Domnei: A Comedy of Woman-Worship

by James Branch Cabell

  Demetrios gently said:

  "A bargain is a bargain. My wives are beautiful, but their caressesannoy me as much as formerly they pleased me. I have long thought itwould perhaps amuse me if I possessed a Christian wife who had eyeslike violets and hair like gold, and a plump white body. A man tiresvery soon of ebony and amber.... Procure me such a wife and I willwillingly release this Perion and all his fellows who are yet alive."

  "But, seignior,"--and the boy was shaken now,--"you demand of me animpossibility!"

  "I am so hardy as to think not. And my reason is that a man throws fromthe elbow only, but a woman with her whole arm."

  There fell a silence now.

  "Why, look you, I deal fairly, though. Were such a woman here--Demetrios of Anatolia's guest--I verily believe I would not hinder herdeparture, as I might easily do. For there is not a person within manymiles of this place who considers it wholesome to withstand me. Yetwere this woman purchasable, I would purchase. And--if she refused--Iwould not hinder her departure; but very certainly I would put Perionto the Torment of the Waterdrops. It is so droll to see a man go madbefore your eyes, I think that I would laugh and quite forget thewoman."

  She said, "O God, I cry to You for justice!"

  He answered:

  "My good girl, in Nacumera the wishes of Demetrios are justice. But wewaste time. You desire to purchase one of my belongings? So be it. Iwill hear your offer."

  Just once her hands had gripped each other. Her arms fell now as ifthey had been drained of life. She spoke in a dull voice.

  "Seignior, I offer Melicent who was a princess. I cry a price,seignior, for red lips and bright eyes and a fair woman's tender bodywithout any blemish. I cry a price for youth and happiness and honour.These you may have for playthings, seignior, with everything which Ipossess, except my heart, for that is dead."

  Demetrios asked, "Is this true speech?"

  She answered:

  "It is as sure as Love and Death. I know that nothing is more sure thanthese, and I praise God for my sure knowledge."

  He chuckled, saying, "Platitudes break no bones."

  So on the next day the chains were filed from Perion de la Foret andall his fellows, save the nine unfortunates whom Demetrios hadappointed to fight with lions a month before this, when he hadentertained the Soldan of Bacharia. These men were bathed and perfumedand richly clad.

  A galley of the proconsul's fleet conveyed them toward Christendom andset the twoscore slaves of yesterday ashore not far from Megaris. Thecaptain of the galley on departure left with Perion a blue napkin,wherein were wrapped large emeralds and a bit of parchment.

  Upon this parchment was written:

  "Not these, but the body of Melicent, who was once a princess,purchased your bodies. Yet these will buy you ships and men and swordswith which to storm my house where Melicent now is. Come if you willand fight with Demetrios of Anatolia for that brave girl who loved aporter as all loyal men should love their Maker and customarily do not.I think it would amuse us."

  Then Perion stood by the languid sea whichsevered him from Melicent and cried:

  "O God, that hast permitted this hard bargain, trade now with me! nowbarter with me, O Father of us all! That which a man has I will give."

  Thus he waited in the clear sunlight, with no more wavering in his facethan you may find in the next statue's face. Both hands strained towardthe blue sky, as though he made a vow. If so, he did not break it.

  And now no more of Perion.

  * * * * *

  At the same hour young Melicent, wrapped all about with aflame-coloured veil and crowned with marjoram, was led by a spruce boytoward a threshold, over which Demetrios lifted her, while many peoplesang in a strange tongue. And then she paid her ransom.

  "Hymen, O Hymen!" they sang. "Do thou of many names and many temples,golden Aphrodite, be propitious to this bridal! Now let him firstcompute the glittering stars of midnight and the grasshoppers of asummer day who would count the joys this bridal shall bring about! Hymen,O Hymen, rejoice thou in this bridal!"

  8.

  _How Demetrios Was Amused_

  Now Melicent abode in the house of Demetrios, whom she had not seensince the morning after he had wedded her. A month had passed. As yetshe could not understand the language of her fellow prisoners, butHalaon, a eunuch who had once served a cardinal in Tuscany, informedher the proconsul was in the West Provinces, where an invading forcehad landed under Ranulph de Meschines.

  A month had passed. She woke one night from dreams of Perion--what elseshould women dream of?--and found the same Ahasuerus that had broughther news of Perion's captivity, so long ago, attendant at her bedside.

  He seemed a prey to some half-scornful mirth. In speech, at least, theman was of entire discretion. "The Splendour of the World desires yourpresence, madame." Thus the Jew blandly spoke.

  She cried, aghast at so much treachery, "You had planned this!"

  He answered:

  "I plan always. Oh, certainly, I must weave always as the spiderdoes.... Meanwhile time passes. I, like you, am now the servitor ofDemetrios. I am his factor now at Calonak. I buy and sell. I estimateounces. I earn my wages. Who forbids it?" Here the Jew shrugged. "Andto conclude, the Splendour of the World desires your presence, madame."

  He seemed to get much joy of this mouth-filling periphrasis assneeringly he spoke of their common master.

  * * * * *

  Now Melicent, in a loose robe of green Coan stuff shot through andthrough with a radiancy like that of copper, followed the thin, smilingJew Ahasuerus. She came thus with bare feet into the Court of Stars,where the proconsul lay on the divan as though he had not ever movedfrom there. To-night he was clothed in scarlet, and barbaric ornamentsdangled from his pierced ears. These glittered now that his head moveda little as he silently dismissed Ahasuerus from the Court of Stars.

  Real stars were overhead, so brilliant and (it seemed) so near theyturned the fountain's jet into a spurt of melting silver. The moon wasset, but there was a flaring lamp of iron, high as a man's shoulder,yonder where Demetrios lay.

  "Stand close to it, my wife," said the proconsul, "in order that I maysee my newest purchase very clearly."

  She obeyed him; and she esteemed the sacrifice, however unendurable,which bought for Perion the chance to serve God and his love for her byvalorous and commendable actions to be no cause for grief.

  "I think with those old men who sat upon the walls of Troy," Demetriossaid, and he laughed because his voice had shaken a little. "MeanwhileI have returned from crucifying a hundred of your fellow worshippers,"Demetrios continued. His speech had an odd sweetness. "Ey, yes, Iconquered at Yroga. It was a good fight. My horse's hoofs were red atits conclusion. My surviving opponents I consider to have beendeplorable fools when they surrendered, for people die less painfullyin battle. There was one fellow, a Franciscan monk, who hung six hoursupon a palm tree, always turning his head from one side to the other.It was amusing."

  She answered nothing.

  "And I was wondering always how I would feel were you nailed in hisplace. It was curious I should have thought of you.... But your whiteflesh is like the petals of a flower. I suppose it is as readilydestructible. I think you would not long endure."

  "I pray God hourly that I may not!" said tense Melicent.

  He was pleased to have wrung one cry of anguish from this lovelyeffigy. He motioned her to him and laid one hand upon her naked breast.He gave a gesture of distaste.

  Demetrios said:

  "No, you are not afraid. However, you are very beautiful. I thoughtthat you would please me more when your gold hair had grown a triflelonger. There is nothing in the world so beautiful as golden hair. Itsbeauty weathers even the commendation of poets."

  No power of motion seemed to be in this white girl, but certainly youcould detect no fear. Her clinging robe shone like an opal in thelamplight, her body, only partly veiled, was enticing, and her visagewas
very lovely. Her wide-open eyes implored you, but only as those ofa trapped animal beseech the mercy for which it does not really hope.Thus Melicent waited in the clear lamplight, with no more wavering inher face than you may find in the next statue's face.

  In the man's heart woke now some comprehension of the nature of herlove for Perion, of that high and alien madness which dared to make ofDemetrios of Anatolia's will an unavoidable discomfort, and no more.The prospect was alluring. The proconsul began to chuckle as waterpours from a jar, and the gold in his ears twinkled.

  "Decidedly I shall get much mirth of you. Go back to your own rooms. Ihad thought the world afforded no adversary and no game worthy ofDemetrios. I have found both. Therefore, go back to your own rooms," hegently said.

  9.

  _How Time Sped in Heathenry_

  On the next day Melicent was removed to more magnificent apartments,and she was lodged in a lofty and spacious pavilion, which had threeporticoes builded of marble and carved teakwood and Andalusian copper.Her rooms were spread with gold-worked carpets and hung with tapestriesand brocaded silks figured with all manner of beasts and birds in theirproper colours. Such was the girl's home now, where only happiness wasdenied to her. Many slaves attended Melicent, and she lacked fornothing in luxury and riches and things of price; and thereafter sheabode at Nacumera, to all appearances, as the favourite among theproconsul's wives.

  It must be recorded of Demetrios that henceforth he scrupulouslydemurred even to touch her. "I have purchased your body," he proudlysaid, "and I have taken seizin. I find I do not care for anything whichcan be purchased."

  It may be that the man was never sane; it is indisputable that themainspring of his least action was an inordinate pride. Here he hadstumbled upon something which made of Demetrios of Anatolia a temporarydiscomfort, and which bedwarfed the utmost reach of his ill-doing intoequality with the molestations of a house-fly; and perception of thisfact worked in Demetrios like a poisonous ferment. To beg or once againto pillage he thought equally unworthy of himself. "Let us havepatience!" It was not easily said so long as this fair Frankish womandared to entertain a passion which Demetrios could not comprehend, andof which Demetrios was, and knew himself to be, incapable.

  A connoisseur of passions, he resented such belittlement tempestuously;and he heaped every luxury upon Melicent, because, as he assuredhimself, the heart of every woman is alike.

  He had his theories, his cunning, and, chief of all, an appreciation ofher beauty, as his abettors. She had her memories and her clean heart.They duelled thus accoutred.

  Meanwhile his other wives peered from screened alcoves at these two andduly hated Melicent. Upon no less than three occasions did Callistion--the first wife of the proconsul and the mother of his elder son--attempt the life of Melicent; and thrice Demetrios spared the woman atMelicent's entreaty. For Melicent (since she loved Perion) couldunderstand that it was love of Demetrios, rather than hate of her,which drove the Dacian virago to extremities.

  Then one day about noon Demetrios came unheralded into Melicent'sresplendent prison. Through an aisle of painted pillars he came to her,striding with unwonted quickness, glittering as he moved. His robe thisday was scarlet, the colour he chiefly affected. Gold glowed upon hisforehead, gold dangled from his ears, and about his throat was a broadcollar of gold and rubies. At his side was a cross-handled sword, in ascabbard of blue leather, curiously ornamented.

  "Give thanks, my wife," Demetrios said, "that you are beautiful. Forbeauty was ever the spur of valour." Then quickly, joyously, he toldher of how a fleet equipped by the King of Cyprus had been despatchedagainst the province of Demetrios, and of how among the invaders werePerion of the Forest and his Free Companions. "Ey, yes, my porter hasreturned. I ride instantly for the coast to greet him with appropriatewelcome. I pray heaven it is no sluggard or weakling that is come outagainst me."

  Proudly, Melicent replied:

  "There comes against you a champion of noted deeds, a courteous andhardy gentleman, pre-eminent at swordplay. There was never any man moreready than Perion to break a lance or shatter a shield, or more eagerto succour the helpless and put to shame all cowards and traitors."

  Demetrios dryly said:

  "I do not question that the virtues of my porter are innumerable.Therefore we will not attempt to catalogue them. Now Ahasuerus reportsthat even before you came to tempt me with your paltry emeralds youonce held the life of Perion in your hands?" Demetrios unfastened hissword. He grasped the hand of Melicent, and laid it upon the scabbard."And what do you hold now, my wife? You hold the death of Perion. Itake the antithesis to be neat."

  She answered nothing. Her seeming indifference angered him. Demetrioswrenched the sword from its scabbard, with a hard violence that madeMelicent recoil. He showed the blade all covered with graved symbols ofwhich she could make nothing.

  "This is Flamberge," said the proconsul; "the weapon which was thepride and bane of my father, famed Miramon Lluagor, because it was thesword which Galas made, in the old time's heyday, for unconquerableCharlemagne. Clerks declare it is a magic weapon and that the man whowields it is always unconquerable. I do not know. I think it is asdifficult to believe in sorcery as it is to be entirely sure that allwe know is not the sorcery of a drunken wizard. I very potentlybelieve, however, that with this sword I shall kill Perion."

  Melicent had plenty of patience, but astonishingly little, it seemed,for this sort of speech. "I think that you talk foolishly, seignior.And, other matters apart, it is manifest that you yourself concedePerion to be the better swordsman, since you require to be abetted bysorcery before you dare to face him."

  "So, so!" Demetrios said, in a sort of grinding whisper, "you thinkthat I am not the equal of this long-legged fellow! You would thinkotherwise if I had him here. You will think otherwise when I havekilled him with my naked hands. Oh, very soon you will thinkotherwise."

  He snarled, rage choking him, flung the sword at her feet and quittedher without any leave-taking. He had ridden three miles from Nacumerabefore he began to laugh. He perceived that Melicent at least respectedsorcery, and had tricked him out of Flamberge by playing upon histetchy vanity. Her adroitness pleased him.

  Demetrios did not laugh when he found the Christian fleet had beeningloriously repulsed at sea by the Emir of Arsuf, and had nevereffected a landing. Demetrios picked a quarrel with the victoriousadmiral and killed the marplot in a public duel, but that wasinadequate comfort.

  "However," the proconsul reassured himself, "if my wife reports at alltruthfully as to this Perion's nature it is certain that this Perionwill come again." Then Demetrios went into the sacred grove upon thehillsides south of Quesiton and made an offering of myrtle-branches,rose-leaves and incense to Aphrodite of Colias.

  10.

  _How Demetrios Wooed_

  Ahasuerus came and went at will. Nothing was known concerning thissoft-treading furtive man except by the proconsul, who had noconfidants. By his decree Ahasuerus was an honoured guest at Nacumera.And always the Jew's eyes when Melicent was near him were asexpressionless as the eyes of a snake, which do not ever change.

  Once she told Demetrios that she feared Ahasuerus.

  "But I do not fear him, Melicent, though I have larger reason. For Ialone of all men living know the truth concerning this same Jew.Therefore, it amuses me to think that he, who served my wizard fatherin a very different fashion, is to-day my factor and ciphers over myaccounts."

  Demetrios laughed, and had the Jew summoned.

  This was in the Women's Garden, where the proconsul sat with Melicentin a little domed pavilion of stone-work which was gilded with red goldand crowned with a cupola of alabaster. Its pavement was of transparentglass, under which were clear running waters wherein swam red andyellow fish.

  Demetrios said:

  "It appears that you are a formidable person, Ahasuerus. My wife herefears you."

  "Splendour of the Age," returned Ahasuerus, quietly, "it is notoriousthat women have long hair and short wi
ts. There is no need to fear aJew. The Jew, I take it, was created in order that children mightevince their playfulness by stoning him, the honest show theircommon-sense by robbing him, and the religious display their piety byburning him. Who forbids it?"

  "Ey, but my wife is a Christian and in consequence worships a Jew."Demetrios reflected. His dark eyes twinkled. "What is your opinionconcerning this other Jew, Ahasuerus?"

  "I know that He was the Messiah, Lord."

  "And yet you do not worship Him."

  The Jew said:

  "It was not altogether worship He desired. He asked that men shouldlove Him. He does not ask love of me."

  "I find that an obscure saying," Demetrios considered.

  "It is a true saying, King of Kings. In time it will be made plain.That time is not yet come. I used to pray it would come soon. Now I donot pray any longer. I only wait."

  Demetrios tugged at his chin, his eyes narrowed, meditating. Helaughed.

  Demetrios said:

  "It is no affair of mine. What am I that I am called upon to haveprejudices concerning the universe? It is highly probable there aregods of some sort or another, but I do not so far flatter myself as toconsider that any possible god would be at all interested in my opinionof him. In any event, I am Demetrios. Let the worst come, and inwhatever baleful underworld I find myself imprisoned I shall maintainmyself there in a manner not unworthy of Demetrios." The proconsulshrugged at this point. "I do not find you amusing, Ahasuerus. You maygo."