_Ber._ Where no words go or come....
_Ard._ When we came back?
_Ber._ Walking the light between the parted stars, And met the days that knew us ... naught could hide The eternal joy within it. Twas a world Whose beauty lay allwheres. O, not alone In morning skies and mated larks a-wing!
Each rag-hung thing was dipped in chosen time And wore its royal hour.
_Ard._ If that could be!
_Ber._ What seers, what eyes of light, outshone the pain That gave them being! Tears that silvered graves Globed in their pearl the immortal hope of men, And seemed as beautiful as prophecy Burning in its own truth. Ay, where a man Fell murdered, crying "I forgive," the ground Sprang as a garden----
_Ard._ Murdered? O, not that!
How could you say it? I had forgot, forgot!
Love in your dream looked you quite through the soul Of Time on things to be? What saw you then?
Ah, tell me!
_Ber._ Then?... Then came this dimmer light Which you called morning, and I saw no more.
_Ard._ I would I knew!
_Ber._ You fear even now?
_Ard._ O, me!
_Ber._ Sweet, leave these shadows--dreams of ancient night That cling too late upon a day-warm world.
Must I persuade you still that Oswald means Our happiness?
_Ard._ Hark you! They come, my lord.
_Ber._ The sunrise feast. Fit place and time to break The fast of love.
_Ard._ O, hear! So many feet!
_Ber._ Dear trembler, do not fear.
_Ard._ They"re here, my lord.
_Ber._ Welcome the world. It has no eye can make Our own seek earth.
[_Doors open. Enter Frederick, Oswald, Charilus, Berenice, with lords and ladies attending. Servants follow bearing trays, and lay the table. Ardia hastens to her father and they talk apart. Oswald advances to Bertrand, right, the others lingering left_]
_Osw._ I am forgiven?
_Ber._ Forgiven!
Ask G.o.d and Love! I"ll thank you all my life That you did force me take my only way To Heaven.
_Osw._ Hmm! And I spent a bitter night Fearing your morning face.
_Ber._ It was my soul"s Birth-night.
_Osw._ G.o.d bless me, you are grateful, sir.
But you"ve good reason. [_Looks at Ardia_] I had no such mate To make the dark hours fly.
_Ber._ Pray speak to her.
_Osw._ In my good time.
_Ber._ Nay, now!
_Osw._ The day is long.
I shall be gentle, for I owe her much Who gives me back my son. Come to our guests.
_Ber._ Does Frederick----
_Osw._ Ay, he knows all, and bears No grudge.
_Ber._ Knows all?
_Osw._ He clapped my plot as though His own thick noll had hatched it.
_Ber._ And the princess----
_Osw._ You see her smile? There"s answer for you. Come!
No blush! Put on a face. Your bridal news Shall sauce our banquet.
[_They move to guests_]
_Fred._ [_To Bertrand_] Greet you, sir! But why So pale, my lord? I fear me you have spent A sleepless night.
_Ber._ Ay, as the stars.
_A Lord._ The stars?
He winked then, by the rood!
_Ber._ What do you say?
_Lord._ I say the stars do wink, most gracious prince.
_Osw._ Come, find your seats, my friends! Yet two of us, Lord Charilus and my unworthy self Must keep our feet till we have drunk the wine Made sacrosanct by one night"s rest upon The Virgin"s altar.
[_Bertrand places Ardia"s seat by her father, who stands at the left of Oswald_]
You, fair Berenice, Sit at my right, and on your other side The graceless prince of Suli begs for room.
_Bere._ He beg, my lord? I have not heard his tongue, And for his eyes, I fear no leek of Wales Could pull a beggar"s tear from them to oil This suit. But he is welcome.
_Ber._ [_Taking seat by her_] Thank you, lady.
[_When all are seated save Charilus and Oswald a priest enters bearing a chalice of wine which he places on table before Oswald_]
_Osw._ This is the cup by angels visited In night"s deep hours. Herein they dropped the peace Of Heaven, which Charilus and I shall take Into our hearts. I know in truth it holds Sweet peace for me--the peace that thirty years My veins have ached for. Charilus, what say you?