Rosamund, Queen of the Lombards: A TragedySwinburne, Algernon Charles
General
Rosamund, Queen of the Lombards: A Tragedy
Swinburne, Algernon Charles
English drama; Tragedies (Drama)
What, have I played the Berserk with my friend?
So should not kings. What meant he? Men wax old,
And age eats out the natural sense of love
Which gives the soul sight of such nobler things
As trust may see by grace of truth more fair
Than doubt would fear to dream of. Rosamund
Knows more by might of faith and love than he.
And yet I would, and yet I would not, fool
As even in mine own eyes I am, she had not
Given me this proof, desired of me this sign,
How clear her soul is toward me save of love,
To attest her pardon of me. Would it were
Sunrise to-morrow!
_Enter_ ALMACHILDES _and_ HILDEGARD.
Whence come these, to bring
Sunrise about me? Nay, I bade you be
Here. Does thy memory too not fail thee, boy,
Burnt out by stress of summer
ALMACHILDES.
No.
ALBOVINE.
Nor hers?
HILDEGARD.
How might it, king? Thou art good to us.
ALBOVINE.
All things born
Seem good to lovers in their spring of love,
And all men should be. Maiden, God doth well
To give us foresight of the sight of heaven
By looking in such eyes as love like thine
Kindles and veils for love’s sake. Fain was I
To see my boy’s bride and her bridegroom here
Before the feast broke in on us, and bless
Their love with mine—if mine be blessing.
HILDEGARD.
Sire,
As the earth gives thanks in spring for the April sun
I would and cannot yield you thanks for this.
ALMACHILDES.
I cannot thank at all. I cannot thank
God.
ALBOVINE.
Art thou mazed with love? For her thou canst not
Thank God? What feverish doubt of love or life
Crazes or cramps thy spirit?
ALMACHILDES.
I cannot say.
My heart, if any heart be left in me,
Is as it was not thankless: yet, my king,
I know not how to thank thee.
ALBOVINE.
Thank me not:
I did not bid thee thank me. Love thy love,
And God be with you: so may God be found
Thankworthier. Keep some heart in thee awhile
For God’s and her sake.
ALMACHILDES.
All I may I will.
_Re-enter_ ROSAMUND, _followed by_ NARSETES _and Guests_.
ALBOVINE.
Sit, friends and warriors: thou, my boy, next me,
And by my wife thy bride. This night, that leaves
But two days more for June to burn and live,
Plights with my queen’s troth mine in life and death
This last one time for ever, in the cup
Whence none shall drink hereafter. Not in scorn,
Sirs, but in honour now the draught is pledged
Between us, ere this relic stand enshrined
And hallowed as a saint’s on the altar. Queen,
I drink to thee.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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