Teresa Contarini/Act IV

by Elizabeth F. Ellet

ACT IV

SCENE I

A street.---Enter Contarini and Steno

Contarini

Know you his name?

Steno

Antonio Foscarini.

The same whom you a short time since despatched

On the embassy to Switzerland.

Contarini

So soon

Returned?

Steno

Some private cause of haste, it seems,

Hath brought him hither. But a few days past,

I know, he was not here.

Contarini

Well---trace him out,

He's desperate---and should be removed. Mark you?

Steno

Signor, 'Tis done.

Contarini

Be wary---but be speedy.

[ Exit Steno. Enter Fiorilla.

A lady! I must smooth this troubled brow,

For such fair meeting.

Fiorilla

Well---my lord---

Contarini

Fiorilla!

Fiorilla

Am I so changed, that you scarce know me, sir?

Then doth my mirror flatter, for it tells me

Of features yet unaltered; and in truth

They might be---for short space of time hath passed

Since we last met.

Contarini

They are all radiant still

With beauty---and would be, though years had striven

To steal some charm away. But those few days

Have wrought a change in me. I'm wedded---lady.

Fiorilla

Wedded? Aye, I have heard the tale---but sooth,

It dwelt not in my mind. These idle rumors,

You know, my lord, even when they merit credence,

So lightly pass us by---we scarce are wont

To give them heed!

Contarini

And yet I hoped once, lady,

Fiorilla would not heedlessly have listened

To aught that spoke of me!

Fiorilla

Ha! ha!

Contarini

My bride---

You have not seen her! Oh! her gentle beauty

Might rival yours!

Fiorilla

Indeed!

Contarini

The rose perchance

Upon her cheek wears not a bloom so rich;

Her brow may be less haughty---but 'Tis moulded

In form as perfect.

Fiorilla

Gallant cavalier!

Why in seclusion veil such matchless charms?

Contarini

She seeks it.

Fiorilla

Undisturbed to muse, no doubt,

On you, to greet you with a dearer welcome

When you invade her solitude. Happy bridegroom!

Whom no tormenting sprite of jealousy

Can haunt! whose treasured flower will yield its sweets

To him alone---none other!

Contarini

She would jest;

Yet plays a smile too mocking on her lips

For courtesy!---Fiorilla---

Fiorilla

Nay, my lord---

I would not that your gracious words be wasted

On one so worthless, when far dearer cares

Await you at your home. Your lady, doubtless,

Mourns for your absence; or---perchance I err,

Invokes the aid of some more courteous knight

To while away the hours.

Contarini

Ha!

Fiorilla

Only, signor,

A substitute. When the proud sun withdraws

His beams, we hail the star---less bright indeed,

That cheers the gloom.---Methinks I saw but now

Young Foscarini.---Ho! there.---

Enter Marco

Farewell my lord---I'll not detain you longer---

[ Exit Contarini.

Let him go ponder on my words. Hence, Marco,

Seek Loredano, and entreat his presence

Now, at my house.

[ Exit Marco.

I will no longer pause

But strike the blow, and win a swift revenge!

[ Exit.

SCENE II

An apartment in Contarini's palace.---Enter Teresa

Teresa

Let him believe me false! Let him believe

I spurned at truth---if such a thought can heal

The bitter wound I planted in his breast!

But mine---why---let it fester, and grow rank,

And spread, and spread, till its consuming poison

Hath eaten life out! Let him curse and hate me!

Yet that were hard to bear! My misery, sure

Might claim some pity! I would fain be thought on

With grief, but not with scorn. I'd be remembered

Like a dim, far off vision, wan and sad,

Leaving a mournful yet a softened image,

Mellowed by passing time to tenderer hues,

To fade at length, like tremulous light, away!

Enter Stefano with a paper.

Stefano

Lady---a cavalier without desired me

To give you this.

Teresa (Takes the paper, looks at it,---then hurriedly averts her head)

And bade you bring the answer?

Stefano

He did.

Teresa

To write to him! to speak with him!

I must not;---will not! I have reared the barrier

That aye must sever us, and will abide

The die which duty cast.---Take it---Stefano---

Tell him there is no answer.

[ Exit Stefano.

Cruelty!

Must we not probe deep, to dig out the venom?

What matter if he deem me cold and proud?

I must be so---to him!

Enter Matilda.

Matilda

Hush! I have tidings.

The unhappy Foscarini is without,

And craves to see you.

Teresa

Me!

Matilda

For one short moment.

Oh! had you seen him as he urged the boon---

So suppliant, so desperate! his voice

Tremulous with suffering.

Teresa

Hold---Matilda---hold!

He is already answered.

Matilda

How?

Teresa

You ask?

Matilda

Oh, do not be so stern! what wrong can chance

Or harm, if you will grant this poor request?

But just to bid farewell, he says;---and then

He'll fly from you for ever, into lands

Where Venice is unheard of.

Teresa

Urge no more!

I will not see him. Let him go---and bury

All thoughts of me for ever!

Matilda

He'll not go;

He will besiege you with his fruitless prayers,

Though you are deaf to them.---Think of his danger.

Teresa

What?

Matilda

His life is sought by secret enemies.

This is too certain; I myself have heard

Dark-boding threats from Contarini's lips,

Uttered when he thought none beheld. You know

His cold blood-thirsty hate!

Teresa

Oh, yes---too well!

Hasten Matilda! warn him---bid him 'scape

While there is time.

Matilda

Alas! he will not heed

Warning, except from you.

Teresa

What must I do?

Matilda

Speak to him---bid him leave this fatal place.

He will obey you. Pause not! your delay

May seal his fate.

Teresa

No---no---say I command,

Command him to be gone! by all that's past---(bitterly)

The past! what curse is in that word! what claim

Have I to his obedience?

Matilda

Dear Teresa,

Weigh not a fancied duty 'gainst his life;

Think---should he fall beneath their eager swords---

And you the cause?

Teresa

Oh heaven! Away---and tell him

I come.---I do no wrong---to save the innocent!

Lead the way---quick---but softly.

[ Exeunt.

SCENE III

A Garden, near the palace of Contarini. On one side the palace of the Spanish ambassador

Enter Foscarini.

Foscarini

She would repel me! but I'll see her once

Before we part for ever: claim her pardon.

How could I deem her worthless! Oh, what wild

Playthings of fortune we---who if the cup

We drink hath aught of bitter---dash it down---

And madly spurn the sweetness in the dregs!

We tear the wound---and hate the balm that heals it!

Enter Teresa.

Teresa!

Teresa

Signor---

Foscarini

So cold! then all I feared is true:

You love me not!

Teresa

Hush---busy torturer!

Should I be here, else?

Foscarini (bitterly)

Such was not your welcome

When last we met!

Teresa

And is all else unchanged?

Look in my face, and read what I have borne

Since then.

Foscarini

Alas! so wasted and so wan---

Yet never half so lovely!

Teresa

Why---that's well---

If burning sorrow could dry up life's springs---

But they flow on---though every fount is sealed

That could renew them. Strange---that life should cling

But closer as we strive to shake it off!

And mock its tenement, though that be worn

Too thin to harbor it!

Foscarini

Nay---you talk wildly.

Teresa

Oh, there has been a weary fever here,

That scorched---and scorched---as it would sear my brain,

'Till that grew wayward. All things seemed a vision,

'Measureless, shadowy---strange---yet dim and fleeting'---

But I'm awake now!

Foscarini

Awake to keener grief,

I would not add to it!

Teresa

You pity me!

You have forgiven me! All my fault and wrong,

And suffering---you know!

Foscarini

All---but too well.

I know you guiltless.

Teresa

No---you know not half

The wild, bad thoughts I've cherished.---Foscarini,

I've wished thee dead! I've looked upon the sky

When the fierce tempest blackened it---and hoped---

And hoped its wings would sweep thee to destruction!

Invoked the hoary mountain rocks to crush thee!

Prayed, as I ne'er before have prayed for weal

Of thine or mine---for death---ere thou shouldst come

To find me thus.---Why art thou here?

Foscarini

I come

To look on you once more; to hear your voice

Even in these groves---where we were wont to meet

In happy hours------

Teresa

Speak not, speak not of them!

They're angels, whose accusing voice to heaven

Doth tell of broken faith, and trampled hopes,

And injured goodness! They have baneful influence,---

They made me what I am!

Foscarini

Mine own Teresa!

Let me so call you now---blame not yourself

For what hath severed us. I blame you not.

Heaven doth attest my truth, I hold you now,

As pure, as guiltless of all wrong---as when

I first believed you.

Teresa

Oh! thou wilt not hate me!

I bless thee for it! That fear has wrought so oft

My thoughts to bitterness! It was a phantom

That haunted me, and mocked my tears! No---no!

Thy pity, like the angel of Heaven's mercy,

Will smile---and smile---and soothe me as I pass

Down to the cold and welcome grave---and then---

When I am dead---thou'lt think on me---weep for me---

Wilt thou not, Foscarini?

Foscarini

Listen to me!

The victim hath no duties. That forced vow

Which came not from the heart, and bears no sanction

Of the consenting will, Heaven did not register.

Teresa

What mean you?

Foscarini

You are mine! Good spirits have heard

Our vows, and sealed those bonds, which mortal hands

Can never loose. Far from this hated land

Shine skies as bright---and fields as verdant bloom

To bless the fond and true. Escape with me.

The ship is waiting---let it bear us far

To some propitious clime, where no regrets

Or misery shall pursue us.

Teresa

Ha! a fitting

Companion to your flight! a fugitive wife!

Whose wife? 'Tis well---peace I have lost---and you

Would take all that remains!

Foscarini

Forgive---forgive me!

'Twas but a thought of madness. It is past.

I'll not offend again. Now shall you know

What he can dare, who loses you!

Teresa

What frenzy

Gleams in your eye! No---Foscarini---no!

You could not do so wild, so fierce a wrong,

Because the blossom of young life is blighted,

To pluck its stem of verdure from the root!

Live---for my sake! Hence from this wretched city,

Where you are watched, and sought for, as the bloodhound

Doth seek his prey! Go---go! we may not meet

On earth again.

Foscarini

So wretched------'

Teresa

'Happier far

Than I, since you in liberty may weep;

While I in secret, chided, must pour forth

The bitter drops that burn where'er they fall.

Remain not here'---we part------

Enter Matilda, hastily.

Matilda

Begone---with speed!

You're traced, and to this spot. Your husband comes

With men and torches to arrest him. Hence!

[ to Foscarini.

Not that way! There they throng the path! This side!

You may escape them there!

[ points in the direction of the Spanish palace.

Teresa (withholding him)

No! no! not there!

Matilda

It is the only way.

Teresa

The Spaniard dwells there!

'Tis death to enter these forbidden walls!

Is it not so decreed?

Foscarini

'Tis infamy

To you, if I remain!

Teresa

You shall not go.

What is a name to me? Stay---I'll reveal

All---all to Contarini; I will plead

Even at his feet! He'll hear me, and will save you!

Foscarini

You know him not; he'd spurn you, and his slaves

Would scoff at you. No---no---I choose my death,

Rather than your disgrace!

Teresa (clinging to him)

Break not my hold!

I caused thy danger---I alone! I'll shield thee

With my entwining arms. They shall not strike---

Or if they do---mine---mine---shall be the death!

Foscarini

Love! love! my fate

Preserves me for embrace so blest as this,

Only when I must break from it! Oh! death

Would have such sweetness thus!

[ footsteps heard.

Hence---let me go!

They'll not arrest me. I will never fall,

Trust me, by hands ignoble, while this weapon

Can serve me truly!

[ breaks from her, and exit. Enter Contarini and Steno, with servants bearing torches.

Contarini

Ha! the traitor fled!

But one way's open. Steno---haste---withdraw

Your trusty men, and search within the walls

Of yonder palace. He is proved a traitor.

[ Exeunt Steno and servants.

He's in my toils---and you---so fair and false------

(Tumult---the report of a pistol heard)

Teresa

Lost! lost!

(Re-enter Steno and servants, dragging in Foscarini , who is wounded. The curtain falls)