[Enter JULIA.]
Julia. No word from him, and evening now set in!
He cannot play me false! His messenger Is dogged--or letter intercepted. I'm Beset with spies!--No rescue!--No escape! -The hour at hand that brings my bridegroom home!
No relative to aid me! friend to counsel me.
[A knock at the door.]
Come in.
[Enter two Female Attendants.]
Your will?
First Attendant. Your toilet waits, my lady;'Tis time you dress.
Julia. 'Tis time I die! [A peal of bells.] What's that?
First Attendant. Your wedding bells, my lady.
Julia. Merrily They ring my knell!
[Second Attendant presents an open case.]
And pray you what are these?
Second Attendant. Your wedding jewels.
Julia. Set them by.
Second Attendant. Indeed.
Was ne'er a braver set! A necklace, brooch, And earrings all of brilliants, with a hoop To guard your wedding ring.
Julia. 'Twould need a guard That lacks a heart to keep it!
Second Attendant. Here's a heart Suspended from the necklace--one huge diamond Imbedded in a host of smaller ones!
Oh! how it sparkles!
Julia. Show it me! Bright heart, Thy lustre, should I wear thee, will be false, -For thou the emblem art of love and truth, -
From her that wears thee unto him that gives thee.
Back to thy case! Better thou ne'er shouldst leave it -Better thy gems a thousand fathoms deep In their native mine again, than grace my neck, And lend thy fair face to palm off a lie!
First Attendant. Will't please you dress?
Julia. Ah! in infected clothes New from a pest-house! Leave me! If I dress, I dress alone! O for a friend! Time gallops!
[Attendants go out.]
He that should guard me is mine enemy!
Constrains me to abide the fatal die, My rashness, not my reason cast! He comes, That will exact the forfeit!--Must I pay it? -E'en at the cost of utter bankruptcy!
What's to be done? Pronounce the vow that parts My body from my soul! To what it loathes Links that, while this is linked to what it loves!
Condemned to such perdition! What's to be done?
Stand at the altar in an hour from this!
An hour thence seated at his board--a wife Thence!--frenzy's in the thought! What's to be done?
[Enter MASTER WALTER.]
Wal. What! run the waves so high? Not ready yet!
Your lord will soon be here! The guests collect.
Julia. Show me some way to 'scape these nuptials! Do it!
Some opening for avoidance or escape, -
Or to thy charge I'll lay a broken heart!
It may be, broken vows, and blasted honour, Or else a mind distraught!
Wal. What's this?
Julia. The strait I'm fallen into my patience cannot bear.
It frights my reason--warps my sense of virtue!
Religion!--changes me into a thing I look at with abhorring!
Wal. Listen to me.
Julia. Listen to me! If this contract Thou holdest me to--abide thou the result!
Answer to heaven for what I suffer!--act!
Prepare thyself for such calamity To fall on me, and those whose evil stars Have linked them with me, as no past mishap, However rare, and marvellously sad Can parallel! lay thy account to live A smileless life, die an unpitied death -Abhorred, abandoned of thy kind,--as one Who had the guarding of a young maid's peace, -Looked on and saw her rashly peril it;
And when she saw her danger, and confessed Her fault, compelled her to complete her ruin!
Wal. Hast done?
Julia. Another moment, and I have.
Be warned! Beware how you abandon me To myself! I'm young, rash, inexperienced! tempted By most insufferable misery!
Bold, desperate, and reckless! Thou hast age Experience, wisdom, and collectedness, -Power, *******,--everything that I have not, Yet want, as none e'er wanted! Thou canst save me, Thou oughtst! thou must! I tell thee at his feet I'll fall a corse--ere mount his bridal bed!
So choose betwixt my rescue and my grave; -
And quickly too! The hour of sacrifice Is near! Anon the immolating priest Will summon me! Devise some speedy means To cheat the altar of its victim. Do it!
Nor leave the task to me!
Wal. Hast done?
Julia. I have.
Wal. Then list to me--and silently, if not With patience.--[Brings chairs for himself and her.]
How I watched thee from thy childhood I'll not recall to thee. Thy father's wisdom -Whose humble instrument I was--directed Your nonage should be passed in privacy, From your apt mind that far outstripped your years, Fearing the taint of an infected world; -For, in the rich grounds, weeds once taking root, Grow strong as flowers. He might be right or wrong!
I thought him right; and therefore did his bidding.