Complete Works of Thomas Hardy (Illustrated)

Home > Fiction > Complete Works of Thomas Hardy (Illustrated) > Page 851
Complete Works of Thomas Hardy (Illustrated) Page 851

by Thomas Hardy

Why am I stung by spectral questionings?

  Did not my clouded soul incline to match

  Those of the corpses yonder, thou should'st rue

  Thy saying, Fiend, whoever those may'st be!...

  Why did the death-drops fail to bite me close

  I took at Fontainebleau? Had I then ceased,

  This deep had been umplumbed; had they but worked,

  I had thrown threefold the glow of Hannibal

  Down History's dusky lanes!—Is it too late?...

  Yes. Self-sought death would smoke but damply here!

  If but a Kremlin cannon-shot had met me

  My greatness would have stood: I should have scored

  A vast repute, scarce paralleled in time.

  As it did not, the fates had served me best

  If in the thick and thunder of to-day,

  Like Nelson, Harold, Hector, Cyrus, Saul,

  I had been shifted from this jail of flesh,

  To wander as a greatened ghost elsewhere.

  —Yes, a good death, to have died on yonder field;

  But never a ball came padding down my way!

  So, as it is, a miss-mark they will dub me;

  And yet—I found the crown of France in the mire,

  And with the point of my prevailing sword

  I picked it up! But for all this and this

  I shall be nothing....

  To shoulder Christ from out the topmost niche

  In human fame, as once I fondly felt,

  Was not for me. I came too late in time

  To assume the prophet or the demi-god,

  A part past playing now. My only course

  To make good showance to posterity

  Was to implant my line upon the throne.

  And how shape that, if now extinction nears?

  Great men are meteors that consume themselves

  To light the earth. This is my burnt-out hour.

  SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

  Thou sayest well. Thy full meridian-shine

  Was in the glory of the Dresden days,

  When well-nigh every monarch throned in Europe

  Bent at thy footstool.

  NAPOLEON

  Saving always England's—

  Rightly dost say "well-nigh."—Not England's,—she

  Whose tough, enisled, self-centred, kindless craft

  Has tracked me, springed me, thumbed me by the throat,

  And made herself the means of mangling me!

  SPIRIT IRONIC

  Yea, the dull peoples and the Dynasts both,

  Those counter-castes not oft adjustable,

  Interests antagonistic, proud and poor,

  Have for the nonce been bonded by a wish

  To overthrow thee.

  SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

  Peace. His loaded heart

  Bears weight enough for one bruised, blistered while!

  SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

  Worthless these kneadings of thy narrow thought,

  Napoleon; gone thy opportunity!

  Such men as thou, who wade across the world

  To make an epoch, bless, confuse, appal,

  Are in the elemental ages' chart

  Like meanest insects on obscurest leaves,

  But incidents and grooves of Earth's unfolding;

  Or as the brazen rod that stirs the fire

  Because it must.

  [The moon sinks, and darkness blots out NAPOLEON and the scene.]

  AFTER SCENE

  THE OVERWORLD

  [Enter the Spirit and Chorus of the Years, the Spirit and Chorus

  of the Pities, the Shade of the Earth, the Spirits Sinister and

  Ironic with their Choruses, Rumours, Spirit-messengers and

  Recording Angels.

  Europe has now sunk netherward to its far-off position as in the

  Fore Scene, and it is beheld again as a prone and emaciated figure

  of which the Alps form the vertebrae, and the branching mountain-

  chains the ribs, the Spanish Peninsula shaping the head of the

  ecorche. The lowlands look like a grey-green garment half-thrown

  off, and the sea around like a disturbed bed on which the figure

  lies.]

  SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

  Thus doth the Great Foresightless mechanize

  In blank entrancement now as evermore

  Its ceaseless artistries in Circumstance

  Of curious stuff and braid, as just forthshown.

  Yet but one flimsy riband of Its web

  Have we here watched in weaving—web Enorm,

  Whose furthest hem and selvage may extend

  To where the roars and plashings of the flames

  Of earth-invisible suns swell noisily,

  And onwards into ghastly gulfs of sky,

  Where hideous presences churn through the dark—

  Monsters of magnitude without a shape,

  Hanging amid deep wells of nothingness.

  Yet seems this vast and singular confection

  Wherein our scenery glints of scantest size,

  Inutile all—so far as reasonings tell.

  SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

  Thou arguest still the Inadvertent Mind.—

  But, even so, shall blankness be for aye?

  Men gained cognition with the flux of time,

  And wherefore not the Force informing them,

  When far-ranged aions past all fathoming

  Shall have swung by, and stand as backward years?

  SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

  What wouldst have hoped and had the Will to be?—

  How wouldst have paeaned It, if what hadst dreamed

  Thereof were truth, and all my showings dream?

  SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

  The Will that fed my hope was far from thine,

  One I would thus have hymned eternally:—

  SEMICHORUS I OF THE PITIES [aerial music]

  To Thee whose eye all Nature owns,

  Who hurlest Dynasts from their thrones,

  And liftest those of low estate

  We sing, with Her men consecrate!

  SEMICHORUS II

  Yea, Great and Good, Thee, Thee we hail,

  Who shak'st the strong, Who shield'st the frail,

  Who hadst not shaped such souls as we

  If tendermercy lacked in Thee!

  SEMICHORUS I

  Though times be when the mortal moan

  Seems unascending to Thy throne,

  Though seers do not as yet explain

  Why Suffering sobs to Thee in vain;

  SEMICHORUS II

  We hold that Thy unscanted scope

  Affords a food for final Hope,

  That mild-eyed Prescience ponders nigh

  Life's loom, to lull it by-and-by.

  SEMICHORUS I

  Therefore we quire to highest height

  The Wellwiller, the kindly Might

  That balances the Vast for weal,

  That purges as by wounds to heal.

  SEMICHORUS II

  The systemed suns the skies enscroll

  Obey Thee in their rhythmic roll,

  Ride radiantly at Thy command,

  Are darkened by Thy Masterhand!

  SEMICHORUS I

  And these pale panting multitudes

  Seen surging here, their moils, their moods,

  All shall "fulfil their joy" in Thee

  In Thee abide eternally!

  SEMICHORUS II

  Exultant adoration give

  The Alone, through Whom all living live,

  The Alone, in Whom all dying die,

  Whose means the End shall justify! Amen.

  SPIRIT OF THE PITIES

  So did we evermore, sublimely sing;

  So would we now, despise thy forthshowing!

  SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

  Something of difference animates your quiring,

  O half-convinced Compassionates and fond,

  From c
hords consistent with our spectacle!

  You almost charm my long philosophy

  Out of my strong-built thought, and bear me back

  To when I thanksgave thus.... Ay, start not, Shades;

  In the Foregone I knew what dreaming was,

  And could let raptures rule! But not so now.

  Yea, I psalmed thus and thus.... But not so now.

  SEMICHORUS I OF THE YEARS [aerial music]

  O Immanence, That reasonest not

  In putting forth all things begot,

  Thou build'st Thy house in space—for what?

  SEMICHORUS II

  O loveless, Hateless!—past the sense

  Of kindly eyed benevolence,

  To what tune danceth this Immense?

  SPIRIT IRONIC

  For one I cannot answer. But I know

  'Tis handsome of our Pities so to sing

  The praises of the dreaming, dark, dumb Thing

  That turns the handle of this idle show!

  As once a Greek asked I would fain ask too,

  Who knows if all the Spectacle be true,

  Or an illusion of the gods [the Will,

  To wit] some hocus-pocus to fulfil?

  SEMICHORUS I OF THE YEARS [aerial music]

  Last as first the question rings

  Of the Will's long travailings;

  Why the All-mover,

  Why the All-prover

  Ever urges on and measure out the chordless chime of Things.

  SEMICHORUS II

  Heaving dumbly

  As we deem,

  Moulding numbly

  As in dream

  Apprehending not how fare the sentient subjects of Its scheme.

  SEMICHORUS I OF THE PITIES

  Nay;—shall not Its blindness break?

  Yea, must not Its heart awake,

  Promptly tending

  To Its mending

  In a genial germing purpose, and for loving-kindness sake?

  SEMICHORUS II

  Should it never

  Curb or care

  Aught whatever

  Those endure

  Whom It quickens, let them darkle to extinction swift and sure.

  CHORUS

  But—a stirring thrills the air

  Like to sounds of joyance there

  That the rages

  Of the ages

  Shall be cancelled, and deliverance offered from the darts that were,

  Consciousness the Will informing, till It fashion all things fair!

  September 25, 1907

  THE DYNASTS

  DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS

  PREFACE

  PART FIRST

  CHARACTERS

  FORE SCENE

  ACT FIRST

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  ACT SECOND

  SCENE I

  SCENE II.

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  ACT THIRD

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  ACT FOURTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  ACT FIFTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  ACT SIXTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  SCENE VIII

  PART SECOND

  ACT FIRST

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  SCENE VIII

  ACT SECOND

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  ACT THIRD

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  ACT FOURTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  SCENE VIII

  ACT FIFTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  SCENE VIII

  ACT SIXTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  PART THIRD

  ACT FIRST

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  SCENE VIII

  SCENE IX

  SCENE X

  SCENE XI

  SCENE XII

  ACT SECOND

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  ACT THIRD

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  ACT FOURTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  SCENE VIII

  ACT FIFTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  ACT SIXTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  SCENE VIII

  ACT SEVENTH

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  SCENE VIII

  SCENE IX

  AFTER SCENE

  TRAGEDY OF THE QUEEN OF CORNWALL

  This one-act play was published in 1923 and first performed by the Hardy Players, a local, talented amateur group in Dorchester, for whom Hardy had written the drama. The entire play is set in Tintagel during a single day, with a true time frame.

  CONTENTS

  CHARACTERS

  PROLOGUE

  SCENE I

  SCENE II

  SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  SCENE V

  SCENE VI

  SCENE VII

  SCENE VIII

  SCENE IX

  SCENE X

  SCENE XI

  SCENE XII

  SCENE XIII

  SCENE XIV

  SCENE XV

  SCENE XVI

  SCENE XVII

  SCENE XVIII

  SCENE XIX

  SCENE XX

  SCENE XXI

  SCENE XXII

  EPILOGUE

  CHARACTERS

  MARK, KING OF CORNWALL.

  SIR TRISTRAM.

  SIR ANDRET.

  OTHER KNIGHTS.

  SQUIRES.

  MESSENGER.

  HERALD.

  WATCHMAN.

  RETAINERS, MUSICIANS, ETC.

  ISEULT THE FAIR, QUEEN OF CORNWALL.

  ISEULT THE WHITEHANDED.

  DAME BRANGWAIN.

  DAMSEL.

  THE QUEEN’S ATTENDANTS, BOWE
RWOMEN, ETC.

  SHADES OF DEAD OLD CORNISH MEN

  SHADES OF DEAD CORNISH WOMEN

  MERLIN.

  The Time covered by the events is about the Time of representation.

  THE TRAGEDY OF THE QUEEN OF CORNWALL

  The Stage can be any large room; round or at the end of which the audience sits. It is potrayed as the interior of the Great Hall of Tintagel Castle.The floor is strewn with rushes : that there is an arch in the back-centre (a doorway or other opening may counterfeit this) through which the Atlantic is visible across an outer ward and over the ramparts of the stronghold : that a door is on the left, and one on the right (curtains, screens or chairs may denote these) : that a settle spread with skins is among the moveables : that above at the back is a gallery {which may be represented by any elevated piece of furniture on which two actors can stand, in a corner of the room screened off).The costumes of the cast are the conventional ones of linen fabrics, made gay with knots and rosettes of ribbon, as in the old mumming shows ; though on an actual stage they may be more realistic.

  PROLOGUE

  Enter Merlin, a -phantasmal figure with a white wand. The room is darkened: a blue light may be thrown on Merlin.

  Merlin

  I come, at your persuasive call, To raise up in this modern hall A tragedy of dire duresse That vexed the Land of Lyonnesse: — Scenes, with their passions, hopes, and fears Sunk into shade these thousand years; To set, in ghostly grave array,

  Their blitheness, blood, and tears, Feats, ardours, as if rife to-day Before men’s eyes and ears.

  The tale has travelled far and wide: — Yea, that King Mark, to fetch his bride, Sent Tristram; then that he and she Quaffed a love-potion witlessly While homeward bound. Hence that the King

  Wedded one heart-aflame For Tristram! He, in dark despair, Roved recklessly, and wived elsewhere One of his mistress’ name.

  I saw these times I represent, Watched, gauged them as they came and went,

  Being ageless, deathless! And those two Fair women — namesakes — well I knew! Judge them not harshly in a love

  Whose hold on them was strong; Sorrow therein they tasted of, And deeply, and too long!

  Exit.

  SCENE I

  ENTER Shades of Dead Old Cornish Men AND Shades OF Cornish Women FROM LEFT AND RIGHT

  Chanters: Men (in recitative)

  Tristram a captive of King Mark, Racked was the Queen with qualm and cark, Till reached her hand a written line, That quickened her to deft design.

  Chanters: Women

  Then, Tristram out, and Mark shut in, The Queen and Tristram winged to win Card Castle, where, without annoy, Monthswhile they lodged in matchless joy!

  Chanters: Men

  Anon, when Queen Iseult had homed, Brittany-wards Sir Tristram roamed To greet his waiting wife,

  White-handed Iseult, whom the Queen Had recked not of. But soon, in teen

 

‹ Prev