Part 11 (2/2)

_Ire._ A great though innocent love? Ay, a great love, For certain. Spoke she not of it to thee?

_Asan._ No word!

_Ire._ Ah! yet, maybe, 'twas innocent--Nay, I believe it, though she spoke not of it, And 'tis the wont of wives to laugh and boast Of innocent conquests.

_Asan._ Nay, she spoke no word.

_Ire._ And did no other of thy friends at Cherson Tell thee? Why, 'twas the talk of all the city How close they grew together, till thy coming And the necessities of Cherson turned Her eyes from him to thee.

_Asan._ And does he still Bear love for her?

_Ire._ And does he still bear love?

Ay, pa.s.sionate love. The heart which truly loves Puts not its love aside for ends of State, Or marriage bonds, or what the dullard law Suffers or does not suffer, but grows stronger For that which seeks to thwart it.

_Asan._ And did she My wife return this love?

_Ire._ Ay, so 'twas said.

Ask me no more, I pray!

_Enter_ GYCIA _unperceived._

_Asan._ Nay, by the love Thou bearest to me, speak!

_Gycia._ My Lord Asander, What dost thou with this woman thus alone?

_Asan._ 'Twere best thou didst not ask.

_Gycia._ I have a right I will be answered. First, thou didst deny Thou knewest aught of her; then said her nature Was such I might not call her friend, or live With her within four walls; and now, her fault-- Which she herself proclaimed--penning her here In a close prison, thou my husband comest To comfort her, 'twould seem--to travel o'er Again the old foul paths and secretly To gloat on the old pa.s.sion.

_Asan._ Nay, I came Not for this cause, but one which I will tell thee.

I came to question of thy former love.

_Gycia._ To question _her_ of _me_?

_Asan._ To know the cause That made my wife, scarce one short hour ago, Within my home, when hardly I had left her, Receive alone a lover kneeling to her With words of pa.s.sionate love, and whisper to him, ”I am a wife.”

_Gycia._ Hast thou no shame, Asander, To speak such words to me before this woman, Who knows her brother's life?

_Ire._ Nay, prithee, madam, Appeal not to me thus; I could say much On which I would keep silence.

_Gycia._ Thou base woman, And thou poor dupe or most perfidious man, It were to honour ye to make defence Against a wanton and her paramour; But thee, Asander, never will I take To my heart again, till thou hast put from thee This lying accusation, and dost ask Pardon that thou hast dared with this base wretch To impugn my honour.

_Asan._ Thou hast said no word Of answer to my charge; thy bold defiance Argues thy guilt.

_Gycia._ My guilt? And canst thou dare To say this thing to me? I will speak no word; Denial were disgrace. Sir, I will have you Leave this place quickly.

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