But they are
gathering
to renew the storm.
Krasinski - The Undivine Comedy
.
heavy with chains .
.
.
And now they torture thee . . . I hear thy cries . . .
(He falls upon his knees. )
Forgive me, father ! . . . but my mother comes . . .
She lights the Dark . . . she orders me . . .
(^He falls in a fainting ft. )
Count Henry (catching the falling boy in his arms). Ay,
this last blow alone was wanting still !
My only child must lead me to the brink of Hell I
Mary, inexorable spirit ! . . . God ! . . .
Thou oilier Mary, whom I oft have prayed . . .
THE UNDIVINE COMEDY. 263
Here then begins the infinite of pain,
Eternal darkness, doom ! . . .
Rouse thee, my soul ! Back, back to life again !
One day of glory still is left for me.
First the fierce battle with my fellow-men . . .
Then comes the eternal combat . . .
{lie carries away his son. )
CHORUS OF VOICES {dying azvay in the distance).
Because thou hast loved nothing but thyself!
Only revered thyself, and thine own thoughts !
Thou art condemned — damned for eternity !
SCENE VII. A lai-ge hall in the castle of the Holy
Trinity ; arms a? id armor hang upon the walls. Count
Henry. IVomen, children, old men, and nobles are
kneeling at his feet. The Godfather stands in the
centre of the hall ; a crowd of men in the background.
Count Henry. No, by my son ; by my dead wife, I
will not !
Voices of Women. Oh, pity ! pity ! Hunger gnaws our
bowels !
Our children starve ! we die of fear and famine !
Voices of Men. There still is time, if you will hear the
Herald
Who brings us terms; — dismiss him not unheard.
Godfather. I've passed my whole life as a citizen,
And I fear no reproof from you. Count Henry,
If I am here as his ambassador.
It is because I know our age, and read
Aright its glorious mission. Pancras is
Truly its social representative.
And if I dare to speak . . .
Count Henry. Out of my sight, old man !
{Aside to Jacob. ) Bring here forthwith a hundred of our
troops ! {Exit Jacob. )
{The women rise and weep ; the men retire afciv steps. )
A Baron. It is through your fault we are lost, Count
Henry.
264 THE UNDIVINE COMEDY.
Second Baron. Obedience we renounce. Capitulate!
A Prince. For the surrender of the Fort, we will
Ourselves arrange the terms with this good citizen.
Godfather. The chief who sent me pledges life to all,
Provided you will join the People's cause,
And recognize the needs of this, our century !
Voices. We join the People's cause ! We own their needs !
Count Henry. Soldiers, when I was chosen . to take
command,
I swore to perish on this castle's walls
Rather than yield this Fort. You also swore
A solemn oath before the shrine of God.
The vow was mutual, — we must die together !
Ha ! nobles, can you really wish to live ?
Then ask your fathers why, when they were living,
They ruled with such oppression, cruelty?
{Addressing a Count. )
Count, why did you oppress your cowering serfs?
{Addressing another. )
Why did you pass your youth in dice and cards,
Travel for pleasure o'er the earth, and quite
Forget the claims of your own suffering land?
{Another. )
Why have you always crawled before the great,
And scorned the lowly?
{To a iady. )
You, fair dame, had sons;
Why did you not make warriors of them, men,
That they might aid you now in your distress?
No, you have all preferred your pleasure, ease.
Dealings with Jews and lawyers to get gold
To spend in luxury : — go call on them for aid !
{He rises and extends his arms towards them. )
Why hasten ye to shame, wrap your last hours
In shrouds of infamy? . . . On ! on with me!
On where swords glitter and hot bullets hail !
Not to the gallows with its loathsome coil.
Where ready stands the masked and silent hangman
To throw his noose of shame around your craven throats !
THE UNDIVINE COMEDY. 265
Some Voices. He speaks the truth. On with the bay-
onets !
Other Voices. We die of hunger; there is no more
food!
Voices. Pity the children ! Are they not your own ?
Godfather. I promise life and liberty to all !
Count Henry {approaching and seizing the Godfather).
Go, sacred Person of the Herald ! go,
And hide thy gray hairs with the neophytes,
In tents with base mechanics plotting murder,
That thus I may not dye them in thy blood !
{Enter Jacob with a division of armed men. )
Aim at that brow, wrinkled with folly's folds.
That scarlet cap, which trembles at my words,
That brainless head !
( The Godfather escapes. )
All. Seize ! bind Count Henry ! seize !
Send him to Pancras !
Count Henry. Nobles, ye' 11 bide my time !
{He goes from one soldier to another, as he addresses them
in turn. )
Do you remember when we scaled a cliff,
A savage wolf followed our steps, and when
You, startled, slipped, I caught you on the verge
Of the abyss, and saved your life, my friend,
At peril of my own ? Then you seemed grateful !
{To others. )
Have you forgotten, men, when driven by winds,
Our boat upset among the Danube's crags.
And we young swimmers braved the waves together ? -
{To others. )
Jerome and Thaddeus, you were both with me
On the Black Sea: — you were brave sailors then !
( To others. )
When fire destroyed your homes, who built them up?
( To others. )
Soldiers, you fled to me from cruel lords.
And I redressed your wrongs, — will you desert me ?
23*
266 THE UNDIVINE COMEDY.
{He addresses the men generally. ^
Say, will you arm to combat for our rights,
Or will you leave me here to die alone,
Smiling with scorn that midst so many men
I found no single man ?
Me7i. Long live Count Henry !
Count Henry. Let all the meat and brandy now be
shared
Among the men ; — and then upon the walls !
Men. Yes, meat and brandy ! tlien upon the walls !
Count Hemy. Go with them, Jacob ! In an hour hence
They must be ready to renew the fight.
Jacob. So help me God, the Lord !
Women. Our children starve !
We curse Count Henry in their innocent names !
Voices. We curse thee for our fathers !
Other Voices. For our wives !
Count Henry. And I breathe curses on all coward souls !
SCENE VIL The ramparts of the Holy Trinity. Dead
bodies are lying scattered about, with broken cannons,
pikes, and guns. Soldiers are hurrying to and fro.
Count Henry leans against a parapet, and Jacob
stands beside him.
Count Henry {jhrusting his sword into its sheath).
There's no intoxication can compare
With that of danger; thus to sport with life,
To win the fight, or if it must be, lose !
Well ! we can lose but once — and all is said !
Jacob. Our last good broadside drove them back a
moment.
But they are gathering to renew the storm.
What can we do? for since the world was world.
None ever yet escaped his destiny !
Count Hen fy. Have we no cartridges? Our last shot
fired?
Jacob. No balls ; no grape-shot ; powder ; — all are gone !
Count Henry. Bring my son here ! for the last time I
would
Embrace him. . . . {Exit Jacob. )
THE UN DIVINE COMEDY. 267
The smoke has dimmed my eyes — I cannot see, —
The valley seems to rise up to my feet —
And then sinks to its place, — the rocks, cliffs, crack —
Break in fastastic angles — totter — fall !
My thoughts assume the same fantastic forms
Before my spirit — flicker like a lamp !
{^He seats himself upon the wall. ')
It is too little to be born a man !
Nor is it worth the pain to be an Angel :
Since e'en the highest of them all must feel,
After some centuries of existence past,
As we do after our few years of life.
Immeasurable ennui, desire
Of greater Power. . . . Spirits must long as we do ! . . .
One either must be God Himself . . . or nothing ! . . .
{Enter Jaeol) with George. ) Count Henry (Jo Jacob).
Take some men with you ; through the castle go,
Drive all before you out upon the walls !
Jacob. Counts, princes, barons?
{Exit Jacob. )
Count Henry. Come to me, my son !
Put thy thin hand in mine, and let me press
Thy forehead to my lips ! Thy mother's brow
Was once as pure and fair. . . .
George. Before thy men took up their arms to-day,
I heard her voice . . . It seemed so far, far off . . .
Like perfume, light and sweet it floated on . . .
** George, thou wilt come to-night, and sit beside me ! "
Count Henry. George, tell me, — did she utter not my
name ?
George. She said : " This evening I expect my son ! "
Count Henry {aside). Must my strength fail me ere I
reach the end ?
Forbid it, God ! . . .
Give me one moment's fiery vigor now,
I'll be thy prisoner through eternity !
{To George. )
Forgive me, son, the fatal gift of life !
We soon must part ! . . . Ah ! who can tell us, George,
How long shall last that parting ? . . . Fare thee well !
2 68 THE UNDIVINE COMEDY.
George. Father, hold fast to me ! do not desert me ! —
I love thee ! I will draw thee on with me !
Count Henry. Our paths lie widely sundered ! Midst
the choirs
Of Angels thou' It forget me ! Thou' It not throw
Me down one drop of heavenly dew ! Oh, George ! my
son !
George. What are those cries ? I tremble . . . they
appal me !
Louder and nearer comes the thundering crash,
The cannon's roar ! Father, the time draws near,
The last hour prophesied.
Count Henry. Haste, Jacob, haste !
{A band of counts and princes, in confusioti, rushes across
the cou? 't-yard. Jacob follows them, with the soldiers. )
A Voice. You give us broken arms — force us to fight.
Another Voice. Have pity on us, Henry !
A third Voice. We are starving !
Other Voices. O God! Why do they drive us?
Where?
Coutit Henry. To death !
To George (^folding him in his arms).
With this long kiss I would unite myself
To thee for all eternity ! . . . It cannot be ! . . .
Fate forces me upon another path !
(Struck by a ball, Gco? ge sinks, dying, in his arms. )
A Voice from on high. To me ! to me ! pure spirit !
Son, to me !
Count Henry. Hola there ! Give me aid !
{He draws his sword and holds it before the lips of George. ^
The blade is clear !
His breath and life were carried off together !
My George ! my son ! . . .
Forward, men ! on ! They mount the parapet !
Thank God, at last they stand within the reach
Of this keen blade !
Back ! back into the abyss, ye sons of freedom !
(Rushing on of men, confusion, attack, defense, struggle. ')
THE UNDIVINE COMEDY. 269
SCENE VIII. Another part of the rajuparts. Cries of
combat are heard. Jacob lies upon a wall. Count
Henry, covered with blood, hastily approaches him.
Count Henry. Faithful old man, what is the matter?
Speaic !
Jacob. The devil seize you for your obstinacy,
Pay you for all that I have suffered here !
So help me God, the Lord ! {He dies. ')
Count Hen/y {throwing away his sword).
I never, never more will need thy aid,
Sword of my sires ! Lie there and rust forever !
Mine are all gone ! My son is safe in Heaven, —
And my last servant at my feet lies dead !
The coward nobles have deserted me ;
They kneel before the victor, howl for pardon.
{He looks around him. )
The foe are not yet on me, — there is time
To steal a moment's rest before . . .
Ha ! Now the new men scale the northern tower !
They shout Count Henry ! Seek him everywhere !
Yes, I am here ! Look ! Look ! I am Count Henry !
But you are not to judge me ! I alone
Must march that way my faith hath led ; — it is
To God's tribunal I will go, to give
Myself into his hands !
{He mounts upon a ruin of the wall, above the precipice. )
I see thee, O my dread eternity.
As rapidly thou floatest on to me.
Like an immensity of Darkness ; vast,
Without or end or limit — refuge, none !
And in the centre, God — a dazzling sun —
Which shines eternally — but illumines nothing!
{He gazes for a moment, takes a step down, and stands on
the verge of the precipice. )
They see me now — they run — they scale the cliff —
The new men are upon me ! Jesus ! Mary !
I curse thee, Poetry ! as I shall be
Cursed through eternity ! .
And now they torture thee . . . I hear thy cries . . .
(He falls upon his knees. )
Forgive me, father ! . . . but my mother comes . . .
She lights the Dark . . . she orders me . . .
(^He falls in a fainting ft. )
Count Henry (catching the falling boy in his arms). Ay,
this last blow alone was wanting still !
My only child must lead me to the brink of Hell I
Mary, inexorable spirit ! . . . God ! . . .
Thou oilier Mary, whom I oft have prayed . . .
THE UNDIVINE COMEDY. 263
Here then begins the infinite of pain,
Eternal darkness, doom ! . . .
Rouse thee, my soul ! Back, back to life again !
One day of glory still is left for me.
First the fierce battle with my fellow-men . . .
Then comes the eternal combat . . .
{lie carries away his son. )
CHORUS OF VOICES {dying azvay in the distance).
Because thou hast loved nothing but thyself!
Only revered thyself, and thine own thoughts !
Thou art condemned — damned for eternity !
SCENE VII. A lai-ge hall in the castle of the Holy
Trinity ; arms a? id armor hang upon the walls. Count
Henry. IVomen, children, old men, and nobles are
kneeling at his feet. The Godfather stands in the
centre of the hall ; a crowd of men in the background.
Count Henry. No, by my son ; by my dead wife, I
will not !
Voices of Women. Oh, pity ! pity ! Hunger gnaws our
bowels !
Our children starve ! we die of fear and famine !
Voices of Men. There still is time, if you will hear the
Herald
Who brings us terms; — dismiss him not unheard.
Godfather. I've passed my whole life as a citizen,
And I fear no reproof from you. Count Henry,
If I am here as his ambassador.
It is because I know our age, and read
Aright its glorious mission. Pancras is
Truly its social representative.
And if I dare to speak . . .
Count Henry. Out of my sight, old man !
{Aside to Jacob. ) Bring here forthwith a hundred of our
troops ! {Exit Jacob. )
{The women rise and weep ; the men retire afciv steps. )
A Baron. It is through your fault we are lost, Count
Henry.
264 THE UNDIVINE COMEDY.
Second Baron. Obedience we renounce. Capitulate!
A Prince. For the surrender of the Fort, we will
Ourselves arrange the terms with this good citizen.
Godfather. The chief who sent me pledges life to all,
Provided you will join the People's cause,
And recognize the needs of this, our century !
Voices. We join the People's cause ! We own their needs !
Count Henry. Soldiers, when I was chosen . to take
command,
I swore to perish on this castle's walls
Rather than yield this Fort. You also swore
A solemn oath before the shrine of God.
The vow was mutual, — we must die together !
Ha ! nobles, can you really wish to live ?
Then ask your fathers why, when they were living,
They ruled with such oppression, cruelty?
{Addressing a Count. )
Count, why did you oppress your cowering serfs?
{Addressing another. )
Why did you pass your youth in dice and cards,
Travel for pleasure o'er the earth, and quite
Forget the claims of your own suffering land?
{Another. )
Why have you always crawled before the great,
And scorned the lowly?
{To a iady. )
You, fair dame, had sons;
Why did you not make warriors of them, men,
That they might aid you now in your distress?
No, you have all preferred your pleasure, ease.
Dealings with Jews and lawyers to get gold
To spend in luxury : — go call on them for aid !
{He rises and extends his arms towards them. )
Why hasten ye to shame, wrap your last hours
In shrouds of infamy? . . . On ! on with me!
On where swords glitter and hot bullets hail !
Not to the gallows with its loathsome coil.
Where ready stands the masked and silent hangman
To throw his noose of shame around your craven throats !
THE UNDIVINE COMEDY. 265
Some Voices. He speaks the truth. On with the bay-
onets !
Other Voices. We die of hunger; there is no more
food!
Voices. Pity the children ! Are they not your own ?
Godfather. I promise life and liberty to all !
Count Henry {approaching and seizing the Godfather).
Go, sacred Person of the Herald ! go,
And hide thy gray hairs with the neophytes,
In tents with base mechanics plotting murder,
That thus I may not dye them in thy blood !
{Enter Jacob with a division of armed men. )
Aim at that brow, wrinkled with folly's folds.
That scarlet cap, which trembles at my words,
That brainless head !
( The Godfather escapes. )
All. Seize ! bind Count Henry ! seize !
Send him to Pancras !
Count Henry. Nobles, ye' 11 bide my time !
{He goes from one soldier to another, as he addresses them
in turn. )
Do you remember when we scaled a cliff,
A savage wolf followed our steps, and when
You, startled, slipped, I caught you on the verge
Of the abyss, and saved your life, my friend,
At peril of my own ? Then you seemed grateful !
{To others. )
Have you forgotten, men, when driven by winds,
Our boat upset among the Danube's crags.
And we young swimmers braved the waves together ? -
{To others. )
Jerome and Thaddeus, you were both with me
On the Black Sea: — you were brave sailors then !
( To others. )
When fire destroyed your homes, who built them up?
( To others. )
Soldiers, you fled to me from cruel lords.
And I redressed your wrongs, — will you desert me ?
23*
266 THE UNDIVINE COMEDY.
{He addresses the men generally. ^
Say, will you arm to combat for our rights,
Or will you leave me here to die alone,
Smiling with scorn that midst so many men
I found no single man ?
Me7i. Long live Count Henry !
Count Henry. Let all the meat and brandy now be
shared
Among the men ; — and then upon the walls !
Men. Yes, meat and brandy ! tlien upon the walls !
Count Hemy. Go with them, Jacob ! In an hour hence
They must be ready to renew the fight.
Jacob. So help me God, the Lord !
Women. Our children starve !
We curse Count Henry in their innocent names !
Voices. We curse thee for our fathers !
Other Voices. For our wives !
Count Henry. And I breathe curses on all coward souls !
SCENE VIL The ramparts of the Holy Trinity. Dead
bodies are lying scattered about, with broken cannons,
pikes, and guns. Soldiers are hurrying to and fro.
Count Henry leans against a parapet, and Jacob
stands beside him.
Count Henry {jhrusting his sword into its sheath).
There's no intoxication can compare
With that of danger; thus to sport with life,
To win the fight, or if it must be, lose !
Well ! we can lose but once — and all is said !
Jacob. Our last good broadside drove them back a
moment.
But they are gathering to renew the storm.
What can we do? for since the world was world.
None ever yet escaped his destiny !
Count Hen fy. Have we no cartridges? Our last shot
fired?
Jacob. No balls ; no grape-shot ; powder ; — all are gone !
Count Henry. Bring my son here ! for the last time I
would
Embrace him. . . . {Exit Jacob. )
THE UN DIVINE COMEDY. 267
The smoke has dimmed my eyes — I cannot see, —
The valley seems to rise up to my feet —
And then sinks to its place, — the rocks, cliffs, crack —
Break in fastastic angles — totter — fall !
My thoughts assume the same fantastic forms
Before my spirit — flicker like a lamp !
{^He seats himself upon the wall. ')
It is too little to be born a man !
Nor is it worth the pain to be an Angel :
Since e'en the highest of them all must feel,
After some centuries of existence past,
As we do after our few years of life.
Immeasurable ennui, desire
Of greater Power. . . . Spirits must long as we do ! . . .
One either must be God Himself . . . or nothing ! . . .
{Enter Jaeol) with George. ) Count Henry (Jo Jacob).
Take some men with you ; through the castle go,
Drive all before you out upon the walls !
Jacob. Counts, princes, barons?
{Exit Jacob. )
Count Henry. Come to me, my son !
Put thy thin hand in mine, and let me press
Thy forehead to my lips ! Thy mother's brow
Was once as pure and fair. . . .
George. Before thy men took up their arms to-day,
I heard her voice . . . It seemed so far, far off . . .
Like perfume, light and sweet it floated on . . .
** George, thou wilt come to-night, and sit beside me ! "
Count Henry. George, tell me, — did she utter not my
name ?
George. She said : " This evening I expect my son ! "
Count Henry {aside). Must my strength fail me ere I
reach the end ?
Forbid it, God ! . . .
Give me one moment's fiery vigor now,
I'll be thy prisoner through eternity !
{To George. )
Forgive me, son, the fatal gift of life !
We soon must part ! . . . Ah ! who can tell us, George,
How long shall last that parting ? . . . Fare thee well !
2 68 THE UNDIVINE COMEDY.
George. Father, hold fast to me ! do not desert me ! —
I love thee ! I will draw thee on with me !
Count Henry. Our paths lie widely sundered ! Midst
the choirs
Of Angels thou' It forget me ! Thou' It not throw
Me down one drop of heavenly dew ! Oh, George ! my
son !
George. What are those cries ? I tremble . . . they
appal me !
Louder and nearer comes the thundering crash,
The cannon's roar ! Father, the time draws near,
The last hour prophesied.
Count Henry. Haste, Jacob, haste !
{A band of counts and princes, in confusioti, rushes across
the cou? 't-yard. Jacob follows them, with the soldiers. )
A Voice. You give us broken arms — force us to fight.
Another Voice. Have pity on us, Henry !
A third Voice. We are starving !
Other Voices. O God! Why do they drive us?
Where?
Coutit Henry. To death !
To George (^folding him in his arms).
With this long kiss I would unite myself
To thee for all eternity ! . . . It cannot be ! . . .
Fate forces me upon another path !
(Struck by a ball, Gco? ge sinks, dying, in his arms. )
A Voice from on high. To me ! to me ! pure spirit !
Son, to me !
Count Henry. Hola there ! Give me aid !
{He draws his sword and holds it before the lips of George. ^
The blade is clear !
His breath and life were carried off together !
My George ! my son ! . . .
Forward, men ! on ! They mount the parapet !
Thank God, at last they stand within the reach
Of this keen blade !
Back ! back into the abyss, ye sons of freedom !
(Rushing on of men, confusion, attack, defense, struggle. ')
THE UNDIVINE COMEDY. 269
SCENE VIII. Another part of the rajuparts. Cries of
combat are heard. Jacob lies upon a wall. Count
Henry, covered with blood, hastily approaches him.
Count Henry. Faithful old man, what is the matter?
Speaic !
Jacob. The devil seize you for your obstinacy,
Pay you for all that I have suffered here !
So help me God, the Lord ! {He dies. ')
Count Hen/y {throwing away his sword).
I never, never more will need thy aid,
Sword of my sires ! Lie there and rust forever !
Mine are all gone ! My son is safe in Heaven, —
And my last servant at my feet lies dead !
The coward nobles have deserted me ;
They kneel before the victor, howl for pardon.
{He looks around him. )
The foe are not yet on me, — there is time
To steal a moment's rest before . . .
Ha ! Now the new men scale the northern tower !
They shout Count Henry ! Seek him everywhere !
Yes, I am here ! Look ! Look ! I am Count Henry !
But you are not to judge me ! I alone
Must march that way my faith hath led ; — it is
To God's tribunal I will go, to give
Myself into his hands !
{He mounts upon a ruin of the wall, above the precipice. )
I see thee, O my dread eternity.
As rapidly thou floatest on to me.
Like an immensity of Darkness ; vast,
Without or end or limit — refuge, none !
And in the centre, God — a dazzling sun —
Which shines eternally — but illumines nothing!
{He gazes for a moment, takes a step down, and stands on
the verge of the precipice. )
They see me now — they run — they scale the cliff —
The new men are upon me ! Jesus ! Mary !
I curse thee, Poetry ! as I shall be
Cursed through eternity ! .
