Part 3
O now daughter mine to my house be As the spindle is unto the distaff; As unto the skein is the spindle; And as unto the loom is the shuttle!
THE THREE SISTERS
So be it! We kiss the earth, mother!
CANDIA
O Vienda! new daughter, child blessed! Lo! midst home and pure food thus I place you. Lo! The walls of this house--the four corners! God willing, the sun rises there; sinks there, God willing! This is the northward, this is the southward. The ridgepole this, the eaves with nests hanging, And the chain and the crane with the andirons; There the mortar the white salt is crushed in, And there, too, the crock it is kept in. O new daughter! I call you to witness How midst home things and pure food I place you Both for this life and life everlasting.
THE THREE SISTERS
So be it! We kiss the earth, mother!
[VIENDA _rests her head, weeping, on the shoulder of the mother. _CANDIA_ embraces her, still holding a half-loaf in each hand. The cry of the reapers is heard nearer. _ALIGI_ rises like one suddenly wakened and goes toward the door. The sisters follow him._]
FAVETTA
Now by the great heat are the reapers all maddened, They are barking and snapping like dogs at each passer.
SPLENDORE
Now the last of the rows they are reaching, With the red wine they never mix water.
ORNELLA
At the end of each row, they are drinking, In the shade of the stack the jug lying.
FAVETTA
Lord of heaven! The heat is infernal, At her tail bites the old gammer serpent.
ORNELLA [_chanting_]
Oh, for mercy! Wheat and wheat, and stubble, stubble, First in sun burn the sickles, then wounds they trouble.
SPLENDORE
Oh mercy for father! for his arms tired, And all his veins with labor swollen.
ORNELLA
O Aligi! you saddest of grooms Keeping yet in your nostrils sleep's fumes!
FAVETTA
O, you know very well the rhyme turned about. You have placed the good loaf in the jug, You have poured the red wine in the sack.
SPLENDORE
Lo! now the kindred! Lo! now the women! they are coming. Up, up! Vienda! and cease your weeping. Mother! How now! They are coming. Set her free then. Up! Golden tresses, cease your weeping! You have wept too long. Your fine eyes are reddened!
[VIENDA _dries her tears on her apron and taking the apron up by the two corners receives in it the two pieces of the loaf from the mother._]
CANDIA
In blood and in milk return it to me! Goldenhair, come now, sit on the settle. Oh! Aligi, you too, come sit here! and wake up! One of you here, one of you there, thus stay ye, Children, thus, at each side of the door. Be it wide open for all to see in there The wide bed so wide that in order to fill it-- The mattress to fill--I used up the straw-stack. Ay! the whole of the stack to the bare pole, With the crock sticking up on the tiptop!
[CANDIA_ and _ PLENDORE_ place a small bench each side of the door, where the couple sit composed and silent, looking at each other. _ORNELLA_ and _FAVETTA_ looking out toward the road at the large door. The yard is in dazzling sunlight._]
FAVETTA
See! They are coming up the road slowly In single file, all: Teodula di Cinzio And Cinerella, Monica, Felavia, And Catalana delle Tre Bisacce, Anna di Bova, Maria Cora ... but who is the last one?
CANDIA
Come on then, Splendore, do help me spread out now The bedspread I wove of silk doubled, Woven for you, Vienda, dear green bud, As green as the grass of the meadow, The sweet grass, early bee, where you hover.
ORNELLA
Who is last? Can you tell us, Vienda? Oh! I see yellow grain in the hampers, And it glitters like gold. Who can she be? Gray at the temple, beneath the white linen, Gray as the feathery bryony branches.
FAVETTA
Your mommy! dear child, is she your mommy?
[VIENDA _rises suddenly as if to rush to her mother. In so doing she lets the bread fall from her apron. She stops, shocked. _ALIGI_ rises and stands so as to prevent the mother from seeing._]
ORNELLA [_greatly concerned, in a frightened voice_]
O Lord save us! Pick it up again. Pick it up, kiss it, ere mamma see it.
[VIENDA, _terrified and overwhelmed by frightful superstition, is stricken immovable, rigid, staring at the two half-loaves with glassy eyes._]
FAVETTA
Pick it up, kiss it, sad is the angel. Make a vow silently, promise greatly, Call on San Sisto, lest Death should appear.
[_From within are heard the blows given with the hand on mattress and pillows and the wind carries to the ear the clamor of the reapers._]
ORNELLA
San Sisto! San Sisto! Oh! hear ye, and list, oh! Black death, evil sprite, By day, by night, Chase from our walls! Drive from our souls! Oh! crumble and tear The evil eye's snare, As the sign of the cross I make!
[_While murmuring the conjuring words she rapidly gathers up the two half-loaves, pressing each to _VIENDA'S_ lips, kissing them herself, and then placing each in the apron, making the sign of the cross over them. She then leads the bridal couple to their benches, as the first of the women kindred appears at the door with the offerings, stopping in front of the scarlet scarf. The women each carry on the head a hamper of wheat adorned with flowing ribbons of various colors. On each basket rests a loaf of bread, and on top of each loaf a wild flower. _ORNELLA_ and _FAVETTA_ take each one end of the scarf while still leaving hoe and distaff in place against the wall, but so posed as to bar entrance._]
FIRST WOMAN, TEODULA DI CINZIO
Ohe! Who watches the bridges?
FAVETTA and ORNELLA [_in unison_]
Love open-eyed and Love blind.
TEODULA
To cross over there I desire.
FAVETTA
To desire is not to acquire.
TEODULA
I clambered the mountain ridges, Now down through the valley I'll wind.
ORNELLA
The torrent has taken the bridges, Too swift runs the river, you'll find.
TEODULA
Set me over in your boat.
FAVETTA
She leaks too fast to keep afloat.
TEODULA
I'll calk her with tow and resin.
ORNELLA
Leaks full seven split and stove her.
TEODULA
Then I'll give you pieces seven. On your shoulder bear me over.
FAVETTA
Oh, no! Help of mine you must lack. The wild water fills me with fright.
[Illustration: THE FEAST OF ESPOUSAL. _Act I._]
TEODULA
Lend me a lift on your back. I'll give you this silver piece bright.
ORNELLA
Too little! Your eight bits, indeed, Would not keep my ribbons new.
TEODULA
Tuck up your skirt. Plunge in bare-kneed. A ducat of gold I'll give to you.
[_The first woman, _TEODULA_, gives _ORNELLA_ a piece of money. She receives it in her left hand, while the other women come closer to the door. The bridal pair remain seated and silent. _CANDIA_ and _SPLENDORE_ enter from the small door._]
ORNELLA and FAVETTA [in unison]
Pass on then, O you fair Lady! And all these in your company!
[ORNELLA _puts the money in her bosom and takes away the distaff, _FAVETTA_, the hoe. They then leave both leaning against the wall. _ORNELLA_, with a quick movement, withdraws the scarf, making it wave like a slender pennant. The women then enter one by one, in line, still holding their baskets balanced on their heads._]
TEODULA
Peace be with you, Candia della Leonessa! And peace, too, with you, son of Lazaro di Roio! And peace to the bride whom Christ has given!
[_She places her basket at the bride's feet and, taking out of it a handful of wheat, she scatters it over _VIENDA'S_ head. She then takes another handful and scatters it over _ALIGI'S.]
This is the peace that is sent you from Heaven: That on the same pillow your hair may whiten, On the same pillow to old age ending. Nor sin nor vengeance be between you, Falsehood nor wrath, but love, love only, Daily, till time for the long, long journey.
[_The next woman repeats the same ceremony and action, the others meanwhile remaining in line awaiting their turn, with the hampers on their heads. The last one, the mother of the bride, remains motionless near the threshold, and dries her face of tears and perspiration. The noise of the riotous reapers increases and seems to come nearer. Besides this noise, from time to time, in pauses, now and again the ringing of bells is heard._]
CINERELLA
For this is peace and this is plenty.
[_Suddenly a woman's cry is heard outside, coming from the yard._]
THE VOICE OF THE UNKNOWN WOMAN
Help! Help! For Jesus' sake, our Saviour! People of God, O people of God, save ye me!
[_Running, panting from fright and exertion, covered with dust and briars, like a hart run down by a pack of hunting dogs, a woman enters. Her face is covered by a mantle. She looks about bewildered, and withdraws to the corner near the fireplace, opposite to the bridal pair._]
THE UNKNOWN WOMAN
People of God! O save ye me! The door there! O shut tight the door there, Put ye up all the bars! Securely.-- They are many, and all have their sickles. They are crazed,--crazed with heat and strong drinking. They are brutal with lust and with cursing. Me would they hunt,--they would seize me; They would hunt me, they would seize me,--me,-- The creature of Christ, ay, me,-- The unhappy one, doing no evil! Passing I was--alone--by the roadside.-- They saw me.--They cried.--They insulted. They hurled sods and stones.--They chased me.-- Ay! like unto hounds that are hungry, They would seize me and tear me and torture. They are following me, O most wretched! They are hunting me down, people of God! Help ye! Save me! The door, O shut it to! The door!--They are maddened--will enter! They will take me from here,--from your hearthstone-- (The deed even God cannot pardon)!-- From your hearthstone that blest is and sacred (And aught else but that deed God pardons)-- And my soul is baptized,--I am Christian-- Oh! help! O for San Giovanni's sake, help me! For Mary's sake, her of the seven dolors! For the sake of my soul.--For your own soul!
[_She stays by the hearth, all the women gathering at the side opposite her. _VIENDA_ close to her mother and godmother. _ALIGI_ stands outside the circle unmoved, leaning on his crook. Suddenly _ORNELLA_ rushes to the door, closes it, and bars it. A somewhat inimical murmur arises from the circle of women._]
Ah! tell me your name,--how they call you,-- Your name, that wherever I wander, Over mountains, in valleys I bless it, You, who in pity are first here, Though in years yours are least in the counting!
[_Overcome she lets herself drop on the hearth, bowed over upon herself with her head resting on her knees. The women are huddled together like frightened sheep. _ORNELLA_ steps forward toward the stranger._]
ANNA
Who is this woman? Holy Virgin!
MARIA
And is this the right way to enter The dwelling of God-fearing people?
MONICA
And Candia, you! What say you?
LA CINERELLA
Will you let the door stay bolted?
ANNA
Is the last to be born of your daughters, The first to command in your household?
LA CATALANA
She will bring down upon you bad fortune, The wandering she-dog, for certain!
FELAVIA
Did you mark how she entered that instant While yet Cinerella was pouring On Vienda her handful of wheat flour Ere Aligi had got his share fully?
[ORNELLA _goes a step nearer the wretched fugitive. _FAVETTA_ leaves the circle and joins her._]
MONICA
How now! Are we, then, to remain here, With our baskets still on our heads loaded?
MARIA
Sure it would be a terrible omen To put down on the ground here our baskets Before giving our offerings to them.
MARIA DI GIAVE
My daughter, may Saint Luke defend you! Saint Mark and Saint Matthew attend you! Grope for your scapulary round your neck hanging, Hold it closely and offer your prayer.
[SPLENDORE, _too, comes forward and joins the sisters. The three girls stand before the fugitive, who is still prostrate, panting and trembling with fear._]
ORNELLA
You are over sore-pressed, sister, And dusty and tired, you tremble. Weep no more, since now you are safe here. You are thirsty. Your drink is your tears. Will you drink of our water and wine? Your face bathe?
[_She takes a small bowl, draws water from the earthen receptacle, and pours wine into it._]
FAVETTA
Are you of the valleys or elsewhere? Do you come from afar? And whither Do you now bend your steps, O woman! All desolate thus by the roadside!
SPLENDORE
Some malady ails you, unlucky one? A vow then of penitence made you? To the Incoronata were travelling? May the Virgin answer your prayers!
[_The fugitive lifts her head slowly and cautiously, with her face still hidden in the mantle._]
ORNELLA [_offering the bowl_]
Will you drink, now, daughter of Jesus?
[_From outside a noise is heard as of bare feet shuffling in the yard and voices murmuring. The stranger, again stricken with fear, does not drink from the proffered bowl but places it on the hearth and retires trembling to the further corner of the chimney._]
THE UNKNOWN ONE
They are here, oh, they come! They are seeking For me! They will seize me and take me. For mercy's sake, answer not, speak not. They will go if they think the house empty, And do nothing evil; but if you Are heard, if you speak or you answer They will certainly know I have entered. They will open the door, force it open. With the heat and the wine they are frenzied, Mad dogs! and here is but one man, And many are they and all have their sickles, Their scythes.--Oh! for dear pity's sake, For the sake of these innocent maidens, For your sake, dear daughter of kindness! You, women holy!
THE BAND OF REAPERS [_in chorus outside at the door_]
The dwelling of Lazaro! Surely Into this house entered the woman. --They have closed the door, they have barred it! --Look out for her there in the stubble. --Search well in the hay there, Gonzelvo. --Hah! Hah! In the dwelling of Lazaro, Right into the maw of the wolf. Hah! Hah! --O! Candia della Leonessa! Ho! all of you there! Are you dead?
[_They knock at the door._]
Oh! Candia della Leonessa! Do you offer a shelter to harlots?
--Do you find that you need such temptation To still the fain flesh of your husband? --If the woman be there, I say, open! Open the door, good folks, give her to us And on a soft bed we will lay her. --Bring her out to us! Bring her out to us, For we only want to know her better. To the hay-cock, the hay-cock, the hay-cock!
[_They knock and clamor. _ALIGI_ moves toward the door._]
THE UNKNOWN ONE [whispering imploringly]
Young man, O young man, pray have mercy! O have mercy! Do not open! Not for my sake, not mine, but for others, Since they will not seize now on me only, Since imbruted are they. You must hear it!-- In their voices?--How now the fiend holds them? The bestial mad fiend of high noonday, The sweltering dog-days' infection. If they gain entry here, what can you do?
[_The greatest excitement prevails among the women, but they restrain themselves._]
LA CATALANA
Ye see now to what shame we all are submitted, We women of peace here, for this woman, She who dares not show her face to us!
ANNA
Open, Aligi, open the door there, But wide enough to let her pass out. Grip hold of her and toss her out there, Then close and bar the entrance, giving praises To Lord Jesus our salvation. And perdition overtake all wretches!
[_The shepherd turns toward the woman, hesitating. _ORNELLA_, stepping forward, stops his way; making a sign of silence, she goes to the door._]
ORNELLA
Who is there? Who knocks at the door there?
VOICES OF THE REAPERS [_outside, all confusedly_]
--Silence there! Hush up! Hush--sh! Hush--sh! --There is some one within who is speaking, --O Candia della Leonessa, Is it you who are speaking? Open! Open! --We are the reapers here of Norca, All the company are we of Cataldo.
ORNELLA
I am not Candia. For Candia is busied now. Abroad is she since early morning.
A VOICE
And you? Say who are you then?
ORNELLA
I belong to Lazaro, Ornella, My father is Lazaro di Roio. But ye, say ye, why ye have come here?
A VOICE
Open, we but want to look inside there.
ORNELLA
Open, that I cannot. For my mother Locked me in here with her kindred Going out, for we are marrying. The betrothal we are having of my brother, Aligi, the shepherd, who is taking To wife here, Vienda di Giave.
A VOICE
Did you then not let in a woman, But a short while ago, a woman frightened?
ORNELLA
A woman? Then in peace go away. Seek ye elsewhere to find her. O reapers of Norca! I return to my loom here, For each cast that is lost by my shuttle Will be lost and can never be gathered. God be with you to keep you from evil, O ye reapers of Norca! May he give you Strength for your work in the grain fields Till by evening you reach the end of your labor, And I, also, poor woman, the ending Of the breadth of this cloth I am weaving.
[_Suddenly at the side window two muscular hands seize the iron bars and a brutal face peers in._]
THE REAPER [_shouting in a loud voice_]
Ho! Captain! the woman is in there! She's inside! She's inside! The youngster Was fooling us here, yes, the youngster! The woman is in there! See, inside there, In the corner. I see her, I see her! And there too is the bride and the bridegroom, And the kindred who brought them their presents. This is the feast of the grain-pouring spousal. Ah, ho! Captain! A fine lot of girls there!
CHORUS OF REAPERS [_outside_]
--If the woman's within, we say, open! For you it is shame to protect her. --Send her out here! Send her out here! And we will give her some honey. --Ho! open there, open, you, and give her to us. --To the hay-cock with her, to the hay-cock.
[_They clamor and shout. The women inside are all confused and agitated. The unknown one keeps in the shadow, shrinking close to the wall, as if she sought to sink herself in it._]
CHORUS OF KINDRED
--O help us, O holy Virgin! Is this what the vigil gives us, The eve of Santo Giovanni? --What disgrace is this you give us,--what sorrow This that you give us, Beheaded one!-- Just to-day of all days. --Candia, have you lost your reason? --O Candia, have you lost your senses? --Ornella, and all your sisters with you? --She was always a bit of a madcap. --Give her up to them, give her, give her To these hungry, ravening wolves!
THE REAPER [_still holding the bars_]
Shepherd Aligi, Oho! shepherd Aligi, Will you give, at your feast of espousal, A place to a sheep that is rotten,-- A sheep that is mangy and lousy? Take care she infect not your sheepfold, Or give to your wife her contagion. O Candia della Leonessa, Know you whom in your home there you harbor, In your home there with your new-found daughter? The daughter of Jorio, the daughter Of the Sorcerer of Codra! She-dog roamer o'er mountains and valleys, A haunter of stables and straw-stacks, Mila the shameless? Mila di Codra. The woman of stables and straw-heaps, Very well known of all companies; And now it has come to be our turn,-- The turn of the reapers of Norca. Send her out here, send her out here! We must have her, have her, have her!
[ALIGI, _pale and trembling, advances toward the wretched woman, who remains persistently in the shadow; and pulling off her mantle, he uncovers her face._]
MILA DI CODRA
No! No! It is not true! A cruel lie! A cruel lie! Do not believe him, Do not believe what such a dog says! It is but the cursed wine speaking And out of his mouth bubbling evil. If God heard it, may He to poison Turn his black words, and he drown in 't! No! It is not true. A cruel lie!
[_The three sisters stop their ears while the reaper renews his vituperations._]
THE REAPER
You shameless one! you are common, Well known are you as the ditches, The field-grass to dry straw turning, Under your body's sins burning, Men for your body have gambled And fought with pitchforks and sickles. Only wait just a bit for your man, Candia, And you'll see! He'll come back to you bandaged, For sure! From a fight with Rainero, A fight in the grain-field of Mispa,-- For whom but for Jorio's daughter? And now you keep her in your home, here, To give her to your man Lazaro, To have him find her here all ready. Aligi! Vienda di Giave! Give up to her your bridal bedstead! And all ye women, go and scatter wheat-grains,-- Upon her head the golden wheat-grains! We'll come back ourselves here with music, A little later and ask for the wine-jug.
[_The reaper jumps down and disappears mid an outbreak of coarse laughter from the others._]
CHORUS OF REAPERS [_outside_]
Hand us out the wine-jug. That's the custom, --The wine-jug, the wine-jug, and the woman!
[ALIGI _stands rigid, with his eyes fixed upon the floor, perplexed, still holding in his hand the mantle he has taken._]
MILA
O innocence, O innocence, of all these Young maidens here, you have heard not, The filthiness, you have heard not, Oh! Tell me you have heard not, heard not!-- At least not you, Ornella, oh, no, not You who have wished to save me!
ANNA
Do not go near her, Ornella! Or would you Have her ruin you? She, the daughter of the Sorcerer, Must to every one bring ruin.
MILA
She comes to me because behind me She sees here weeping the silent angel-- The guardian over my soul keeping vigil.
[ALIGI _turns quickly toward _MILA_ at these words, and gazes at her fixedly._]
MARIA CORA
Oh! Oh! it is sacrilege! Sacrilege!
LA CINERELLA
Ha! She has blasphemed, she has blasphemed, Against the heavenly angel.
FELAVIA
She will desecrate your hearthstone, Candia, unless hence you chase her.
ANNA
Out with her, out, in good time, Aligi, Seize her, and out to the dogs toss her!
LA CATALANA
Well I know you, Mila di Codra, Well at Farne do they fear you, And well I know your doings. You brought death to Giovanna Cametra, And death to the son of Panfilo. You turned the head of poor Alfonso, Gave Tillura the evil sickness, Caused the death of your father, even, Who now in damnation damns you!
MILA
May thou, God, protect his spirit And unto peace his soul gather. All! You it is who have blasphemed Against a soul that is departed And may your blaspheming speeches Fall on you, whenever death fronts you!
[CANDIA, _seated on one of the chests, is sad and silent. Now she rises, passes through the restless circle of women, and advances toward the persecuted one, slowly, without anger._]
CHORUS OF REAPERS