the meaning bursts at once upon me, all in the broad blaze of its daring villany, in all the hypocrisy of its deep-laid odious art!

_Ve._ What art? what villany? when kindly I woo you to--

_Jos._ Speak not! proceed not! let not the unholy words pass through your lips, as you value your own soul! I guess your meaning; oh! then pronounce it not; great as are your crimes let me save you from committing one so monstrous as this! the lessons of vice from any lips appear disgusting; but when a woman gives them breath-- tis horrible! tis dreadful! tis unnatural!

_Ve._ (_aside_) Oh! if I dared-- no, no! it cannot be.

_Jos._ Ah! you melt? oh! then behold me kneeling before you; see my anguish, my fears, my hopes. I have none but in you! remember your sex, your habit, your former affection for me. You loved me once! even now you called me your child, often have you prest me to your heart with all a mother’s tenderness-- oh! then by that tender name I charge you, I implore you, tempt me not to vice; rather aid me to persevere in virtue. Let me depart; restore me to my parents; I will never divulge your dreadful secret. It’s true I once threatned you; I would fain have terrified you into penitence, but you know my heart, all merciful; you know, that I would not willingly hurt even a worm!-- she weeps! she pities me! blessings on you, eternal blessings! oh, let me hasten-- (_going, Veronica starts in terror: the nuns opposes her progress_)

_Ve._ Hold! detain her! Josepha, that I suffer-- that I feel for you-- it were fruitless to deny; but alas! unfortunate, your fate is decided; your fate and mine! the prior-- the unrelenting prior-- oh, so guilty as I am, I dare not look on death. Yield, then, Josepha, yield! all hope is lost to you--

_Jose._ Nay, not so, lady! strong as are my fetters, heaven may one day break them; but robbed of innocence, then, indeed, not heaven itself could save me. When rains beat heavy, the rose for awhile may droop its head oppressed; but the clouds will disperse, and the sun will burst forth, and the reviving flower will raise its blushing cup again; but all the flames of the sun and all the zephyrs of the south can never restore its fragrance and its health to the once-gather’d lily.

_Ve._ Alas, alas! to protect you is beyond my power! you will be plunged once more alive into the grave-- will be deprived of every comfort--

_Jose._ No, lady, no! even in the depth of your subterraneous dungeon, one comfort still is mine, and never will forsake me: tis the consciousness that my sufferings are transitory, but that my reward will be eternal; tis the consciousness of an hereafter! tis this which supports me during all my daily sorrows; tis this which irradiates all my nightly dreams. Then this poor wretched globe with all its crimes and all its follies rolls away from before me: then all seems fair, and pure, and glorious: cherubs shed the roseate lustre of their smiles upon my stony couch, and guardian saints encourage me to suffer with patience, to hope, and to adore!-- such are my dreams: now, lady, paint if you dare, the visions which you behold in your own.

_Ve._ She tortures my heart; her reproaches fire my brain-- I can endure them no longer-- remove her! away!

_Jose._ (_kneeling_) Oh! drive me not from you! pity me! protect me! save me!--

_Ve._ I cannot! I dare not! take her from my sight, and-- and for ever!

_Jose._ (_rising_) For ever? no, cruel woman; do not hope it! listen to these sighs; look upon these tears! in your gayest happiest moments, such sighs shall scare away delight; when you lift to your lips the cup of pleasure, you shall find the draught embittered by such tears; and when that hour arrives which you dread so justly, a form like mine shall stand beside your pillow and a voice like mine shall shriek in your ear-- “Welcome, murderess! welcome, to that grave, to which you sent me!”

_Ve._ Insupportable! away with her! she kills me!

_Jose._ Oh! let me stay yet a few moments more! let me gaze but a little longer on the lovely, friendly, blessed light! let me still hear a human voice, even though it threaten me; let me still look upon a human face, even though it be the face of an enemy; (_the nuns endeavour to force her away_) mercy! mercy! help me-- aid me!

_Venoni_ rushes in by a side door.

_Venoni._ Who shrieks for help-- for mercy! I-- I will give them!

(_Veronica and nuns utter a cry of surprise_)

_Ve._ Ah! a stranger?

_Jose._ (_bursting from the nuns with a violent effort_) Tis he! tis he himself! save me, Venoni! oh! save me, save me! (_she rushes to throw herself into his arms, and sinks fainting at his feet._)

_Ve._ Venoni, betrayed, undone! Lucia! (_she whispers Lucia._)

_Venoni._ She knows me! look up, look up, unfortunate! I will protect you! I will preserve you, and-- Josepha! tis Josepha! speak to me, Josepha! oh! speak to your Venoni!

_Ve._ But one moment is still ours-- (_to Lucia_) fly! hasten! (_Lucia goes off by the door through which Venoni enters._)

_Venoni._ The monsters! the barbarians! oh! my beloved, how have the wretches made you suffer.

_Jose._ Suffer! oh say but that you love me still, all, all will be forgotten.

_Venoni._ Do I love thee? oh, heaven! thou, my soul! my life! best half of my existence! but come, let us quit this hated place-- let us away, and-- (_to Veronica_) nay, lady, shrink not at my approach: how you may answer to the viceroy, be that your care; but dread no reproaches from me! I shall respect that sacred habit, though you have felt for it so little reverence; I shall still remember your sex, though you seem yourself to have forgotten it. Give me the means to quit the convent-- furnish me with the portal key--

_Ve._ (_confused_) My lord-- the keys-- they shall be produced-- I have sent for them-- even now you saw a sister leave the chamber-- she returns-- I hear her-- speak!

_Lucia_ returns.

_Ve._ Have you found them?

_Lu._ I have.

_Venoni._ And where are they?

The _prior_ rushes in followed by monks.

_Pri._ Here! art thou found again, my fugitive? --seize him.

_Jose._ Venoni! oh, Venoni!

_Pri._ Tear them asunder.

_Jose._ No, no! I will never leave him! while I have life, thus thus will I cling to him; if I must die, it shall be at his feet. (_they are forced asunder_) oh! cruel, cruel men! (_she sinks into the arms of the nuns-- Veronica is in the greatest agitation_)

_Pri._ Away with him! (_he precedes; the monks, bearing Venoni, follow him_) Venoni, your death-hour has struck!

Father _Michael_ rushes in followed by the _Viceroy_, &c. and grasps the prior’s arm.

_Mi._ Tyrant, no; twas for thyself it sounded.

The monks release Venoni, and the nuns Josepha; the lovers fall into each other’s arms-- at the same time the folding-doors are burst open, and the marquis, _Hortensia_, &c. enter.

_Hor._ (_speaking without_) Where is she? where is the abbess?

_Jose._ My mother’s voice? here, here! my mother, behold your Josepha at your feet.

_Hor._ Powers of mercy! she lives, she lives! my Josepha! my joy my treasure! oh, can you forget--

_Jose._ Every thing, every thing-- except that I am still dear to you.

_Vice._ Officers, you know your prisoners! remove them, their sight is painful, (_the prior is conducted away by the guards; Veronica is leading off when Josepha addresses her_)

_Jose._ Lady-- you felt for me-- you pitied me; I too can pity and feel for you-- if I have influence, you shall find mercy.

_Ve._ Josepha!-- angel, your prayers-- oh! pray for me: pray for me!

[Exit with guards.

_Venoni._ My joy-- my amazement-- but oh! let me fly to rescue-- follow me, my friends-- there is a poor old man-- a captive.----

_Vice._ Be calm, dear youth; Lodovico is in safety: in guiding us to your dungeon, this worthy friar discovered and released him.

_Venoni._ My friend, my preserver! how can I reward----

_Vice._ If my power-- if my whole fortune can recompense----

_Mi._ I have preserved innocence, I have detected vice, I have served the cause of humanity: I find a sufficient reward in the feelings of my own heart. But, my good lords, let us quit this scene of horror: suffer me, my son, to unite your hand with Josepha’s at the altar; then retiring to some more virtuous fraternity----

_Vice._ What, father? after such experience of a convent’s interior will you again----

_Mi._ Ah! forbear, my lord, nor brand a whole profession with disgrace, because some few of its professors have been faulty-- tis not the habit but the heart; tis not the name he bears but the principles he has imbibed, which makes man the blessing or reproach of human nature. Virtue and vice reside equally in courts and convents; and a heart may beat as purely and as nobly beneath the monk’s scapulary, as beneath the ermine of the judge, or the breast-plate of the warrior.

_Venoni._ The good friar says right, my friend; then let us scorn to bow beneath the force of vulgar prejudice, and fold to our hearts as brethren in one large embrace men of all ranks, all faiths, and all professions. The monk and the soldier, the protestant and the papist, the mendicant and the prince; let us believe them all alike to be virtuous till we know them to be criminal; and engrave on our hearts, as the first and noblest rule of mortal duty and of human justice, those blessed words.

“BE TOLERANT!”

* * * * * * * * *

Errors and Inconsistencies: The Novice

Spellings were changed only when there was an unambiguous error, or the word occurred elsewhere with the expected spelling. The spelling “anti-room” is used consistently. Names in stage directions were inconsistently italicized; they have been silently regularized. Missing or invisible periods at line-end and in abbreviations have been silently supplied. In the play, words such as “tis” and “twas” were always written without apostrophe.

_Unchanged:_

when suddenly the radience of a thousand torches the nuns opposes her progress

_Corrections:_

A marine procession arrives [processsion] to the arbitrary commands [arbritary] for heaven’s love, the viceroy would deign [victory] his countenance and manner [countenace] at my appointment [appoiniment] the donor shall be soon disposed of [diposed] object of never to be sated vengeance, [vengance] heaven had commissioned me [commisioned] _Venoni._ Oh, talk not to me of resistance! [_Vevoni._] Why, Teresa! dawdling here [dwadling] all your past perverseness, [preverseness]

_Punctuation and typography:_

Hortensia, marchioness Caprara. [, for .] [Exeunt _Teresa_ and servants. [_italicized as “Exeunt _Teresa and_ servants.”_] _Mich._ My superior knows not [my] Alas! that will be impossible! [? for second !] Come, come, look to the nets, lads, (_they go to their boats_) [punctuation unchanged] Hark how the neighbouring convent bell! [punctuation unchanged] _Venoni._ You weep? you repent? [, for .] of repentance and despair? [? misprinted upside down] _Venoni._ I have seen the man [, for .] It may not be. [, for .] (_... like one petrified._) [missing close parenthesis] (_... towards the tomb._) [missing close parenthesis] In what have I offended? what is my crime? [, for second ?] oh? surely if there is aught [question mark for exclamation mark?] Fly, fly! you bear with you my blessing! (_kneeling_) [missing open parenthesis] _Ben._ Coming, coming! [_Exit._ [missing bracket] not look upon your mother? [parenthesis for question mark]