SCENE 2. _The same. Gray of morning seen through grating of window,

rear, where Bertrand stands looking out and upward. Ardia is sleeping on a couch. The dawn-light wakes her and she starts up._

_Ard._ 'Tis morning. Bertrand! You have watched all night?

_Ber._ O, there has been no night.

_Ard._ I slept it through.

_Ber._ Thy body slept, but thou hast been with me O'er all the world, and farther than the world, Out where the life begins.

_Ard._ That may be true, For I had wondrous dreams.

_Ber._ You speak of dreams? A magic touched me, and I woke from dream Knowing my life. What ways we went! All things Seemed new, warm with the Maker's hand, as young As our own eyes, but 'twas eternity That kept them sweet, unaging.

_Ard._ It was Love Who gave thee eyes to see the world immortal Even in our own.

_Ber._ Do all Love's votaries Walk with such magic sight?

_Ard._ In truth! I've seen A beggar woman tread the road-side dust As it were showered gold, because she had Love's eyes. And we--what joys our joy shall find! The pearling skies with rose-breath drinking ours 'Tween sea and dawn! The leaves that turn i' the wind And tremble in our hearts--the brook-song that Began beyond the stars--the woodland nests, Breast-warm----

_Ber._ And one is ours.

_Ard._ The lark that leaves His meadow-mate and reels at the sun's door Dropping his song of fire and clover-dew Down to her heart.

_Ber._ [_Kissing her_] As this in thine!

_Ard._ And all Life's dearer-veinèd joys,--the way-side hands That pluck to camp-fire glow,--the smile of age, Gift-sweet and wise beside the garner door----

_Ber._ Ay, dear are these ... but when we came again From that far, holy place....

_Ard._ Ah, in your dream.

_Ber._ Where no words go or come....

_Ard._ When we came back?

_Ber._ Walking the light between the parted stars, And met the days that knew us ... naught could hide The eternal joy within it. Twas a world Whose beauty lay allwheres. O, not alone In morning skies and mated larks a-wing! Each rag-hung thing was dipped in chosen time And wore its royal hour.

_Ard._ If that could be!

_Ber._ What seers, what eyes of light, outshone the pain That gave them being! Tears that silvered graves Globed in their pearl the immortal hope of men, And seemed as beautiful as prophecy Burning in its own truth. Ay, where a man Fell murdered, crying "I forgive," the ground Sprang as a garden----

_Ard._ Murdered? O, not that! How could you say it? I had forgot, forgot! Love in your dream looked you quite through the soul Of Time on things to be? What saw you then? Ah, tell me!

_Ber._ Then?... Then came this dimmer light Which you called morning, and I saw no more.

_Ard._ I would I knew!

_Ber._ You fear even now?

_Ard._ O, me!

_Ber._ Sweet, leave these shadows--dreams of ancient night That cling too late upon a day-warm world. Must I persuade you still that Oswald means Our happiness?

_Ard._ Hark you! They come, my lord.

_Ber._ The sunrise feast. Fit place and time to break The fast of love.

_Ard._ O, hear! So many feet!

_Ber._ Dear trembler, do not fear.

_Ard._ They're here, my lord.

_Ber._ Welcome the world. It has no eye can make Our own seek earth.

[_Doors open. Enter Frederick, Oswald, Charilus, Berenice, with lords and ladies attending. Servants follow bearing trays, and lay the table. Ardia hastens to her father and they talk apart. Oswald advances to Bertrand, right, the others lingering left_]

_Osw._ I am forgiven?

_Ber._ Forgiven! Ask God and Love! I'll thank you all my life That you did force me take my only way To Heaven.

_Osw._ Hmm! And I spent a bitter night Fearing your morning face.

_Ber._ It was my soul's Birth-night.

_Osw._ God bless me, you are grateful, sir. But you've good reason. [_Looks at Ardia_] I had no such mate To make the dark hours fly.

_Ber._ Pray speak to her.

_Osw._ In my good time.

_Ber._ Nay, now!

_Osw._ The day is long. I shall be gentle, for I owe her much Who gives me back my son. Come to our guests.

_Ber._ Does Frederick----

_Osw._ Ay, he knows all, and bears No grudge.

_Ber._ Knows all?

_Osw._ He clapped my plot as though His own thick noll had hatched it.

_Ber._ And the princess----

_Osw._ You see her smile? There's answer for you. Come! No blush! Put on a face. Your bridal news Shall sauce our banquet.

[_They move to guests_]

_Fred._ [_To Bertrand_] Greet you, sir! But why So pale, my lord? I fear me you have spent A sleepless night.

_Ber._ Ay, as the stars.

_A Lord._ The stars? He winked then, by the rood!

_Ber._ What do you say?

_Lord._ I say the stars do wink, most gracious prince.

_Osw._ Come, find your seats, my friends! Yet two of us, Lord Charilus and my unworthy self Must keep our feet till we have drunk the wine Made sacrosanct by one night's rest upon The Virgin's altar. [_Bertrand places Ardia's seat by her father, who stands at the left of Oswald_] You, fair Berenice, Sit at my right, and on your other side The graceless prince of Suli begs for room.

_Bere._ He beg, my lord? I have not heard his tongue, And for his eyes, I fear no leek of Wales Could pull a beggar's tear from them to oil This suit. But he is welcome.

_Ber._ [_Taking seat by her_] Thank you, lady.

[_When all are seated save Charilus and Oswald a priest enters bearing a chalice of wine which he places on table before Oswald_]

_Osw._ This is the cup by angels visited In night's deep hours. Herein they dropped the peace Of Heaven, which Charilus and I shall take Into our hearts. I know in truth it holds Sweet peace for me--the peace that thirty years My veins have ached for. Charilus, what say you?

_Char._ My heart can hold no more of peace than now Doth fill it, but I drink with you, my lord.

[_Drinks from goblet which Oswald has filled from chalice, and Oswald drinks from goblet filled by Charilus_]

_Osw._ [_Dropping his glass_] Is peace a fire? I' faith, this kindles me! Thou smileless priest, take off the Virgin's cup! You think it needs another blessing, sir, Since my bold hand has touched it? Out with you! [_Exit priest with chalice_] That pinch-face has seen hell and fasts to keep The ghost down. I'll not fast. Set to, my friends. Fill up your bowls, for I've a health for you. We drink to Berenice, bride to be Of Bertrand, prince of Suli and my son!

_A Lord._ [_As all lift their glasses_] We pledge the bride of Bertrand--Berenice!

_Ber._ Drink not, my lords, till you have changed that name To Ardia, daughter of our noble guest, Lord Charilus!

_Fred._ [_Rising_] If this be sport, Earl Oswald, A world of groans shall pay for 't!

_Bere._ [_In mock swoon_] Oh.... I faint....

[_Her ladies help her_]

_Osw._ You bawling ass! You thousand times a fool!

_Ber._ [_To Oswald_] You've woven a maze about me, and I'm blind With 't, yet I see to pluck one truth,--my bride Is Ardia. No other under Heaven! My lords, It is the wine----

_Osw._ Would then 'twere in your throat! Is this the riddle of your morning smile? Your fair compliance, soft submission? Sir, By my heart's blood, I'll give you to the sword Ere you shall make me father to a drab-- The spoil of your own lust, the--What, you draw? Ay, strike me down! Let me be first to fall Beneath your mighty sword! The rust has lain A lifetime on it, and a father's blood May cleanse it bright as Heaven!

_Ber._ O, my Christ!

_Osw._ Yea, call on him, and he will hear thee too, Who honorest so thy father! [_Bertrand stands speechless_] Now, my lords, Since he no longer brays, I have a tale To tell you. I, too, had a father, though The world has long forgot him.

_Fred._ No, my friend. Well do I bear in mind his fair, proud face, And glory of his arms.

_Osw._ He was struck down Because a minion, straying from the hearth, Looked on his beauty with her nestling eyes.

_Fred._ For no more cause?

_Osw._ I swear it. Friends, if death Were the cold price for kissing of a jade, Who here would be alive? For so slight sin Was my brave father murdered. Charilus, speak! Was not the princely heart of John of Clyffe Ripped with a hate-keen sword,--the sword of him Who claimed the lordship of those rebel lips That chose my father liege?

_Char._ It is too true.

_Osw._ Who better knows? Say that a wilding flies The builded bower, hearing a lordlier song Pass on the wind than her dull mate can tune, Must then the singer die, who scarcely knows His song is heard, or that a bold wing follows?

_Char._ Whether the earl of Clyffe sang then to woo, As I believe, or for the love of song, As you do say, my lord,--his death was sin, And he who wrought that woe shed tears enough To clear his stain, if tears may whiten souls.

_Osw._ A murderer's tears! But what of mine, the son's?

_Ber._ Your oath--your honor, sir! Where is the love You swore should cleanse your shield?

_Osw._ Safe in my heart. And burning for my father.

_Ber._ God of pity!

_Osw._ That was the love I spoke of.

_Ber._ All be deaf But hell!

_Osw._ Hear the full tale, my friends. I swear The earl of Clyffe died for no more offence Than I have here set out,--and I, his only son, Kissed his red wounds and from his breast unbound This bloody scarf--[_taking scarf from his bosom_] that then was crimson, now In age-grown black bemourns my step that comes So sluggish to revenge. For thirty years Had passed ere I beheld his murderer, Then face to face we stood ... and face to face We stand ... for this is he, this Charilus Of Kidmir--peace-lipped Cain--gray hypocrite, Whose blood is honey in his veins, whose eyes Stare on the world as he were some bland god Who made it and said "good."

_Char._ Sir, I would send My daughter to her brothers. Grant me this. And I am ready for what death you please.

_Ard._ I will not go. One sword shall strike us both. [_Turns to Oswald_] But first a word to you. When Charilus falls, Say farewell to your son. He pledged his life To my two brothers for our father's safety, And you, who know him least, yet know he'll keep That pledge.

_Osw._ What, creature, will you lie?

_Ard._ I speak The truth. Strike, if you can, this gray old man, Silvered in service to the one high God, Sinless as sunlight, fair in sweetened age,-- Let forth his sainted blood, and Bertrand lives No longer than the shortest time between Suli and Kidmir.

_Osw._ That's a lifetime then! He shall not step! I'll have him hung with chains Till he is fast as rooted oaks in earth!

_Ber._ [_Stunned_] A guest betrayed....

_Osw._ Betrayed? I promised him Such treatment as he gave my blood. And he Shall have it--death!

_Char._ Peace be my heir!

_Ber._ [_Takes stand by Charilus_] Death, sir? First break this sword! Thy sin must be unnamed Until the angel who doth write thee damned Gives it foul christening. I break my pledge. I will not go to Kidmir. Here I'll give My life for Charilus.

_Char._ No blow for me! O, may I unavengèd lie forgot, And my forgiving blood make barren ground Alive with asphodel----

_Ber._ Nay, I will strike, Though a father's sword meet mine!

[_Charilus trembles, and supports himself by Ardia's arm_]

_Osw._ Commend me, stars! You counselled well. [_To Bertrand_] Fool, do not draw. There's none Will run against you. Charilus is dead, And by a way more sure. His holy goblet Held one rich drop the angels put not there Nor Virgin blessed. See how he pales--and stares-- And cannot get his voice? So are we spared A swan-song homily trickling through his beard. Be off, old pray-lip--off, and take with you Your cat-foot peace and milky piety! I serve a vengeful God who armeth men For his own wars!

_Ber._ Heaven, draw thy clouds about thee!

[_Charilus dies in Ardia's arms_]

_Osw._ He's dead! The air of earth is sweet again. I have no enemy!

_Ber._ [_Looking up from the body_] You have no son.

[_Curtain_]