William Wilfred Campbell - Daulac: Act IV, Scene 2 lyrics

ACT IV. SCENE 2. Enter DESJARDINS with a letter in his hand. DES. I am still triumphant. Peal out, bells! Blow, blatant music! I have that about me Will spill this melody in the middle tune. Enter HELÈNE, veiled, leaning on DAULAC'S arm. DAUL. Helène, my wife at last, sweet welcome home. [Kisses her. HEL. My husband! DES. (coming forward) Madam, I would congratulate you. HEL. Thank-you, Desjardins. DES. (to DAULAC) And you. DAUL. (takes DESJARDINS' hand, still holding HELÈNE'S) Thank you, old friend, this is true happiness: The woman I love my bride; the life-long friend, The man I honored, joining in my happiness. My heart's too full for utterance. HEL. Yea, thank you, Desjardins, this kind hour Seems too much filled with blessing. I will go And supplicate Heaven that its joy may last. DES. (detaining her) Yea, madam, happiness is all at most Anticipation. Scarcely do we lift The cup we dreamed of to our thirsting lips, Than some cruel fate, with rude, arresting hand, Doth dash it from us. Madam, you do well To doubt its reality. HEL. Sir, you are pale. Daulac, my husband, I will go and pray. [Goes to a prie-dieu at one side and kneels with her back to them. [Page 183] DAUL. Desjardins, by your manner and your looks, You bring some desperate business. DES. (giving him letter) Forgive my intruding on an hour like this, This ravaging a bridegroom from his bride, But the occasion urges. (aside) Now we'll know How he doth like the issue of his promise. DAUL. (opens letter and reads slowly in gradually growing horror and amazement) Great Heaven! from the Governor! DES. Yea, did you not expect it? DAUL. (reads) “The Iroquois are forming in large numbers on the Upper Ottawa. Your plan to proceed to Long Sault and stop their progress is now necessary, if to be attempted at all. The young men await you in the Church of the Jesuits, ready to take the oath you suggested and proceed at once to the Long Sault. If you now have any doubts as to the wisdom of your proceeding, I would advise you to await further developments, but there is no doubt that the Colony of New France was never in so great a danger.—Faithfully yours, Maisonneuve, Governer.” My God! my God! DES. Then you repent your proposal? DAUL. O Desjardins, so soon, so soon! DES. Then you will not go? DAUL. Can you not feel for this, mine agony? The woman I have loved so many years, To have to leave her at the altar steps To go to d**h. DES. How many have loved as truly all their lives Never to get that far, and yet men say There's a God in Heaven. DAUL. O Desjardins, think me not a craven If in this hour I'm but a suffering man, Hounded by fate into so cruel a corner That seems me man was never cornered so. Look on her, Desjardins, kneeling like a spirit [Page 184] New shrived for Heaven, praying that Heaven to keep In hallowed bonds her golden happiness, Breathing on innocent lips, whose every breath Is but an incense of divinity, Over and over the hallowed name of wife. And all the while you stand like some grim fate Urging on me to k** those very prayers And, playing the robber, wreck that happiness. DES. Be careful, or she will hear you. DAUL. Hear? She cannot hear us. So hallowed is this love In woman's innocence on her wedding night, That, believe me, Desjardins, she is deaf to earth; She is so far away, her heart's in heaven. DES. Yea, 'tis a veritable pity To spoil so rare a picture, but meanwhile The Governor waits. You are a soldier, sir. There are two roads, they will not go together: Glory or love, which will you choose to-night? The occasion waits. DAUL. Then it shall wait no longer, I have chosen! DES. Ha! now which? Have I studied this man Full half a lifetime to discover now Some unseen flaw in all that open nature That yet may defeat my hopings? Oh, this minute, It seems the longest I have ever lived. Speak, Daulac, speak and break my heart or lift me up to heaven. DAUL. Desjardins, have you loved me all these years And not yet know me? Have we been such friends That even a doubt in this supremest hour Should pain you with a single shuddering fear Lest I should wreck on such a shoal as this? O Desjardins, Desjardins! DES. Then you choose glory? DAUL. Nay, I choose love. DES. Oh, I am mated by this paper man, This poor stuffed idol, even my suspicions [Page 185], Mine evil instincts that would dare impugn The very angels of heaven, did not dream This froth of honor would blwo on the wind, This fountain of glory fall at the first spout! O human wisdom, poor, weak, servile wit, Not I discard you. I will go a fool! I am checkmated (aside) by the very weakness I thought to play on. DAUL. Desjardins, Desjardins, you have read me wrong! DES. Would to mischief I could read you right! DAUL. Upon this night, this holiest night on earth To me that fate e'er brings to erring man, Would you say “Glory”? what is glory, I say, To him who loves? If you would have my answer, (pointing to HELÈNE) There is my glory. All of earth's wide dreams, all majesties, all vistas of my youth, are concentrated on her rose-red lips when she speaks that word “husband”! Nay, Desjardins, The bitter struggle in my heart to-night Is 'twixt love and love, the human love That which doth bid me stay, the higher love That would not let me make her soul a bait To trap mine honor. The higher love doth conquer. I have chosen. Give me but a moment To bid farewell. DES. (aside) Then I have conquered! DAUL. Helène! [She starts. He goes to her and raises her. Helène, my love, I must leave you now. HEL. When? now? But you will come to me soon? DAUL. Yea, my love, forgive this parting now. HEL. Before you go, let me say that one word, It is so sweet, you know, to woman's heart, “My husband!” DAUL. My wife, my wife! (kissing her) [Exit. [Page 186] DES. I grieve to part you from so new a husband. HEL. (as if waking from a dream) Did you speak? [Suddenly she sees the letter which DAULAC has dropped. That letter! what means it? [Goes to pick it up, but DESJARDINS intercepts her. Sir, give me that letter. DES. I cannot, madam. HEL. Was it not to my husband? DES. It was, madam. HEL. Then I must see it. Am I not his wife? DES. He would not have you see it. HEL. Sir, you insult me with your reasons. They must be Cruel ones would keep the knowledge of Her husband's absence from his new-wed wife. Sir, I demand it, I must have that letter. DES. Madam, did it never strike your fears That in your husband's love you had a rival? HEL. Sir! DES. Nay, madam, you mistake; 'tis no woman. HEL. (stamping with her foot) What mean you, You insult me with enigma. DES. I mean that Daulac, who loves you so well, Loves glory more. HEL. Glory? What mean you? I scarce understand. DES. If you will come with me and trust my word, I will show whereof I mean. HEL. Go with you, sire? Nay, I will not leave here Till my husband comes. DES. Then you will have it, madam! [Gives her the letter. Read your letter. HEL. (reads the letter) O cruel Heaven! Daulac! Daulac! [Falls fainting to the ground. DES. O God, I have k**ed her! I who love her so [Page 187]! Helène! Helène! She moves not. Dare I kiss her? Just one light kiss, I will but touch the dews Or her sweet lips! Nay, nay, I dare not now. He! he! Love her! He knows not of love! Ha, she revives! Helène! HEL. Sir, did you speak? Where am I? Daulac! Oh! (rises) Now I remember. Have I fainted? Nay, you need not help me; I will go with you. DES. Are you recovered? HEL. I am a soldier's daughter. It was a weakness, A foolish weakness that doth shame us women. Give me that letter. Thank you. We will go. DES. Are you prepared? HEL. Have I not said it? [Points to the door. Exeunt both. CURTAIN.