The Saint's Tragedy

The Gateway of a Convent. Night.

Enter Conrad.

Con. This night she swears obedience to me! Wondrous Lord! How hast Thou opened a path, where my young dreams May find fulfilment: there are prophecies Upon her, make me bold. Why comes she not? She should be here by now. Strange, how I shrink-- I, who ne'er yet felt fear of man or fiend. Obedience to my will! An awful charge! But yet, to have the training of her sainthood; To watch her rise above this wild world's waves Like floating water-lily, towards heaven's light Opening its virgin snows, with golden eye Mirroring the golden sun; to be her champion, And war with fiends for her; that were a 'quest'; That were true chivalry; to bring my Judge This jewel for His crown; this noble soul, Worth thousand prudish clods of barren clay, Who mope for heaven because earth's grapes are sour-- Her, full of youth, flushed with the heart's rich first-fruits, Tangled in earthly pomp--and earthly love. Wife? Saint by her face she should be: with such looks The queen of heaven, perchance, slow pacing came Adown our sleeping wards, when Dominic Sank fainting, drunk with beauty:--she is most fair! Pooh! I know nought of fairness--this I know, She calls herself my slave, with such an air As speaks her queen, not slave; that shall be looked to-- She must be pinioned or she will range abroad Upon too bold a wing; 't will cost her pain-- But what of that? there are worse things than pain-- What! not yet here? I'll in, and there await her In prayer before the altar: I have need on't: And shall have more before this harvest's ripe.

[As Conrad goes out, Elizabeth, Isentrudis, and Guta enter.]

Eliz. I saw him just before us: let us onward; We must not seem to loiter.

Isen. Then you promise Exact obedience to his sole direction Henceforth in every scruple?

Eliz. In all I can, And be a wife.

Guta. Is it not a double bondage? A husband's will is clog enough. Be sure, Though free, I crave more freedom.

Eliz. So do I-- This servitude shall free me--from myself. Therefore I'll swear.

Isen. To what?

Eliz. I know not wholly: But this I know, that I shall swear to-night To yield my will unto a wiser will; To see God's truth through eyes which, like the eagle's, From higher Alps undazzled eye the sun. Compelled to discipline from which my sloth Would shrink, unbidden,--to deep devious paths Which my dull sight would miss, I now can plunge, And dare life's eddies fearless.

Isen. You will repent it.

Eliz. I do repent, even now. Therefore I'll swear. And bind myself to that, which once being light, Will not be less right, when I shrink from it. No; if the end be gained--if I be raised To freer, nobler use, I'll dare, I'll welcome Him and his means, though they were racks and flames. Come, ladies, let us in, and to the chapel. [Exeunt.]