The Mysterious Mother/Act 4 Scene 2
SCENE II.
BENEDICT, MARTIN, ADELIZA, Friars.
[A procession of friars, chanting a funeral anthem, and followed by Adeliza, advance slowly from a cloyster at the end of the stage.]
The Anthem.
Forbear! forbear forbear!
The pious are heav'n's care.
Lamentations ill become us,
When the good are ravish'd from us.
The pangs of death but smooth the way
To visions of eternal day.
Forbear! forbear forbear!
The pious are heav'n's care.
Lamentations ill become us,
When the good are ravish'd from us.
The pangs of death but smooth the way
To visions of eternal day.
BENEDICT. [Aside to Martin.
Now, man of aspin conscience! lo! the gods,
That sentence Benedict's unholy purpose!
Art thou a priest? Wast thou initiated
In each fond mummery that subdues the vulgar,
And standest thou appall'd at our own thunders?
Now, man of aspin conscience! lo! the gods,
That sentence Benedict's unholy purpose!
Art thou a priest? Wast thou initiated
In each fond mummery that subdues the vulgar,
And standest thou appall'd at our own thunders?
MARTIN.
Who trembled first? It was thy guilty conscience
That gave th' alarm to mine.
Who trembled first? It was thy guilty conscience
That gave th' alarm to mine.
BENEDICT.
Peace, dotard, peace!
Nor when the lamb is nigh, must eagles wrangle.
Fair saint, give us to know why flow these tears;
[To Adeliza.
Why sighs that gentle bosom; and why chant ye
That heav'n-invoking soul-dissolving dirge?
Peace, dotard, peace!
Nor when the lamb is nigh, must eagles wrangle.
Fair saint, give us to know why flow these tears;
[To Adeliza.
Why sighs that gentle bosom; and why chant ye
That heav'n-invoking soul-dissolving dirge?
ADELIZA.
Ah! holy father, art thou then to learn
The pious abbess is at peace? We go
To bear her parting blessing to the Countess.
Ah! holy father, art thou then to learn
The pious abbess is at peace? We go
To bear her parting blessing to the Countess.
BENEDICT.
It must not be. Occasions of much import
Engross her faculties. By me she wills you
Restrain your steps within the cloyster's pale,
Nor grant access but to one stranger knight.
It must not be. Occasions of much import
Engross her faculties. By me she wills you
Restrain your steps within the cloyster's pale,
Nor grant access but to one stranger knight.
ADELIZA.
Is't possible? Can my dear mistress bar
Her faithful handmaid from her gracious presence?
Shall I not pour my sorrows in her bosom,
And moisten it with grief and gratitude?
Two friends were all poor Adeliza's wealth.
Lo! one is gone to plead the orphan's cause.
My patroness, like Tobit's guardian spirit[1],
Confirms my steps, and points to realms of glory.
She will not quit me in this vale of bondage;
She must be good, who teaches what is goodness.
Is't possible? Can my dear mistress bar
Her faithful handmaid from her gracious presence?
Shall I not pour my sorrows in her bosom,
And moisten it with grief and gratitude?
Two friends were all poor Adeliza's wealth.
Lo! one is gone to plead the orphan's cause.
My patroness, like Tobit's guardian spirit[1],
Confirms my steps, and points to realms of glory.
She will not quit me in this vale of bondage;
She must be good, who teaches what is goodness.
BENEDICT.
(Indeed! my pretty pratler!—then am I [Aside.
As sound a saint as e'er the rubric boasted.
—Ha! 'tis the Countess—now for my obedience.)
Young lady, much I marvel at these murmurs.
[To Adeliza.
Just sense and sober piety still dictate
The Countess's commands. With truth I say it,
My sins diminish, as I copy her
(Indeed! my pretty pratler!—then am I [Aside.
As sound a saint as e'er the rubric boasted.
—Ha! 'tis the Countess—now for my obedience.)
Young lady, much I marvel at these murmurs.
[To Adeliza.
Just sense and sober piety still dictate
The Countess's commands. With truth I say it,
My sins diminish, as I copy her
- ↑ Alluding to a picture of Salvator Rosa, in which the story is thus told.