Then I shall suffer. Why, we must all suffer. Say that, having a heart, a heart for husband or child, means certain grief,--well, does not riding, walking down your stairs, mean the chance of broken bones? Does not living mean old age, disease, possible blindness or paralysis, and quite inevitable aches? If, as you say, I must needs grow a heart, and if a heart must needs give agony, why, I shall live through heartbreak as through pain in any other limb.
DIEGO
Yes,--were your heart a limb like all the rest,--but 'tis the very centre and fountain of all life.
PRINCESS
You think so? 'Tis, methinks, pushing analogy too far, and metaphor. This necessary organ, diffusing life throughout us, and, as physicians say, removing with its vigorous floods all that has ceased to live, replacing it with new and living tissue,--this great literal heart cannot be the seat of only one small passion.
DIEGO
Yet I have known more women than one die of that small passion's frustrating.
PRINCESS
But you have known also, I reckon, many a man in whom life, what he had to live for, was stronger than all love. They say the Duke my cousin's melancholy sickness was due to love which he had outlived.
DIEGO They say so, Madam.
PRINCESS (_thoughtfully_)
I think it possible, from what I know of him. He was much with my father when a lad; and I, a child, would listen to their converse, not understanding its items, but seeming to understand the general drift. My father often said my cousin was romantic, favoured overmuch his tender mother, and would suffer greatly, learning to live for valour and for wisdom.
DIEGO
Think you he has, Madam?
PRINCESS
If 'tis true that occasion has already come.
DIEGO
And--if that occasion came, for the first time or for the second, perhaps, after your marriage? What would you do, Madam?
PRINCESS
I cannot tell as yet. Help him, I trust, when help could come, by the sympathy of a soul's strength and serenity. Stand aside, most likely, waiting to be wanted. Or else----
DIEGO
Or else, illustrious maiden?
PRINCESS
Or else----I know not----perhaps, growing a heart, get some use from it.
DIEGO
Your Highness surely does not mean use it to love with?
PRINCESS
Why not? It might be one way of help. And if I saw him struggling with grief, seeking to live the life and think the thought fit for his station; why, methinks I could love him.
He seems lovable. Only love could have taught fidelity like yours.
DIEGO
You forget, gracious Princess, that you attributed great power of virtue to a habit of conduct, which is like the nature of high-bred horses, needing no spur. But in truth you are right.
I am no high-bred creature. Quite the contrary. Like curs, I love; love, and only love. For curs are known to love their masters.
PRINCESS
Speak not thus, virtuous Diego. I have indeed talked in magnanimous fashion, and believed, sincerely, that I felt high resolves. But you have acted, lived, and done magnanimously.
What you have been and are to the Duke is better schooling for me than all the Lives of Plutarch.
DIEGO.
You could not learn from me, Lady.
PRINCESS
But I would try, Diego.
DIEGO
Be not grasping, Madam. The generous coursers whom your father taught you to break and harness have their set of virtues.
Those of curs are different. Do not grudge them those. Your noble horses kick them enough, without even seeing their presence. But I feel I am beyond my depth, not being philosophical by nature or schooling. And I had forgotten to give you part of his Highnesses message. Knowing your love of music, and the attention you have given it, the Duke imagined it might divert you, till he was at leisure to pay you homage, to make trial of my poor powers. Will it please you to order the other musicians, Madam?
PRINCESS
Nay, good Diego, humour me in this. I have studied music, and would fain make trial of accompanying your voice. Have you notes by you?
DIEGO
Here are some, Madam, left for the use of his Highness's band this evening. Here is the pastoral of Phyllis by Ludovic of the Lute; a hymn in four parts to the Virgin by Orlandus Lassus; a madrigal by the Pope's Master, Signor Pierluigi of Praeneste. Ah! Here is a dramatic scene between Medea and Creusa, rivals in love, by the Florentine Octavio. Have you knowledge of it, Madam?
PRINCESS
I have sung it with my master for exercise. But, good Diego, find a song for yourself.
DIEGO
You shall humour me, now, gracious Lady. Think I am your master. I desire to hear your voice. And who knows? In this small matter I may really teach you something.
_The_ PRINCESS _sits to the harpsichord_, DIEGO _standing beside her on the dais. They sing, the_ PRINCESS _taking the treble_, DIEGO _the contralto part. The_ PRINCESS _enters first--with a full-toned voice clear and high, singing very carefully_. DIEGO _follows, singing in a whisper. His voice is a little husky, and here and there broken, but ineffably delicious and penetrating, and, as he sings, becomes, without quitting the whisper, dominating and disquieting. The_ PRINCESS _plays a wrong chord, and breaks off suddenly._
DIEGO