TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this text. For a complete list, please see the bottom of this document. MOSADA. A Dramatic Poem. BY W. B. YEATS. WITH A Frontispiece Portrait of the Author By J. B. YEATS. _Reprinted from the DUBLIN UNIVERSITY REVIEW._ DUBLIN: PRINTED BY SEALY, BRYERS, AND WALKER, 94, 95 AND 96 MIDDLE ABBEY STREET. 1886. [Illustration] MOSADA. "_And my Lord Cardinal hath had strange days in his youth._" _Extract from a Memoir of the Fifteenth Century._ MOSADA, A Moorish Lady. EBREMAR, A Monk. COLA, A Lame Boy. MONKS AND INQUISITORS. SCENE I. _A Little Moorish Room in the Village of Azubia. In the centre of the room a chafing dish._ _Mosada._ [_alone_] Three times the roses have grown less and less, As slowly Autumn climbed the golden throne Where sat old Summer fading into song, And thrice the peaches flushed upon the walls, And thrice the corn around the sickles flamed, Since 'mong my people, tented on the hills, He stood a messenger. In April's prime (Swallows were flashing their white breasts above Or perching on the tents, a-weary still From waste seas cross'd, yet ever garrulous) Along the velvet vale I saw him come: In Autumn, when far down the mountain slopes The heavy clusters of the grapes were full, I saw him sigh and turn and pass away; For I and all my people were accurst Of his sad God; and down among the grass Hiding my face, I cried long, bitterly. Twas evening, and the cricket nation sang Around my head and danced among the grass; And all was dimness till a dying leaf Slid circling down and softly touched my lips With dew as though 'twere sealing them for death. Yet somewhere in the footsore world we meet We two before we die, for Azolar The star-taught Moor said thus it was decreed By those wan stars that sit in company Above the Alpujarras on their thrones, That when the stars of our nativity Draw star to star, as on that eve he passed Down the long valleys from my people's tents, We meet--we two. [_She opens the casement--the mingled sound of the voices and laughter of the apple gatherers floats in._] How merry all these are Among the fruit. But yon, lame Cola crouches Away from all the others. Now the sun-- A-shining on the little crucifix Of silver hanging round lame Cola's neck-- Sinks down at last with yonder minaret Of the Alhambra black athwart his disk; And Cola seeing, knows the sign and comes. Thus do I burn these precious herbs whose smoke Pours up and floats in fragrance o'er my head In coil on coil of azure. [_Enter Cola._] All is ready. _Cola._ Mosada, it is then so much the worse. I will not share your sin. _Mosada._ It is no sin That you shall see on yonder glowing cloud Pictured, where wander the beloved feet Whose footfall I have longed for, three sad summers-- Why these new fears? _Cola._ The servant of the Lord, The dark still man, has come, and says 'tis sin. _Mosada._ They say the wish itself is half the sin. Then has this one been sinned full many times, Yet 'tis no sin--my father taught it me. He was a man most learned and most mild, Who, dreaming to a wondrous age, lived on Tending the roses round his lattice door. For years his days had dawned and faded thus Among the plants; the flowery silence fell Deep in his soul, like rain upon a soil Worn by the solstice fierce, and made it pure. Would he teach any sin? _Cola._ Gaze in the cloud Yourself. _Mosada._ None but the innocent can see. _Cola._ They say I am all ugliness; lame-footed I am; one shoulder turned awry--why then Should I be good? But you are beautiful. _Mosada._ I cannot see. _Cola._ The beetles, and the bats, And spiders, are my friends, I'm theirs, and they are Not good; but you are like the butterflies. _Mosada._ I cannot see! I cannot see! but you Shall see a thing to talk on when you're old, Under a lemon tree beside your door; And all the elders sitting in the sun, Will wondering listen, and this tale shall ease For long, the burthen of their talking griefs. _Cola._ Upon my knees I pray you, let it sleep, The vision. _Mosada._ You're pale and weeping, child. Be not afraid, you'll see no fearful thing. Thus, thus I beckon from her viewless fields-- Thus beckon to our aid a Phantom fair And calm, robed all in raiment moony white. She was a great enchantress once of yore, Whose dwelling was a tree-wrapt island, lulled Far out upon the water world and ringed With wonderful white sand, where never yet Were furled the wings of ships. There in a dell A lily blanchèd place, she sat and sang, And in her singing wove around her head White lilies, and her song flew forth afar Along the sea; and many a man grew hushed In his own house or 'mong the merchants grey, Hearing the far off singing guile and groaned, And manned an argosy and sailing died. In the far isle she sang herself asleep At last. But now I wave her to my side. _Cola._ Stay, stay, or I will hold your white arms down. Ah me, I cannot reach them--here and there Darting you wave them, darting in the vapour. Heard you? Your lute upon the wall has sounded! I feel a finger drawn across my cheek! _Mosada._ The phantoms come; ha ha! they come, they come! I wave them hither, my breast heaves with joy. Ah! now I'm eastern-hearted once again, And while they gather round my beckoning arms, I'll sing the songs the dusky lovers sing, Wandering in sultry palaces of Ind, A lotus in their hands-- [_The door is flung open. Enter the Officers of the Inquisition._] _First Inquisitor._ Young Moorish girl Taken in magic. In the Church's name I here arrest thee. _Mosada._ It is Allah's will. Touch not this boy, for he is innocent. _Cola._ Forgive! for I have told them everything. They said I'd burn in hell unless I told Them all, and let them find you in the vapour. [_She turns away--he clings to her dress._] Forgive me! _Mosada._ It was Allah's will. _Second Inquisitor._ Now cords. _Mosada._ No need to bind my hands. Where are ye, sirs, For ye are hid with vapours? _Second Inquisitor._ Round the stake The vapour is much thicker. _Cola._ God! the stake! Ye said that ye would fright her from her sin-- No more; take me instead of her, great sirs. She was my only friend; I'm lame you know-- One shoulder twisted, and the children cry Names after me. _First Inquisitor._ Lady-- _Mosada._ I come. _Cola_ [_following._] Forgive. Forgive, or I will die. _Mosada_ [_stooping and kissing him_]. 'Twas Allah's will. SCENE II. _A Room, the building of the Inquisition of Granada, lit by stained window, picturing St. James of Spain._ _Monks and Inquisitors._ _First Monk._ Will you not hear my last new song? _First Inquisitor._ Hush, hush! So she must burn you say. _Second Inquisitor._ She must in truth. _First Inquisitor._ Will he not spare her life? How would one matter When there are many? _Second Monk._ Ebremar will stamp This heathen horde away. You need not hope; And know you not she kissed that pious child With poisonous lips, and he is pining since? _First Monk._ You're full of wordiness. Come, hear my song. _Second Monk._ In truth an evil race; why strive for her, A little Moorish girl? _Second Inquisitor._ Small worth. _First Monk._ My song-- _First Inquisitor._ I had a sister like her once my friend. [_Touching the first Monk on the shoulder._] Where is our brother Peter? When you're nigh, He is not far. I'd have him speak for her. I saw his jovial mood bring once a smile To sainted Ebremar's sad eyes. I think He loves our brother Peter in his heart. If Peter would but ask her life--who knows? _First Monk._ He digs his cabbages. He brings to mind That song I've made--is of a Russian tale Of Holy Peter of the Burning Gate: A saint of Russia in a vision saw [_Sings_] A stranger new arisen wait By the door of Peter's gate, And he shouted Open wide Thy sacred door, but Peter cried, No, thy home is deepest hell, Deeper than the deepest well. Then the stranger softly crew Cock-a-doodle-doodle-doo! Answered Peter: Enter in Friend; but 'twere a deadly sin Ever more to speak a word Of any unblessed earthly bird. _First Inquisitor._ Be still, I hear the step of Ebremar. Yonder he comes; bright-eyed, and hollow-cheeked From fasting--see, the red light slanting down From the great painted window wraps his brow, As with an aureole. [_Ebremar enters--they all bow to him._] _First Inquisitor._ My suit to you-- _Ebremar._ I will not hear; the Moorish girl must die. I will burn heresy from this mad earth, And-- _First Inquisitor._ Mercy is the manna of the world. _Ebremar._ The wages of sin is death. _Second Monk._ No use. _First Inquisitor._ My lord, if it must be, I pray descend Yourself into the dungeon 'neath our feet And importune with weighty words this Moor, That she foreswear her heresies and save Her soul from seas of endless flame in hell. _Ebremar._ I speak alone with servants of the Cross And dying men--and yet--but no, farewell. _Second Monk._ No use. _Ebremar._ Away! [_They go._] Hear oh! thou enduring God, Who giveth to the golden-crested wren Her hanging mansion. Give to me, I pray, The burthen of thy truth. Reach down thy hands And fill me with thy rage, that I may bruise The heathen. Yea, and shake the sullen kings Upon their thrones. The lives of men shall flow As quiet as the little rivulets Beneath the sheltering shadow of thy Church, And thou shalt bend, enduring God, the knees Of the great warriors whose names have sung The world to its fierce infancy again. SCENE III. _The dungeon of the Inquisition. The morning of the Auto-da-Fe dawns dimly through a barred window. A few faint stars are shining. Swallows are circling in the dimness without._ _Mosada._ Oh! swallows, swallows, swallows, will ye fly This eve, to-morrow, or to-morrow night Above the farm-house by the little lake That's rustling in the reeds with patient pushes, Soft as a long dead footstep whispering through The brain. My brothers will be passing down Quite soon the cornfield, where the poppies grow, To their farm-work; how silent all will be. But no, in this warm weather, 'mong the hills, Will be the faint far thunder-sound as though The world were dreaming in its summer sleep; That will be later, day is scarcely dawning. And Hassan will be with them--he was so small, A weak, thin child, when last I saw him there. He will be taller now--'twas long ago. The men are busy in the glimmering square. I hear the murmur as they raise the beams To build the circling seats, where high in air Soon will the churchmen nod above the crowd. I'm not of that pale company whose feet Ere long shall falter through the noisy square, And not come thence--for here in this small ring, Hearken, ye swallows! I have hoarded up A poison drop. The toy of fancy once, A fashion with us Moorish maids, begot Of dreaming and of watching by the door The shadows pass; but now, I love my ring, For it alone of all the world will do My bidding. [_Sucks poison from the ring._] Now 'tis done, and I am glad And free--'twill thieve away with sleepy mood My thoughts, and yonder brightening patch of sky With three bars crossed, and these four walls my world, And yon few stars, grown dim like eyes of lovers The noisy world divides. How soon a deed So small makes one grow weak and tottering. Where shall I lay me down? That question is A weighty question, for it is the last. Not there, for there a spider weaves her web. Nay here, I'll lay me down where I can watch The burghers of the night fade one by one, ... Yonder a leaf Of apple blossom circles in the gloom, Floating from yon barred window. New comer, Thou'rt welcome. Lie there close against my fingers. I wonder which is whitest, they or thou. 'Tis thou, for they've grown blue around the nails. My blossom, I am dying, and the stars Are dying too. They were full seven stars; Two only now they are, two side by side. Oh! Allah, it was thus they shone that night, When my lost lover left these arms. My Vallence, We meet at last, the ministering stars Of our nativity hang side by side, And throb within the circles of green dawn. Too late, too late, for I am near to death. I try to lift mine arms--they fall again. This death is heavy in my veins like sleep. I cannot even crawl along the flags A little nearer those bright stars. Tell me, Is it your message, stars, that when death comes My soul shall touch with his, and the two flames Be one? I think all's finished now and sealed. [_After a pause enter Ebremar._] _Ebremar._ Young Moorish girl, thy final hour is here, Cast off thy heresies and save thy soul From dateless pain. She sleeps-- [_Starting._] Mosada--thou-- Oh God!--awake, thou shalt not die. She sleeps. Her head cast backward in her unloosed hair. Look up, look up, thy Vallence is by thee. A fearful paleness creeps across her breast And out-spread arms. [_Casting himself down by her._] Be not so pale, dear love. Oh! can my kisses bring a flush no more Upon thy face. How heavily thy head Hangs on my breast. Listen, we shall be safe. We'll fly from this before the morning star. Dear heart, there is a secret way that leads Its paven length towards the river's marge, Where lies a shallop in the yellow reeds. Awake, awake, and we will sail afar, Afar along the fleet white river's face-- Alone with our own whispers and replies-- Alone among the murmurs of the dawn. Among thy nation none shall know that I Was Ebremar, whose thoughts were fixed on God, And heaven, and holiness. _Mosada._ Let's talk and grieve, For that's the sweetest music for sad souls. Day's dead, all flame-bewildered, and the hills In list'ning silence gazing on our grief. I never knew an eve so marvellous still. _Ebremar._ Her dreams are talking with old years. Awake, Grieve not, for Vallence kneels beside thee-- _Mosada._ Vallence, 'Tis late, wait one more day; below the hills The foot-worn way is long, and it grows dark. It is the darkest eve I ever knew. _Ebremar._ I kneel by thee--no parting now--look up. She smiles--is happy with her wandering griefs. _Mosada._ So you must go; kiss me before you go. Oh! would the busy minutes might fold up Their thieving wings that we might never part. I never knew a night so honey sweet. _Ebremar._ There is no leave taking. I go no more. Safe on the breast of Vallence is thy head Unhappy one. _Mosada._ Go not. Go not. Go not. For night comes fast; look down on me, my love, And see how thick the dew lies on my face. I never knew a night so dew-bedrowned. _Ebremar._ Oh! hush the wandering music of thy mind. Look on me once. Why sink your eyelids so? Why do you hang so heavy in my arms? Love, will you die when we have met? One look Give to thy Vallence. _Mosada._ Vallence--he has gone From here, along the shadowy way that winds Companioning the river's pilgrim torch. I'll see him longer if I stand out here Upon the mountain's brow. [_She tries to stand and totters. Ebremar supports her, and she stands pointing down as if into a visionary valley._] Yonder he treads The path o'er-muffled with the leaves--dead leaves, Like happy thoughts grown sad in evil days. He fades among the mists; how fast they come, And pour upon the world! Ah! well a day! Poor love and sorrow with their arms thrown round Each other's necks, and whispering as they go, Still wander through the world. He's gone, he's gone. I'm weary--weary, and 'tis very cold. I'll draw my cloak around me; it is cold. I never knew a night so bitter cold. [_Dies._] _Ebremar._ Mosada! Oh, Mosada! [_Enter Monks and Inquisitors._] _First Inquisitor._ My lord, you called. _Ebremar._ Not I. This maid is dead. _First Monk._ From poison, for you cannot trust these Moors. You're pale, my lord. _First Inquisitor._ [_aside_] His lips are quivering. The flame that shone within his eyes but now Has flickered and gone out. _Ebremar._ I am not well. 'Twill pass. I'll see the other prisoners now, And importune their souls to penitence, So they escape from hell. But pardon me. Your hood is threadbare--see that it be changed Before we take our seats above the crowd. _First Monk._ I always said you could not trust these Moors. [_They go._] W. B. YEATS. Printed by SEALY, BRYERS AND WALKER, 94, 95, AND 96 MIDDLE ABBEY STREET, DUBLIN. TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES Page 5: "my friend," amended to "my friend." Page 6: "First Inqusitor" amended to "First Inquisitor" Page 10: "kn ewa" amended to "knew a"