Domnei: A Comedy of Woman-Worship
Page 5
"I hear, and I obey," the Jew replied. He went away patiently.
Then Demetrios turned toward Melicent, rejoicing that his chattel hadgolden hair and was comely beyond comparison with all other women hehad ever seen.
Said Demetrios:
"I love you, Melicent, and you do not love me. Do not be offendedbecause my speech is harsh, for even though I know my candour isdistasteful I must speak the truth. You have been obdurate too long,denying Kypris what is due to her. I think that your brain is giddybecause of too much exulting in the magnificence of your body and inthe number of men who have desired it to their own hurt. I concede yourbeauty, yet what will it matter a hundred years from now?
"I admit that my refrain is old. But it will presently take on a morepoignant meaning, because a hundred years from now you--even you, dearMelicent!--and all the loveliness which now causes me to estimate lifeas a light matter in comparison with your love, will be only a bone ortwo. Your lustrous eyes, which are now more beautiful than it ispossible to express, will be unsavoury holes and a worm will crawlthrough them; and what will it matter a hundred years from now?
"A hundred years from now should anyone break open our gilded tomb, hewill find Melicent to be no more admirable than Demetrios. One skull islike another, and is as lightly split with a mattock. You will be asugly as I, and nobody will be thinking of your eyes and hair. Hail,rain and dew will drench us both impartially when I lie at your side,as I intend to do, for a hundred years and yet another hundred years.You need not frown, for what will it matter a hundred years from now?
"Melicent, I offer love and a life that derides the folly of all othermanners of living; and even if you deny me, what will it matter ahundred years from now?"
His face was contorted, his speech had fervent bitterness, for evenwhile he wooed this woman the man internally was raging over his owninfatuation.
And Melicent answered:
"There can be no question of love between us, seignior. You purchasedmy body. My body is at your disposal under God's will."
Demetrios sneered, his ardours cooled. He said, "I have already toldyou, my girl, I do not care for that which can be purchased."
In such fashion Melicent abode among these odious persons as a lilywhich is rooted in mire. She was a prisoner always, and when Demetrioscame to Nacumera--which fell about irregularly, for now arose muchfighting between the Christians and the pagans--a gem which he uncased,admired, curtly exulted in, and then, jeering at those hot wishes inhis heart, locked up untouched when he went back to warfare.
To her the man was uniformly kind, if with a sort of sneer she couldnot understand; and he pillaged an infinity of Genoese and Venetianships--which were notoriously the richest laden--of jewels, veils,silks, furs, embroideries and figured stuffs, wherewith to enhance thecomeliness of Melicent. It seemed an all-engulfing madness with thisdespot daily to aggravate his fierce desire of her, to nurture hisobsession, so that he might glory in the consciousness of treading downno puny adversary.
Pride spurred him on as witches ride their dupes to a foreknowndestruction. "Let us have patience," he would say.
Meanwhile his other wives peered from screened alcoves at these two andduly hated Melicent. "Let us have patience!" they said, also, but witha meaning that was more sinister.
PART THREE
DEMETRIOS
_Of how Dame Melicent's fond lovers goAs comrades, working each his fellow's woe:Each hath unhorsed the other of the twain,And knoweth that nowhither 'twixt UkraineAnd Ormus roameth any lion's sonMore eager in the hunt than Perion,Nor any viper's sire more venomousThrough jealous hurt than is Demetrios._
11.
_How Time Sped with Perion_
It is a tale which they narrate in Poictesme, telling of what befellPerion de la Foret after he had been ransomed out of heathenry. Theytell how he took service with the King of Cyprus. And the tale tellshow the King of Cyprus was defeated at sea by the Emir of Arsuf; andhow Perion came unhurt from that battle, and by land relieved thegarrison at Japhe, and was ennobled therefor; and was afterward calledthe Comte de la Foret.
Then the King of Cyprus made peace with heathendom, and Perion lefthim. Now Perion's skill in warfare was leased to whatsoever lord woulddare contend against Demetrios and the proconsul's magic swordFlamberge: and Perion of the Forest did not inordinately concernhimself as to the merits of any quarrel because of which battalionsdied, so long as he fought toward Melicent. Demetrios was pleased, andthrilled with the heroic joy of an athlete who finds that heunwittingly has grappled with his equal.
So the duel between these two dragged on with varying fortunes, and theyears passed, and neither duellist had conquered as yet. Then KingTheodoret, third of that name to rule, and once (as you have heard) awooer of Dame Melicent, declared a crusade; and Perion went to him atLacre Kai. It was in making this journey, they say, that Perion passedthrough Pseudopolis, and had speech there with Queen Helen, the delightof gods and men: and Perion conceded this Queen was well-enough to lookat.
"She reminds me, indeed, of that Dame Melicent whom I serve in thisworld, and trust to serve in Paradise," said Perion. "But Dame Melicenthas a mole on her left cheek."
"That is a pity," said an attendant lord. "A mole disfigures a prettywoman."
"I was speaking, messire, of Dame Melicent."
"Even so," the lord replied, "a mole is a blemish."
"I cannot permit these observations," said Perion. So they fought, andPerion killed his opponent, and left Pseudopolis that afternoon.
Such was Perion's way.
He came unhurt to King Theodoret, who at once recognised in the famousComte de la Foret the former Vicomte de Puysange, but gave no sign ofsuch recognition.
"Heaven chooses its own instruments," the pious King reflected: "andthis swaggering Comte de la Foret, who affects so many names has alsothe name of being a warrior without any peer in Christendom. Let usfirst conquer this infamous proconsul, this adversary of our Redeemer,and then we shall see. It may be that heaven will then permit me todetect this Comte de la Foret in some particularly abominable heresy.For this long-legged ruffian looks like a schismatic, and wouldsingularly grace a rack."
So King Theodoret kissed Perion upon both cheeks, and created himgeneralissimo of King Theodoret's forces. It was upon St. George's daythat Perion set sail with thirty-four ships of great dimensions andadmirable swiftness.
"Do you bring me back Demetrios in chains," said the King, fondlingPerion at parting, "and all that I have is yours."
"I mean to bring back my stolen wife, Dame Melicent," was Perion'sreply: "and if I can manage it I shall also bring you this Demetrios,in return for lending me these ships and soldiers."
"Do you think," the King asked, peevishly, "that monarchs nowadays fitout armaments to replevin a woman who is no longer young, and who wasalways stupid?"
"I cannot permit these observations--" said Perion.
Theodoret hastily explained that his was merely a general observation,without any personal bearing.
12.
_How Demetrios Was Taken_
Thus it was that war awoke and raged about the province of Demetrios astirelessly as waves lapped at its shores.
Then, after many ups and downs of carnage,[1: Nicolas de Caen giveshere a minute account of the military and naval evolutions, with afullness that verges upon prolixity. It appears expedient to omit allthis.] Perion surprised the galley of Demetrios while the proconsulslept at anchor in his own harbour of Quesiton. Demetrios foughtnakedly against accoutred soldiers and had killed two of them with hishands before he could be quieted by an admiring Perion.
Demetrios by Perion's order was furnished with a sword of ordinaryattributes, and Perion ridded himself of all defensive armour. The twomet like an encounter of tempests, and in the outcome Demetrios waswounded so that he lay insensible.
Demetrios was taken as a prisoner toward the domains of King Theodoret.
"Only you are my private capture," said Perion; "conquer
ed by my ownhand and in fair fight. Now I am unwilling to insult the most valiantwarrior whom I have known by valuing him too cheaply, and I accordinglyfix your ransom as the person of Dame Melicent."
Demetrios bit his nails.
"Needs must," he said at last. "It is unnecessary to inform you thatwhen my property is taken from me I shall endeavour to regain it. Ishall, before the year is out, lay waste whatever kingdom it is thatharbours you. Meanwhile I warn you it is necessary to be speedy in thisransoming. My other wives abhor the Frankish woman who has supplantedthem in my esteem. My son Orestes, who succeeds me, will be guided byhis mother. Callistion has thrice endeavoured to kill Melicent. If anyharm befalls me, Callistion to all intent will reign in Nacumera, andshe will not be satisfied with mere assassination. I cannot guess whattorment Callistion will devise, but it will be no child's play--"
"Hah, infamy!" cried Perion. He had learned long ago how cunning theheathen were in such cruelties, and so he shuddered.
Demetrios was silent. He, too, was frightened, because this despotknew--and none knew better--that in his lordly house far overseaCallistion would find equipment for a hundred curious tortures.
"It has been difficult for me to tell you this," Demetrios then said,"because it savours of an appeal to spare me. I think you will havegleaned, however, from our former encounters, that I am notunreasonably afraid of death. Also I think that you love Melicent. Forthe rest, there is no person in Nacumera so untutored as to cross myleast desire until my death is triply proven. Accordingly, I who amDemetrios am willing to entreat an oath that you will not permitTheodoret to kill me."
"I swear by God and all the laws of Rome--" cried Perion.
"Ey, but I am not very popular in Rome," Demetrios interrupted. "Iwould prefer that you swore by your love for Melicent. I would preferan oath which both of us may understand, and I know of none other."
So Perion swore as Demetrios requested, and set about the conveyance ofDemetrios into King Theodoret's realm.
13.
_How They Praised Melicent_
The conqueror and the conquered sat together upon the prow of Perion'sship. It was a warm, clear night, so brilliant that the stars wereinvisible. Perion sighed. Demetrios inquired the reason. Perion said:
"It is the memory of a fair and noble lady, Messire Demetrios, thatcauses me to heave a sigh from my inmost heart. I cannot forget thatloveliness which had no parallel. Pardieu, her eyes were amethysts, herlips were red as the berries of a holly tree. Her hair blazed in thelight, bright as the sunflower glows; her skin was whiter than milk;the down of a fledgling bird was not more grateful to the touch thanwere her hands. There was never any person more delightful to gazeupon, and whosoever beheld her forthwith desired to render love andservice to Dame Melicent."
Demetrios gave his customary lazy shrug. Demetrios said:
"She is still a brightly-coloured creature, moves gracefully, has asweet, drowsy voice, and is as soft to the touch as rabbit's fur.Therefore, it is imperative that one of us must cut the other's throat.The deduction is perfectly logical. Yet I do not know that my love forher is any greater than my hatred. I rage against her patient toleranceof me, and I am often tempted to disfigure, mutilate, even to destroythis colourful, stupid woman, who makes me wofully ridiculous in my owneyes. I shall be happier when death has taken the woman who ventures todeal in this fashion with Demetrios."
Said Perion:
"When I first saw Dame Melicent the sea was languid, as if outworn byvain endeavours to rival the purple of her eyes. Sea-birds were adriftin the air, very close to her and their movements were less gracefulthan hers. She was attired in a robe of white silk, and about herwrists were heavy bands of silver. A tiny wind played truant in orderto caress her unplaited hair, because the wind was more hardy than I,and dared to love her. I did not think of love, I thought only of thenoble deeds I might have done and had not done. I thought of myunworthiness, and it seemed to me that my soul writhed like an eel insunlight, a naked, despicable thing, that was unworthy to render anylove and service to Dame Melicent."
Demetrios said:
"When I first saw the girl she knew herself entrapped, her body mine,her life dependent on my whim. She waved aside such pettyinconveniences, bade them await an hour when she had leisure toconsider them, because nothing else was of any importance so long as myporter went in chains. I was an obstacle to her plans and nothing more;a pebble in her shoe would have perturbed her about as much as I did.Here at last, I thought, is genuine common-sense--a clear-headeddecision as to your actual desire, apart from man-taught ethics, andfearless purchase of your desire at any cost. There is something notunakin to me, I reflected, in the girl who ventures to deal in thisfashion with Demetrios."
Said Perion:
"Since she permits me to serve her, I may not serve unworthily.To-morrow I shall set new armies afield. To-morrow it will delight meto see their tents rise in your meadows, Messire Demetrios, and to seeour followers meet in clashing combat, by hundreds and thousands, somightily that men will sing of it when we are gone. To-morrow one of usmust kill the other. To-night we drink our wine in amity. I have nottime to hate you, I have not time to like or dislike any living person,I must devote all faculties that heaven gave me to the loveand service of Dame Melicent."
Demetrios said:
"To-night we babble to the stars and dream vain dreams as other foolshave done before us. To-morrow rests--perhaps--with heaven; but, dependupon it, Messire de la Foret, whatever we may do to-morrow will befoolishly performed, because we are both besotted by bright eyes andlips and hair. I trust to find our antics laughable. Yet there is thatin me which is murderous when I reflect that you and she do not dislikeme. It is the distasteful truth that neither of you considers me to beworth the trouble. I find such conduct irritating, because no otherpersons have ever ventured to deal in this fashion with Demetrios."
"Demetrios, already your antics are laughable, for you pass blindly bythe revelation of heaven's splendour in heaven's masterwork; you ignorethe miracle; and so do you find only the stings of the flesh where Ifind joy in rendering love and service to Dame Melicent."
"Perion, it is you that play the fool, in not recognising that heavenis inaccessible and doubtful. But clearer eyes perceive the not at alldoubtful dullness of wit, and the gratifying accessibility of everywoman when properly handled,--yes, even of her who dares to deal inthis fashion with Demetrios."
Thus they would sit together, nightly, upon the prow of Perion's shipand speak against each other in the manner of a Tenson, as these tworhapsodised of Melicent until the stars grew lustreless before the sun.
14.
_How Perion Braved Theodoret_
The city of Megaris (then Theodoret's capital) was ablaze with bonfireson the night that the Comte de la Foret entered it at the head of hisforces. Demetrios, meanly clothed, his hands tied behind him, trudgedsullenly beside his conqueror's horse. Yet of the two the gloomier faceshowed below the count's coronet, for Perion did not relish theimpendent interview with King Theodoret. They came thus amid muchshouting to the Hotel d'Ebelin, their assigned quarters, and sleptthere.
Next morning, about the hour of prime, two men-at-arms accompanied afettered Demetrios into the presence of King Theodoret. Perion of theForest preceded them. He pardonably swaggered, in spite of hisunderlying uneasiness, for this last feat, as he could not ignore, wasa performance which Christendom united to applaud.
They came thus into a spacious chamber, very inadequately lighted. Thewalls were unhewn stone. There was but one window, of uncoloured glass;and it was guarded by iron bars. The floor was bare of rushes. On oneside was a bed with tattered hangings of green, which were adorned withrampant lions worked in silver thread much tarnished; to the right handstood a _prie-dieu_. Between these isolated articles of furniture, andbehind an unpainted table sat, in a high-backed chair, a wizen andshabbily-clad old man. This was Theodoret, most pious and penurious ofmonarchs. In attendance upon him were Fra Battista, prior o
f the GreyMonks, and Melicent's near kinsman, once the Bishop, now the Cardinal,de Montors, who, as was widely known, was the actual monarch of thisrealm. The latter was smartly habited as a cavalier and showed innothing like a churchman.
The infirm King arose and came to meet the champion who had performedwhat many generals of Christendom had vainly striven to achieve. Heembraced the conqueror of Demetrios as one does an equal.
Said Theodoret:
"Hail, my fair friend! you who have lopped the right arm of heathenry!To-day, I know, the saints hold festival in heaven. I cannot recompenseyou, since God alone is omnipotent. Yet ask now what you will, short ofmy crown, and it is yours." The old man kissed the chief of all histreasures, a bit of the True Cross, which hung upon his breastsupported by a chain of gold.
"The King has spoken," Perion returned. "I ask the life of Demetrios."
Theodoret recoiled, like a small flame which is fluttered by itskindler's breath. He cackled thinly, saying:
"A jest or so is privileged in this high hour. Yet we ought not to makea jest of matters which concern the Church. Am I not right, Ayrart? Oh,no, this merciless Demetrios is assuredly that very Antichrist whosecoming was foretold. I must relinquish him to Mother Church, in orderthat he may be equitably tried, and be baptised--since even he may havea soul--and afterward be burned in the market-place."
"The King has spoken," Perion replied. "I too have spoken."
There was a pause of horror upon the part of King Theodoret. He was atfirst in a mere whirl. Theodoret said: