posted May 01, 2022 04:10 PM            

Act IV, Scene III

Another room in the castle.

Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA and Attendants

LODOVICO
I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further.

OTHELLO
O, pardon me: 'twill do me good to walk.

LODOVICO
Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship.

DESDEMONA
Your honour is most welcome.

OTHELLO
Will you walk, sir?

O,Desdemona,

DESDEMONA
My lord?

OTHELLO
Get you to bed on the instant; I will be returned
forthwith: dismiss your attendant there: look it be done.

DESDEMONA
I will, my lord.

Exit OTHELLO, LODOVICO, and Attendants

EMILIA
How goes it now? He looks gentler than he did.

DESDEMONA
He says he will return incontinent:
He hath commanded me to go to bed,
And bade me to dismiss you.

EMILIA
Dismiss me!

DESDEMONA
It was his bidding: therefore, good Emilia,
Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu:
We must not now displease him.

EMILIA
I would you had never seen him!

posted May 19, 2022 12:17 AM            

Act V, Scene III

Dona Sol.
At last they all are g'one.

Hernani (seeking to draw her to his arms).
Dear love!

Dona Sol (drawing back a little).
Is't late? —
At least to me it seems so.

Hernani.
Angel dear,
Time ever drags till we together are.

Dona Sol.
This noise has wearied me. Is it not true,
Dear Lord, that all this mirth but stifling is
To happiness?

Hernani.
Thou sayest truly, Love,
For happiness is serious, and asks
For hearts of bronze on which to 'grave itself.
Pleasure alarms it, flinging to it flowers;
Its smile is nearer tears than mirth.

Dona Sol.
Thy smile's
like daylight in thine eyes.
(Hernani seeks to lead her to the door).
Oh, presently.

Hernani.
I am thy slave; yes, linger if thou wilt,
Whate'er thou dost is well. I'll laugh and sing
If thou desirest that it should be so.
Bid the volcano stifle flame, and 'twill
Close up its gulfs, and on its sides grow flowers,
And grasses green.

Dona Sol.
How good you are to me,
My heart's Hernani!

Hernani.
Madam, what name's that?
I pray in pity speak it not again
Thou call'st to mind forgotten things. I know
That he existed formerly in dreams,
Hernani, he whose eyes flashed like a sword,
A man of night and of the hills, a man
Proscribed, on whom was seen writ everywhere
The one word vengeance. An unhappy man
That drew down malediction! I know not
The man they called Hernani. As for me,
I love the birds and flowers, and woods—and song
Of nightingale. I'm Juan of Aragon,
The spouse of Dona Sol — a happy man!

Dona Sol.
Happy am I!

Hernani.
What does it matter now,
The rags I left behind me at the door!
Behold, I to my palace desolate
Come back. Upon the threshold-sill there waits
For me an Angel; I come in and lift
Upright the broken columns, kindle fire,
And open again the windows; and the grass
Upon the courtyard I have all pluck'd up;
For me there is but joy, enchantment, love.
Let them give back my towers, and donjon-keep,
My plume, and seat at the Castilian board
Of Council, comes my blushing Dona Sol,
Let them leave us — the rest forgotten is.
Nothing I've seen, nor said, nor have I done.
Anew my life begins, the past effacing.
Wisdom or madness, you I have and love,
And you are all my love!

Dona Sol.
How well upon
The velvet black the golden collar shows!

Hernani.
You saw it on the King ere now on me.

Dona Sol.
I did not notice. Others, what are they
To me? Besides, the velvet is it, or
The satin? No, my Duke, it is thy neck
Which suits the golden collar. Thou art proud
And noble, my own Lord.

(He seeks to lead her indoors).

Oh, presently,
A moment! See you not, I weep with joy?
Come look upon the lovely night.

(She goes to the balustrade).