BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Henrg M, Sage 1891 /s^.s,MU^. agMl a 5931 Cornell University Library PR5172.K5 The klng:a tragedy in a continous series 3 1924 013 535 459 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 92401 3535459 THE KING THE KING A TRAGEDY IN A CONTINU- OUS SERIES OF SCENES BV STEPHEN PHILLIPS LONDON STEPHEN SWIFT AND CO LIMITED 16 KING STREET COVENT GARDEN WC MCMXII NOTE This play is constructed after the Greek and not the Shakespearian model, and is divided into a series of scenes, not acts. The subject is one of intense tragedy, but the author hopes that he has treated a story, inevitably grim and reminiscent of the Athenian][drama, with something of Greek reticence and dignity. CHARACTERS Philip, King of Spain. Don Carlos, his Son and Heir. Senior Gonzaga, Prime Minister. Fernando, an old Servant. Donna Christina, a lady of the Court. Nobles, Prelates, Courtiers, Courriers, etc. ^he Scene is the ancient capital of Madrid. THE KING SCENE ONE THE KING Princes and prelates, nobles, courtiers, friends ! Now thirty years have I unfaltering Held in these hands the reins of policy And here have pacified and there repressed, Pursuing peace with unsurrendered power. And much of this felicity I owe To sage suggestion of Gonzaga here. [A murmur of admiration runs through the court.'] But, friends, I grow aweary of my task, \A deefer murmur of astonishment.] And would relinquish onerous royalty. And this high seat I lightly abdicate 9 Since in my vacant room I set my son Carlos. [Jn applauding shout, which visibly pleases the King.'] His youth unstained, his grave record When youthful blood hath license, recom- mends him. But that he might not climb these stairs un- tried, But straight from battle to a throne proceed, I have dispatched him against Granada To expel the encroaching Moor ; each moment now I look for him ; but happier augury I publicly proclaim that he shall wed The princess child of royal Portugal. This marriage builds a barrier doubly strong, Against assault a rampart twice secure. [Here Donna Christina, a lady of the court, swoons, and is borne outward.] So with a twofold gladness I expect A son that \varrior and bridegroom comes. [A courrier rushes in breathless and kneels before the King.] 10 COURRIER O King ! great tidings out of Granada ! The city is retaken, the Moor is fled ; And brightest over all in battle burned The Prince, who by a sudden flank assault Drove headlong the surprised Moroccan arms ; And still they fled, and still the Prince pur- sued. Already hard upon me is our host. [The sound of drums and bugles of the return- ing army is heard, and with loud trium- phant shouts the court disperses to welcome the victors, leaving only the King and Gonzaga.} THE KING Gonzaga, let me not in flood of joy Omit a duty. She who swooned but now. Donna Christina, I have reared till now. But ere I abdicate I will to leave A spacious and a broad estate to her, To be a home, or dowry should she wed. Her mother I knew well in other days. II I cannot leave her to a youth's caprice, Who might o'erlook her need,, no cause assigned. Let this not slip ! GONZAGA O King, be thou assured. [J burst of music outside, and Don Carlos rushes in, blood-spattered, and is caught in his father'^s arms, who holds him close in silence."] THE KING My dear, dear son ! — God, for this perfect moment Let us not suffer afterward. Again, Again I kiss thee through the spattered blood. Thou hast no scar ? CARLOS Scathless have I come off. THE KING And now I gird on thee this dazzling toy j [He girds a jewelled dagger on the Prince."] 12 A toy, yet capable of mortal use. [The Prince draws the blade and looks smilingly at j^] CARLOS A pretty thing to wear, if not to use. THE KING But still to give felicity a crown, My son, a bride awaits thee ! [The Prince starts away from his father, who, however, continues unconsciously.} Ah, this news Strikes sudden on you ! Listen, then ! [He takes the Prince by the arm, walking to and fro excitedly.} She, is A royal daughter out of Portugal. This marriage seals two neighbour kingdoms close. And builds a bristling frontier 'gainst the Moor. So you as soldier and as lover reign ! 13 What is your answer ? [The Prince remains silent, mth bowed head. The King stands gazing at him astonished. A pause.] Carlos, answer me ! [Still the Prince is silent. Again a pause.] Boy, look up in my face and speak, at least ! And let me have a human word from you ! CARLOS [raising his head] Father, I am o'er-flurried from the war, Give me a little pause ! THE KING A pause ? But why ? Have I deserved such silence from my son ? Have I not compassed you with deeper love Than e'er man gave to woman ? Since you lisped, Have I not hoarded every whisper up ? Have I not cried aloud to God for thee ? Hot speech from you, or maddest reason given I can endure, but motionless refusal, 14 Silence and sullenness I will not bear. That you must seek and choose your phrase I loathe. When have I given you cause to hide your thought, Until this instant so transparent clear ! [He faces to and fro in agitation, then pauses before his sonJ] Still silent ! CARLOS Father, give me till to-night ! THE KING Child, you have not lived long enough to know What pain you deal me with your secretness. GONZAGA Prince, you will pardon me, but on your word Hangs here the embassy from Portugal. It will be taken at that fiery court An insult, making more to war than peace '5 If this proposed marriage you defer, And no cause given. CARLOS To-night I'll give the cause, Father, to you alone — then as you will. THE KING How suddenly my bliss is clouded o'er, And what was free and bright, constrained and dark. To-night your certain answer then ! [Going.] To-night ! [Exeunt King and Gonzaga. The Prince passes his hand over his brow in a gesture of doubt and terror.] i6 SCENE TWO DON CARLOS and CHRISTINA The scene is a sequestered arbour in an obscure fart of the royal garden. Here amid the shrubs and fragrant bushes of that teeming southern land have these two been ac- customed to meet. As the curtain rises they are clasped in a silent embrace. CHRISTINA [drawing slightly apart from him] Dear, all the palace rings with thee ; thy charge And headlong, wild, improbable assault, That flung the Moor surprised from Granada ; And I have listened, glowing secretly. I said no word, but gloried to myself. My very silence was more proud than words. But ah ! before the heroic news came in. The King, thy father, 'pointing you his heir, Spoke of an alien marriage politic, To be a barrier and a wall to Spain. 17 Then, ah, forgive my weakness, I fell back, Borne to the air. CARLOS This moment I have left My father for the first time wroth and sad ; For well you know that he and I have lived Transparent as two friends, no shade between us. He broke to me this marriage in blind joy : I answered not ; dear, dear, what covdd I say ? Last he appointed I must answer him To-night. The embassy from Portugal Expects from me a " Yes " that will be " No." CHRISTINA Carlos, I feel that I should go from you. [He starts and clasps her more closely to him.] I stand between you and the public weal. Beloved, howsoe'er these lips are sweet, You shall not set my kiss before a throne, Prefer a lonely woman to the State. [He starts impatiently.] i8 No ! hear me to the end. You shall fulfil This marriage, love, the issue is too vast ; The safety of this ancient throne, and rule Of all this murmuring nation. But the heir That shall be born [She comes close to him, whispering in his ear.] our child already lives. You mean ? CARLOS CHRISTINA For the first time I have felt it stir Within me ; then I swooned amid the court. CARLOS [in wild agitation'] Then doubly, trebly, am I now resolved, Since two lives hang on me, and now not one, That you shall be my wife, and publicly Raised to the dazzling splendour I inherit. pale the anointing oil, and dim the crown, If thou wert not beside me sitting ; or 1 will forego the glory and the war. The applause, and battle glistening in the sun, 19 And we will quit the splendour hand in hand, Walking together like two simple folk, Who love and cannot see the earth for love. CHRISTINA No, no ! I must renounce the very life. The gold presented cup of crimson wine ; And I will be to you as are the dead. If one can die, and yet consume in flame. Ah, but renunciation hath a fire, It is not cold ; God knows it is not cold. What battle like this battle ? I forsake Deliberately, as a woman can, — For to a man possession is the sum. The charm, the mystery and azure light ; So strong my love of you ; I'll pass away ; And fear not that our babe shall ever know Who is his father ; I will cherish him By the slow stream and grasses far from courts. Even now he feels out blindly toward the sun. Moving in me as in a world obscure. We two shall be most happy so alone. If thou, for we are mystically knit, Shouldst hear a pretty babble in the night, 20 Out of strange fields, and know it is thy son, Yet still be strong ; I'll see thee nevermore. [Suddenly clasping him to her.}, No more ! Ah ! but thou'lt come, if only once ! And I shall run and hurl me on thy heart, And as out of great darkness see a light. But noi come not to me ! I'll not forget ; I shall go down, filled with thee, to the grave. And still I tell thee, put my arms aside ! A boy thou wast, now seek the sterner task ! CARLOS A boy ! I am no boy ; deep in my blood, Too deep, a moment ever to be moved, My thought of you. Is't the mere touch of lips. To feel my circling arm about your waist. To murmur verses under fading stars ? Why you encircle me as doth the air, And nothing breathes or moves apart from you. The universe hath got from you a soul ; Since first I saw you, on a fated night, 21 From the dark palace casement secretly, Leaning with loosened hair to midnight lilies, O then more solemn grew the woods, the hills More strange, the mere more perilous still. More lone the bird, returning in red light, And ah ! that moon new brought upon the heaven ! Thou art more sweet than souls of evening flowers In a dim world, and ere a star hath come. Vain, vain the throne ! for thou alone art real ! But see, the sun is falling down in gold. And with the night I must await the King. You'll leave me not ? [Again clasping her close.] CHRISTINA I will not. Yet I fear. — [He tears himself away as the light rapidly darkens^ 22 SCENE THREE The Throne Room of the Palace. The Prince has asked to see his father alone before giving his answer to the ambassador from Portugal, in regard to the pro-posed political marriage. THE KING Carlos, since first I gave you to the light, Never a cloud has come between us two. This is the first, dispel it now with speed ! CARLOS Father ! THE KING I have not been o'er-strict with you. Never asserted a mere father's rig^t. But we have been as friends ; never before Have you refused me confidence ; yet now You stand in guarded silence which I loathe, 23 As though you must be careful with your words ; 'Tis this I hate, not any folly done, Whatever it be ; but that you will not speak To me, to me, at least. CARLOS But I will speak ; Forgive me whatsoe'er I shall disclose ; Father, your life serene to all is known, Your days ascetic, and my mother dead. Never a woman has had power on you. THE KING O, it is that way, is it ! so I guessed ; [Taking his son^s arm, he walks to and fro with him in a friendly fashion.] Listen ! A young man's trouble, natural To youth, appears to stay you from this marriage. 'Tis difficult to take a solemn view, [The Prince starts.] 24 Yes, yes, I know ! I only ask of you That you are free with me ; I have the right. I'll save your blushing cheek and stammering tongue ; Hunting perhaps the deer, or walking lone Through distant villages, you saw some maid. Simple and sweet amid our summer fields, Her beauty breathing fragrant as the hay, And lingering with her in a twilight lane. Followed the kiss and then the uttered word, By passion sped, repented in the cold. CARLOS No, no, you understand me not at all. THE KING Too well I understand. But I would tell you I cannot take this prank of blood as grave. [Laughing as he walks with the Prince to and fro J] Twilight, a hedge of may, and coming stars, A face amid the dimness ! All is said. Confess now, I have hit you. »5 CARLOS Father, no ! THE KING Still, still you will not satisfy me, boy ; Have I not made confession's pathway soft ? And yet you will not tread it. Silent still ! Now I will humble my white hair to you, And teU you, I myself, young then as you, Was drawn into sweet folly ; but the throne Demanded me and all this people's care. Then I dismissed each wanton, wandering thought, And set my teeth and rose to sterner things. And this you too must do ; the occasion cries Aloud for sacrifice of crude desires. It asjrs for wisdom, wildness put aside. CARLOS Pity me, father ! THE KING Now that I have bent So far, as to unfold to my own son 26 A far-off folly, is it much I ask That you should open to me all your soul ? Come, come ! Some girl you cannot bring to court. CARLOS No, for she is already of the court ! THE KING Ah, this is better. For at least this fault Was with some lady nobly born ? CARLOS 'Tis so. She hath been nobly born, and in her face, Her step, the certain proof of lineage high. THE KING But there hath been no secret marriage, speak ! CARLOS As yet no marriage ! 27 THE KING Then my fears are o'er. All this is easy, and what seems to you So tangled, this Gonzaga can unravel. For he is ripe and still and unsurprised. You say it is some lady in my court. I'll not demand her name ; unless you give it, And be assured, for my own sake that name Shall never be divulged. CARLOS Sir, you have been So open and so much a trusted friend All those past years, and now you show your- self So easy with me that I'll not keep back The name of her I love. THE KING You love ? Ah well ! — CARLOS Believe me that I do. 28 THE KING [smiling] I once thought so. Well, well ? CARLOS The name I call her is Christina. [The King starts back, grasping the rail of the throne ; there is a breathless pause.] Father, I know not of her parentage. Nor who her mother and her father were ; It is sufficient that she is received Among the noble ladies of your court. So much for that ; but that her blood is proud, You, you yourself — ^if you would scan her close. Could not deny ; even royal I would take her. But that I know that here she would not stand Attending, came she true from royalty. THE KING [With difficulty recovering speech] But there has been no marriage. CARLOS No, not yet. 39 THE KING O boy, be frank with me ; I am very old, I£ only then that I am old refuse not Answer ! CARLOS I will not. All things I will tell. THE KING Then how far has this matter gone, say, sayl You think me too impatient, but impatience Is due to tremulous age. I understand Almost without the telling, it has been The kiss forbidden and the secret speech And ancient poetry beneath the moon, The touch of hand — ^yes, yes, perhaps the clasp. When the last star is fading to the dawn, No more ? — ^You understand, I press you not. But there hath been no more ? CARLOS There has been more. 30 THE KING But you two, you are not abandoned yet To the act of fire ? CARLOS Even to the act of fire. THE KING God, God ! CARLOS O, Sir, you say that you yourself Were in your youth not guiltless, why of me Ask such a dread account? Father, I love you, I love you, ah forgive me. THE KING I love you. CARLOS Then here I kneel, I pray you to forgive me, I will not loose your knees till you relent. THE KING [Kissing the bent head of the Prince"] I kiss you as of old. 31 CARLOS I feel your tears Drop on my hair. THE KING Vain tears of an old man. But one thing else ; so far then things have gone Between you, but no issue of that act ? CARLOS Alas ! I have just learned from her own lips That I have brought new life into this world. THE KING O Thou, that sittest in Thy heaven, relent ! They say that when a thing is done 'tis done. It is a lie ; our lightest act takes wings, And is made free of space for evermore. CARLOS But, father, though a child is born to me Out of this passion and none borne to you, Am I therefore more guilty than yourself ? 33 And for this reason now am I resolved That she shall be my wife, and publicly My wife proclaimed ; my love had been enough, But now this marriage is demanded of me. THE KING This marriage cannot be. CARLOS [angrily approaching his father] What, then, shall stay me ? Let go the crown ! The high, imperial seat ! The glory and the marching hosts of war. All these are faint beneath a woman's smile. What then shall stop me, or who shall inter- vene ? Not you yourself, you even, my very father. What high compulsion ? THE KING This : I am her father. [The King falls backward unconscious on the throne, the Prince staggering from him in horror.] c 33 SCENE FOUR Again the secluded arbour. Christina, singing softly to herself, starts suddenly to her feet as she is aware of Carlos standing silently gazing on her ; but not as formerly ap- proaching her. CHRISTINA Ah ! [She rushes towards him. He steps back- ward, motioning her away. She stands transfixed.] Love, why do you motion me away ? And say no word at all ? Why may I not Fly to thee to be gathered on thy heart As ever ? What is my unconscious fault ? What is my ignorant trespass ? Or has thy father Between us fixed a gulf as deep as that Between the rich man and the poor in hell ? Or hast thou done some rash thing in thy rage? 34 Carlos, thou hast not stained thy hands in blood ? Horrible ! in his blood ? Thou dost not stir ! And still and dim thou growest and far-off, Looking into my eyes a long farewell. Love, if I may not come to thee, yet tell me, And swiftly, in warm words, what hath be- fallen. What sudden thing hath come between us two? CARLOS No sudden thing, but one far back in time. CHRISTINA I cannot gather this. Is't that he knows — CARLOS He knows. CHRISTINA Even then 'tis not in thee To shudder away from me ; rather to hold me Closer, and with strong arms to shelter me. 35 If we have sinned beyond a father's pity, Then with how many lovers are we damned ! CARLOS [with repressed passion] Believe me that I have not shrunk from you From ebbing passion, or from guilty fear. At heaven I'd spit back immortality, , Might I moment cross this yard of ground That separates us now : but we henceforth Must keep a measured distance evermore. CHRISTINA Is then our love so cursed ? CARLOS [wildly] Cursed ? Ah, how cursed ! Lady, no love was ever cursed as this. Our kiss was potent to put out the stars. CHRISTINA Lady! 36 CARLOS Come thou no nearer, but declare Whose child thou art. CHRISTINA My mother I remember — CARLOS Thy father ? CHRISTINA Died, they said, ere I was born. CARLOS But if he lives ? CHRISTINA He lives ? My father lives ? CARLOS And reigns ! CHRISTINA Carlos, I reel and fall — thy arm ! 37 CARLOS I must not clasp her, tho' she reel and fall ; I dare not touch her body even in death. CHRISTINA [recovering herself in slow effort] And all that time thy kisses were — ^how sweet ! [A pause.] Yet all unconsciously we came to this, And in all innocency have we loved. CARLOS Yet unto this we came. CHRISTINA O Carlos, now A sterner summons asketh more of us Than just to part ; that I should say farewell, And pass out of thy life for evermore. Now not to thee alone I say adieu ; I say farewell to all the earth at once. I stifle to be gone ; I ache to plunge In the pure water of the purging grave. 38 And yet — and yet — O, I must cry it out To all the gods assembled with cold eyes. I love, love, love thee, past all bar o£ birth. Forgive me, Christ, I cannot help but love him. CARLOS Cease ! Or I'll leap this interval of earth, And in the face of God Himself regain thee. [J silent flash of lightning is seen.] They thrust at us from on high ; there is no need : For me this earthly steel suffices well. [Touching the dagger with which he is girded.] CHRISTINA For thee and me — together must we die. CARLOS Now 'tis the deep of night. CHRISTINA I will not wait The sun with curious accusing beam. 39 CARLOS This love was of the night, not of the sun. CHRISTINA This night then, and with speed ! Surely we two Of all who ever loved are most unhappy. Lovers who fell in death in olden time Might sob the life out in each other's arms. CARLOS Or did she take the poison from his lips. CHRISTINA A venom sweet — and all the dark to come ! CARLOS His whisper weakened, yet into her ear. CHRISTINA Dimmer she gazed, but yet into his eyes. 40 CARLOS Over them came old odour o£ red may. CHRISTINA Or the sweet rustle of forbidden lanes. CARLOS But we with failing breath apart must lie ; Beautiful earth whereon we must not stay ! CHRISTINA And you forbidden stars, how bright to leave ! CARLOS On all the glory now we look our last ; And without kiss, CHRISTINA or pressure of the hand, Albeit we sway together helplessly. Hopelessly t'ward each other swaying still. Like trees across a river, then withdraw. 41 CARLOS Yet without cry, but with a Roman heart We seek the steel that giveth honour back. CHRISTINA [gently] Perchance, when we have winged a separate flight, When we are free of flesh, from blood released, God will not place his bar between our spirits. For nowise in the spirit have we erred. CARLOS [drawing the dagger given him] This blade my father gave me in his joy ; See how the jewelled haft sparkles and gleams. 'Tis fitting we should use it in our sorrow. Now to some darker place, that we may die. CHRISTINA Carlos, thouy thou wilt kill me first. CARLOS I cannot. 42 CHRISTINA Give me the steel ! I feared that I might strike Uncertainly : the child here must not linger. [She, taking the glittering dagger, goes slowly out, he following her.] 43 SCENE FIVE ^he King is seen standing near the throne, which he does not ascend, Gonzaga attend- ing. GONZAGA [After a -pause. He speaks somewhat lightly] The affair no doubt is angry and perplexed. More deeply difficult than any I Have disentangled. But no problem yet, No situation howsoe'er confused, Hath baffled me ; and with the sagest heads, The wariest brains, my lot hath been to fight. Doubt not. Your Majesty, that he who once Outthought and outdid scheming Angelo, Shall bring to wisdom fancy of a boy. THE KING No fancy, it hath struck too deep, I fear. 44 GONZAGA Nothing in youth strikes deep ; or not so deep, But it can be persuaded or outplucked. Leave then the hoy to me. I have dispatched On all sides messengers to find him out And bring him to a private conference Forthwith ; he hath not gone far in so short a time. Leave him to me and be yourself unseen. You by, I cannot undertake to speak That which I have already in my mind. And I have here a list of those most near. Both to your throne and heart ; to call them in And at the fitting moment speak to them. But be not seen ; each moment he may come. Such was the summons that he must obey. THE KING I'll go apart ; God aid your conference. [Exit the King. Meanwhile a courrier has entered, with lantern, who stands silent.] 45 GONZAGA [seeing Coitrrier] Well, have you found the Prince ? When will he come ? FIRST COURRIER My lord, where'er you sent me I have searched But found no sign. GONZAGA Nor heard you any news ? FIRST COURRIER From no one could I glean a certain word. [J second courrier appears on the other side.] GONZAGA [to First Courrier] Well, go again ! Don Carlos must be found. [Exit First Courrier. Gonzaga turns on the second.] And you ? SECOND COURRIER All o'er the palace garden dark I sought and left no cranny unexplored. 46 Night makes more difficult our task ; the eye Deceives, and we must touch to be assured. [J third courrier comes in behind him.] GONZAGA You there who come behind, you have some clue ? THIRD COURRIER None, none, my lord, I fear the Prince is gone. GONZAGA Gone whither ? THIRD COURRIER That I cannot tell. But we Lose time to look for him still hereabout. GONZAGA Back, both of you ! Although all night you spend. 47 You'll be well paid ; the King for tidings chafes. [Exeunt Second and Third Courriers. Gonzaga, impatiently turning from them, encounters an old man, entering slowly on the opposite side, holding his left hand behind him.} GONZAGA Ah ! old Fernando ! well from you I knew I would have certain tidings at the last. Is the Prince on his way ? FERNANDO Ay ! But not hither. GONZAGA Darkly you speak. And why behind you held Your left hand, as to hide some precious thing? A jewel is it ? FERNANDO 'Tis a jewelled thing. 48 GONZAGA What, then ? FERNANDO [holding a dagger blood-stained] A blade, and dyed with twofold blood. [Gonzaga starts back in horror.'] GONZAGA This is his answer eloquent to me ! FERNANDO This blood I know ; 'tis that of my young lord ; For I have bound up many a careless wound He has incurred ; the other blood was strange. But I have found from whom the stream hath flowed. GONZAGA Say then what other blood with his is mixed. FERNANDO I came upon two lying motionless In a dark covert ; and the moon was full. D 49 They lay in no embrace, not even hand In hand was clasped, nor to each other turned ; As though they feared each other more than death, And yet they looked a lover and his love. The Prince I knew, and by his side the blade. The other GONZAGA But one other there could Ue. Give me the knife ! You still composure keep. And summon all of those here written down, That they attend forthwith in the outer room The pleasure of the King. Take this and go. [Exit Fernando with -pa-pers. Gonzaga stands gazing on the dagger held before him. Silently the King enters from behind the throne. There is a pause.] THE KING That blade I gave to Carlos. 50 GONZAGA He hath used it. [The King for a time f reserves a deadly calm.'] THE KING This is the life-blood of my only son. GONZAGA O King ! THE KING And she— ^^ — GONZAGA She too hath dyed the steel. THE KING Strange that I cannot cry aloud, nor weep ! Give me the dagger ! It is doubly mine ; This horror muffles me as in a dream, And all unreal is this encrusted toy. [Suddenly, with a loud cry, he reels backward, caught in Gonzaga's arms.] 51 My children ! [J pause ; slowly he recovers himself,] Two I had ; a boy and girl, I with a far-off kiss have slain them both. If they can die so young, then I so old Will follow them down to an equal tomb, I, the grand cause, and this at least I owe, My place is with them. GONZAGA [pointing to the throne^ No, thy place is there. With suicide an opiate refused. And madness a rejected luxury. Thy life is not thy own ; thou canst not now Abdicate, leaving on the throne a ghost ; Whate'er it cost, thou must resume thy reign. And I have news of the advancing Moors, Of Granada retaken ; in the hour Of public peril crush the private grief ; The nobles, sharers of our inner mind, I have convened already ; they wait A word to gather round thee as of old. S2 THE KING Summon them ! [Gonzaga gives a sign, and the higher nobles of the court enter the Throne Room in silence."] Gentlemen, but a little while ago My abdication I declared and made My son successor to this arduous chair. Friends — my son is dead and lies self-slain In the dark garden; through my fault he died. When I was young I took too little heed, And in rash passion I begot a child, A daughter whom I brought into the court. This was a young man's folly natural, But see to what a doom those kisses led. My son, if my voice break a little, yet Have patience ; my dear son this daughter loved, Unknowing. [A murmur of astonishment amid the court, who yet 'preserve a respectful silence^ They two secretly would meet. S3 My sin was but a rehearsal of their sin, A sad enacting of the tragic scene. With a new life he filled her, learning then That they inherited a common blood. They saw but one path, and that path they took, And lie together in some grand embrace. Not now forbidden. When this doom I heard, I too resolved me on a similar grave. But now I see how easy it is to die. How hard to live. This throne I re-ascend. [He mounts the step of the throne alone, un- aided.'] Bring me again the crown, anoint me fresh With oil ; a second coronation be. \7he~ crown is again -placed on his head, he is anointed with oil, in silence and zqith no triumphant cry.] Here I resume my reign without a hope ; My life is ashen, as this ashen dawn That comes upon the windows colourless ; It is as grey, it is as cold, as faint. Yet here I take it up. I had supposed S4 That double death were punishment enough ; Sequel how solemn to so frail an hour. But God, unsatisfied, must still inflict This grander chastisement, that I must reign, And unforgetting seem that I forget. Losing dead children in a living task. I have laid bare my soul before you all, Nothing have I concealed and nothing slurred. Most humbly now I re-ascend the throne. [The whole of the court fall on their knees in a silence of supplication. There is a pause.] Hark ! In the bleakness a half-note of birds. PLYMOUTH : WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD.; FRINTERS HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY BRITISH BATTLE BOOKS. By Hilairs Belloc. Illus- trated with Coloured Maps. Fcap. 8vo. Cloth, is. oet ; leather, 2S. fid. net. HISTORY IN WARFARE The British Battle Series will consist of a number of monographs upon actions in which British troops have taken p.-irt. Each battle will be the subject of a separate booklet illustrated with coloured maps, illustrative of the movements described in the text, together with a large number of line maps showing the succesive details of tna action. In each case the political circumstances which led to the battle will be explained; next, the stages leadine up to it; lastly, the action in detail, z. Blen- heim; a. Malplaquit; 3, Waterloo; a. Tourcoimg. Later volumes will deal with Crecy, Poitiers, Corunna, Talaveras, Flodden, The Siege of Valenciennes, Vittoria, Toulouse, TRIPOLI AND TOUHG ITALY. By Charles Lapworth and Helen Ziumerh. Demy 8vo, cloth. Illustrated. Price los. 6d. net, A book of international importance. This is the first systematic account of the Tripoli expe- dition written from the Italian point of view which has yet been published in Europe. Italy's case against Turkey is fully stated, and the annexation of Tripoli, which has constantly been misrepresented by biassed critics as an arbitrary and capricious act of rapacity on the part of the Italian Government, is conclusively shown to nave been an imperative political necessity. The highest authorities in Italy have heartily assisted the authors in their task of drawing up a reliable account of the inner history of the Tripoli expedition and of vindi- cating Italy from the many false accusations which have been levelled against her. The MSS. have been submitted to the Italian Prime Minister as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The book is illustrated with portraits of leading Italians and with photographs of Libya. PBTOHOLOOY, A NBW SYSTEM OF. By Arthvr Lynch, M.P. 2 vols. 105. 6d. each net. Based on the study of Fundamental Processes of the Human Mind. The prin- ciples established will afford criteria in regard to every position in Psychology. New light will be thrown, for instance, on Kant's Categories, Spencer's Hedonism, Fechner's Law, the foundation of Mathematics, Memory, Association, Externality, Will, the Feeling of Effort, Brain Localisations, and finally on the veritable nature of Reason. STEPHEN SWIFT A CO., LTD. 3 HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY •--Continued AH INTftODUOTIOH TO HETAPHTBIGS. By Hknri Bergson. Translated by T. E. Hulme. Fcap. 8vo, Cloth, price, 2s. Gd. net. The " Introduction td Meta- physics," although the shortest, is one of the most im- portant of Bergson's writings. It not only proTides the best introduction to his thought, but is also a book which even those familiar with the rest of his work will find necessary to read, for in it he develops at greater length and in greater detail than elsewhere, the exact significance of what he intended by the word " intuition." Every expositor of Bergson has hitherto found it neces- sary to quote " An Introduction to Metaphysics " at consideraole length, yet the book has never before been available in English. AN INTRODUCTION TO BERGSON. By T. E. Hulme. 7s. 6d. Besides giving a general exposition of the better known parts of Bergson's philosophy, the author has discussed at some length Bergson's "Theory of Art," which may prove to many people tb« most interesting part of his whole philosophy, although it has so far been written about very little. At ihe same time this book is no running commentary on a great number of separate ideas ; the author has endeavoured by subordinating everything to one dominating conception, to leave in the reader's mind a clearly outlined picture of Bergson's system. During the last few years thr; author has been able to discuss many pointsof difficulty with Mr. Bergson himself. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SERIES FROM THEATRE TO MUSIC-HALL. By W. R.Tittkrtoh. Crown 8vo, cloth. 3s. fid. net. This book is neither a history of the drama nor a critical study of well-known playwrights. It is an attempt to account for the weaken- mg of the dramatic sense In modern England, and to explain the enormous importance of the music-hall, and the desperate necessity of maintaining it as a means of popular expression. The theories put forward are bold, and are likely to excite great agreement and great oppo- sition. STEPHEN SWIFT & CO., LTD. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SERIES (Continued) u nio wufiik* wiia a nini oi nis leals. By Charles T. Whitby, M.D. ^ of "Triumphant Vulgarity," "Makers tudy of Human Initiative," etc. Crown THE DOCTOR AND Hia_ WORK. With a Hint of his Destiny and Ideals, Cantab., Author of " of Man," "A Study c __. 8vo, cloth. Price 3s. 6d. net." In this book the author has reviewed the existing position of the doctor and in- dicated the signs of a new sociological era in which he will be called uj^on to accept new and important functions. The profession has in the past consisted of a mere mob of unorganised units ; that of the future will be a disci- g lined army of experts co-o£)erating for the good of jEhe tate. "The Doctor and His Work " may be described as a summarjr of the modern medical point of view. It appeals not less to the lay than to the professional reader. IRISH HOME RULE. The Last Phase. ByS. G. Hobson Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. net. HATIOKAL EDUCATION. By Baroh von Taube, author of "Manual Training," "In Defence of America," "Only a Dog's Life," etc. Crown 8vo, Cloth. 3s. 6d. net. Two basic and dominating conceptions underlie the theory of education put forward in this treatise. The first is the necessity for a national education which will evoke, foster, develop and not level down and de- stroy all the peculiar and unique characteristics which go to make a nation a nation, and endow it with an in- dividliality distinct from that of all other nations. The second is the necessity for the encouragement of origin- ality and the full deyelopment of individual capacity, as contrasted with the mass-drill measures which are all too prevalent nowadays. The author's theories are based on ascertained sociological and psychological data and on numerous practical experiments in pedagogy which have been successfully carried out by him. Dis- content with the modern stereotyped system of cram education is increasing daily, and this book should prove a valuable contribution to the, literature on this vitally important subject. STEPHEN SWIFT & CO.. LTD. BELLES LETTRES'-Continued BPISODKB OP VATHEK. By William Beckford. Trans- lated by Sir Frank T. Marzials, with an Introduction by Lewis Melville. Medium 8vo, cloth. 21s. net. These Episodes or Eastern Tales, related in the Halls of Eblis, were discovered recently by Mr. Lswis Melville in the archives of Hamilton Palace. They were conceived by Beckford as three episodes complete within themselves, which he proposed to interpolate, in the manner of the "Arabian Nights," into his famous Oriental story of "Vathek." The original in French is given after the English translation, and the reader will find this volume extremely interesting both as treasure trove and literature. SONNETS AND BALLADES OF OUIDO CAVALOANTL Translated by Ezra Pound. Crown 8vo, cloth. 3s. 6d. net. We have had many translations of the Divina Commedia, a few of the Vita Nuova. Rosetti has trans- lated a miscellany of " Early Italian Poets," but in these " Sonnets and Bsulades " of Guido Cavalcanti we have a new thing, the endeavour to present a Z3th century Tuscan poet, other than Dante, as an individual. More than one Italian critic of authority has considered Cavalcanti second to Dante alone in their literature. Dante places him first among his forerunners. LEAVES OF PROSE, interleaved with verse. By Annib Matheson, with which are included two papers by May Sinclair. Crown 8vo. 5s. net. This volume is composed of a selection of those short studies for which Miss Matheson is so justly famous. Literature, Sociology, Art, Nature, all receive her attention in turn, and on each she stamps the impression of her own personality. The prose is soft and rhythmic, infused with the atmosphere of the country-side, while the lyrics scattered throughout the volume reflect a temperament that has remained equable under the most severe trials. No book more aptly e^^resses the spirit of Christianity and goodfellov^t ship as understood in England. OFF BEATEN TRACKS IN BRITTANY. By Emil Davies. Crown Svo, cloth. 7s. 6d. net. In this book the author, who has already won for himself a position in a surpris- ingly large variety of fields, goes off the beaten track in more than one direction. It is a book of travel, philosophy and humour, describing the adventures, impressions and reflections of two " advanced " individuals who chose their route across Brittany by ruling a straight line across the map from Brest to St. Malo — and then went another way I 6 STEPHEN SWIFT & CO., LTD. BELLES LETTRES— Cowfinwed lU&GIHARY SPEECHES AND OTHER PARODIES IN PROSE AHD VERSE. By Jack Collimgs Squike. Crown 8vo, cloth. 3s. 6d. net. This is probably tho most comprehensive volume of Parodies ever issued. The author is as much at his ease in hitting off the style of Mr. Burns or Mr. Balfour, as he is in imitating the methods and effects of the new C<:ltio or hiiperialist Roets ; whilst he is as happy in his series illustrating The Sort of Prose Articles that modern Prose-writers write " as he is in his model newspaper with its various amusing features. SHADOWS OUT OF THE CROWD. By Richard Curle. Crown 8vo, cloth. 6s. This book consists of twelve stories of a curious and psychological kind. Some deal with the West Indian and South American tropics, some with London, some with Scotland, and one with South Africa. The author's sense of atmosphere is im- pressive, and there is about all his stories the fatalistic spirit of the Russians. They have been written over a period of several years, and show signs of a close study of method and a deep insight into certain descriptions of fevered imagination. All are the work of a writer of power, and of an artist of a rare and rather un-English type. LONDON WINDOWS. By Ethil Talbot. Crown 8vo, cloth. 2S. 6d. net. In this little volume Miss Talbot, who is a well-known and gifted singer in the younger choir of England's poets, pictures London in many moods. She has won themes from the city's life without that capitulation to the msrely actual which is the pitfall of so many artists. London is seen grieving, sordid, grey, as well as magical and alluring. All who love the London of to-day must perforce respond to the appeal which lies in these moving and poignant verses. BOHEMIA IN LONDON. By Arthur Ransomb. Fcap. 8vo, cloth. Illustrated. 2S. net. SOME ASPECTS OP THACKERAY. By Lewis Milvillb. Demy 8vo. 12s. 6d. net. As a literary study the book incites interest, and commands attention as a further re- velation of a brilliant and many-sided literary genius. There are admirably written chapters on "Thackeray as a Reader and Critic," "Thackeray as an Artist, "Thackeray's Country," "Thackeray's Ballads, " Thackeray and his Illustrators," " Prototypes of Thackeray's Characters," etc. The volume is fully Illustrated^ STEPHEN SWIFT & CO., LTD. 7 BELLES LETTRES— Continued BHaLISH LITERATURE. 1880-1905. PaterWtlde and after. Bv J. M. KEHNEoy. Demy 8vo, cloth. 7s.6d.net. Mr. J. M. Kennedy has written the first history of the dynamic movement in English literature between 188a and 1005. The work begins with a sketch of romanticism and classicism, and continues with chapters on Walter Pater and Oscar Wilde, who, in their different ways, exercised so great an influence on various poets aoa essayists of the time, all of whom are dealt with. ONLY A DOQ*S LIFE. By Baron von Taube. Crown 8vo, cloth. 5s, liet. This fascinating work was originally pub- lished in^ German, and is now issued in the author's own English rendering. It has been most favourably received in Germany. A Siberian honnd, whose sire was a wolf, tells his own story. The book, in fact, is a very clever ^ satire on human nature, a satire which gains much charm and piquancy from its coming from the mouth of a masterful self-respecting hound. SOME OLD ENGLISH WORTHIES. Thomas of Reading, George a Green, Roger Bacon, Friar Rush. Edited with notes and introduction by Dorothy Senior. Medium Svo, cloth, zos. 6d. net. BT DIVERS PATHS. By Eleanor Tvrrell, Anhib Matheson, Maude P. King, May Sinclair, Professor C. H. Herford, Dr. Grevillb Macdomald, and C. C. CoTTERiLL. New Edition. Crown Bvo, cloth, gilt. 33. 6d. net. A volume of natural studies and descriptive and meditative essays interspersed with verse. IK DEFEHCE OF AMERICA. By Baron voh Taubs. Crown 8vo, cloth. 5s. net. This very remarkable book gives the American point of view In reply to criticisms of " Uncle Sam " frequently made by representatives of "John Bull." The author, a Russo-German, who has spent many active years in the United States, draws up about thirty " popular indictments against the citizens of Uncle Sam's realm," and discusses them at length in a very original and dispassionate way, exhibiting a large amount of German critical acumen together with much American shrewdness. Both " Uncle Sam " and ** John Bull" will find in the book general appreciations of thMr several characteristics aad not a fen valuable suggestions. STEPHEN SWIFT & CO.. LTD. FICTION Crown 8vo, cloth. 6s. each LADY ERMYKTRUDE AND THE PLUMBER. By Percy Fen u ALL. This is a tale fantastical and satirical, of the year 1020, its quaint humours arising out of the fact that a Ra' i