FURIA. Deep must your soul have sunk if you recoil From me!

CATILINE. Speak! Have you risen from the grave With hatred and with vengeance to pursue me?

FURIA. Pursue you,--did you say? I am your shadow.

I must be with you wheresoe'er you go.

[She comes nearer.]

CATILINE. She lives! O G.o.ds,--then it is she,--no other, No disembodied ghost.

FURIA. Or ghost or not,-- It matters little; I must follow you.

CATILINE. With mortal hate!

FURIA. Hate ceases in the grave, As love and all the pa.s.sions do that flourish Within an earthly soul. One thing alone In life and death remains unchangeable.

CATILINE. And what? Say forth!

FURIA. Your fate, my Catiline!

CATILINE. Only the G.o.ds of wisdom know my fate,-- No human being.

FURIA. Yet I know your fate.

I am your shadow;--strange, mysterious ties Bind us together.

CATILINE. Bonds of hatred.

FURIA. No!

Rose ever spirit from the dankest grave For hate and vengeance? Listen, Catiline!

The rivers of the underworld have quenched Each earthly flame that raged within my breast.

As you behold me here, I am no longer The stormy Furia,--wild and pa.s.sionate,-- Whom once you loved--

CATILINE. You do not hate me then?

FURIA. Ah, now no more. When in the tomb I stood,-- And faltered on the path that separates This life from death, at any moment ready To greet the underworld,--lo, seized me then An eerie shuddering; I know not what--; I felt in me a mystic transformation;-- Away flowed hate, revenge, my very soul; Each memory vanished and each earthly longing;-- Only the name of "Catiline" remains Written in fiery letters on my heart.

CATILINE. Ah, wonderful! No matter who you are,-- A human form, a shadow from the dead,-- There lies withal a dreadful fascination In your dark eyes, in every word you speak.

FURIA. Your mind is strong as mine; yet you give up, Disheartened and irresolute, each hope Of triumph and dominion. You forsake The battlefield, where all your inmost plans Could grow and blossom forth into achievement.

CATILINE. I must! Inexorable fate decrees it!

FURIA. Your fate? Why were you given a hero's strength,-- If not to struggle with what you call fate?

CATILINE. Oh, I have fought enough! Was not my life A constant battle? What are my rewards?

Disgrace and scorn--!

FURIA. Ah, you are fallen low!

You struggle towards a high and daring goal, Are eager to attain it; yet you fear Each trifling hindrance.

CATILINE. Fear is not the reason.

The goal I sought is unattainable;-- The whole was but a fleeting dream of youth.

FURIA. Now you deceive yourself, my Catiline!

You hover still about that single project;-- Your soul is n.o.ble,--worthy of a ruler,-- And you have friends--. Ah, wherefore hesitate?

CATILINE. [Meditating.]

I shall--? What do you mean--? With civil blood--?

FURIA. Are you a man,--yet lack a woman's courage?

Have you forgot that nimble dame of Rome, Who sought the throne straight over a father's corpse?

I feel myself a Tullia now; but you--?

Scorn and despise yourself, O Catiline!

CATILINE. Must I despise myself because my soul No longer harbors selfish aspirations?

FURIA. You stand here at a cross-road in your life; Yonder a dull, inactive course awaits you,-- A half-way something, neither sleep nor death;-- Before you, on the other hand, you see A sovereign's throne. Then choose, my Catiline!

CATILINE. You tempt me and allure me to destruction.

FURIA. Cast but the die,--and in your hand is placed Forevermore the welfare of proud Rome.

Glory and might your silent fate conceals, And yet you falter,--dare not lift a hand!

You journey yonder to the forests, where Each longing that you cherished will be quenched.

Ah, tell me, Catiline, is there no trace Of thirst for glory left within your heart?

And must this princely soul, for triumphs born, Vanish unknown in yonder nameless desert?

Hence, then! But know that thus you lose forever What here you could by daring deeds attain.

CATILINE. Go on, go on!

FURIA. With trembling and with fear The future generations will recall Your fate. Your life was all a daring game;-- Yet in the l.u.s.tre of atonement it would shine, Known to all men, if with a mighty hand You fought your way straight through this surging throng,-- If the dark night of thraldom through your rule Gave way before a new-born day of freedom,-- If at some time you--

CATILINE. Hold! Ah, you have touched The string that quivers deepest in my soul.

Your every word sounds like a ringing echo Of what my heart has whispered day and night.

FURIA. Now, Catiline, I know you once again!

CATILINE. I shall not go! You have recalled to life My youthful zeal, my manhood's full-grown longings.

Yes, I shall be a light to fallen Rome,-- Daze them with fear like some erratic star!

You haughty wretches,--you shall soon discover You have not humbled me, though for a time I weakened in the heat of battle!

FURIA. Listen!

Whatever be the will of fate,--whatever The mighty G.o.ds decree, we must obey.

Just so! My hate is gone;--fate thus decreed, And so it had to be! Give me your hand In solemn compact!--Ah, you hesitate?

You will not?

CATILINE. Will--? I gaze upon your eyes: They flash,--like lightning in the gloom of night.

Now did you smile! Just so I've often pictured Nemesis--

FURIA. What? Herself you wish to see,-- Then look within. Have you forgot your oath?