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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 06
(Calling behind the scenes.)
Hither, here I say!
RACHEL comes in flight
RACHEL. They're killing me! My father, too! Oh! is there none to help?[She sees the QUEEN and kneels before her.]
Sublime one, shelter me from these. Stretch out Thy hand and hold it over me, thy maid, Not Jewess I to serve thee then, but slave.[_She tries to take the hand of the _QUEEN who turns away.]
RACHEL (rising). Here, too, no safety? Terror everywhere? Where shall I flee to? Here there stands a man Whose moonbeam glances flood the soul with peace, And everything about him proves him King. Thou canst protect me, Sire, and oh, thou wilt! I will not die, I will not, no, no, no![She throws herself on the ground before the KING and seizes his right foot, bending her head to the ground.]
KING (to several who approach). Let be! Her senses have ta'en flight through fear, And as she shudders, makes me tremble, too.RACHEL (sits up).And everything I have,(taking off her bracelet)
this bracelet here, This necklace and this costly piece of cloth,(taking a shawl-like cloth from her neck)
It cost my father well-nigh forty pounds, Real Indian stuff, I'll give that too—if you Will leave me but my life: I will not die![She sinks back to her former position.]
ISAAC and ESTHER are led in.
KING. What crime has he committed?
MANRIQUE. Sire, thou know'st, The entrance to the royal gardens is Denied this people when the court is here.KING. And I permit it, if it is forbidden.
ESTHER. He is no spy, O Sire, a merchant he, In Hebrew are the letters that he bears, Not in the Moorish tongue, not Arabic.KING. 'Tis well, I doubt it not.(Pointing to RACHEL.) And she?ESTHER. My sister!
KING. Take her and carry her away.
RACHEL (as ESTHER approaches her). No, no! They're seizing me, they're leading me away To kill me!(Pointing to her discarded finery.)
See, my ransom. Here will I Remain a while and take a little sleep.(Laying her cheek against the KING's knee.)
Here safety is; and here 'tis good to rest.
QUEEN. Will you not go?
KING. You see that I am caught.
QUEEN. If you are caught, I still am free, I go!
[Exit with her women.]
KING. And now that, too! That which they would prevent They bring to pass with their false chastity.(Sternly to RACHEL.)
Arise, I tell thee—Give her back her shawl, And let her go.RACHEL. O, Sire, a little while.
My limbs are lamed,—I cannot, cannot walk.
[She props her elbow on her knee and rests her head in her hand.]
KING (stepping back).
And is she ever thus, so timorous?
ESTHER. Nay, for, a while ago, presumptuous, In spite of us, she wished to see thee, Sire.KING. Me? She has paid it dear.
ESTHER. At home, as well, She plays her pranks, and jokes with man or dog, And makes us laugh, however grave we be.KING. I would, indeed, she were a Christian, then, And here at court, where things are dull enough; A little fun might stand us in good stead. Ho, Garceran!GARCERAN. Illustrious Sire and King!
ESTHER (busy with RACHEL).
Stand up! Stand up!
RACHEL (rising and taking off ESTHER's necklace, which she adds to the other jewels). And give, too, what thou hast, It is my ransom.ESTHER. Well, so be it then.
KING. What think you of all this?
GARCERAN. What I think, Sire?
KING. Dissemble not! You are a connoisseur, Myself have never looked at women much But she seems beautiful.GARCERAN. She is, O Sire!
KING. Be strong then, for you shall accomp'ny her.
RACHEL (who stands in the middle of the stage with trembling knees and bent head, pushing up her sleeve). Put on my bracelet. Oh you hurt me so. The necklace, too-indeed, that still hangs here. The kerchief keep, I feel so hot and choked.KING. Convey her home!
GARCERAN. But, Sire, I fear—
KING. Well, what?
GARCERAN. The people are aroused.
KING. Ay, you are right. Although a royal word protection is, 'Tis better that we give no cause to wrong.ESTHER (fixing RACHEL's dress at the neck).
Thy dress is all disturbed and all awry.
KING. Take her at first to one of those kiosks There scattered through the garden, and at eve—GARCERAN. I hear, my liege!
KING. What was I saying? Oh! Are you not ready yet?
ESTHER. We are, my lord.
KING. At evening when the people all have gone, Then lead her home and that will make an end.GARCERAN. Come, lovely heathen!
KING. Heathen? Stuff and nonsense!
ESTHER (to RACHEL, who prepares to go).
And thankst thou not the King for so much grace?
RACHEL (_still exhausted, turning to the _KING). My thanks, O Sire, for all thy mighty care! O were I not a poor and wretched thing—(with a motion of her hand across her neck)
That this my neck, made short by hangman's hand, That this my breast, a shield against thy foe— But that thou wishest not!KING. A charming shield! Now go, and God be with you.—Garceran,(more softly)
I do not wish that she, whom I protect Should be insulted by improper jests, Or any way disturbed—RACHEL (with her hand on her brow).
I cannot walk.
KING (as Garceran is about to offer his arm). And why your arm? The woman can assist. And do thou, gaffer, watch thy daughter well, The world is ill! Do thou protect thy hoard.[Exeunt RACHEL and her kin, led by GARCERAN.]
KING (watching them). She totters still in walking. All her soul A sea of fear in e'er-renewing waves.(Putting down his foot)
She held my foot so tightly in her grasp, It almost pains me. Strange it is, a man When cowardly, with justice is despised— A woman shows her strength when she is weak. Ah, Almirante, what say you to this?MANRIQUE. I think, the punishment you gave my son, Is, noble Sire, both subtle and severe.KING. The punishment?
MANRIQUE. To guard this common trash.
KING. Methinks the punishment is not so hard. Myself have never toyed with women much,(Pointing to his suite.)
But these, perchance, think otherwise than you. But now, avaunt all pictures so confused! And dine we, for my body needs new strength, And with the first glad draught this festal day, Let each one think—of what he wants to think. No ceremony! Forward! Hasten! On![As the court arranges itself on both sides and the KING goes through the centre, the curtain falls.]ACT II
A drop scene showing part of the garden. At the right, a garden-house with a balcony and a door, to which several steps lead up.
GARCERAN enters through the door.
GARCERAN. And so before I'm caught, I'll save myself! The girl is beautiful, and is a fool; But love is folly; wherefore such a fool Is more to fear than e'er the slyest was. Besides, 'tis necessary that I bring, While still there's time, my good repute again To honor,—and my love for Dona Clara, Most silent she of all that never talk; The wise man counts escape a victory.A page of the KING enters.
PAGE. Sir Garceran—
GARCERAN. Ah, Robert, what's a-foot?
PAGE. The King, my lord, commanded me to see If still you were with her entrusted you—GARCERAN. If I am here? Why, he commanded—friend! You were to see were I, perhaps, upstairs? Just tell him that the girl is in the house, And I outside. That answer will suffice.PAGE. The King himself!
GARCERAN. Your majesty!
[The KING comes wrapped in a cloak. Exit PAGE.]
KING. Well, friend! Still here?GARCERAN. Why, did you not yourself command That only with the evening's first approach—KING. Yes, yes, but now on second thought it seems Far better that you travel while 'tis day— They say thou'rt brave.GARCERAN. So you believe, O Sire—
KING. Methinks thou honorest the royal word Which would unharmèd know what it protects. But custom is the master of mankind; Our wills will often only what they must. And so, depart. But tell me, what doth she?GARCERAN. At first, there was a weeping without end, But time brings comfort, as the saying is; And so 'twas here. Soon cheerfulness, yea jest, Had banished all her former abject fear; Then there was pleasure in the shining toys, And wonder at the satin tapestries. We measured every curtained stuff by yards, Till now we've settled down and feel at home.KING. And does she seem desirous to return?
GARCERAN. It sometimes seems she does, and then does not. A shallow mind ne'er worries for the morrow.KING. Of course thou didst not hesitate to throw To her the bait of words, as is thy wont? How did she take it, pray?GARCERAN. Not badly, Sire.
KING. Thou liest! But in truth thou'rt lucky, boy! And hover'st like a bird in cheerful skies, And swoopest down wherever berries lure, And canst adjust thyself at the first glance. I am a King; my very word brings fear. Yet I, were I the first time in my life To stand in woman's presence, fear should know! How dost begin? Pray, teach me what to do; I am a novice in such arts as these, And nothing better than a grown-up child. Dost sigh?GARCERAN. Oh, Sire, how sadly out of date!
KING. Well then, dost gaze? Does then Squire Gander gawk Till Lady Goose-quill gawks again? Is't so? And next, I ween, thou takest up thy lute, And turning towards the balcony, as here, Thou singst a croaking song, to which the moon, A yellow pander, sparkles through the trees; The flowers sweet intoxicate the sense, Till now the proper opportunity Arrives—the father, brother—spouse, perhaps— Has left the house on similar errand bent. And now the handmaid calls you gently: "Pst!" You enter in, and then a soft, warm hand Takes hold of yours and leads you through the halls, Which, endless as the gloomy grave, spur on The heightened wish, until, at last, the musk, The softened lights that come through curtains' folds, Do tell you that your charming goal is reached. The door is ope'd, and bright, in candle gleam, On velvet dark, with limbs all loosed in love, Her snow-white arm enwrapped in ropes of pearls, Your darling leans with gently drooping head, The golden locks—no, no, I say they're black— Her raven locks—and so on to the end! Thou seest, Garceran, I learn right well, And Christian, Mooress, Jewess, 'tis the same.GARCERAN. We frontier warriors prize, for lack of choice, Fair Moorish women, but the Jewess, Sire,—KING. Pretend thou not to pick and choose thy fare! I wager, if the maiden there above Had given thee but a glance, thou'dst be aflame. I love it not, this folk, and yet I know That what disfigures it, is our own work; We lame them, and are angry when they limp, And yet, withal, this wandering shepherd race Has something great about it, Garceran. We are today's, we others; but their line Runs from Creation's cradle, where our God, In human form, still walked in Paradise, And cherubim were guests of patriarchs, And God alone was judge, and was the law. Within this fairy world there is the truth Of Cain and Abel, of Rebecca's craft, Of Rachel, who by Jacob's service wooed— How hight this maiden?GARCERAN. Sire, I know not.
KING. Oh! Of great King Ahasuerus, who his hand Stretched out o'er Esther; she, though Jewess, was His wife, and, like a god, preserved her race. Christian and Moslem both their lineage trace Back to this folk, as oldest and as first; Thus they have doubts of us, not we of them. And though, like Esau, it has sold its right, We ten times daily crucify our God By grievous sins and by our vile misdeeds— The Jews have crucified him only once! Now let us go! Or, rather, stay thou here; Conduct her hence, and mark well where she lives. Perhaps some time, when worn by weary cares, I'll visit her, and there enjoy her thanks.(About to go, he hears a noise in the house and stops.)
What is't?GARCERAN. Confusion in the house; it seems Almost as if they bring thy praise to naught; Among themselves they quarrel—KING (going to the house).
What about?
ISAAC comes from the garden-house.
ISAAC (speaking back into the house). Stay then, and risk your heads, if so ye will, You've nearly lost them once. I'll save myself.KING. Ask what he means.
GARCERAN. My good man, tell, how now?
ISAAC (to GARCERAN). Ah, Sir, it is then you, our guardian! My little Rachel speaks of you so oft; She likes you.KING. To the point. What babbling this—
ISAAC. Who is this lord?
GARCERAN. It makes no difference. Speak! What is the cause of all that noise above?ISAAC (speaking up to the window).Look out, you're going to catch it—now look out!(To GARCERAN.)
Yourself have seen my little Rachel-girl, And how she wept and groaned and beat her breasts, As if half crazed. Of course you have, my life!— She hardly knew the danger had been passed When back again her old high spirits came; She laughed, and danced, and sang; half mad again She shoved awry the sacred furniture By dead men watched, and raves—as now you hear. Hangs from her girdle not a chatelaine? Her keys she tries in every closet lock, And opens all the doors along the wall. There hang within all sorts of things to wear, And angels, devils, beggars vie with kings In gay attire—KING (aside to GARCERAN). Our carnival costumes.ISAAC. She chose, herself, a plumèd crown from these,— It was not gold, but only gilded tin— One tells it by the weight, worth twenty pence; About her shoulders throws a trained robe And says she is the queen—(Speaking back.)
Oh yes, thou fool! Then in the ante-chamber next, there hangs A picture of the King, whom God preserve! She takes it from the wall, bears it about, Calling it husband with endearing words, And holds it to her breast.[KING goes hastily toward the garden house.]
GARCERAN. Oh, mighty Sire!
ISAAC (stepping back).
Alas!
KING (standing on the steps, quietly). That game is worth a nearer look. What's more, 'twill soon be time for you to go; You should not miss the favorable hour. But you, old man, must come. For not alone, Nor unobserved would I approach your children.[Goes into the house.]
ISAAC. Was that the King? Oh, woe!
GARCERAN. Proceed within.
ISAAC. If he should draw his sword, we all are doomed!
GARCERAN. Go in. And as for being afraid, 'tis not For you nor for your daughter that I fear.[He pushes the hesitating ISAAC into the garden house and follows him.]
* * * * *_Room in the pavilion. In the background to the left a door; in the foreground to the right, another door. RACHEL, with a plumed crown on her head and gold embroidered mantle about her shoulders, is trying to drag an armchair from the neighboring room, on the right._ ESTHER has come in through the principal entrance.
RACHEL. The armchair should stand here, here in the middle.
ESTHER. For Heaven's sake, O Rachel, pray look out; Your madness else will bring us all to grief.RACHEL. The King has given this vacant house to us; As long as we inhabit it, it's ours.[They have dragged the chair to the centre.]
RACHEL (looking at herself). Now don't you think my train becomes me well? And when I nod, these feathers also nod. I need just one thing more—I'll get it—wait![Goes back through the side door.]
ESTHER. Oh, were we only far from here, at home! My father, too, comes not, whom she drove off.RACHEL (comes back with an unframed picture). The royal image taken from its frame I'll bear it with me.ESTHER. Art thou mad again? How often I have warned thee!RACHEL. Did I heed?
ESTHER. By Heaven, no!
RACHEL. Nor will I heed you now. The picture pleases me. Just see how fine! I'll hang it in my room, close by my bed. At morn and eventide I'll gaze at it, And think such thoughts as one may think when one Has shaken off the burden of one's clothes And feels quite free from every onerous weight. But lest they think that I have stolen it— I who am rich—what need have I to steal?— My portrait which you wear about your neck We'll hang up where the other used to be. Thus he may look at mine, as I at his, And think of me, if he perchance forgot. The footstool bring me hither; I am Queen, And I shall fasten to the chair this King. They say that witches who compel to love Stick needles, thus, in images of wax, And every prick goes to a human heart To hinder or to quicken life that's real.[She fastens the picture by the four corners to the back of the chair.]
Oh, would that blood could flow with every prick, That I could drink it with my thirsty lips, And take my pleasure in the ill I'd done! It hangs there, no less beautiful than dumb. But I will speak to it as were I Queen, With crown and mantle which become me well.[She has seated herself on the footstool before the picture.]
Oh, hypocrite, pretending piety, Full well I know your each and every wile! The Jewess struck your fancy—don't deny! And, by my mighty word, she's beautiful, And only with myself to be compared.[The KING, _followed by _GARCERAN and ISAAC, has entered and placed himself behind the chair, and leans upon the back of the chair, watching her.]
(RACHEL, continues) But I, your Queen, I will not suffer it, For know that I am jealous as a cat. Your silence only makes your guilt seem more. Confess! You liked her? Answer, Yes!KING. Well, Yes!
[RACHEL, starts, looks at the picture, then up, recognizes the KING,and remains transfixed on the footstool.]
KING (stepping forward). Art frightened? Thou hast willed it, and I say 't. Compose thyself, thou art in friendly hands![He stretches his hand toward her, she leaps from the stool and flees to the door at the right where she stands panting and with bowed head.]
KING. Is she so shy?
ESTHER. Not always, gracious Sire! Not shy, but timid.KING. Do I seem so grim?(Approaching her. RACHEL, shakes her head violently.)
Well then, my dearest child, I pray be calm! Yes, I repeat it, thou hast pleased me well; When from this Holy War I home return To which my honor and my duty call, Then in Toledo I may ask for thee— Where dwell you in this city?ISAAC (quickly). Jew Street, Sire— Ben Mathes' house.ESTHER. If not, before you come, We're driven out.KING. My word! That shall not be. And I can keep a promise to protect. So if at home you are as talkative And cheerful as I hear you erstwhile were— Not shy, as now, I'll pass the time away, And draw a breath far from the fogs of court. But now depart; the time has long since come. Go with them, Garceran; but, ere you go, My picture now return to where it was.RACHEL (rushing to the chair).
The picture's mine!
KING. What ails thee, child? It must Go back into the frame where it belongs.RACHEL (to GARCERAN). The picture touch not, nor the pins therein, Or I shall fix it with a deeper thrust(Making a motion toward the picture with a pin.)
Behold, right in the heart!KING. By Heaven, stop! Thou almost frightenedst me. Who art thou, girl? Art mistress of the black and criminal arts, That I should feel in my own breast the thrust Thou aimèdst at the picture?ESTHER. Noble Sire, She's but a spoiled child, and a wanton girl, And has no knowledge of forbidden arts!KING. One ought not boldly play with things like these. It drove my blood up to my very eyes, And still I see the world all in a haze.(To GARCERAN.)
Is she not beautiful?
GARCERAN. She is, my lord.
KING. See how the waves of light glow o'er her form!
[RACHEL has meanwhile taken of the picture and rolled it up.]
KING. Thou absolutely wilt not give it up?
RACHEL (_to _ESTHER).
I'll take it.
KING. Well, then, in the name of God! He will prevent that any ill befall. But only go! Take, Garceran, The road that down behind the garden leads. The folk's aroused; it loves, because it's weak, To test that weakness on some weaker one.GARCERAN (at the window). Behold, O Sire, where comes th' entire court,— The Queen herself leads on her retinue.KING. Comes here? Accursed! Is here no other door? Let not the prying crew find here false cause To prattle!GARCERAN (pointing to the side door).
Sire, this chamber
KING. Think you, then, Before my servants I should hide myself? And yet I fear the pain 'twould give the Queen; She might believe—what I myself believe, And so I save my troubled majesty. See to it that she very soon depart.[Exit into the side room.]
