The Goddess of Reason 42
DE VARDES
I love!
YVETTE
_Me?_
DE VARDES
Thou sayest.
YVETTE
Where is the music playing?
DE VARDES
Long ago,
To Paris and my King I rode away,
Long ago, in the freshness of the world!
I left thee there, all safe in convent fold—
Fair were the fruit trees in that garden old,
Warm shone the sun, the silver fountain played.
I left thee there and thought to find again,
When King and Crown were saved and devoir done,
The battle o’er, the bugles sounding peace!—
The King he is in heaven, the Crown is lost,
The battle’s to the strong, the war drum rattles on.
Long lay I in the prison of La Force;
A dream I had that thou wouldst wait for me,
Beside the fountain, by the bright fruit trees.
Thou must have known that bars kept me from thee!
Thou must have known that I did love thee true!
Thou must have known that I did longing wait
The rainbow after storm, the halcyon time
When, stilled the jar and discord of the mind,
The all unfettered heart might speak of love!
But ah, the garden’s sealed. Thou art not there!
Thou wouldst not wait the while—
YVETTE
Outside I kneel;
Outside the garden, outside Paradise!
Oh, woe! Oh, bliss!
DE VARDES
Weep not!
YVETTE
I love thee so!
DE VARDES
Paimpont! Paimpont! I feel thy magic wind!
_Reënter_ GRÉGOIRE.
GRÉGOIRE
Citoyen Vardes—
YVETTE
Grégoire, Grégoire! the purse—
The purse of gold!—
GRÉGOIRE
Hein?
DE VARDES
Let be! Let be!
No purse was there! Dost hear, dost hear, Yvette?
No purse, no gold, no paper, no Lalain!
Thou dost not think that I would take my life?
YVETTE
No!
DE VARDES
Well said, and like the Duchess Jeanne!
Let not Grégoire mistake thee either!
YVETTE
I said I know not what, Grégoire, nor why!
Sometimes a woman says she knows not what.
Why should I talk of purses, faith, now why!
GRÉGOIRE
What do you here, Citoyenne?
YVETTE
I know not.
I strayed this way, a gaoler let me in.
‘Tis of the sights of Nantes, this church, this gaol!
GRÉGOIRE (_to_ DE VARDES)
I have in charge to guard you through the street
To the old Prison of the Séminaire.
They who lodge there go onward to the Loire!
[_He turns to_ DE L’ORIENT.
DE VARDES (_to_ YVETTE)
Oh, sunken eyes! Oh, cheek so deadly pale!
Oh, rest thee, rest thee, child, in still Morbec!
Our Lady guard thee, guide thee with her hand.
Farewell—
YVETTE
I’ll walk upon the banks of Loire.
DE VARDES
No; come not there!
YVETTE
I must. It is my road.
GRÉGOIRE (_He touches_ DE L’ORIENT _upon the shoulder_)
Awake, poet, and go along with us!
DE L’ORIENT
I am awake! ‘Tis trudge again, De Vardes!
_Come, Fanchon and Babette,
Olympe and Joséphine!
The dancers all are met
Within the forest green!
Cerise to me,
Denise to thee,
But none to Léontine!_
[_He turns with_ GRÉGOIRE _to the door at left of the
altar_.
DE VARDES
Farewell—my _douce_!
YVETTE
Farewell—my fisherman!
Oh—
GRÉGOIRE
Come!
DE L’ORIENT
_The dancers all are met
Within the forest green!_
[_Exeunt_ DE VARDES, DE L’ORIENT, _and_ GRÉGOIRE.
_The church darkens._ YVETTE _moves to the choir
step_.
YVETTE
Oh, love in my heart! Oh, splendour and light!
The bow in the sky, the bird at its height!
The glory and state of the angels bright!
[_She kneels and stretches out her arms to the altar._
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