Mosada: A dramatic poem

William Butler Yeats

Mosada: A dramatic poem

MOSADA

"And my Lord Cardinal hath had strange days in his youth."Extract from a Memoir of the Fifteenth Century

Scene I

A Little Moorish Room in the Village of AzubiaIn the centre of the room a chafing dishMosada. [alone] Three times the roses have grown less and less,As slowly Autumn climbed the golden throneWhere sat old Summer fading into song,And thrice the peaches flushed upon the walls,And thrice the corn around the sickles flamed,Since 'mong my people, tented on the hills,He stood a messenger. In April's prime(Swallows were flashing their white breasts aboveOr perching on the tents, a-weary stillFrom waste seas cross'd, yet ever garrulous)Along the velvet vale I saw him come:In Autumn, when far down the mountain slopesThe heavy clusters of the grapes were full,I saw him sigh and turn and pass away;For I and all my people were accurstOf his sad God; and down among the grassHiding my face, I cried long, bitterly.Twas evening, and the cricket nation sangAround my head and danced among the grass;And all was dimness till a dying leafSlid circling down and softly touched my lipsWith dew as though 'twere sealing them for death.Yet somewhere in the footsore world we meetWe two before we die, for AzolarThe star-taught Moor said thus it was decreedBy those wan stars that sit in companyAbove the Alpujarras on their thrones,That when the stars of our nativityDraw star to star, as on that eve he passedDown the long valleys from my people's tents,We meet – we two.[She opens the casement – the mingled sound of the voices andlaughter of the apple gatherers floats in.]How merry all these areAmong the fruit. But yon, lame Cola crouchesAway from all the others. Now the sun —A-shining on the little crucifixOf silver hanging round lame Cola's neck —Sinks down at last with yonder minaretOf the Alhambra black athwart his disk;And Cola seeing, knows the sign and comes.Thus do I burn these precious herbs whose smokePours up and floats in fragrance o'er my headIn coil on coil of azure.[Enter Cola.] All is ready.Cola. Mosada, it is then so much the worse.I will not share your sin.Mosada. It is no sinThat you shall see on yonder glowing cloudPictured, where wander the beloved feetWhose footfall I have longed for, three sad summers —Why these new fears?Cola. The servant of the Lord,The dark still man, has come, and says 'tis sin.Mosada. They say the wish itself is half the sin.Then has this one been sinned full many times,Yet 'tis no sin – my father taught it me.He was a man most learned and most mild,Who, dreaming to a wondrous age, lived onTending the roses round his lattice door.For years his days had dawned and faded thusAmong the plants; the flowery silence fellDeep in his soul, like rain upon a soilWorn by the solstice fierce, and made it pure.Would he teach any sin?Cola. Gaze in the cloudYourself.Mosada. None but the innocent can see.Cola. They say I am all ugliness; lame-footedI am; one shoulder turned awry – why thenShould I be good? But you are beautiful.Mosada. I cannot see.Cola. The beetles, and the bats,And spiders, are my friends, I'm theirs, and they areNot good; but you are like the butterflies.Mosada. I cannot see! I cannot see! but youShall see a thing to talk on when you're old,Under a lemon tree beside your door;And all the elders sitting in the sun,Will wondering listen, and this tale shall easeFor long, the burthen of their talking griefs.Cola. Upon my knees I pray you, let it sleep,The vision.Mosada. You're pale and weeping, child.Be not afraid, you'll see no fearful thing.Thus, thus I beckon from her viewless fields —Thus beckon to our aid a Phantom fairAnd calm, robed all in raiment moony white.She was a great enchantress once of yore,Whose dwelling was a tree-wrapt island, lulledFar out upon the water world and ringedWith wonderful white sand, where never yetWere furled the wings of ships. There in a dellA lily blanchèd place, she sat and sang,And in her singing wove around her headWhite lilies, and her song flew forth afarAlong the sea; and many a man grew hushedIn his own house or 'mong the merchants grey,Hearing the far off singing guile and groaned,And manned an argosy and sailing died.In the far isle she sang herself asleepAt last. But now I wave her to my side.Cola. Stay, stay, or I will hold your white arms down.Ah me, I cannot reach them – here and thereDarting you wave them, darting in the vapour.Heard you? Your lute upon the wall has sounded!I feel a finger drawn across my cheek!Mosada. The phantoms come; ha ha! they come, they come!I wave them hither, my breast heaves with joy.Ah! now I'm eastern-hearted once again,And while they gather round my beckoning arms,I'll sing the songs the dusky lovers sing,Wandering in sultry palaces of Ind,A lotus in their hands —[The door is flung open. Enter the Officers of the Inquisition.]First Inquisitor. Young Moorish girlTaken in magic. In the Church's nameI here arrest thee.Mosada. It is Allah's will.Touch not this boy, for he is innocent.Cola. Forgive! for I have told them everything.They said I'd burn in hell unless I toldThem all, and let them find you in the vapour.[She turns away – he clings to her dress.]Forgive me!Mosada. It was Allah's will.Second Inquisitor. Now cords.Mosada. No need to bind my hands. Where are ye, sirs,For ye are hid with vapours?Second Inquisitor. Round the stakeThe vapour is much thicker.Cola. God! the stake!Ye said that ye would fright her from her sin —No more; take me instead of her, great sirs.She was my only friend; I'm lame you know —One shoulder twisted, and the children cryNames after me.First Inquisitor. Lady —Mosada. I come.Cola [following.] Forgive.Forgive, or I will die.Mosada [stooping and kissing him]. 'Twas Allah's will.

Scene II

A Room, the building of the Inquisition of Granada, lit bystained window, picturing St. James of SpainMonks and InquisitorsFirst Monk. Will you not hear my last new song?First Inquisitor. Hush, hush!So she must burn you say.Second Inquisitor. She must in truth.First Inquisitor. Will he not spare her life? How would one matterWhen there are many?Second Monk. Ebremar will stampThis heathen horde away. You need not hope;And know you not she kissed that pious childWith poisonous lips, and he is pining since?First Monk. You're full of wordiness. Come, hear my song.Second Monk. In truth an evil race; why strive for her,A little Moorish girl?Second Inquisitor. Small worth.First Monk. My song —First Inquisitor. I had a sister like her once my friend.[Touching the first Monk on the shoulder.]Where is our brother Peter? When you're nigh,He is not far. I'd have him speak for her.I saw his jovial mood bring once a smileTo sainted Ebremar's sad eyes. I thinkHe loves our brother Peter in his heart.If Peter would but ask her life – who knows?First Monk. He digs his cabbages. He brings to mindThat song I've made – is of a Russian taleOf Holy Peter of the Burning Gate:A saint of Russia in a vision saw[Sings]A stranger new arisen waitBy the door of Peter's gate,And he shouted Open wideThy sacred door, but Peter cried,No, thy home is deepest hell,Deeper than the deepest well.Then the stranger softly crewCock-a-doodle-doodle-doo!Answered Peter: Enter inFriend; but 'twere a deadly sinEver more to speak a wordOf any unblessed earthly bird.First Inquisitor. Be still, I hear the step of Ebremar.Yonder he comes; bright-eyed, and hollow-cheekedFrom fasting – see, the red light slanting downFrom the great painted window wraps his brow,As with an aureole.[Ebremar enters – they all bow to him.]First Inquisitor. My suit to you —Ebremar. I will not hear; the Moorish girl must die.I will burn heresy from this mad earth,And —First Inquisitor. Mercy is the manna of the world.Ebremar. The wages of sin is death.Second Monk. No use.First Inquisitor. My lord, if it must be, I pray descendYourself into the dungeon 'neath our feetAnd importune with weighty words this Moor,That she foreswear her heresies and saveHer soul from seas of endless flame in hell.Ebremar. I speak alone with servants of the CrossAnd dying men – and yet – but no, farewell.Second Monk. No use.Ebremar. Away! [They go.] Hear oh! thou enduring God,Who giveth to the golden-crested wrenHer hanging mansion. Give to me, I pray,The burthen of thy truth. Reach down thy handsAnd fill me with thy rage, that I may bruiseThe heathen. Yea, and shake the sullen kingsUpon their thrones. The lives of men shall flowAs quiet as the little rivuletsBeneath the sheltering shadow of thy Church,And thou shalt bend, enduring God, the kneesOf the great warriors whose names have sungThe world to its fierce infancy again.

Scene III

The dungeon of the Inquisition. The morning of the Auto-da-Fedawns dimly through a barred window. A few faint starsare shining. Swallows are circling in the dimness withoutMosada. Oh! swallows, swallows, swallows, will ye flyThis eve, to-morrow, or to-morrow nightAbove the farm-house by the little lakeThat's rustling in the reeds with patient pushes,Soft as a long dead footstep whispering throughThe brain. My brothers will be passing downQuite soon the cornfield, where the poppies grow,To their farm-work; how silent all will be.But no, in this warm weather, 'mong the hills,Will be the faint far thunder-sound as thoughThe world were dreaming in its summer sleep;That will be later, day is scarcely dawning.And Hassan will be with them – he was so small,A weak, thin child, when last I saw him there.He will be taller now – 'twas long ago.The men are busy in the glimmering square.I hear the murmur as they raise the beamsTo build the circling seats, where high in airSoon will the churchmen nod above the crowd.I'm not of that pale company whose feetEre long shall falter through the noisy square,And not come thence – for here in this small ring,Hearken, ye swallows! I have hoarded upA poison drop. The toy of fancy once,A fashion with us Moorish maids, begotOf dreaming and of watching by the doorThe shadows pass; but now, I love my ring,For it alone of all the world will doMy bidding.[Sucks poison from the ring.]Now 'tis done, and I am gladAnd free – 'twill thieve away with sleepy moodMy thoughts, and yonder brightening patch of skyWith three bars crossed, and these four walls my world,And yon few stars, grown dim like eyes of loversThe noisy world divides. How soon a deedSo small makes one grow weak and tottering.Where shall I lay me down? That question isA weighty question, for it is the last.Not there, for there a spider weaves her web.Nay here, I'll lay me down where I can watchThe burghers of the night fade one by one,… Yonder a leafOf apple blossom circles in the gloom,Floating from yon barred window. New comer,Thou'rt welcome. Lie there close against my fingers.I wonder which is whitest, they or thou.'Tis thou, for they've grown blue around the nails.My blossom, I am dying, and the starsAre dying too. They were full seven stars;Two only now they are, two side by side.Oh! Allah, it was thus they shone that night,When my lost lover left these arms. My Vallence,We meet at last, the ministering starsOf our nativity hang side by side,And throb within the circles of green dawn.Too late, too late, for I am near to death.I try to lift mine arms – they fall again.This death is heavy in my veins like sleep.I cannot even crawl along the flagsA little nearer those bright stars. Tell me,Is it your message, stars, that when death comesMy soul shall touch with his, and the two flamesBe one? I think all's finished now and sealed.[After a pause enter Ebremar.]Ebremar. Young Moorish girl, thy final hour is here,Cast off thy heresies and save thy soulFrom dateless pain. She sleeps —[Starting.]Mosada – thou —Oh God! – awake, thou shalt not die. She sleeps.Her head cast backward in her unloosed hair.Look up, look up, thy Vallence is by thee.A fearful paleness creeps across her breastAnd out-spread arms.[Casting himself down by her.]Be not so pale, dear love.Oh! can my kisses bring a flush no moreUpon thy face. How heavily thy headHangs on my breast. Listen, we shall be safe.We'll fly from this before the morning star.Dear heart, there is a secret way that leadsIts paven length towards the river's marge,Where lies a shallop in the yellow reeds.Awake, awake, and we will sail afar,Afar along the fleet white river's face —Alone with our own whispers and replies —Alone among the murmurs of the dawn.Among thy nation none shall know that IWas Ebremar, whose thoughts were fixed on God,And heaven, and holiness.Mosada. Let's talk and grieve,For that's the sweetest music for sad souls.Day's dead, all flame-bewildered, and the hillsIn list'ning silence gazing on our grief.I never knew an eve so marvellous still.Ebremar. Her dreams are talking with old years. Awake,Grieve not, for Vallence kneels beside thee —Mosada. Vallence,'Tis late, wait one more day; below the hillsThe foot-worn way is long, and it grows dark.It is the darkest eve I ever knew.Ebremar. I kneel by thee – no parting now – look up.She smiles – is happy with her wandering griefs.Mosada. So you must go; kiss me before you go.Oh! would the busy minutes might fold upTheir thieving wings that we might never part.I never knew a night so honey sweet.Ebremar. There is no leave taking. I go no more.Safe on the breast of Vallence is thy headUnhappy one.Mosada. Go not. Go not. Go not.For night comes fast; look down on me, my love,And see how thick the dew lies on my face.I never knew a night so dew-bedrowned.Ebremar. Oh! hush the wandering music of thy mind.Look on me once. Why sink your eyelids so?Why do you hang so heavy in my arms?Love, will you die when we have met? One lookGive to thy Vallence.Mosada. Vallence – he has goneFrom here, along the shadowy way that windsCompanioning the river's pilgrim torch.I'll see him longer if I stand out hereUpon the mountain's brow.[She tries to stand and totters. Ebremar supports her, andshe stands pointing down as if into a visionary valley.]Yonder he treadsThe path o'er-muffled with the leaves – dead leaves,Like happy thoughts grown sad in evil days.He fades among the mists; how fast they come,And pour upon the world! Ah! well a day!Poor love and sorrow with their arms thrown roundEach other's necks, and whispering as they go,Still wander through the world. He's gone, he's gone.I'm weary – weary, and 'tis very cold.I'll draw my cloak around me; it is cold.I never knew a night so bitter cold.[Dies.]Ebremar. Mosada! Oh, Mosada![Enter Monks and Inquisitors.]First Inquisitor. My lord, you called.Ebremar. Not I. This maid is dead.First Monk. From poison, for you cannot trust these Moors.You're pale, my lord.First Inquisitor. [aside] His lips are quivering.The flame that shone within his eyes but nowHas flickered and gone out.Ebremar. I am not well.'Twill pass. I'll see the other prisoners now,And importune their souls to penitence,So they escape from hell. But pardon me.Your hood is threadbare – see that it be changedBefore we take our seats above the crowd.First Monk. I always said you could not trust these Moors.[They go.]W. B. Yeats.