CURTAIN

ARDUIN

CHARACTERS

ARDUIN (_of Provence_) _An Alchemist_ ION _His Nephew_ RHASIS _An Arab, his attendant and a.s.sistant_ MYRRHA _A Greek Girl_

ARDUIN

TIME: _The Fifteenth Century._

PLACE: _Egypt._

SCENE: _The laboratory of ARDUIN in a house on Nile opposite Cairo. It is a large room on the walls of which mystic figures of the Hermetic philosophy are drawn, together with the zodiac and other astronomical signs; and many strange objects, animal and mineral, are to be seen placed about. In the rear centre is a large sarcophagus. On either side broad window openings reveal the Egyptian night, and one frames the moonlit Sphinx and Pyramids. Toward the right front is a furnace with alembics, retorts, etc.; right and left are doors, and on the left and back another alcove before which hang curtains. Lamps burn._

_RHASIS, who is busy about the furnace, in a troubled manner, lifts a skull and is gazing at it, when ION enters suddenly and stops, pale with purpose._

_Ion._ Rhasis----

_Rhasis_ (_starting and looking round_). Young master Ion! what is this?

[_Drops the skull._

Why have you left the city and come here?

Are you aware what hour you have chosen?

_Ion._ That of his dreams. I learned today: yet came.

_Rhasis._ And wherefore?

_Ion._ To restrain calamity, Which must await his reasonless belief-- And to regain his love that I have lost.

_Rhasis._ And have not pondered what calamity Would fall on you Who would not learn his Art, But from its heritage to penury turned, If here and now he saw you At this hour When he believes that he shall raise the dead?

_Ion._ His curse; for he would think me come to thwart him, And that I had forgot whatever wrong, Unexpiated still, my father did him;

[_Looks at sarcophagus._

And yet I will not go, for I have purposed-- And you tonight shall help me--(_pauses_)

_Rhasis._ Unto what?

_Ion._ Forgiveness of my disobedience-- That may be won from him with Myrrha's face.

_Rhasis._ Myrrha's!

_Ion._ Which can alone of earthly sights, If what you tell of his dead wife be true: And well you know it is!--He must behold her-- And hear our pleading.

_Rhasis._ At an hour like this!

_Ion._ Let her be placed yonder within those curtains, While he is mingling here his mysteries, And when he----

_Rhasis._ By the Prophet who is Allah's, Myrrha! Within this chamber! and tonight!

[_Ion goes to the door and leads Myrrha in._

Is there no heed in youth or hesitation, But only hurrying want! Do you not know He is without there, at this moment, saying Unto the seven planets in their spheres, The seven incantations against death?

And that he----

_Ion._ I know only he must see her.

_Rhasis._ And of all nights in the world, only tonight!

_Myrrha._ No, Ion! let us go. I fear this place, Its strangeness and that still sarcophagus Appal me.

_Ion._ And make you forget our love, And the long bridal-hope of it deferred?

_Rhasis._ Young master, she does not, in penury too!

But pleas tonight would ope no nuptial way.

Better than you I know it is not wise.

For ten years is it I have dwelt with him While he has sought in vain this great Elixir.

Ten pa.s.sings of the pilgrims off to Mecca His wife has lain in that sarcophagus, Embalmed and waiting, as he thinks, to rise.

And now, this hour, he hopes that it shall be.

_Ion._ And should it, will he not the more forgive me?

Or should it not, then seeing Myrrha's face, Myrrha whom you have said is so much like her, Will he not----

_Myrrha._ Ion, no! but might--I fear!

So fond his grief is and unfaceable!

Let us return again unto the city And to my kindred who will hold us dear.

[_Starting._

Listen, is it not he? (_Rhasis goes to window_) Take me away!

_Ion._ And have him at the breaking of his dream With none near--and our love's desire be lost?

_Myrrha._ It will not: let us wait another time!

_Ion._ Than this when most your face would deeply move him?

I cannot, and 'twould shame me! for you know How dear to him is his dead wife who lies there,