George MacDonald - The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 1

Lilia
( hopefully, and looking up ).
Then you've had dispensation?

Julian .
God has absolved me, though the Church will not.
He knows it was in ignorance I did it.
Rather would he have men to do his will,
Than keep a weight of words upon their souls,
Which they laid there, not graven by his finger.
The vow was made to him—to him I break it.

Lilia
( weeping bitterly ).
I would … your words were true … but I do know …
It never can … be right to break a vow;
If so, men might be liars every day;
You'd do the same by me, if we were married.

Julian
( in anguish ).
'Tis ever so. Words are the living things!
There is no spirit—save what's born of words!
Words are the bonds that of two souls make one!
Words the security of heart to heart!
God, make me patient! God, I pray thee, God!

Lilia
( not heeding him ).
Besides, we dare not; you would find the dungeon
Gave late repentance; I should weep away
My life within a convent.

Julian .
Come to England,
To England, Lilia.

Lilia .
Men would point, and say:
There go the monk and his wife ; if they, in truth,
Called me not by a harder name than that.

Julian .
There are no monks in England.

Lilia .
But will that
Make right what's wrong?

Julian .
Did I say so, my Lilia?
I answered but your last objections thus;
I had a different answer for the first.

Lilia .
No, no; I cannot, cannot, dare not do it.

Julian .
Lilia, you will not doubt my love; you cannot.
—I would have told you all before, but thought,
Foolishly, you would feel the same as I;—
I have lived longer, thought more, seen much more;
I would not hurt your body, less your soul,
For all the blessedness your love can give:
For love's sake weigh the weight of what I say.
Think not that must be right which you have heard
From infancy—it may——

Steward .
My lord, there's such an uproar in the town!
They call you murderer and heretic.
The officers of justice, with a monk,
And the new Count Nembroni, accompanied
By a fierce mob with torches, howling out
For justice on you, madly cursing you!
They caught a glimpse of me as I returned,
And stones and sticks flew round me like a storm;
But I escaped them, old man as I am,
And was in time to bar the castle-gates.—
Would heaven we had not cast those mounds, and shut
The river from the moat!

Escape, my lord!

Julian
( calmly ).
Will the gates hold them out awhile, my Joseph?

Steward .
A little while, my lord; but those damned torches!
Oh, for twelve feet of water round the walls!

Julian .
Leave us, good Joseph; watch them from a window,
And tell us of their progress.

Farewell, Lilia!

Fear of a coward's name shall not detain me.
My presence would but bring down evil on you,
My heart's beloved; yes, all the ill you fear,
The terrible things that you have imaged out
If you fled with me. They will not hurt you,
If you be not polluted by my presence.

They've fired the gate.

Steward ( entering ). They've fired the gate, my lord!

Julian .
Well, put yourself in safety, my dear Joseph.
You and old Agata tell all the truth,
And they'll forgive you. It will not hurt me;
I shall be safe—you know me—never fear.

Steward .
God grant it may be so. Farewell, dear lord!

Julian .
But add, it was in vain; the signorina
Would not consent; therefore I fled alone.

Steward . Can it be so? Good-bye, good-bye, my master!

Julian .
Put your arms round me once, my Lilia.
Not once?—not once at parting?

O God! farewell!

Lilia . Julian! Julian!

1st .
I was sure I saw light here! There it is, burning still!

2nd .
Nobody here? Praise the devil! he minds his
own. Look under the bed, Gian.

3rd .
Nothing there.

4th .
Another door! another door! He's in a trap now, and will soon be in hell! ( Opening the door with difficulty .) The devil had better leave him, and make up the fire at home—he'll be cold by and by. ( Rushes into the inner room .) Follow me, boys! [The rest follow.]

Voices from within .
I have him! I have him! Curse your claws! Why do you fix them on me, you crab? You won't pick up the fiend-spawn so easily, I can tell you. Bring the light there, will you? ( One runs out for the light .) A trap! a trap! and a stair, down in the wall! The hell-faggot's gone! After him, after him, noodles!

Julian .
There! One at a time!—Take care, love; it
is heavy.—
Put them right in the middle, of the boat:
Gold makes good ballast.

Look how the torches gleam
Among the trees. Thank God, we have escaped!

( In a low tone .) Slip down, my Lilia; lie at full length
In the bottom of the boat; your dress is white,
And would return the torches' glare. I fear
The damp night-air will hurt you, dressed like this.

Now for a strong pull with my muffled oars!
The water mutters Spanish in its sleep.
My beautiful! my bride! my spirit's wife!
God-given, and God-restored! My heart exults,
Hovering about thee, beautiful! my soul!—
Once round the headland, I will set the sail;
The fair wind bloweth right adown the stream.
Dear wind, dear stream, dear stars, dear heart of all,
White angel lying in my little boat!
Strange that my boyhood's skill with sail and helm,
Oft steering safely 'twixt the winding banks,
Should make me rich with womanhood and life!