And let the n.o.ble wives of these proud lords Co-queen festivity. All shall rejoice Save this convicted pair,--you, Pelagon, And Stesilaus. You we prison here, Your own sole company, nor shall you speak Save in a rhyme now dim with little use, But shall be better known from this day forth With polish you shall give it. Hear it, sirs:

_The man who would his own pie bake_ _Must from his wife ten fingers take._

[_Curtain falls and rises. Pelagon and Stesilaus are discovered, their backs to each other, the only occupants of the garden.

Through the breach in the wall the festal procession is seen pa.s.sing. Curtain_]

KIDMIR

A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS

_CHARACTERS_

OSWALD, _Earl of Clyffe_ BERTRAND, _sometime_ VAIRDELAN, _his son_ CHARILUS, _a Greek_ ARDIA, _his daughter_ BIONDEL _and_ VIGARD, _sons of Charilus_ BANISSAT, _Prince of Avesta_ PRINCE FREDERICK BERENICE, _his daughter_ GAINA, _serving-woman to Ardia_ BARCA, _servant to Charilus_ RAMUNIN, _a headsman_ SEVEN MAIDENS, _friends of Ardia_

_Followers of Banissat, soldiers of Oswald, n.o.bles, wedding-guests, dancers, guards, &c._

Time: _During the later Crusades_ Place: _The southern coast of Asia Minor_

ACT I

SCENE: _A hall in the castle of Charilus on the heights of Kidmir. The open rear, through which is seen a sunset sky, leads to a parapet overlooking the city of Avesta and the coast of Suli. Entrances right and left of parapet. Midway down, right, the door to a chamber._

_Charilus stands on parapet and looks down toward Avesta. Barca waits within the hall._

_Char._ O, sea-washed city, must the hail of fire Crimson thy milky walls, and salt winds strive In vain to sweeten ditches dark with blood From thy tapped heart? Come, Barca, be my eyes, Who climbs the heights?

[_Barca advances and looks over_]

_Barca._ Lords Vigard and Biondel Are on the pa.s.s.

_Char._ My sons so soon returned!

No other?

_Barca._ Farther down, my lord, I see The knight, Sir Vairdelan.

_Char._ Then we shall hear His sunset song.

_Barca._ The stairway through the cliff Is closed. Shall I give signal, sir, to hoist The upper gate?

_Char._ That is my charge henceforth. [_Going left_]

They will be hungered. [_Turns to Barca_]

Scant the board in nothing. [_Exit left_]

[_Gaina enters, right, rear, carrying a tray piled with candles_]

_Gaina._ Thank goodness, Barca, you're where you're wanted for once!

Help me with these winkers. [_Giving him candles_] My mistress kept me out on the cliffs when I ought to 'a' been inside an hour ago doing my honest work. I got her in at last, but I had to be round with her, poor soul! I told her what!

_Barca._ [_Placing candles_] She was watching for her brothers?

_Gaina._ [_Puts tray down_] Brothers! It was a sight of that singing knight she wanted. He went down the pa.s.s this morning and she has gone about all day like a bird with a sore throat.

_Barca._ G.o.d gave her eyes, and Sir Vairdelan is good to see. When I look at him I feel somehow as if the sun were just up and everybody had another chance.

_Gaina._ A man who lets his sword rust at home while he goes about tootle-de-rooling on a flute! And she could be the princess of Avesta if she'd look in the right place. Well, if she had _my_ eyes!

_Barca._ What! You would have your mistress marry Banissat? An unbeliever?

_Gaina._ A prince is a prince,--and I'd say the same if my mistress were my own daughter.

_Barca._ And you a Christian!

_Gaina._ A Christian of Corinth, I'd have you know. There are Christians and Christians, please you! And for my mistress, dear heart, it would take more than marrying a prince to send her to--to----

_Barca._ Let it out.

_Gaina._ h.e.l.l, then,--if you want to bite ginger. And who but Banissat can stand between her father and that English Oswald--who is just plain devil and not an Englishman at all----

_Barca._ Devil? A knight of the Cross leading the army of the Lord to Jerusalem.

_Gaina._ n.o.body but the devil, I tell you! And I wouldn't speak to him if I met him walking with Saint Peter, unless he showed me his bare feet with ten good toes on 'em. It might be all right for Peter, but a woman can't be too careful, and the master took me out of a good family in Corinth. And this Vairdelan who is no more a knight than I'm a lady--the next time he goes down the pa.s.s he will lose his way up again, or my head's a goose-egg, that's all!

_Barca._ Gently, Gaina. You were young once.

_Gaina._ Once? I've more hairs than wrinkles yet, which some can't say and tell the truth!

_Barca._ Tongue in! Here's the master. [_Moves right_]

_Gaina._ My candles!

[_Seizes tray and goes out, right, as Charilus re-enters left_]

_Char._ [_To Barca_] Look to the supper.

[_Exit Barca, right. Charilus crosses to parapet and looks down_]