Teresa Contarini/Act IV

SCENE I
A street.---Enter Contarini and Steno

Contarini
 * Know you his name?

Steno
 * Antonio Foscarini.
 * The same whom you a short time since despatched
 * On the embassy to Switzerland.

Contarini
 * So soon
 * Returned?

Steno
 * Some private cause of haste, it seems,
 * Hath brought him hither. But a few days past,
 * I know, he was not here.

Contarini
 * Well---trace him out,
 * He's desperate---and should be removed. Mark you?

Steno
 * Signor, 'Tis done.

Contarini
 * Be wary---but be speedy.

[ Exit Steno. Enter Fiorilla.
 * A lady! I must smooth this troubled brow,
 * For such fair meeting.

Fiorilla
 * Well---my lord---

Contarini
 * Fiorilla!

Fiorilla
 * Am I so changed, that you scarce know me, sir?
 * Then doth my mirror flatter, for it tells me
 * Of features yet unaltered; and in truth
 * They might be---for short space of time hath passed
 * Since we last met.

Contarini
 * They are all radiant still
 * With beauty---and would be, though years had striven
 * To steal some charm away. But those few days
 * Have wrought a change in me. I'm wedded---lady.

Fiorilla
 * Wedded? Aye, I have heard the tale---but sooth,
 * It dwelt not in my mind. These idle rumors,
 * You know, my lord, even when they merit credence,
 * So lightly pass us by---we scarce are wont
 * To give them heed!

Contarini
 * And yet I hoped once, lady,
 * Fiorilla would not heedlessly have listened
 * To aught that spoke of me!

Fiorilla
 * Ha! ha!

Contarini
 * My bride---
 * You have not seen her! Oh! her gentle beauty
 * Might rival yours!

Fiorilla
 * Indeed!

Contarini
 * The rose perchance
 * Upon her cheek wears not a bloom so rich;
 * Her brow may be less haughty---but 'Tis moulded
 * In form as perfect.

Fiorilla
 * Gallant cavalier!
 * Why in seclusion veil such matchless charms?

Contarini
 * She seeks it.

Fiorilla
 * Undisturbed to muse, no doubt,
 * On you, to greet you with a dearer welcome
 * When you invade her solitude. Happy bridegroom!
 * Whom no tormenting sprite of jealousy
 * Can haunt! whose treasured flower will yield its sweets
 * To him alone---none other!

Contarini
 * She would jest;
 * Yet plays a smile too mocking on her lips
 * For courtesy!---Fiorilla---

Fiorilla
 * Nay, my lord---
 * I would not that your gracious words be wasted
 * On one so worthless, when far dearer cares
 * Await you at your home. Your lady, doubtless,
 * Mourns for your absence; or---perchance I err,
 * Invokes the aid of some more courteous knight
 * To while away the hours.

Contarini
 * Ha!

Fiorilla
 * Only, signor,
 * A substitute. When the proud sun withdraws
 * His beams, we hail the star---less bright indeed,
 * That cheers the gloom.---Methinks I saw but now
 * Young Foscarini.---Ho! there.---

Enter Marco
 * Farewell my lord---I'll not detain you longer---

[ Exit Contarini.
 * Let him go ponder on my words. Hence, Marco,
 * Seek Loredano, and entreat his presence
 * Now, at my house.

[ Exit Marco.
 * I will no longer pause
 * But strike the blow, and win a swift revenge!

[ Exit.

SCENE II
An apartment in Contarini's palace.---Enter Teresa

Teresa
 * Let him believe me false! Let him believe
 * I spurned at truth---if such a thought can heal
 * The bitter wound I planted in his breast!
 * But mine---why---let it fester, and grow rank,
 * And spread, and spread, till its consuming poison
 * Hath eaten life out! Let him curse and hate me!
 * Yet that were hard to bear! My misery, sure
 * Might claim some pity! I would fain be thought on
 * With grief, but not with scorn. I'd be remembered
 * Like a dim, far off vision, wan and sad,
 * Leaving a mournful yet a softened image,
 * Mellowed by passing time to tenderer hues,
 * To fade at length, like tremulous light, away!

Enter Stefano with a paper.

Stefano
 * Lady---a cavalier without desired me
 * To give you this.

Teresa (Takes the paper, looks at it,---then hurriedly averts her head)
 * And bade you bring the answer?

Stefano
 * He did.

Teresa
 * To write to him! to speak with him!
 * I must not;---will not! I have reared the barrier
 * That aye must sever us, and will abide
 * The die which duty cast.---Take it---Stefano---
 * Tell him there is no answer.

[ Exit Stefano.
 * Cruelty!
 * Must we not probe deep, to dig out the venom?
 * What matter if he deem me cold and proud?
 * I must be so---to him!

Enter Matilda.

Matilda
 * Hush! I have tidings.
 * The unhappy Foscarini is without,
 * And craves to see you.

Teresa
 * Me!

Matilda
 * For one short moment.
 * Oh! had you seen him as he urged the boon---
 * So suppliant, so desperate! his voice
 * Tremulous with suffering.

Teresa
 * Hold---Matilda---hold!
 * He is already answered.

Matilda
 * How?

Teresa
 * You ask?

Matilda
 * Oh, do not be so stern! what wrong can chance
 * Or harm, if you will grant this poor request?
 * But just to bid farewell, he says;---and then
 * He'll fly from you for ever, into lands
 * Where Venice is unheard of.

Teresa
 * Urge no more!
 * I will not see him. Let him go---and bury
 * All thoughts of me for ever!

Matilda
 * He'll not go;
 * He will besiege you with his fruitless prayers,
 * Though you are deaf to them.---Think of his danger.

Teresa
 * What?

Matilda
 * His life is sought by secret enemies.
 * This is too certain; I myself have heard
 * Dark-boding threats from Contarini's lips,
 * Uttered when he thought none beheld. You know
 * His cold blood-thirsty hate!

Teresa
 * Oh, yes---too well!
 * Hasten Matilda! warn him---bid him 'scape
 * While there is time.

Matilda
 * Alas! he will not heed
 * Warning, except from you.

Teresa
 * What must I do?

Matilda
 * Speak to him---bid him leave this fatal place.
 * He will obey you. Pause not! your delay
 * May seal his fate.

Teresa
 * No---no---say I command,
 * Command him to be gone! by all that's past---(bitterly)
 * The past! what curse is in that word! what claim
 * Have I to his obedience?

Matilda
 * Dear Teresa,
 * Weigh not a fancied duty 'gainst his life;
 * Think---should he fall beneath their eager swords---
 * And you the cause?

Teresa
 * Oh heaven! Away---and tell him
 * I come.---I do no wrong---to save the innocent!
 * Lead the way---quick---but softly.

[ Exeunt.

SCENE III
''A Garden, near the palace of Contarini. On one side the palace of the Spanish ambassador''

Enter Foscarini.

Foscarini
 * She would repel me! but I'll see her once
 * Before we part for ever: claim her pardon.
 * How could I deem her worthless! Oh, what wild
 * Playthings of fortune we---who if the cup
 * We drink hath aught of bitter---dash it down---
 * And madly spurn the sweetness in the dregs!
 * We tear the wound---and hate the balm that heals it!

Enter Teresa.
 * Teresa!

Teresa
 * Signor---

Foscarini
 * So cold! then all I feared is true:
 * You love me not!

Teresa
 * Hush---busy torturer!
 * Should I be here, else?

Foscarini (bitterly)
 * Such was not your welcome
 * When last we met!

Teresa
 * And is all else unchanged?
 * Look in my face, and read what I have borne
 * Since then.

Foscarini
 * Alas! so wasted and so wan---
 * Yet never half so lovely!

Teresa
 * Why---that's well---
 * If burning sorrow could dry up life's springs---
 * But they flow on---though every fount is sealed
 * That could renew them. Strange---that life should cling
 * But closer as we strive to shake it off!
 * And mock its tenement, though that be worn
 * Too thin to harbor it!

Foscarini
 * Nay---you talk wildly.

Teresa
 * Oh, there has been a weary fever here,
 * That scorched---and scorched---as it would sear my brain,
 * 'Till that grew wayward. All things seemed a vision,
 * 'Measureless, shadowy---strange---yet dim and fleeting'---
 * But I'm awake now!

Foscarini
 * Awake to keener grief,
 * I would not add to it!

Teresa
 * You pity me!
 * You have forgiven me! All my fault and wrong,
 * And suffering---you know!

Foscarini
 * All---but too well.
 * I know you guiltless.

Teresa
 * No---you know not half
 * The wild, bad thoughts I've cherished.---Foscarini,
 * I've wished thee dead! I've looked upon the sky
 * When the fierce tempest blackened it---and hoped---
 * And hoped its wings would sweep thee to destruction!
 * Invoked the hoary mountain rocks to crush thee!
 * Prayed, as I ne'er before have prayed for weal
 * Of thine or mine---for death---ere thou shouldst come
 * To find me thus.---Why art thou here?

Foscarini
 * I come
 * To look on you once more; to hear your voice
 * Even in these groves---where we were wont to meet
 * In happy hours--

Teresa
 * Speak not, speak not of them!
 * They're angels, whose accusing voice to heaven
 * Doth tell of broken faith, and trampled hopes,
 * And injured goodness! They have baneful influence,---
 * They made me what I am!

Foscarini
 * Mine own Teresa!
 * Let me so call you now---blame not yourself
 * For what hath severed us. I blame you not.
 * Heaven doth attest my truth, I hold you now,
 * As pure, as guiltless of all wrong---as when
 * I first believed you.

Teresa
 * Oh! thou wilt not hate me!
 * I bless thee for it! That fear has wrought so oft
 * My thoughts to bitterness! It was a phantom
 * That haunted me, and mocked my tears! No---no!
 * Thy pity, like the angel of Heaven's mercy,
 * Will smile---and smile---and soothe me as I pass
 * Down to the cold and welcome grave---and then---
 * When I am dead---thou'lt think on me---weep for me---
 * Wilt thou not, Foscarini?

Foscarini
 * Listen to me!
 * The victim hath no duties. That forced vow
 * Which came not from the heart, and bears no sanction
 * Of the consenting will, Heaven did not register.

Teresa
 * What mean you?

Foscarini
 * You are mine! Good spirits have heard
 * Our vows, and sealed those bonds, which mortal hands
 * Can never loose. Far from this hated land
 * Shine skies as bright---and fields as verdant bloom
 * To bless the fond and true. Escape with me.
 * The ship is waiting---let it bear us far
 * To some propitious clime, where no regrets
 * Or misery shall pursue us.

Teresa
 * Ha! a fitting
 * Companion to your flight! a fugitive wife!
 * Whose wife? 'Tis well---peace I have lost---and you
 * Would take all that remains!

Foscarini
 * Forgive---forgive me!
 * 'Twas but a thought of madness. It is past.
 * I'll not offend again. Now shall you know
 * What he can dare, who loses you!

Teresa
 * What frenzy
 * Gleams in your eye! No---Foscarini---no!
 * You could not do so wild, so fierce a wrong,
 * Because the blossom of young life is blighted,
 * To pluck its stem of verdure from the root!
 * Live---for my sake! Hence from this wretched city,
 * Where you are watched, and sought for, as the bloodhound
 * Doth seek his prey! Go---go! we may not meet
 * On earth again.

Foscarini
 * So wretched--'

Teresa
 * 'Happier far
 * Than I, since you in liberty may weep;
 * While I in secret, chided, must pour forth
 * The bitter drops that burn where'er they fall.
 * Remain not here'---we part--

Enter Matilda, hastily.

Matilda
 * Begone---with speed!
 * You're traced, and to this spot. Your husband comes
 * With men and torches to arrest him. Hence!

[ to Foscarini.
 * Not that way! There they throng the path! This side!
 * You may escape them there!

[ points in the direction of the Spanish palace.

Teresa (withholding him)
 * No! no! not there!

Matilda
 * It is the only way.

Teresa
 * The Spaniard dwells there!
 * 'Tis death to enter these forbidden walls!
 * Is it not so decreed?

Foscarini
 * 'Tis infamy
 * To you, if I remain!

Teresa
 * You shall not go.
 * What is a name to me? Stay---I'll reveal
 * All---all to Contarini; I will plead
 * Even at his feet! He'll hear me, and will save you!

Foscarini
 * You know him not; he'd spurn you, and his slaves
 * Would scoff at you. No---no---I choose my death,
 * Rather than your disgrace!

Teresa (clinging to him)
 * Break not my hold!
 * I caused thy danger---I alone! I'll shield thee
 * With my entwining arms. They shall not strike---
 * Or if they do---mine---mine---shall be the death!

Foscarini
 * Love! love! my fate
 * Preserves me for embrace so blest as this,
 * Only when I must break from it! Oh! death
 * Would have such sweetness thus!

[ footsteps heard.
 * Hence---let me go!
 * They'll not arrest me. I will never fall,
 * Trust me, by hands ignoble, while this weapon
 * Can serve me truly!

[ breaks from her, and exit. Enter Contarini and Steno, with servants bearing torches.

Contarini
 * Ha! the traitor fled!
 * But one way's open. Steno---haste---withdraw
 * Your trusty men, and search within the walls
 * Of yonder palace. He is proved a traitor.

[ Exeunt Steno and servants.
 * He's in my toils---and you---so fair and false--

(Tumult---the report of a pistol heard)

Teresa
 * Lost! lost!

(Re-enter Steno and servants, dragging in Foscarini, who is wounded. The curtain falls)