BROWNING'S ITALY (14 page)

Where can the trap be ?

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Cha. Heart and soul I pledge!

My father, could I guard the crown you gained, Transmit as I received it, — all good eise Would I surrender!

Pol. Ah, it opens then

Before you, all you dreaded formerly ? You are rejoiced to be a king, my Charles ?

Cha. So much to dare ? The better, — much to dread ? The better. 1*11 adventure though alone. Triumph or die, there's Victor still to witness Who dies or triumphs — either way, alone!

Pol. Once, I had found my share in triumph, Charles, Or death.

Cha. But you are I! But you I call To take, Heaven's proxy, vows I tendered Heaven A moment since. I will deserve the crown!

Pol. You will. [Aride.] No doubt it were a glorious thing For any people, if a heart like his Ruled over it. I would I saw the trap.

(Enter Victor.) Tis he must show me.

Vic. So, the mask falls off

An old man's foolish love at last. Spare thanks! I know you, and Polyxena I know. Here's Charles — I am his guest now — does he bid me Be seated ? And my light-haired blue-eyed child Must not f orget the old man f ar away At Chambery, who dozes while she reigns.

Pol. Most grateful shall we now be, talking least Of gratitude — indeed of anything That hindere what youreelf must need to say To Charles.

Cha. Pray speak, sir!

Vic. 'Faith, not much to say:

Only what shows itself, you once i' the point Of sight. You're now the King: you'11 comprehend Much you may oft have wondered at — the shif ts, Dissimulation, wiliness I showed.

For what's our post ? Here's Savoy and here's Piedmont, Here's Montferrat — a breadth here, a space there — To o'er-sweep all these, what's one weapon worth ? I often think of how they fought in Greece (Or Rome, which was it? You're the scholar, Charles!) You made a front-thrust ? But if your shield too Were not adroiüy planted, some shrewd knave Reached you behind; and him foiled, straight if thong And handle of that shield were not cast loose, And you enabled to outstrip the wind, Fresh foes assailed you, either side; 'scape these, And reach your place of refuge — e'en then, odds If the gate opened unless breath enough Were left in you to make its lord a speech. Oh, you will see!

Cha. No: straight on shall I go,

Truth helping; win with it or die with it.

Vic. 'Faith, Charles, you're not made Europe's fighting-man! The barrier-guarder, if you please. You clutch Hold and consolidate, with envious France This side, with Austria that, the territory I held — ay, and will hold . . . which you shall hold Despite the couple! But I've surely earned Exemption from these weary politics, — The privilege to prattle with my son And daughter here, though Europe wait the while.

Pol. Nay, sir, — at Chambery, away forever, As soon you will be, 'tis farewell we bid you:

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Tum these few fleeting moments to account! Tis just as though it were a death.

Vic. Indeed!

Pol. [Aside.] Is the trap there ?

Cha. Ay, call this parting — death!

The sacreder your memory becomes. If I misrule Sardinia, how bring back My f ather ?

Vic. I mean . . .

Pol. \Who watches Victor narrowly this while.] Your father does not mean You should be ruling for your father's sake: It is your people must concern you wholly Instead of him. You mean this, sir ? (He drops My hand!)

Cha. That people is now part of me.

Vic. About the people! I took certain measures Some short time since . . . Oh, I know well, you know But little of my measures! These affect The nobles; weVe resumed some grants, imposed A tax or two: prepare yourself, in short, For clamor on that score. Mark me: you yield No jot of aught entrusted you!

Pol. No jot

You yield!

Cha. My father, when I took the oath,

Although my eye might stray in search of yours, I heard it, understood it, promised God What you require. Till from this eminence He move me, here I keep, nor shall concede The meanest of my rights.

Vic. [Aside.] The boy's a fool!

— Or rather, Fm a fool: for, what's wrong here ? To-day the sweets of reigning: let to-morrow

Be ready with its bitters.

(Enter D'Ormea.) There's beside Somewhat to press upon your notice first.

Cha. Then why delay it for an instant, sir ? That Spanish claim perchance ? And, now you speak, — This morning, my opinion was mature, Which, boy-like, I was bashful in producing To onc I ne'er am like to fear in future! My thought is formed upon that Spanish claim.

Vic. Betimes indeed. Not now, Charles! You require A host of papers on it.

D'O. [Coming forward.] Here they are. [To Cha.] I, Sir, was minister and much beside Of the late monarch; to say little, him I served: on you I have, to say e'en less, No claim. This case contains those papers: with them I tender you my office.

Vic. [Hastüy.] Keep him, Charles! There's reason for it — many reasons: you Distrust him, nor are so far wrong there, — but He's mixed up in this matter — he'll desire To quit you, for occasions known to me: Do not accept those reasons: have him stay!

Pol. [Aride.] His minister thrust on us!

Cha. [ToD'O.] Sir, believe,

In justice to myself, you do not need E'en this commending: howsoe'er might seem My feelings toward you, as a private man, They quit me in the vast and untried field Of action. Though I shall myself (as late In your own hearing I engaged to do) Preside o'er my Sardinia, yet your help Is necessary. Think the past forgotten

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And serve me now!

D'O. I did not offer you

My service — would that I could serve you, sir! As for the Spanish matter . . .

Vic. But dispatch

At least the dead, in my good daughter's phrase, Before the living! Help to house me safe Ere with D'Ormea you set the world agape! Here is a paper — will you overlook What I propose reserving for my needs ? I get as far from you as possible: Here's what I reckon my expenditure.

Cha. [Reading.] A miserable fifty thousand crowns!

Vic. Oh, quite enough for country genüemen! Beside, the exchequer happens . . . but find out All that, yourself!

Cha. [Still reading.] "Count Tende"— what means this?

Vic. Me: you were but an infant when I burst Through the defile of Tende upon France. Had only my allies kept true to me! No matter. Tende's, then, a name I take Just as . . .

D'O. —The Marchioness Sebastian takes The name of Spigno.

Cha. How, sir ?

Vic. [ToD'O.] Fool! All that

Was for my own detailing. [To Cha.] That anon!

Cha. [To D'O.] Explain what you have said, sir!

D'O. I supposed

The marriage of the King to her I named, Profoundly kept a secret these few weeks, Was not to be one, now he's Count.

Pol. [Aside.] With us

The minister — with him the mistress!

Cha. [roVic] No —

Teil me you have not taken her — that woman — To live with, past recall!

Vic. And where's the crime . . .

Pol. [To Cha.] True, sir, this is a matter past recall And past your cognizance. A day before, And you had been compelled to note this, now: — Why note it? The King saved his House from shame: What the Count did, is no concern of yours.

Cha. [After a pause.] The Spanish claim, D'Ormea!

Vic. Why, my son,

I took some ill-advised . . . one's age, in fäct, Spoils everything: though I was overreached, A younger brain, we'll trust, may extricate Sardinia readily. To-morrow, D'Ormea, Inform the King!

D'O. [Wühout regarding Victor, and leisurely.]

Thus Stands the case with Spain: When first the Infant Carlos claimed his proper Succejssion to the throne of Tuscany . . .

Vic. I teil you, that Stands over! Let that rest! There is the policy!

Cha. [To D'O.] Thus must I know, And more, — too much: the remedy ?

D f O. Of course!

No glimpse of one.

Vic. No remedy at all!

It makes the remedy itself — time makes it.

D'O. [To Cha.] But if . . .

Vic. [Still more hastüy.] In fine, I shall take care of that: And, with another project that I have . . .

D'O. [Turning on him.] Oh, since Count Tende means to take again King Victor's crown! —

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Pol. [Throwing herseif cd Victor's feet.]

E'en now retake it, sir! Oh, speak! We are your subjects both, once more! Say it — a word effects it! You meant not, Nor do mean now, to take it: but you must! Tis in you — in your nature — and the shame's Not half the shame 'twould grow to afterwards!

Cha. Polyxena!

Pol. A word recalls the knights —

Say it! — What's promising and what's the past ? Say you are still King Victor!

D'O. Better say

The Count repents, in brief!

[Victor rises.

Cha. With such a crime

I have not charged you, sir!

Pol. Charles turns from me!

(Enter D'Ormea and Victor, with Guards.) Vic. At last I speak; but once — that once, to you!

Tis you I ask, not these your varletry,

Who's Eng of us ?

Cha. [From hü seat.] Count Tende . . .

Vic. What your spies

Assert I ponder in my soul, I say —

Here to your face, amid your guards! I choose

To take again the crown whose shadow I gave —

For still its potency surrounds the weak

White locks their felon hands have discomposed.

Or 111 not ask who's King, but simply, who

Withholds the crown I claim ? Deliver it!

I have no friend in the wide world: nor France

Nor England cares for me: you see the sum

Cha. Take it, my father!

And now say in turn, Was it done well, my father — sure not well, To try me thus! I might have seen much cause For keeping it — too easily seen cause! But, from that moment, e'en more woefully My life had pined away, than pine it will. Already you have much to answer for. My life to pine is nothing, — her sunk eyes Were happy once! No doubt, my people think I am their King still . . . but I cannot strive! Take it!

Vic. [One hand on the crown Charles offers, the other on his neck.] So few years give it quietly, My son! It will drop from me. See you not? A crown's unlike a sword to give away — That, let a strong hand to a weak hand give! But crowns should slip from palsied brows to heads Young as this head: yet mine is weak enough, E'en weaker than I knew. I seek for phrases To vindicate my right. Tis of a piece! All is alike gone by with me — who beat Once D'Orleans in his lines —his very lines! To have been Eugene's comrade, Louis's rival, And now . . .

Cha. [Puüing the crown on him 9 to the rest.] The King speaks, yet none kneels, I think!

Vic. I am then King! As I became a King Despite the nations, kept myself a King, So I die King, with Kingship dying too Around me! I have lasted Europe's time! What wants my story of completion ? Where Must needs the damning break show ? Who mistrusts My children here — teil they of any break

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"Iwixt my day's sunrise and its fiery fall ? And who were by me when I died but they ? D'Ormea there!

Cha. What means he ?

Vic. Ever there!

Charles — how to save your story! Mine must go! Say — say that you refused the crown to me! Charles, yours shall be my story! You immured Me, say, at Rivoli. A Single year I spend without a sight of you, then die. That will serve every purpose — teil that tale The world!

Cha. Mistrustme? Help!

Vic. Past help, past reach!

Tis in the heart — you cannot reach the heart: This broke mine, that I did believe, you, Charles, Would have denied me and disgraced me.

Pol. Charles

Has never ceased to be your subject, sir! He reigned at first through setting up yourself As pattern: if he e'er seemed harsh to you, Twas from a too intense appreciation Of your own character: he acted you — N'er for an instant did I think it real, Nor look for any other than this end. I hold him worlds the worse on that account; But so it was.

Cha. [To Pol.] I love you now indeed! [To Vic] You never knew me!

Vic. Hardly tili this moment,

When I seem learning many other things Because the time for using them is past. It 'twere to do again! That's idly wished. Truthfulness might prove policy as good

As guile. Is this my daughter's forehead? Yes: IVe made it fitter now to be a queen's Than formerly: IVe ploughed the deep lines there Which keep too well a crown from slipping off. No matter. Guile has made me King again. Louis — 'twas in King Victor'8 time: — long since, When Louis reigned and, also, Victor reigned. How the world talks already of us two! God of eclipse and each discolored star, Why do I linger then ?

Ha! Where lurks he ? D'Ormea! Nearer to your King! Now stand!

[CoUecting his strength as D'Ormea approaches. You lied, D'Ormea! I do not repent. [Dies.

This episode has been called by Voltaire a "terrible event without consequences" in the history of Europe. That it should have had so little national or international mean-ing is all the more remarkable when we con-sider how important a part Piedmont and the Kingdom of Sardinia, formerly the Duchy of Savoy, played in Italian History.

This Duchy comes prominently into notice the latter part of the sixteenth Century. At that time it included a good deal of Piedmont and part of what is now France and Switzer-land. Unfortunately it was the fighting ground of France, Spain and Austria, or perhaps this was fortunate, for its Dukes were so attuned to war that they gradually,

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though losing their French and Swiss prov-inces, built up a province that became the head and front of the Kingdom of Sardinia. More important still is the fact that the people of Piedmont themselves became a nation of soldiers and when the rest of the Italian provinces grew more and more in-capable of bearing arms, Piedmont led the van in the final fierce struggle for Italian Independence. Cavour and Victor Emmanuel II are the great names in Piedmontese history: without them, one may indeed won-der if Italian liberty would ever have been won. At the call of Cavour, Turin took up the Carbonari's cry for a Constitution. Ac-cording to Cavour there was but one possible course — war with Austria, and Piedmont feit that the time had at last come for her to uplift Italy and fight her country's battles. The time was not yet, however, though as Sedgwick points out, "In Piedmont alone was there light ahead." Victor Emmanuel was to prove a rock of defense. He had all the good qualities of his race; he was a brave soldier and of unimpeachable integrity, a better illustration of which could not be given than in his action after the defeat of Novara (1849), when pressure was brought to bear upon him to make him return to the