:BRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA PRESENTED BY HAROLD CHASE THE ORIGINAL ITALIAN, FRENCH OR GERMAN LIBRETTO WITH A CORRECT ENGLISH RANSLATION. GISMONDA PUBLISHED THEATRE: TICKET OfFICE; III BROADWAY. NEW YORK TRINITY- BUILDING THE ONLY CORRECT AND AUTHORIZED EDITION GISMONDA OPERA IN THREE ACTS THE MUSIC BY HENRI FEVRIER Copyright, 1918 by Fred Rullman Inc. PUBLISHED BY FRED RULLMAN, Inc. AT THE THEATRE TICKET OFFICE, 1 1 1 BROADWAY, NEW YORK GISMONDA ACTE PREMIER. Gismonda est le plus hard! des drames de Sardou. L'histoire est vive, surprenante et tout & fait originate. Au commencement nous trouvons Gisraonda, la veuve de feu due d'Athenes et la mere du petit prince Fernando, age de cinq ans. Gismonda gouverne le duche comme regente pour son fils. Elle est entouree d'une cour brillante et flatteuse, et les individus de sa suite sont complaisants d tous ses ca- prices. Elle est devote, colerique, folatre, genereuse, desobligeante tour a tour. Son pouvoir est absolu pendant la minorite de son tils. x Parmi les seigneurs de sa cour se trouve un Yenitien nomme Zacaria Franco qui a aime la Duchesse avant son mariage avec le Due d' Athene. Apparemment il est un de ses plus fermes amis ; mais, en effet, il est traitre et ennemi du gouvernement qu'il veut subvertir pour saisir la couronne lui-meme. Non seulement est il ambitieux et diplomatique, mais tres hardi aussi. II s'est lie avec les Turcs qui 1'aiderent dans ses projets de s'emparer du Duche. Fernando, le jeune fils de Gismonda, est un obstacle a ses projets et il conspire avec Gregarez pour le tuer. lls n'attend que 1'occasion de 1'assommer quand le drame commence. C'est 1'annee A. D. 1450. La place c'est au pied de 1'Acropole d'Athenes. Le Parthenon domine la scene. Une croix s'eleve au milieu du theatre, autour de laquelle il-y-a une foule de per- sonnes qui chantent. Agnello, neveu de la Duchesse Gismonda, entre pour regarder un tigre qui est dans un puits ; il 1'appelle un grand chat, qu'il aime mieux voir a distance. Barsiliades, Bridas et Mataxas approchent pour le saluer. On parle d'une statue d' Aphrodite qui s'eleve aupres de la grande croix. Tout a 1'heure viennent Zacaria et Gregorez. Us parlent d'un projet qui a pour but d'entrainer Fernando au bord du puits dans lequel est le tigre et de le faire tomber dedans comme par hazard. L^ne fois dans le puits le pauvre enfant est mort. Le tigre est feroce. Le bruit, les visages etranges qu'il ne peut pas atteindre 1'ont enrage. II traverse le puits tout courouce. La soeur de Gregorez est la nourrice de 1'enfant, et Gregorez compte que, grace a sa parente, il peut s'approcher a 1'enfant d'assez pres pour accomplir son dessein. Sa sceur, Leonarda, aime le petit prince et ne connart pas le projet vilain de son frere. Apres une longue scene dans laquelle tous les details du crime sont fixes, Zacaria et Gregorez sont rejoints par Gismonda, avec son enfant, Thisbe et Leonarda. On discute encore la statue qui a etc place recemment aupres de la croix, La figure de la divine Aphrodite ne plait pas a Gismonda. o^ UNIVERSITY OT^ CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA GISMONDA. ACT I. Of all Sardou's plays, Gismonda is the most daring. The story is vivid, astonish- ing, and wholly unconventional, also perfectly original. In the opening act, we find Gismonda, a widow, the widow of the Duke of Athens, and the mother of his child, a boy of five years. Gismonda is the ruling power of the duchy as regent for her son. She is surrounded by a flattering, brilliant court, and her followers humor every outburst. She is pious, passionate, playful, gen- erous, unkind all in turn. She wields absolute power until her son shall become of age. Among the nobles of her court is a Venetian, named Zaccaria Franco, who loved the Duchess before she married the Duke of Athens. He is seemingly one of Ler strongest supporters, but in reality he is continually striving to upset the govern- ment of the Duchy and reign himself. He is not only ambitious and diplomatic, but daring. He is in league with the Turks, with whom he is a powerful leader, and in whom he finds allies to help him in his plotting against the duchy. Francesco, Gismonda's child, stands between Zaccaria and the furtherance of his desires. He enters into a conspiracy with Gregorez, to murder the boy. Zaccaria and Gregorez are but waiting their turn to kill the child when the play opens. The time is the year 1450. The first act takes place at the foot of the Acropolis. High above towers the Parthenon. A cross stands in the centre of the stage ; about this a crowd is surging. Presently Agnello, a young nephew of the Duchess Gismonda, enters to see a tiger, which is confined in a pit. He peers down at it, describing it as a big cat. It is a cat he pre- fers to see at a distance. He is joined by Basiliades, Bridas, and Mataxas. They dis- cuss a statue of Aphrodite, which stands at one side of the huge cross. Presently Zaccaria and his accomplice Gregorez appear. They plan to lure Francesco, Gismonda's son, to the edge of the pit, and, as by accident, to jostle him over. Once in the pit, he is the same as dead. The tiger is furious ; the confusion above him, the sight of strange faces which he cannot reach, are driving him into a frenzy. He paces his pit in helpless fury. Gregorez' sister is the child's companion . Gregorez relies upon this fact to get near enough to the little one to accomplish his purpose. His sister Leonarda loves the little prince, and does not dream of her brother's horrible plan. After a long scene, in which every detail of their scheme is arranged, Zaccaria and Gregorez are joined by Gismonda, with her child, Thisbe, Leonarda and others. Ao;ain the statue is discussed. It lias just been placed by the cross, and Gismonda is not pleased with her first view of the celebrated Aphrodite. After a gay scene the Bishop passes oy. He is asked to sit in judgment upon Aphrodite. It appears that he, too, is not partial to the statue. 4 GISMONDA. Apres une scene de gaitee 1'Eveque passe par la. On le prie de jnger J'Aphrodite et il parait que le Monsignor n'aime pas la deesse non plus. Pendant la discussion, Gregorez a porte 1'enfant au bord du puits pour lui montrei le tigre, et soudainement le fait totnber dans le trou. Avec un cri d'horreur, Gismonda voit son enfant tomber. Elle ne s' appercoit pas que c'est Gregorez qui 1'a pousse. Elle implore les spectateurs de sauver 1'enfant. Elle offre une recompense illimitee. Personne ne veut risquer sa vie, le danger est trop grave. Ses cris, ses off res sont vains. Elle menace, mais ses menaces sont inutiles aussi. Le tigre rampe, affame ! Un homme se precipite dans le puits. Gismonda se prosterne au pied de la croix. Elle supplie la Sainte Vierge, qui est elle-rneme mere, de 1'aider. Elle crie, elle implore la misericorde du ciel. Les autres decrivent le conflit avec le tigre. L'animal est blesse mortellement, le poignard a perce 1'oeil et parvint a la cervelle. Gismonda, en embrassant son fils sauve, jure, au pied de la croix, de partager son Duche et sa vie avec le hero qui a montre un si grand courage. " Faites le moi voir ! " ordonne. . . . elle. " Zacaria, Lusignan, Giustiniani, qui a accompli cet action heroique ? " Thisbe fait voir le sauveur de 1'enfant, Gismonda ne le connait pas. C'est Almerio, un simple fauconnier, un homme du peuple ! La reconnaissance de Gismonda commence a refroidir. Son enfant est sauve et, au mieux, la reconnaissance n'est qu'un sentiment tres passager. L'honneur, la renommee, la gloire, sont assez pour Almerio sans sa personne et son Duche. L'Eveque la fait souvenir de sa promesse. C'est ce voeu qui est le pivot autour duquel, Sardou deroule son drame. Gismonda dit a PEveqne que c'est inutile de parler de son voau, parce que c'est im- possible de 1'accomplir. Elle remercie Almerio avec humilite douce, avec bonte aimable et en protectioce. Elle reunit tous les charmes de son sexe etant en meme temps maitresse de Part de la flatten . Sans doute Almerio est un digne garcon, mais il est un paysan ! Un serment voue a un paysan n'est pas aussi obligatoire qu'une promesse donner a un prince. Gismonda commence a chercher une issue. L'Eglise 1'absoudra, elle aura recours au Pape. Modeste, mais ferme, Almerio lui repond qu'elle lui appartient et reclame ses droits. Elle lui offre son duche, tout, excepte sa personne. " Vous avez promis et j'insiste que vous tiendrez votre promesse," dit Almerio, Le rideau tombe quand Gismonda se retire avec son enfant. GISMONDA. 5 During this talk, Gregorez has taken the child to the edge of the pit to show it the tiger. By a dexterous shove, Francesco falls in. With a horrible cry, Gismonda sees the child topple into the den ; she does not see that Gregorez pushed him in. She beseeches someone anyone to save her son. There is no limit to the reward she offers the man who will descend into the pit to rescue Francesco. As the result is almost certain death, no one makes a move towards the rescue. Her offers, her frantic cries, are unheeded. She even resorts to hreats, but as no punish- ment she can impose is worse than the descent into the pit, er threats fall unheeded. At last a man is seen to seize a poignard and descend to the child's rescue. The tiger crouches ready to seize his prey. A man leaps into the pit. Gismonda throws herself at the foot of the cross. She prays for help to the Virgin, who is, like herself, a mother. She begs, entreats for mercy. The others describe the conflict in the pit. The tiger is mortally wounded ; the point of the dagger enters the beast's brain through the eye. In the excess of her joy Gismonda clasps the boy in her arms, and, at the foot of the cross, registers a vow before God to share her duchy and her life with the man who has shown such courage. " Let me see him," she commands. Zaccaria, Lusignan, Ginstiniani ? "Which of them has done this wonderful thing ? Thisbe points out the hero. It is no one she knows Almerio, a falconer, a man of the populace. Gismonda's gratitude begins to cool. Her child is safe, and gratitude is a fleeting emotion at best. Honor, fame, glory ; these are enough for Almerio without herself and her duchy The Bishop reminds her of her promise. It is on this vow that the entire play swings. It is the pivot around which Sardou causes Gismonda and the drama to revolve. Gismonda tells the Bishop that he need not remind her of her oath, it is impossible to fulfill it. She thanks Almerio with sweet humility with kind, affectionate patronage. She can be all women rolled into one, this Gismonda, and she knows the art of flattery. Almerio is no doubt a worthy person, but he is a peasant. A vow pledged to a peasant is not as binding as with a prince. She begins to look for a loophole out of the perplexing situation. The Church shall absolve her. She will appeal to the Pope. With modest, yet determined mien, Almerio stands in her presence and claims his own. All shall be his save herself and her duchy. " I want your promise as you gave it. I ask the fulfillment of the vow," Almerio s. The curtain falls as Gismonda is hurrying away with her child. GISMONDA. ACTE SECOND. Dans le second Acte nous nous trouvous au couvent de Daphni ou Gismonda est en retraite avec son petit enfant qui est malade. Thisbe et Leonarda jasent entre eux au lever du rideau. Au dehors et invisible Gismonda se promene avec 1'Abbesse. Thisbe et Leonarda parlent de 1'enfant et de la fievre qui vient avec le soir et ne s'adoucie qu'avec le matin. Thisbe dit que la maladie est du au choc et a 1'epouvante que 1'enfant a subit dans la fosse du tigre. " Ne parlez pas de a," prie Leonarda. " a me fait pleurer. J'en ai assez souffert, Dieu le sait ! " Thisbe la console. Ce n'etait pas votre faute que votre frere soit un ivrogne. Depuis 1'accident Gregorez a disparu ! II a quitte le palais, se cachant de peur de Gismonda, qui ne veut pas entendre son nom. II lui a causi trop de souffrance ! On dit qu'elle va se marier, d Paques, avec Almerio, 1'homme qui a sauve son fils de la queul du tigre ! Au couvent tout le monde est curieux de suvoir si Gis- monda tiendra son voeu, le vceu d'epouser le sauveur de son fils. " L T ne duchesse se marier avec un homme du peuple ? un betard ! le fils d'une servante! " Thisbe raconte que Gismonda lui a confie le soin de la main blessee d' Almerio,. et qu'il a ete gueri au palais ou il est reste une sernaine. Dans les longues heures de la nuit Thisbe a apprit a venerer le beau, et brave jeune homme. II est evident qu'il sacquiert la sympathie de tout le monde. II n'est qu'un simple fauconnier, mais son coeur est noble. II est courageux aussi car il a aime Gismonda avant qu'elle connaissait son existence. II a soigne les faucons et les ger-faucons au palais et s'etait la qu'il a apprit a aimer sa maitresse royale, la Duchesse d'Athenes. Une fois il etait en route pour Palerme, mais il avait attarde son depart de jour en jour aim qu'il puisse voir Gismonda 4 la distance. Sa promesse 1'a rempli de joie, mais il a donne a Gismonda des heures de la souffrance. Elle a envoye une lettre au Saint Pere, lui apprenant les faits le priant de vouloir veut 1'absoudrer de son voeu, et elle attend impatiemment la reponse. line orage de calamite est tombe sur le peuple et on blame Gismonda parcequ'en rompant le voeu, fait devant le bon Dieu, elle a ete la cause des desastres. La moidie GISMONDA. . ACT II. In the second act we find ourselves in the Convent of Daphne, where Gismonda has gone into a retreat with her little son, who is ill with a heavy malarial fever. Thisbe and Leonarda are chattering to each other as the curtain rises. Outside, unseen, Gismonda is pacing up and down with the others. Thisbe and Leonarda speak of the child, of the strange fever which, coming on just as the sun sinks into the sea, only lessens when the sun rises again. Thisbe thinks the illness is caused by the child's fright in the tiger's pit. " Don't speak of that," Leonarda begs, " it makes me cry. I've suffered enough for that, God knows ! " Thisbe comforts Leonarda. Is it, she reasons, Leonarda's fault, because her brother is a sot? Since the accident Gregorez has vanished. Half mad, he has quitted the palace, hiding in fear of Gismonda. In the meantime, Gismonda will not hear his name. He has brought trouble enough to her. Rumors are afloat that during Easter week she will marry the man who has saved the life of her son Almerio. The story has crept into the convent. Every one is filled with curiosity to know if Gismonda will keep her vow the vow to marry her son's rescuer, towards whom she feels a strong dislike. A duchess marry a man of the people, a man of illegitimate birth, the son of a common servant ! Will she do it? Thisbe tells how Gismonda bade her care for Almerio's wounded hand ; how he received every attention in the palace, where he recovered from his injury in a week's time. During the long watches Thisbe learned to respect the handsome, brave fellow. It is plain that he enlists sympathy and liking wherever he goes and among all classes of folk. He is but a falconer, but he is brave at heart : he is also daring, for he loved Gismonda long before she ever knew of his existence. He has looked after the falcons and the gerfalcons at the palace, and there he learned to love his royal mistress, the Duchess of Athens. Once he was going to Palermo, but put off his departure day by day that for trivial excuses he might see Gismonda from afar. If Gismonda's promise fills him with joy, it has given Gismonda many hours of anxious misery. She dispatched a note to the Holy Father telling him the full facts of the case, begging to be formally absolved from her vow. She is eagerly awaiting the answer. Many calamities have fallen upon the people of late, and the populace have blamed Gismonda. In breaking a pledge made in the sight of God, she is bringing disaster upon the country. One-half the lower part of the city is flooded, cholera is raging, a cross has blo\\n off a church, and, worse than all, the pirates have reached Marathon and made a safe landing ; even now they are ensconced in the tower of Sonla, under the protec- tion of their chief, the bloodthirsty Fabrique Siscar. 8 GISMOKDA. de la oasse ville est inonde, le cholera Asiatique est violent. Le vent a fait tomber la croix d'une eglise et le pire est que des corsaires sont debarques a Marathon, et se sont etablies dans IP tour de Soula sous la protection de leur chef, le sanguinaire Fa- drique Siscar. En effet, si Gismonda s'obstine a refuser de tenir sa promesse sacree, le peuple crairit que la pestilence ou la guerre viendra de la juste colere de Dieu. Comme Thisbe et Leonarda parlent ainsi on f rappe violemment 4 la porte. C'est Agnello ; il n'est pas le bienvenu. II est un jeune homme, et les jeunes hommes ne sont pas les bienvenus dans les convents. Les deux bonnes femmes lui ouvrent la porte avec beaucoup d'hesitation. II demande des nouvelles des nonnes. " Est-ce pour cela que vous avez f lappe a la porte ? " demande Thisbe. Agnello lui repond qu'il est charge d'un message important pour sa tante Gismonda. Les voix de Gismonda et de 1'Abbesse se font entendre et Agnello se cache a la hote. Des jeunes religieuses suivent Gismonda et la sainte femrne, Gismonda est tres pieuse. Elle promet de redorer la croix et de faire d'autres reparations dans le couvent, coinme souvenir de sa visite, et de la bonte qu'elle a trouve dans cette retraite sacree et paisible. " Remerciez la Duchesse mes lilies," dit 1'Abbesse. Les nonnes chantent : " Gratias agimus tibi." Le petit Francesco, sort a la voix de sa mere. II dit que son cheval a besoin d'exer- cice. C'est un tout petit cheval de bois. L'acces de la fievre s'approche. Sa tete brule, ses petites mains sont toutes mouillees. Gismonda lui dit que le cheval a besoin de se reposer et qu'il faut aller au lit. Le petit gargon est entrain e en protestant, suivi de Gabrielle, souhaitant le bon sommeille a 1'enfant, 1'Abbesse et les nonnes S3 retirent et Gismonda re^oit Agnello. Ses nouvelles lui disent, que ce matin meme quelques jeunes seigneurs, en se pro- menant pres de 1'Eglise de St. Georges avaient rencontres Almerio et Ini avaient de- mandes sa benediction coinme due et Regent de la Sicile. " Ca viendra," Almerio avait repondu, " quand il plaira a notre dame." (Gismonda.) Le Due de Naxos, ripostant avait dit : " " Croyez vous que nous autres gentilshommes vous obeiraient comme maitre ? Vous ! homme du peuple ? " " Par la grace de Dieu et par la force de mon bras je deviendrai un homme de rang ! " lui a repondu Almerio en le moquant. Un des Barons dit a Almerio qu'il aura sa chance, parce que le Due Nerio offre la propriete et le titre de Sonla a qui lui apporterait la tete du pirate Fadrique. Sonla donne le titre de Comte a son proprietaire. A ces nouvelles Almerio s'est remue, dans un heureil etait en route pour Marathon, suivi de deux cents brave gardens bien armes." " Eh ! bien, et apres ? " demande Gismonda. GISMONDA. 9 In fact, if Gismonda still holds out against her hoiy promise, the people predict either the plague or war, drawn down upon them by the righteous wrath of God. As Thisbe and Leonarda are going over these matters, a loud knocking is heard at the gate. Agnello is outside. He is not welcome. He is a young man and young men are not customary in convents. The two good women let him in with hesitation. He asks after the nuns all of them. " Is it for this you knocked at the gate ? " asks Thisbe. Agnello says he brings an important message for his aunt, Gismonda. Presently the voices of Gismonda and the Abbess are heard. Agnello secretes himself. Young nuns are falling in Gismonda's and the Holy Mother's train. She is very religious at present. As she enters, she is promising the Abbess to regild a cross and make other repairs in the convent as a souvenir of her visit and the pious affection she has found in the peaceful retreat. " Thank her, my daughters," says the Abbess. " Gratias agimus Madonna," the young nuns pipe up, as lustily as quail in the grass. Little Francesco, hearing his mother's voice, comes out. He says his horse needs a walk. He carries a tiny wooden horse. The fever is coming upon him. His head is hot, his little hands are damp. Gismonda tells him the horse needs sleep, that it must go to bed. Protesting, the boy is led away, Cypriella following with his medicine. Wishing the child happy slumbers, the nuns and Abbess withdraw. Gismonda receives Agnello. This is his news : That very morning, some young nobles walking past the Church of St. George, met Almerio. Jokingly, they asked his blessing, and when he was to become Regent of the Duchy. " That time will be," Almerio answered, " when it shall please our lady (Gismonda). But the day will come, surely." Then the Duke of Naxos replied ; " Do you think people of rank gentlemen will accept you for their leader, you, a man of the people ? " " I shall, by the Grace of God and the strength of my arms, become a man of rank," answered Almerio. In jest, one of the barons tells Almerio that his chance awaits him, for the Duke Nerio offers the estate and title of Sonla to the man who will bring before him the head of the pirate Fabrique. Sonla carries the title of Count. Almerio no sooner heard this than he bestirred himself. In an hour he was march- ing on to Marathon, followed by two hundred good men well armed. " Well, what news further ? " asks Gismonda. " None," Agnello replies. " We do not know his fate as yet. Dom Bridas was coming to tell you all this, but I shut him up in his room and came myself. A fine temper he'll be in." 10 GISMONDA. " Je n'en sais rien de plus," repond Agnello. " La fin n'est pas encore connue. Don Bridas doit vous dire tout cela ; mais je 1'ai renferme dans sa chambre, a clef, et je suis venu moi-meme. Mon Dieu qu'il s'enra- gerait ! " Avec la proraesse d'une bonne bouteille de vin pour adoucir le pauvre Bridas, 1'impe- tueux Agnello prit son conge et part. Thisbe demande a Gismonda s'il ne serait mieux si le corsaire s'emparerait d'Almerio. Gismonda explique qu'elle ne peut pas expriraer see sentiments. Le difference entre leur rang doit suffire a rend re le presence d'Almerio impossible. Meme au convent ou elle avait espe"re de trouver de la tranquilite et du repos, le souvenir de cet homme 1'inquiete. Et apres tout n'est-ce pas qu'un couvent est letom- beau de 1'ame ? Non ! la cloitre n'aura jamais aucun tentation pour elle. C'est urie mort vivante. Thisbe propose un seconde mariage, Gismonda est jeune encore, et, comme le cou- vent ne lui plait pas, le monde est a ses pieds. Gismonda a peur des homines, elle est persuadee que c'est son duche qu'ils aiment et non pas elle-meme. II n'y qu'un homme a qui elle peut se confier Zacaria ! " Ah ! " dit Thisbe, avec dedain. " II est le tils d'un traitre." Au moment qu'on parle, Zacaria vient, Thisbe", qui le deteste, quitte la chambre et Gismonda le re$oit seule. II a des nouvelles d'Almerio, un. joli conte vraiment. Selon lui, Almerio a vaincu le corsaire Fadrique avec ses propres mains. II abrule le pi apart des bateaux pirates et en les attaquant par surprise, il a fait une brave con- quete. II a conpe la tete de Fadrique avec une hache. Le jouet des jeunes Barons, Almerio avait quitte la ville un simplefauconnier. Mais le retour ! II rentre en triomphe, ses partisans couronnes de lauriers, des cor- saires captives dans son suite. Au pommelle de sa se'le, la tete de Fadrique, une trophee sanglante. Par un fait de bravoure le fauconnier est devenu Comte ! Comte de Sonla ! ! Zacaria declare son amour a Gismonda vainement ! L'Eveque vient, portant la reponse du Saint-Fere a Gismonda ! Sa Saintete insiste qu'il faut absolument que Gismonda trndra sa promesse, et se mariera avec Almerio. II n'y a qu'un moyen d'echapper. Si elle ne veut pas etre 1'e- pouse d'Almerio, ilfaut qu'elle soit 1'epouse du Christ, une religieuse. Gismonda est au desespoir. Elle offre des cadeaux a 1'Eglise. Elle le combie d'in- jures, elle 1'enjole. Elle le flatte, ellele medit. En vain ! Le Saint-Fere a donne son " Fiat ! " Le calme de la cloitre est trouble par les cris de douleur que pousse Gismonda. Toutes ses promesses d'or et de cadeaux riches a 1'Eglise sontinutiles. Dans unelongue scene entre 1'Eveque et elle, elle ne trouve point d'issu pour echapper, son predica- ment terrible. Priant que la nuit portera conseil, le bon Eveque se retire la laissant avec Zacaria. Gismonda, plaidant fatigue, le laisse avec Leonarda. GISMONDA. 11 With the promise of a bottle of wine to soothe Bridas, the impetuous Agnello takes his departure. Thisbe asks Gismonda if it will not be for the best if the pirates capture Almerio. Gismonda explains that she cannot fully express her feelings. The difference be- tween their stations is sufficient to make Almerio's presence impossible. Even here in the convent, where she expected peace, quiet, rest, his very memory disturbs her. And, after all, is not a convent the grave of the soul ? No, the cloister would never tempt her ; it is a living death. Thisbe mentions a second marriage, for Gismonda is young, and since the convent does not tempt her, the world and its joys might. Gismonda fears men. She thinks they are in love with her duchy, not with her. There is only one man she thinks, perhaps, she can trust Zaccaria. " Ah ! " Thisbe says, disdainfully, " he is the son of a traitor." As they are speaking of Zaccaria he is announced. Thisbe, who detests him, leaves the room, and Gismonda receives Zaccaria alone. He, too, brings news of Al- merio. It is a fine tale he tells. Almerio has vanquished the pirate Fabrique with his own hands. He has fired most of the pirate boats, and taking Fabrique and his followers by surprise, has made a brave conquest. Fabrique he beheaded with an axe. The sport of the barons, Almerio quitted the town a simple falconer. But the return ! He enters the city, his followers crowned with laurel, captive pirates in his train. At his side, attached to his saddle, the head of Fabrique swings in bloody tri- umph. The falconer, by an act of daring, has become a Count the Count of Sonla. During the interview Zaccaria pleads his love for Gismouda in vain. Presently the Bishop comes in to bring the Holy Father's answer to Gismonda's petition to be absolved from her vow of marriage with Almerio. The news is bad. The Holy Father insists that Gismonda keep her promise. There is but one escape. If she will not be the bride of Almerio, she must be the spouse of Christ a nun ! Gismonda is in despair. She offers bribes to the Church. She rails against it, coaxes it, natters it, raves again, but to no avail. The Holy Father has passed the verdict. It is written. The calm cloister is made noisy with the discord of Gismonda's grief. All her promises of gold, of rich gifts to the Church, are of no avail. During her long scene with the Bishop, she finds no loophole for escape from her predicament. Praying that night may bring wiser coun- sel, the Bishop leaves her with Zaccaria. Gismonda, saying she has need of rest, leaves him with Leonarda. And now, sounds of Almerio's triumphal approach are heard. The populace is bearing him, a conquering hero, to the quiet Benedictine convent where Gismonda has sought rest. The convent inmates fear Almerio will take Gismonda away by force. The bar- ons, who set Almerio on to his march against the pirates, come hurrying to the con- vent. They are in great excitement. 12 GISMONDA. A oe moment les sons du triomphe d' Almerio se faisent entendre. Le peuple le conduit en Hero victorieux, an paisible convent des B6ne(lictins que protege Gismonda. Les internes craint qu' Almerio ne prendra Gismonda par force. Les Barons qui avaient excites Almerio d'attaqner les corsaires vient au convent a la hate. Zacaria et les Nobles, ferment soigneusement les portes centre la foule. Troubled par le vacarme, Gismonda parait. La foule crie fortement, " Gloire & Almerio ! Le due Alme'rio 1 " " Due ! " crie Gismonda. " Pourquoi Due ? " Stradella un capitaine des Gardes Ducales demande au peuple, pourquoi on appelle Almerio " Due " et qu'est-ce qu'on demande. " Nous demandons de parler avec la Duchesse/' on repond. Gismonda se montre. " Me voici ! " dit-elle ; " Mais je n'ouvre vous pas les portes. Qu'y-a-t-il ? " " Nous voulons que vous parleriez avec Almerio." ^ " On est-il ? " " II n'est pas present." " Tant mieux pour lui." A ce moment Almerio s'approche a cheval. Stradella le voit par le guichet dc couvent. On permet qu'il entre le couvent seul, les portes sont fermees apres lui. Zacaria dit, tout bas, aux autres : " Nous le tinons, et nous le garderons." Gismonda demande a Almerio, pourquoi il est appelle " Due" ? II repond, serienx et calme, que c'est parce qu'il est son fiance. Les Barons sont furieux. Almerio les moque. On 1'appele, insolent, aventu- rier, rustre, batard. " Miserables, vous insultez ma mere ! " et il tire son epee avec un cri de rage. On sebat. Mais Gismonda les arrete. Elle ordonne Almerio de rendre son epee a Stradella. Almerio jette son epee a terre, en disant qu'il ne savait pas que c'etait un crime de sauver la vie a son enfant, et que Dieu sera le juge entre elle et lui. Zacaria veut qu'on prenne Almerio et lemette en prison, mais Gismonda crie : " Ne touchez pas a cet homme, sa personne est sacree." Elle ordonne a Strade'la de pro teger Almerio, et, le regardant avec orgueuil, elle dit : " Voila un homme ! " KIDEAUX. GISMONDA. 13 Zaccaria and the barons see that the gates are tightly closed against the approach- ing procession. Disturbed by the noise, Gismonda appears. By this time the crowd outside is calling, " Glory to Almerio, Duke Almerio ! " " Duke ? " exclaims Gismonda. " Why is he called Duke ? " Stradella, a Captain in the service of the Duchess, asks the populace why they assemble outside, and what they wish ? " We want a word with the Duchess," is the answer. Gismonda reveals herself to the crowd. " Here I am/' she says ; " but I do not open the gates for you. What is it ? " " We want you to speak to Almerio." " Where is he?" asks Gismonda. " Not here ! " " Ah, so much the better for him," the Duchess answers. At this moment Almerio approaches on horseback. Stradella sees him through the convent wicket. Alone, they allow him to enter the convent ; the gates are tightly closed behind him. At the sight of Almerio, Zaccaria says, aside to the others, "We'll keep him.*' Gismonda asks Almerio why he is called " Duke." He replies, calmly and seriously, that it is on account of his beino; her affianced husband. o The barons are furious. Almerio jests with them ; he does not notice their scorn until they call him insolent, an adventurer, a peasant, an illegitimate child. " You curs, you've attacked my mother ! " With a cry he seizes a sword. All draw their swords. ' 4 Stop ! " Gismonda commands. She orders Almerio to give up his sword to Stradella. Almerio, saying he did not know it was such a sin to save her child's life that God shall judge dashes his sword down at Stradella's feet. Zaccaria cries out that Almerio must bs taken prisoner. Gismonda exclaims : " Do not put your linger on that man, do not touch him. He is sacred ! " She orders Stradella to protect Almerio. There is a man ! " she says, looking at Almerio with pride. 14 GISMONDA. ACTE TKOISlfcME. Dans cet acte le theatre repre"sente la chambre a coucher de Gismonda. Par la fenetre on voit le golfe froid Ege"anne. Au lever du rideau, Agnello, Bridas, Stradella, Montaxas, Simonetti, Tiberio, Androlini et d'autres personnes parlent vivement. Cypriella les prie de moderer leur voix, de peur de troubler le sommeil de 1'enfant Francesco, qui est malade et qui dort dans un alcove voisine. Le medecin doit venir en peu de temps. Basiliades est non seulement physicien mais astroque aussi, un homme de signes et d'augures. Gismonda est aussi inquiete que son fils elle a besoin de conseil, de support, de quelque chose pour 1'aider dans son trouble. Simonetti dit, tout bas, que le peuple Athenien est mecontent que leur Duchesse ne tienne pas sa promesse et leur sympathie est avec Almerio. Les barons se moquent du fauconnier et le condamne d'arrogance. Le m^decin vient, et Gismonda sort de 1'alcove pour le recevoir. Agnello emmene les autres et tout le monde sort excepte Thisbe et Cypriella qui reste avec Gismonda et le medecin. " L' enfant et la mere sont malades tous les deux," dit Gismonda. " Je ne dors pas. Je ne me repose point. Je suis hante par ..." " Almerio ! " le docteur suggere. " Oui," dit Gismonda elle voit Almerio, dans ses pensees, au pied de son lit, quand elle veut dormir. Ses yeux graves regardent fixement les siens. Son nom Jui est devenu odieux. Le medecin pense que c'est sa conscience qui trouble Gismonda. II conseille la priere au lieu des drogues, et ne pouvant 1'aider il prend conge et part. Thisbe, qui a vu Almerio, dit a Gismonda qu'il est toujours determine a demander sa main. " Deux jours de prison souterraine n'ont pas done lui portes conseille ? " demande Gismonda. " Non ! " lui repond Thisbe. II dit, " Je suis plus libre qu'est ma maitresse, mon corps est captif mais je tiens son ame en esclavage." " C'est vrai ! " admet Gismonda. " Tout a fait vrai." Elle ordonne a Simonetti de liberer Almerio, et il est amene, sous garde a sa presence. A ce moment Gregorez vient annoncer Zacaria, Stradella et les autres. Zacaria rapport que le peuple est paisible, les rues desertees et les maisons fermees pour la nuit. II n'y a rien a craindre le soir, mais le matin ! Ah ! c'est autre chose. Ce serait un jour de fete, et Zacaria craint que les bouffons ne liberent Almerio. Sans doute la Duchesse a assez de soldats pour la proteger, mais il-y-a des Grecques dans les rangs et ceux-ci peut-etre seraient infideles et traitres. GISMONDA 15 ACT III. This act shows a room in the interior of Gismonda's palace her private sleeping apartment. Through the window one catches a glimpse of the cold JEgean Gulf. As the curtain rises Agnello, Bridas, Stradella, Mataxes, Simonetti, Siberio, Androlini and others are talking loudly. Cypriella begs them to lower their voices lest they disturb the little child Fran- cesco, who is ill and sleeps in an alcove near by. The physician is expected. Basiliardes is not only a physician, but an astrologer, a man of signs and omens. Gismonda is as restless as her child. She wishes for advice something to help her out of her present difficulty. Aimonetti, in a lower voice, says that the Athenian populace is not pleased that their Duchess does not keep her vow. The sympathy of the people is with Almerio. The barons, Gismonda's followers, jeer at the falconer's presumption. The physician is announced. Gismonda comes from the alcove to receive him. Agnello leads the way, and all go save Thisbe and Cypriella, who remain with Gis- monda and the Doctor. " Not only the child is ill, but the mother as well. I do not sleep. I cannot rest," Gismonda says. " I am haunted by " Almerio ? " suggests the Doctor. " Yes," Gismonda answers. She sees Almerio everywhere in her fancy. At the foot of her bed, when she would sleep, his grave eyes look steadily into hers. She has learned to loathe his very name. He is odious to her. The physician thinks it is conscience that is troubling Gismonda ; he advises prayer rather than medicine. He can be of no assistance, and bidding her reflect on her broken vow, he leaves her. Thisbe, who has seen Almerio, tells Gismonda that he is still determined. " Two days in a dark underground prison has not influenced him?" questions Gis- monda. " No," answers Thisbe ; " he says ' I am more free than my mistress. My body is in captivity, but I hold her soul enslaved.' ' " It's true," Gismonda admits, " quite true." She orders Simonetti to see that Almerio is released and, under a guard, brought before her. At this moment Gregorez appears to announce Zaccaria, Stradella and others. Zaccaria announces that all is quiet among the populace ; the streets are deserted and the houses shut up for the night. No outbreak from the angry people may be expected that evening, but the morrow may tell another story. It is to be the big feast- day for the Greeks. Zaccaria fears the merrymakers will by force release Almerio from his captivity. True, the Duchess has soldiers enough to defend her, but many of them are Greeks, and they may not prove faithful to their charge. 16 GISMONDA. Stradella a renforce" les gardes, et tout est prepaid centre une attoque eur le palais. Zacaria conseille a Gismonda de proclamer qu'au premier signal d'ure emeute elle ferait executer Almerio, et montrer sa tete sur les ramparts du chdteau. Gismonda refuse. L'avis de Stradella est de bannir Almerio, et It' condamner a mort e'il revient. " Et 1'eglise ? mon voeu ? Dieu ? " Gismonda demande. Lusignan a un autre dessein pour vaincre le malheureux fauconnie/; e'est que Almerio ayant insulte les Barons reparerait sa faute en se battant avec le? quatre gentilshommes 1'un apres 1'autre. " Mais c'est 1'assassiner ! " dit Gismonda, avec indignation. " Yoa lowseils ne m'aident pas. II faut que je trouve moi-meme une sortie de cette affaire. Cette nuit meme je deciderai le cas pendant entre Almerio et moi. Demain j'annoncerai publiquement ma determination. Stradella ! proclame cela a mes sujets." Stradella 1'assure qu'il 1'obeira, et elle les congedie. Quand Zacaria passe pres de Gregoras, qui est encore au service de Gismonda, il Ini dit de bien guetter tout ce que se passe autour de lui. Gregoras est toujours Ii6 avec le ruse Zacaria. Thisbe et Cypriella introduisent Almerio dans la chambre de Grismonda a la derobee. Gismonda le traite gracieuseraent, et elle remarque qu'il est tres beau. Elle Jui dit qu'elle 1'a fait imprisonner pour le soustraire a la fureur des Barons. 11 doit avoir froid. Cypriella lui apportera du vin de Syracuse, et elle le ser- vira avec ses propres mains. II hesite a boire parcequ'il craint que le vin est em- poisonne. Mais, pour le rassurer, Gismonda en boit la premiere. Cherchant 1'endroit ou ses levres ont touche, Almerio vide le flacon. Gismonda congedie Cypriella. Enfin Almerio se trouve seul avec la femme qu'il aime. Le fauconnier et la duchesse sont tete a tete ! " Yous etes Venitien ? " Gismonda commence finement et doucement. " Yotre naissance est ignoble, mais quel bonheur que vous avez eu la bonne fortune de sauver la vie de mon enfant. Cela vous prof tera beaucoup." Almerio lui fait souvenir qu'il est le Comte de Soula. " C'est tres bien," dit la rusee Duchesse, avec patience. " Mais c'est impossible de garder mon voeu. Je vous donnerai la baronie de Caritena et une forte somme en or. Et de plus, vous avez vu Cypriella! elle vous aime, et je vous la donnerai pour femme et j'aurai soin de votre bonheur ! " " Je boirai a mon f utur bonheur ! " repond Almerio. " Mais ce sera avec vous. Je ne veux pas me marier avec une autre ! " '* N'est-elle pas assez gentil ? " Gismonda demande, avec gaite un peu sarcastique. " Ah ! oui, elle est tres bien, mais elle n'est pas vous ! " dit Almerio. " Eh bien ! dites moi votre prix ! " Son prix, c'est vous-meme, pas d'autre. Gismonda lui conseille de prendre garde. II est trop hardi. GISMONDA. 17 Stradella has doubled the guards and is prepared for the attack. Zaccaria advises Gismonda to proclaim that on the first sounds of riot she will cause Almerio to be executed and his head shown on the castle ramparts. Gismonda refuses. Stradella advises her to vanquish Almerio and to pronounce the sentence of death upon his return. " And the Church, God, my vow ? " asks the Duchess. " What of them ? " Lusignan has another plan to vanquish the unhappy falconer. It is this : As Al- merio has insulted four barons, let him make reparation by fighting the four, one after the other. " That's assassination," Gismonda says indignantly. " Nothing short of it. Your advice," she continues, " does not help me. I must find the way out of this matter alone and as I think best ; this very night shall decide the case pending between Almerio and me. To-morrow I shall publicly announce my decision. Let the fact be made public, Stradella." Stradella assures her that he will do her bidding. She dismisses them. As Zaccaria passes Gregorez, who is once more pressed into service with Gismonda, he warns him to keep his eyes well open to all that goes on about him. Gregorez is still in league with the crafty Zaccaria. Thisbe and Cypriella smuggle Almerio quietly into Gismonda's apartment. Gismonda receives him graciously. She notices that he is very handsome. She tells him how she has imprisoned him to keep him out of harm's way, as the barons were so furious at his insult. He must be cold from being in a dungeon. Cypriella shall bring him Syracuse wine. Gismonda insists on serving him herself. He hesitates to drink. Gismonda, to reassure him, for Almerio thinks it very likely the wine is poisoned, drinks first herself. Finding the spot her lips have touched, Almerio drains the flagon. Gismonda dismisses Cypriella. At last Almerio is alone with the woman he loves. The falconer and the Duchess are en tete-a-tete. " You are a Venetian," Gismonda begins craftily and sweetly. " You are of ignoble birth, but what good fortune that you have been lucky enough to save my child's life ! It will, of course, be a source of great profit to you." Almerio reminds her that he is the Count of Sonla. " Be that as it may," the wily Duchess says patiently, " you are what you are, and, in short, I cannot keep my vow ; but I will bestow upon you the barony of Caritena and a large sum of gold. That isn't all .... You've seen Cypriella, pretty Cypriella, who just served me ? Well, she likes you very much. I'll give her to you ; and luck to your happiness ! " " I'll drink to my happiness," Almerio answers, " but it will be with you. I will not marry anyone else." 18 GISMONDA. "Si vous n'etes pas plus raisonnable, je serais force d'appeler un de mes gens, et de finir avec vous ! " Alme'rio n'a pas peur ; il lui fait remarquer que son sang aura coule a cause de son enfant si elle poursuit sa menace. " C'est vrai," admet Gismonda. Alme'rio dit qu'il n'avait pas sauve" 1'enfant pour se faire Due d'Athenes, mais tout simplement pour 1'amour d'elle-meme ! " Suis-je done une ingrate ? " La duchesse commence a questionner son attitude envers le beau Alm6rio. De temps en temps quand il parle avec trop d'eloquence, elle menace d'appeller un de ses gens ; mais elle ne fait pas. Almerio sait bien qu'elle ne le fera pas. " Gardez votre couronne ! " dit-il ; " je ne la veux pas. C'est vous-meme que j'aime. Je renonce & mon duche et mes noces. Je vous aime c'est tout." Gismonda promet de donner son amour & Alme'rio s'il renonce publiquement 4 sa promesse de la marier. " Mais ! vous me chasserez ! " dit Almerio, avec doute. " Je crains vos promesses." " Je le jure ! Deraain relevez-moi de mon voeu, et je jure que je vous aimerai." " Je le jure ! " repond Almerio. Gismonda 1'a vaincu. II resigne tout son duche, sa fortune, son avenir. II n'a que sa promesse de femme comme garentie. " Vous le jurez ! " crie Gismonda, avec joie ! Sa diplomatic, sa cajolerie, ses mots tendres, sont recompenses. Mais elle est touchee par la vigueur d' Almerio, par son hardiesse, sa beaute masculine. " Vous promettez ! Allez vous en tout de suite." Elle montre la route qu' Almerio doit prendre sans etre apercu. " Voil& ; qu'est-ce que je vous ai dit ? vous me chassez," dit Almerio, en desespoir. " Ah ! ne me chassez pas ! Je vous aime ! " " Retirez vous chez vous tout de suite," dit Gismonda, " et laissez votre porte ouverte." GISMONDA. 19 " Isn't she nice enough ? " Gismonda asks in playful sarcasm. " Yes, but she isn't you," Almerio says, unmoved by the splendors of the pro- posed union. " Set your own price, then," the Duchess 1 remarks. Almerio's price is herself and nothing more no one, but herself. Gismonda warns him to be careful. He is too daring to suit the proud Duchess. " If you are not more reasonable in your demands, I shall call one of my men and make an end of you/' Almerio is not alarmed ; he reminds her that his blood would be shed in her child's cause, in case she carries out her threat. " True," Gismonda admits. Almerio says that he did not save the child for the sake of being made Duke of Athens ; he risked his life simply to win her. " Am I ungrateful ? " The Duchess is beginning to question her attitude towards the very handsome Almerio. Occasionally she threatens to call an attendant, when he grows too eloquent ; but she does not. Almerio knows she will not. " Keep your crown," he says ; " I will not ask it. It is only you I love. I re- nounce my dukedom and marriage only let me love you ! " Gismonda agrees that if Almerio will publicly absolve her from her vow, she will reward him by being his love, but not his wife. " If I promise that, you'll order me away," Almerio says, doubtfully. " I am afraid of your vows." "You must promise, blindly, and trust to my word. To-morrow, release me publicly from my oath ; after, I swear you shall not regret it. . Promise ! Swear it ! Swear it ! " " I swear ! " Almerio replies. Gismonda has conquered him. He gives up everything his dukedom, his fortune, his future for her mere word. He has only her woman's word to trust to. " You promise ? " Gismonda exclaims, joyfully. She is rewarded for her gracious interview, her diplomacy, her flattering, her pity, her tender words. But she is not untouched by Almerio's strength, his daring, his manly beauty. " You promise ? Then go ! Go now, at once ! " She points out the way for Almerio to take himself off unseen. " There ! What did I say ? I told you as soon as you got my promise, you'd put me out," Almerio cries in angry despair. " Don't send me away, I love you ! " " Go home, at once," Gismonda answers, firmly " and leave your door open !" 20 GISMONDA. ACTE QUATRlkME. La lune brille BUT les raines d'un ancien temple pres de la cabane d'Alme'rio qui est au devant. Gismonda a term sa promesse. Thisbe a fait le guet sous 1'ombrage d'un cypres un arbre solennel. Elle a suivie Gismonda sans ordre. Ses yeux regardent la porte de la cabane d' Almerio en attendant le retour de la duchesse. Enfin Gismonda sort en disant adieu a Almerio. " Qui est la ? " elle demande, en regardant la forme de Thisbe. " C'est moi," repond Thisbe, tout bas. " Je vous % ai suivi, arme d'un couteau. J'avais peur de vous laisser seule dans ces ruines." Gismonda, qui a espere de gagner son palais sans etre vu, est tres fache. Elle voit clairement le danger et, apres tout, son absence a ete remarquee. Elle ordonne a Thisbe de se rendre au palais, mais Thisbe hesite de 1'obeir Gismonda confesse qu'elle aime Almerio, qu'elle 1'a suivie, et qu'il a renonce a sa main. La bonne Thisbe est d'avis qu'on doit se marier. " Yotre coeur est a lui," elle ajoute avec sagesse. " Oui," dit Gismonda, " mon 4me et mon corps sont a lui, et je me meprise pour ma folie." L'aube commence a paraitre. Thisbe regarde autour d'elle pour voir si la ronte est vide. Deux hommes Zacaria et Gregorez approchent. Gismonda croit qu'ils viennent a ce lieu desert pour lui faire du mal ; elle se cache, avec Thisbe, derriere un cypres. Gregorez et Zacaria cherchent la cabane, et Gregoras la montre. La porte est ouverte ; il y jette un coup d'oeil. "Oui," ditil, "Alme'rio s'est couche, tout habille ; l'appelerai-je ? " Ce n'est pas comme ga que Zacharia rencontre un ennemi, en face. II aime le poignarder a Tecart, dans les tenebres, et par la main d'un complice, pendant qu'il e'occupe des details du complot. Gismonda se sent si enragee qu'elle veut tomber sur Zacaria, mais la prudente Thisbe 1'arrete, pour mieux entendre. " Si je ne 1'avait vu dans le pints avec le tigre ? " Gregoras pense. " II 1'a eflraye. Suis-je plus courageux qu'un tigre ? " " Un homme qui dort ne donne pas de peine," dit Zacaria. " II est plus facile de pousser un enfant dans un trou que de tuer un homme, $rand et fort comme Almerio." Gismonda s'elance vers Gregorez encore, mais Thisbe la retient. GreVorez r4no??ce GISMONDA. 21 ACT IY. The moon shines down on the ruins of an old temple near Almerio's cabin, which is in the foreground. Gisinonda has kept her promise. Under a solemn cypress-tree Thisbe keeps watch. She has, unbidden, followed Gisinonda ; her eyes are fixed on the cabin door, awaiting Gismonda's reappearance. At length, the Duchess comes out of the hut, bidding Almerio farewell. " Who is there ? " she asks, as she notices a figure close at hand. " I," Thisbe answers, softly. " I, Gismonda. I followed you armed with a knife. I was afraid to let you come alone to these ruins." Gismonda, \vho has hoped to reach the palace without being seen, is very much annoyed. She realizes fully what a risk she runs, and, after all, she has been missed. She bids Thisbe return, but Thisbe hesitates to leave her. Gismonda confesses that she is fond of Almerio, that she followed him to his cabin, and that he has generously renounced her hand. The good Thisbe recommends a union between the two. She has always approved of Almerio. " Your soul is in his keeping," she adds, wisely. " Yes, body and soul, I am his ; and I hate myself for it," Gismonda confesses. Already the dawn is breaking. Thisbe looks to see if the way be clear of people. She sees two men approaching Gregorez and Zaccaria. Gismonda is certain they have some bad object in coming to this lonely spot, she hides behind the cypress-trees, together with Thisbe. Gregorez and Zaccaria are seeking for Almerioi's hut. Gregorez points it out. The door is open. Gregorez looks in. " Yes," he says, " he is lying, fully dressed, on his bed." " Shall I call him ? " asks the stupid Gregorez. This is not Zaccaria's way of meeting a foe in the field, face to face he prefers to stab in the dark. That is his method of attack. Also, he prefers an accomplice to do the actual murder ; he himself attends to the planning and the details of the plot. Gismonda is filled with such fury as Zaccaria gives vent to his strategy that she longs to rush upon him, but the prudent Thisbe holds her back, to listen further. " If I had not seen him in the tiger pit," Gregorez reflects, timidly; " he frightened the tiger. Am I more than a tiger ? " " A sleeping man is no trouble at all," Zaccaria urges. " It's easy to talk," Gregorez answers, " but it was easier to push the child into the tiger's pit than to kill a big strong fellow like this Almerio ! " Again Gismonda starts to fall upon Zaccaria, but Thisbe draws her back. Gregorez gives up the undertaking. He is afraid. He throws the hatchet down, and Thisbe, 22 GISMONDA. a 1'affaire. II a peur. II quitte la h&che et Thisb6 la ramasse. Gismonda et Thisbe" approche la cabane avec precaution. Zacaria offre une fortune a Gregorez s'il tue Almerio, mais il refuse et s'enfuit a la hate. " Ya, done, lache ! " Zacaria crie, " et quand j'aurai fini avec Alme"rio, je tuerai 1'enfant sans votre aide." " Et la mere aussi." crie Gismonda, levant la hache au-dessus de la tete de Zacaria, et le frappant " Vous avez donne mon fils au tigre ; je vous donne a 1'enfer ! " Almerio parait, au son des cris de Gismonda. Gismonda le prie de garder Zacaria en lui disant que c'est lui qui veut tuer son fils. " C'est dommage de le laisser en agonie," dit Almerio. " Permettez que je lui donne le coup de grace." " Non ; votre epee est trop clement ; qu'il souffre." Gismonda est inflexible. Elle veut que Zacaria meurt lentement, par degres, en souffrance, sans confession. " Voyez Zacaria ! " elle dit. " Pouvez-vous me voir ? pouvez-vous m'entendre ? " " Oui, je vous entend," il repond. Gismonda embrasse Almerio ; elle veut que Zacaria soit temoin du triomphe de 1'homme qu'il a tente d'assasiner. " Je lui appartiens," elle explique au moribond. " Je suis a lui." Poussant un cri de rage impuissante, Zacaria meurt. Gismonda ordonne que son corps soit jete dans un ravin, " pour que les corbeaux soient les seuls temoins de sa fin ! " " Et, maintenant, Thisbe m'accompagnera au palais. Sou venez- vous de votre pro- messe. Demain, Almerio, a 1'eglise vous renoncez a moi. Adieu, tout est fini entre nous. Adieu." Le seconde tableau du dernier acte se passe dans 1'eglise de St. Marie. Les cloches va sonner, la cortege vient, et le choeur chante un canticle. Spiridion et Pericles un massier et un choriste parlent avec Cristofero, un sacris- tan. Pericles se hatant a joindre le chceur, quitte le sacristan et Spiridion pour discuter avec Stradella la question de 1'assassinat de Zacaria. Le cadavre a ete decouvert et porte dans 1'eglise, afin qu'on puisse chanter des messes pour le repos de son ame. Ce fut Stradella qui decouvrait Zacaria dans le coin ou Almerio 1'avait jete, apres le depart de Gismonda. Le cortege approche. Le sacristan fait cacher le cadavre pour eviter sa vue aux assistants. Personne ne soupyonne qui Gismonda 1'a tue". Le sacristan a entendu que Zacaria etait renegade et lie avec les Turcs. On n'aime pas sa memoire. Le cortege de Gismonda entre. Thisbe et Gismonda 1'accompagnent avec Agnello et GISMONDA. 23 unseen by him, picks it up. Gismonda and Thisbe begin to edge cautiously toward the cabin. Zaccaria offers a fortune to Gregorez if he will kill Almerio, but Gregorez is afraid. He disappears, and goes back to the palace as fast as he can run. " Go, then, you coward ! " Zaccaria exclaims, " and when I'm done with Almerio I'll despatch the child without any help from you." " And the mother," Gismonda screams, with the hatchet raised over Zaccaria's head. " You sent my son to the tiger I'll send you to Hell ! " Aroused by the cries, Almerio appears. Gismonda begs Almerio to watch Zaccaria. She tells him it was Zaccaria who tried kill her boy. " 'Tis a pity to see him in agony ; let me finish him," Almerio suggests. " No, no, your sword is too merciful let him suffer." Gismonda is reientless. She wants Zaccaria to die slowly, in pain, without confession. " Look, Zaccaria, can you see me hear me ? " " I hear," he answers. Then Gismonda throws her arms about Almerio. She wants Zaccaria to witness the triumph of the man whose life he has sought. " I belong to him," Gismonda explains to the dying man ; "I am his." With a fearful cry of impotent rage Zaccaria dies. Gismonda orders him to be thrown into a ravine that the crows may be the only witnesses of his dissolution. " And now, Thisbe will take me back to the palace. Remember your promise to- morrow, Almerio. At the church you must renounce me. Remember your promise. Farewell. All all is over between us! I've kept my word. Now, keep yours. Farewell ! " The second tableau of the last act takes place in the Church of St. Mary. The chimes are about to be rung in the opening of this scene. They announce the procession com- ing in state from the palace. The choir is heard singing a canticle. Spiridion and Pericles, a mace- bearer, and a choir-boy are talking with Christofano, a sexton. Pericles, hurrying away to join his choir, leaves the sexton and Spiridion to discuss with Stradella the question of Zaccaria's assassination, for the body has been discovered and brought to church that masses may be said. It was Stradella who discovered it in the ravine, where Almerio threw it after Gismonda' s departure. The court procession approaches. The sexton orders the body to be hidden from view, as the shock might be sudden. 'No one, of course, suspects that Gismonda took a part in Zaccaria's death. Meanwhile, the sexton has heard that Zaccaria is a renegade and in league with the Turks. Zaccaria's memory is not beloved. Gismonda's train now enters. Thisbe and Cypriella are with her, also Agnello, the Bishop, Giustiniani, Lusignan, Crispo, Simonetti, Bridas, Mataxas, Stradella, Andrioli, Tiberio, Francesco, the child, Leonarda, Spiridion, Christofano, and others. 24 GISMONDA. 1'Eveque. Giustiniani, Lusignan, Crispo, Simonetti, Bridas, Mataxas et Stradella, An- dioti, Tiberio, 1'enfant Francesco-Lonarda, Spiridion, Cristofero, etc. Simonetti demande pardon. II a des nouvelles tristes et importantes, la mort de Zacaria. Pour le moment Gismonda est inquiete, mais se calmant, elle demande . " Un accident, n'est-ce pas ? " " Non ! " repond Stradella, " c'est un assassinat ! " " Qui pent le prouver," demande Gismonda. " Gr6gorez ! " repond Stradella Gismonda n'a pas cm que Gregorez aurait ose parler de la mort de Zacaria, parce qu'il etait lui-meme dans une position dangereuse. " Expliquez-vous done ? " demande-elle avec empressement. " La derniere fois que Ton a vu, il etait avec Zacaria et il est revemi seul. J'ai en- voye deux de mes gens pour le chercher," dit Stradella. Apres que 1'Eveque a donne sa benediction, le peuple vient demander a Gismonda d^ccomplir son vreu. Le faucon- nier est, apres tout, un homme du peuple et on ne veut pas qu'on le meprise. " Ouvrez les portes," commande Gismonda. " Qu'on entre." Les Barons sont effrayes. Lusignan dit qu'il appartient a 1'Eglise Grecque et ne pent pas etre admis dans 1'Eglise Catholique. " Leur Dieu est aussi le notre qu'on entre," dit Gismonda. Almerio entre tristement. II va renoncer a Gismonda, la seule femme qu'il a jamais aime. Son bonheur a disparu. L'heure de triomphe de Gismonda est venu. L'Eveque lui donne permission de parler. " Avant que je part, et devant Dieu, je vous cite comme temoins, que j'acquitte ma souveraine honoree, Gismonda, de son voau, et que je declare qu'elle est libre de tout obligation envers moi." Tout le monde est etonne. " Ya-t-en, mon fils," poursuit 1'Eveque, u sois sur que mes prieres et la benediction de Dieu seront avec toi." A ce moment, Gregorez est amene devant Gismonda. II prie 1'Eveque de reprimer sa benediction a Almerio. " II est 1'assassin de Zacaria," Gregorez dit. " II 1'a tue hier au soir ! " Gismonda te regarde fix^ment, Almerio reste inebranlable et passif. Selon Gregorez, Zacaria est alle visitor Almerio pour le prier de rompre le voau qu'il a jure de demander la main de Gismonda. " Moi-meme je 1'ai conduit a lacabane d' Almerio," il dit, u et les aient laisses ensemble." Plus tard le cadavre de Zacaria f ut trouve dans un ravin tout pres de la cabane d' Al- merio. " C'est Almerio qui 1'a tu4 ? " " Permettrez vous cela ? " demande Thisbe a Gismonda, apart. " Ayez patience ! " Gismonda repond. L'Eveque interroge 1'accuse Almerio. " C'est vrai,'' repond-il. " J'ai tue Zacaria. II m'a insulte et je 1'ai assomme"." Les Barons demandent a Gismonda quelle punition elle adjugera a Almerio. GISMONDA. 25 Simonetti begs the pardon of all, but he has sad and important news to announce to the court the death of Zaccaria. Gisinonda for a moment is nervous, but growing calm she asks, " An accident ?'* " No," Stradella answers, " murder." " Who can prove this ? " questions Gismonda. " Gregorez," Stradella replies. This is unexpected. Gismonda has not thought Gregorez would dare make men- tion of Zaccaria's death, as he himself is in so delicate a position. " How is this ? explain." Gismonda is all eagerness. " He was last seen walking with Zaccaria. He came back alone. I have sent two of rny men to find him," Stradella explains. When the Bishop has given his blessing the populace outside demand to see Gismonda. Palms in hand, the people come to demand Gismonda's fulfillment of her vow to the falconer. He is, after all, one of them, and they will not see him scorned. " Open the gate and admit them," Gismonda says, fearlessly. The barons are vis- ibly frightened. Besides, they are of the Greek faith, and should not be admitted to the Catholic church, says Lustignan. " Their God is ours. Let them in," Gismonda insists. Almerio enters sadly. He is about to fulfill his vow and give up the only woman he has ever loved. His happiness is all past now ; Gismonda 's hour of triumph is come. The Bishop gives him permission to speak. " In the presence of God, before I leave this place forever, 1 call you all to witness that I absolve my honored sovereign, Gismonda, and I declare publicly that she is relieved from any further obligation to me ! " All are amazed. " Go, my son," says the Bishop, " and my prayers and the blessing of God go with you." At this moment, Gregorez is brought before Gismonda. He begs the Bishop to refrain from giving his blessing to Almerio. " He is the slayer of Zaccaria. He killed him last night," Gregorez exclaims. Gregorez continues his narrative under the watching eyes of Gismonda. Almerio stands impassive. It seems, according to Gregorez, Zaccaria went to see Almerio on the previous evening, to persuade him to break his vow to claim Gismonda. " I my- self guided him to Almerio's hut," Gregorez explains, " afterwards leaving them to talk. The murdered body of Zaccaria was found in a ravine near Alraerio's hut. It is Almerio who killed him ! " " Are you going to permit this ? " asks Thisbe, aside, to Gismonda. " Patience," Gismonda answers. The Bishop questions Almerio. " It's true," he says, simply. " I killed Zaccaria. He insulted me, and I took his life." 26 GISMONDA. " La mort ! la mort ! " ils orient. Gismonda leur dit qu'ils faisaient trop de bruit dans l' Taime plus que jamais. II s'est eprouve un homme parmi les hommes nobles. " Halte- la, Stradella. Je vous donnerai un autre Gregorez. C'est son tour, maintenant." Elle dit a Gregorez que c'est lui qui a jete son fils au tigre, par ordre de Zacaria. " Je vous 1'ai entendue dire vous-meme a Zacaria. et aussi que vous aviez dessein de assassiner Almerio ! " " Mais j'ai refuse," crie Gregorez, se trahisant. " Yous avez refuse parce qu'il n'etait pas si facile a tuer un homme qu'un enfant. Mais ce n'est pas Almerio qui a tue Zacaria. C'est moi ! " Hardiment Gismonda confesse son acte. Gregoras est emporte prisonnier. Sa fin s'approache ! " Et maintenant que j'ai punie les autres, je dirai mes propres delits." Elle raconte son experience des lieures passees, qui en defiant de son vo3u sacre, elle a offert de sacrifier son honneur pour garder son duche. Elle confesse qu'elle est alle a la cabane d' Almerio pour le rencontrer ; qu'il n'y a qu'une apologie pour sa folie ; rhomine a qni elle a sacrifie son honheur est un hero, un homme si brave et si bon qu'une femme est justifiee en 1'aimant. Gismonda se tourne vers Almerio et le prie, avec humilite, de lui pardonner GISMONDA. 27 The barons ask Gismonda what punishment she will put upon Almerio. " Death, death ! " they cry. Gismonda tells them that they are making too much noise in church, that her peo- ple are leading the conversation ; not only that, but talking louder than she. There is deep silence. " I will speak with Almerio," she says, at length. " But why ? he says lie is guilty," the barons ask. " Because I wish it ; that is enough ; " and, in the face of such determination, all exeunt, save Almerio. Gismonda asks Almerio why he has confessed to this murder ; why he has put himself in a false position, where she cannot utter one word to save him ? " It means death," she explains. " I know it ! " "And torture." " I know it 1 " " If I acknowledge my part in the matter, I prove may own dishonor." Gismonda states the case truly. It means the dishonor of the Duchess of Athens, the mother of the future Duke." Almerio advises her to say nothing. He is selling his life willingly. He has been happy ; has had his moments of absolute triumph over her ; has known what it is to hold the loveliest and proudest of women in his arms. What more can he ask of destiny, of God, of man ? With the memory of her face he is willing to die without a murmur. All that he asks is a bit of consecrated ground : will Gismonda give him that ? She promises. Thisbe, who sees Almerio giving himself up to Stradella, reproaches Gismonda. Gismonda tells her it is a test. She has been watching Almerio's heroic struggle. She loves him now more than ever. He has proved himself. He is a man among men, a man among noblemen. " Stop, Stradella, I will give you another ! " Gismonda looks at Gregorez. It is his turn now. She tells Gregorez that it was he who threw her boy to the tiger at the order of Zaccaria. " I heard you say so, yourself. You intended to kill Almerio " " But I refused," cried the unhappy Gregorez, trapped into betraying himself. " You refused because it was not as easy to deal with a man as with a child. But it was not Almerio who killed Zaccaria. It was I ! " Fearlessly the Duchess confesses her deed. Gregorez is taken away, a prisoner. His end is near. " And now, after punishing others, let me confess my own wrongdoing," and Gis- monda states her own experiences during the past few hours. How, in defiance of her sacred vow to Almerio, she offered to sacrifice her honor rather than the duchy. She confesses that she went to Almerio's hut to keep tryst with him. There is, she admits, but one excuse for her folly the man for whom she has forgotten her honor is a hero, 28 GISMONDA. en la prenant comme e"pouse ; qu'il serait le gouverneur de son peuple et le pere de son fils. " Je serai votre femme fidele et ob&ssante, si vous voulez m'accepter." La Duchesse s'humilie devant le fauconnier. Almerio prend sa main avec joie. II jure de la proteger et son fils aussi, et d'etre nn bon prince a ses sujets. ILusignan prend son tour de parler. II jure la fide'lite' la plus sincere, & elle et a Almerio, an nom de tout les juges. L'orgue sonne le u Gloria " et Athenes possede un nouveau souverain. GISMOKDA. 29 so brave and true that most women would have been justified in giving him their love. Gismonda then turns towards Almerio. She asks him humbly, before her listening subjects, to forgive her and to become her husband, the leader of her people and the father of her little son. " I will be a good wife, a faithful servant, if you will listen to my humble prayer," the Duchess entreats the falconer. Almerio is only too glad and proud to take the proffered hand. He promises duty towards Gismonda, her son and the people. Lusignan in turn, as spokesman for the crowd to whom Gismonda has confessed, offers the most faithful allegiance to Almerio in the name of all of their judges. The organ rolls out " Gloria." Athens has a new leader. LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. 20m-8,'61(02084s4)476 Of ce 'g, le y, id be instrument that should be in every household. Ana tne greatest among pianos is the STEINWAY, prized and cherished throughout the wide world by all lovers of good music. Or, in the words of a well-known American writer: "Wherever human hearts are sad or glad, and songs are sung, and strings vibrate, and keys respond to love's caress, there is known, respected, revered loved the name and fame of STEINWAY." Catalogue and prices on application. Sold on convenient payments. Old pianos ta^en in exchange. Inspection invited. STEINWAY & SONS, STEINWAY HALL 107-109 EAST FOURTEENTH STREET, NEW YORK CITY Subway Express Stations at the Door :: Represented by the Foremost Dealers Everywhere