Tales Before Tolkien (57 page)

(Lila throws out her arms gaily.)

Lila. The Princess Lila had a dream—

She dreamt that she was poor again.

Her Prince's eyes with mirth did gleam—

“Why, how could that be, foolish wife,

When all the days of all your life

Within my arms you've lain?”

(speaks)
And so I have! For this wild hour to come

Has always been predestinate!

Rosa. The Princess Rosa had a dream—

She dreamt that there was higher bliss.

Her Prince's eyes with fire did gleam—

“Why, how could that be, witless wife,

When all the valleys of your life

Are radiant in my kiss?”—

(speaks)
Meaning, there's nothing higher than the sun,

Which, chasing the earthly shadows of the mountains,

Gilds every hollow. The sun as well's a Prince!

(The two girls dance about. Of a sudden the Witch takes another quick step forward, raising her staff.)

Nightshade.
(in a high, sharp, weird voice)
Be still and silent, ye senseless ones!

(Rosa and Lila stop short and face the Witch in alarm. Then loud music sounds, and while it continues the Witch throws off her witch's things, standing suddenly revealed as Titania, Queen of the Fairies. Rosa and Lila drop to their knees before her. Emerald, after making her a low, frightened, yet very graceful obeisance, likewise sinks to her knees. Only Violetta remains standing before Titania, her feet together, her hands folded, her head bent in reverence. The tableau endures without change for full two minutes, the music always playing. But at the last the music dies away.)

Emerald.
(in a low, awed voice)
Titania!—dread Queen of Elves and Fairies!

Titania. In the remotest cave the Witch lies sleeping,

Beneath my power! Her semblance I have borrowed—

To-day has no one been here but Titania!

(Violetta slowly kneels.)

Titania. Rosa and Lila!

Because you so desire to marry Princes

And Emerald has begged it for you all,

Have them you shall—and soon!

Right were your choices. But the dawn, Rosa,

Is not full day, and so your Prince as yet

Must something lack of power.—

Lila, to
shake
is not to bring down
to
you

Fortune—so that, for all your princely marriage,

Fortune for you must still remain mysterious.—

Yet shall these husbands high be very proud

Young, noble and loving—see you love them well!—

And still a doom I set against my gift,

For that you've scorned a poor old wretched woman,

Witch though you deemed her—and have nearly scorned

Your sister, too! I'll speak it in a minute.

(to Violetta)
The third lot you were told!

Violetta.
(in low tones)
How shall I beg forgiveness for my kissing you?

I could not know you!

Titania. You kissed me good beneath the apparent bad—

So would I test your heart. For needful is it

Your husband's wife shall have a loving heart—

No other friend is his! Are you content?

Violetta. You will not give me one I cannot love.

Titania. Then who is he without a friend?

Beggars have friends in their adversity

All mortal sufferers of ills have friends

The base have friends in baseness

He who would hide from the world still can't escape

From some one pitying friend—

Name to me, then, the man without a friend!

Violetta. I cannot.

Titania. A
King!
—
he
has no friend!—

(Rosa and Lila utter sharp, low exclamations.)

Titania. Courtiers a king has, smiling out their lies—

They're not his friends. Let him be dispossessed

They'll disappear like smoke. Ministers he has,

Each wishing to be a little king beneath him—

Neither are they his friends, for every hour

They'd rob him of some royal privilege

To make it theirs. Servants and soldiers he has,

Using his name to colour their own virtues

And glories—but let the king die, another king

Will do for them as well. Subjects he has

Honouring his flags and shouting in the streets—

Their
friendship's like a soul without a body,

They do not know the king.

No friend the king has, for he has no equal

Only his Queen's his equal, and his friend!—

And therefore, Violetta, have I ordered it

That you a King shall marry!

(Violetta humbly kisses her hand in silence.)

Titania. For none of all the women that I see—

No one but you—has such a store of love

As he must need who knows no other love!

So have I tested you this Christmas Eve—

Of purest gold's your heart, my Violetta!

Violetta.
(in the same low voice)
How
know
you I shall love this King?

Titania. I have so managed it

That you've both met in Dreamland, and have loved

Each other passing well! He is not old—

Singular is his face in shining majesty

And he is full of care, yet not his own.

Remember also what your motto said—

“Nothing you are to lose”—

But what have you the most of, you might lose?

Love is your chiefest treasure, Violetta!

Therefore you'll not lose love in marrying him

I have commanded.

(She turns again to Rosa and Lila.)

Titania. You other sisters! this now is the doom

I set upon you for your unkind hearts—

Though I've considered, too, you are but children.

If ever help you need in earthly like,

To Violetta you shall have recourse

And she shall help you!

So shall your pride be less, when you shall see

Your equal sister above you, dispensing bounty!

(Lila cries quietly, putting her hands before her eyes. Rosa tries unsuccessfully to control her agitations. Emerald falls before Titania.)

Emerald. Dear Queen! recall this dismal prediction!

Truly their hearts are good—and it is Christmas,

When love and kindness rule!

Titania. So far, then, I'll diminish it for your sake—

That while they love, they shall not ever need!—

Rise, Emerald!

(Emerald stands up.)

Titania. To-day you also have been tried, O Emerald!

Obedient to me, I hope, are all the fairies—

Rich in their glowing deeds—

These things are not peculiar to any,

They are the very nature of you all.

But, Emerald, with it—on unknown
her
account

Who was to wed a man wanting a friend—

Suffered
you have!

Beautifully with delicate fairy strength

This unacquainted pain you have upborne—

For which, no less than these three mortal maids,

You deserve reward! What then shall it be?

Emerald. Indeed I was in pain, but could not help it,

And did not want it—really, I did not want it!

Why should I be rewarded?

Titania. Light fay! is it your Queen you dare to question?

Name what you most desire!

Emerald. I cannot say so soon. I do not think

I want a thing.

Titania. Consider still!

Emerald. Unless it were—that I might never do

In mortal body!

Titania. Why that, O timorous one?

Emerald. I am too weak!

This hour I seem to know that mortals' goodness,

Unlike that of th' fairies, must be a triumph!

Pain and temptation and a host of feelings

Are there within the heart, to say it nay!

Because I am not warlike, I'd not lose

My goodness.

Titania. Mortal you shall not be until you wish it,

I promise you.

Some day, dear Emerald, you will understand

The high adventure of that arm-ed goodness,

Warring with pain, sloth, lies and lovely sin!—

Then may you crave of me what now you dread,

And I shall grant it!—

Meanwhile what other wish have you to ask?

Emerald. None, great Titania!

Titania. So I'll pronounce the reward!

To-day have not I given you more than you begged?

You begged three Princes for your maidens three—

Two have I given you, and a King withal!

Is not this more?

Emerald. It's more indeed!

Titania. Then so henceforward shall it always be—

What you shall ask of me in purest kindness,

That I will add to!

(Emerald goes on one knee, and kisses her hand.)

Titania. Rise, all!

(The three sisters and Emerald all stand up.)

Titania. One still awaits her payment!

We must not
steal
from the Witch an hour of her life

When she's so few!—What shall I pay her in?

(During a whole minute, while music plays, Titania from time to time makes mystic passes in the air, towards the inner cave. At last Mother Nightshade, in true person, comes stumbling in, rubbing her eyes. She squints at everybody in turn, but starts back a little from Titania. The music ceases.)

Nightshade. Hey-day! There's company!

I've been asleep, and wake to this!

(She goes up to the three sisters.)

And who are
you,
my dears? You're much too pretty!

I'd like to blear your eyes, and blotch your cheeks,

And twist your legs in knots!

(She sees Emerald.)

(chuckling) You
I know!

The biggest goose among the fairies!

Simple they all are, but you're the simpleton!

Who bade you here?—Why do I hold assembly?

Is evil work afoot?

(to Titania)
Great is the honour, potent Queen,

When you bring your Academy to the Witch!

Perchance you wish instruction in my craft

For these young ladies?

Titania. Your shape I borrowed for an hour, old wife!

I gave you sleep instead. Now I'd repay you.

Nightshade. You took my shape!—unheard-of insolence!

Repay me indeed you shall!

What have you
done
in my shape, I'd wish to know?

Who gave you leave?

What tricks have you been up to?

Titania. Peace, aged woman! Far too rough your tongue is!

Can you not see between your ill and well-wishers?

A gift I offer you, and let that cancel

All talk and memory between us of this hour—

Do you consent?

Nightshade. The gift must be a good one then!

Titania. Such as you've never had before!—

Do you consent?

Nightshade.
(suspiciously)
What is the gift?

Titania. A magic one—

It will not harm you, but the spell were spoilt

If I informed you first.

Nightshade. Magic and spells I love! Tell me but this—

Will it take from me life, or power of limb?

Titania. I've said it will not harm you.

Nightshade. I'm still in hesitation!

Why should you make a gift to
me—
your enemy?

Titania. Dream not, good wife, that you're my enemy!

I have no enemy but wickedness,

And you are but its feeble instrument

That might be made to serve another use.

Choose you, however, between this gift I offer

And one that shall be worse!

Nightshade. Come! come! put by your wrath!

I'll chance the gift!

(Titania makes a pass over her.)

Titania. 'Tis done!—And what can no more be undone

Now I may tell you!

Nightshade. Ay! quickly tell me!

Titania. I have restored your memories, old dame!

So that your childhood's earliest happenings,

As they were pictures, shall return to you

All painted and vivid!

About the cottage floor you'll see yourself

Toddling and waiting for your bread-and-butter—

You'll see your father coming home from work,

Lifting you in his arms and kissing you—

You'll see and hear your mother singing songs

While she rolls out her pastry.

Not shadowy and forgettable shall be these things

But touching you to the quick! And such the spell

'Twill fiercest work when you are all alone

Here in this cave—or when at other times

You're out on mischief.

Then shall you ask yourself again and again

Which of your days have happiest been, and best—

When you were fresh, fragrant, pure, as summer morn,

Or now when you are like a human sore,

Offensive to everyone—yourself as well!

Such is my gift, old woman!

It shall begin to move when we are gone,

And have no doubt, before a day is past,

You shall be wondering how your life to renew,

Renouncing malisons and black enchantment

And forbidden occupation with the things

Of death and ugly evil!

Nightshade. Should this be true, you've fooled me, Queen of Fairies!

Likewise, I shall have lost the only art

I have to live by! Now I must starve, I suppose!—

Little that matters to you in a holy action!

Titania. You shall not starve. Each day to this cave

Emerald shall bring you milk and a loaf of bread.—

And, till you have changed your character, old, old woman,

See that you harm her not by craft or violence!—

It will be best for you!

(Mother Nightshade offers to reply, but Titania waves her down.)

Titania. Now silent be! I have no more to say.