Roxton cautiously enters the dark Summerlee garden.
"He jests at scars that never felt a wound." He mumbles under his breath at the remarks his kinsmen had been calling out about the street.
He looks around a minute amazed but the grandeur and beauty of the garden, then suddenly hearing something hides himself behind a group of poplar trees. He holds his breath as he sees the fiery Deanna walk through the garden seeming to be looking for something or someone; he realizes, and carefully rocks himself farther behind the trees as Deanna still suspicious but satisfied quits the garden.
Roxton releases his breath relieved and begins to catch his nerves when he hears a voice above him, it is a beautiful and soft voice like none he had ever heard before and yet there was something about it that seemed familiar to his ears. He silently turned and moved from the poplars and gazed up to the balcony where he swore he saw and angel standing. A raven- haired soft skinned angel whose voice was like the most beautiful perfect music to his ears.
"But, soft! What light through yonder window
breaks?
It is the east, and Marguerite is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That you her maid are far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, Oh, it is my love!
Oh, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, it is not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night." Roxton says knowing it
uncharacteristically whimsical of himself, but he cannot help it. Not in the
presence of this goddess who honors him with her presence, with her light.
"See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!" he fancies unable to keep himself from grinning
"Ay me!" sighs Marguerite taking her head from her hand completely unaware or Roxton's presence in her garden.
"She speaks!" says Roxton with a start "Oh, speak again, bright angel! For you are as glorious to this night, being over my head as is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white-upturned wondering eyes of mortals that fall back to gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds and sails upon the bosom of the air." He says gazing up at his angel
"O Roxton, Roxton! Wherefore art thou Roxton? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if you will not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Summerlee. " Says Marguerite almost giddy with affection and longing, tracing the banister of the balcony with her hand
Roxton raises a playful eyebrow pleased with the idea or her thinking of him, "Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?" he asks himself when Marguerite begins to speak again and he moves closer to the balcony as to hear her better.
"It is but thy name that is my enemy; you are
yourself, though not a Challenger." She begins looking down running her hand
along the railing as she walks about thinking,
"What is Challenger? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man." She chuckles to herself softly "Oh, be some other name!" she cries out suddenly to the darkness still oblivious to Roxton's presence beneath her.
Roxton grins
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, " she says frowning making a point "So Roxton would, were he not Roxton called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title." She sighs discouraged "Roxton," she says as if she were speaking to him "doff thy name, and for that name which is no part of thee-" she thinks a minute changing her tone from demanding to thoughtful and excited "Take all myself." She laughs wrapping her arms around herself and resting her back on the balcony hugging herself she bent back looking up at the starry sky as her frivolous smile fades.
Roxton can resist no longer, he is to full of love and desire for this woman, so he quickly climbs up into a tree and jumps out grasping onto the railing of the balcony and holding himself there his feet resting on a long branch of the tree.
"I take thee at thy word! Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Roxton!!" he cries out
Startling Marguerite who gasps and jerks away from the railing stepping back toward the curtain to her room. Then she recognizes him and yet doesn't look at all pleased, having been startled and eavesdropped upon.
She walked over to him calmly, he looked at her a small grin coming to his face, then she suddenly backhanded him and he almost lost his balance as he fell back onto the tree branch which began to bounce up and down as he tried to get his wits back about him.
"What man are thee that thus bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my counsel?!" she demanded setting her hands on her hips
But Roxton could only grin; she looked so very pretty when she was mad. So he calmly looking to her for permission to do so, which she nodded, stood back up and reached the edge of the balcony again, resting his arms on the banister.
She looked at him raising her eyebrows her arms crossed waiting for an answer
"By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am: My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, because it is an enemy to thee; had I it written, I would tear the word." He said smoothly
She smiled slightly unable to stay angry with him, she let her arms fall and nodded walking over to him, where he stood back a bit raising a hand playfully as she were to strike him again. She just nudged his shoulder and stood with her arms resting on the railing next to him, looking out into the garden as he looked at her.
"My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound: Are you not Roxton and a Challenger?" she said solemnly getting right to the point still not looking at him.
Roxton sighed looking down and then up at her again "Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike." He whispered softly
"How did you come here,
tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who you are,
If any of my kinsmen find you here-" she said earnestly looking to him and
taking his eyes which suddenly took her breath away.
"With love's light wings
did I over-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore your kinsmen are no let to me." He said gently brushing her soft
cheek with the back of her fingers and then cupping her face in his hand
"If they do see thee, they will murder thee." She said worry apparent in her voice as she placed her hand over his on her face.
"Alack, there lies more danger in your eye than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet, and I am proof against their hostility." He said attempting to disperse her anxiety
"I would not for the world they saw thee here." She said looking into his eyes taking his hand from her face with one hand and caressing his with the other.
He thought for a second in silence of how to banish the fears from his beloved's heart
"I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; and if you not love me, let them find me here: my life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of your love." He said honestly
She gasped softly drawing back a bit troubled and defensive "By whose direction found you this place?"
"By love, who first did
prompt me to inquire;
He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.
I am no pilot; yet, were you as far
As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,
I would adventure for such merchandise." He smiled reaching out for her again
but she stepped back unsure attempting to guard her heart perchance it be taken
so quickly and broken.
"Thou know'st the mask of night
is on my face,
Else would a maiden blush paint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night
FainÁ would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke: but farewell compliment!" she said with a sigh giving up on
trying not to be dreadfully frank,
"Dost thou love me?-"
Roxton was about to answer when she held up her hand to stop him
" I know thou wilt say 'Yes,' and
I will take thy word: yet if you swear, Thou mayst prove false; at lovers'
perjuries then say, Jove laughs. Oh gentle Romeo, If you do love, pronounce it
faithfully!' she pleaded coming close to him, then she stepped away and turned
holding her head fretfully
"Or if you think I am too quickly
won," she said turning back her mind and her tongue running quickly and along
"I'll frown and be perverse an say you no,
So you will woo;" she said being very animated as she spoke, so that Roxton had
to smile at her worry and her doubt
" But else, not for the world."
She said finally with a sigh grasping to the railing leaning toward him
"In truth," she smiled looking down feeling a bit embarrassed "fair Challenger,
I am too fond,
And therefore you may think my behavior light:
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange." She said chuckling nervously
a bit
"I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But that you overheard, when I was unaware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night has so discovered." She finished looking up into his eyes,
hers shining with true love and affection.
Roxton smiled thoughtfully at her placing a tender hand upon hers "Lady, by yonder-blessed moon I swear that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—"
"Oh!" she gasped stepping back " swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, lest that your love prove likewise changeable."
Roxton grinned shaking his head, oh how he loved her. How could he even explain as to show her and set her mind at ease?
"What shall I swear by?" he asked goodheartedly
"Do not swear at all;
Or, if you will, swear by your gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe you." She said coyly smiling bashfully as she looked down away
form his gaze.
"If my heart's dear love—" he began
Marguerite suddenly heard movement within her dwelling
--------------------------
Veronica walked into Marguerite's room carrying a bundle of fresh linen. Noticing Marguerite is not within she begins to inspect the adjoining washroom then as she reenters the main room she hears voices on the balcony she leans in toward the curtains to hear and realizes who is conversing with her mistress. She looks around worried a moment and then gives up thinking it useless and creeps over to the wall to listen better.
--------------------------
"Well, do not swear: although I
joy in you," Marguerite said suddenly interrupting him
"I have no joy of this contract to-night:
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which do cease to be
When one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night!
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night! As sweet repose and rest
Come to your heart as that within my breast!" she said quickly yet reluctantly
moving to depart
Roxton had to take a double take to realize what had just happened and then quickly called to her
"Oh, will you leave me so unsatisfied?!"
Marguerite's eyes widened and she stopped and turned to him her body rigid
"What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?!" she asked a bit distributed
"The exchange of your love's faithful vow for mine," Roxton replied pensively unaware of what about his inquiry had bothered her so.
Marguerite sighed unable to suppress the bright smile of joy that appeared on her face. "I gave you mine before you did request it: and yet I would it were to give again." She nearly laughed with joy
Roxton's eyes widened in alarm "Would you withdraw it? For what purpose, love?"
Marguerite smiled seeing his
anxiety "But to be frank," she said
soothingly walking over to him "and give it to you again." They wrapped their
arms around each other holding each other in the moonlight the only thing
separating them being the banister.
"And yet I wish but for the thing I have: My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to you, The more I have, for both are
infinite." She smiled whimsically laying her head on his shoulder with a sigh.
--------------------------
"It's getting a bit to cozy out there I think," Mumbled Veronica to herself as she peaked out through the curtains. She quickly walked toward the doorway of the room and then turning around calls to her friend.
----------------------------
"Marguerite!!" came from within the house
Marguerite's head jerks up upon hearing the sound
"I hear some noise within; dear
love, adieu!" she said putting her hands on the sides of his face and kissing
him lightly
"Anon, good Veronica!" she calls back to her friend then turns back to
Roxton "Sweet Challenger, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again." Then with another quick kiss she runs
into the bedchamber
Roxton stands on the balcony edge his demeanor a bit dreamy an whimsical as he suddenly sways and is again alert as he grabs to railing to keep from falling.
"O blessed, blessed night! I am
afeard.
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial." He whispers into the darkness
Marguerite quick emerges from the bedchamber and rushes to him
"Three words, dear Romeo, and
good night indeed.
If that your bent of love be honorable,
You purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to you,
Where and what time you will perform the rite;
And all my fortunes at your foot I'll lay
And follow you my lord throughout the world." She smiled holding both of his
hands in hers.
He smiled back at her touching his forehead to hers.
------------------
Veronica paces about the bedchamber when Deanna suddenly enters still wearing her rapier about her hip.
"What goes on sweet Veronica? Where is my dear cousin?" Deanna asked good heartedly
"Uh- she is- but getting some air" said Veronica placing her hands behind her back nervously
"Yes, then I shall join her-"
"Nay!" Veronica said suddenly "I shall call her hither. Madam!!!"
"What is the matter my dear friend?" Deanna asked resting a hand on her sword
"The matter?"
"You are of frivolous spirits tonight, perhaps you have gotten to into the 'spirits' tonight?" she laughed walking over to the water basin and cupping out a drink with her hand.
"Madam!!" Veronica called again smiling nervously at Deanna
"You need not shout so, I shall just get her myself," she said turning to go out to the balcony
"Nay! I think perhaps you sh-shouldn't" Veronica said a bit nervously coughing suddenly to cover it up.
"Why?"
"Well-err-our friend is in rare spirits herself,"
"Oh, why might that be?" inquired Deanna turning back to her
"Oh-I-I think perhaps it is product of her finding out about the Challenger and his kinsmen who illegally attended the party tonight, yes-yes it has brought quite tumult upon all of are minds tonight if you can believe that" Veronica sighed, as least she didn't have to lie she just didn't tell the truth
"Well I can truly believe that! I should slay the first Challenger I see for such a act," cried Deanna angrily
"I know," said Veronica uneasily looking out toward the balcony
"But she is not to worry I will take care of that matter," Deanna said of handedly
"Oh?!" said Veronica suddenly truly disturbed
"Yes I- wait where is that girl?" said Deanna getting suspicious and looking out toward the balcony when she suddenly heard laughter, her eyes widened as she made her way toward the balcony.
"MADAM!!" Veronica called almost pleading
-------------------
"Madam!" came Veronica's voice to Marguerite's ears
She groaned and picked her head up from Roxton's shoulder.
"I come, anon.--But if you mean not well, I do beseech you—" she said looking him in the eyes
"Madam!!!" She head Veronica call again urgency apparent in her tone
"By and by, I come:-- my she is jumpy this evening" she mumbled turning back to him " I do beseech thee to cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief: To-morrow will I send."
"So thrive my soul—" said Roxton with a joyful smile wrapping his arms around her
She looked up at him and he leaned down and kissed her tenderly.
"MADAM!!!"
"OH! A thousand times good night!!" Marguerite laughed and broke away from him and ran toward the bedchamber when she stopped just before entering and blew him a kiss, which he merrily returned.
------------------
Marguerite entered the bedchamber a blissful look on her face when she suddenly almost ran into her cousin.
Her eyes widened in alarm "Deanna!'
"Good eve Marguerite," Deanna smiled looking over her strange demeanor as she stepped back.
"Were you conversing with someone?" Deanna asked suspiciously
"Con-Conversing with someone? Why would you say that?" she said looking over at Veronica who just shrugged
"I heard voices and laughter out on the balcony" she replied
"Oh-oh well it was just I-I was talking to myself, thinking aloud,"
"Uh-huh" said Deanna cocking her hip crossing her arms.
There was a moment of silence when suddenly Marguerite gasped
"What is it?" said Deanna alarmed
"What-oh-oh nothing I- I just forgot something on the balcony, I'll just be moment" she said looking sternly at Veronica who shrugged looking around.
Marguerite smiled at her cousin and then rushed out onto the balcony.
Deanna moved to follow her when Veronica ran up behind her
"Try this" she said urgently and shoved a plum into Deanna's mouth sending her off balance and onto the bed the fruit still jammed between her jaws.
-------------
"A thousand times the worse, to want your light.
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks. " Roxton sighed leaning
back holding to the banister swaying back and forth on the arches of his feet
about to descend to the farther to the earth when Marguerite suddenly reemerged
from her bedchamber.
"Hist! Roxton, hist! O, for a falconer's voice,
To lure this tassel-gentle back again!
Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine,
With repetition of my Roxton's name" said Marguerite unable to see him
"It is my soul that calls upon my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!" Roxton said looking back up to the
balcony from the tree branch he was standing on.
Marguerite was about to call out again when Deanna suddenly emerged from the bedchamber spitting something over the side of the balcony. Marguerite lunged for a fruit that was on a nearby tree. She tore it from its branch and turned to greet her cousin.
Roxton had jumped from the tree to the support beams under the balcony to be surely out of sight and clung to them as he felt the boards just above him bend and creak with the weight of the person's walking upon them.
"What are you doing cousin speaking to yourself again?" Deanna asked looking around suspiciously
"Yes, I couldn't remember where I left-err- these yes I picked them for you?"
"Pears?" Deanna asked utterly confused taking the "gift' "thank you- I think," she mumbled walking about the balcony
She was about to say something when-
"Deanna?! Oh Deanna I think you should come within-" called Veronica
Deanna looked at Marguerite who smiled as innocently as she possibly could
"Deanna!!"
"I come- I come!!" Deanna replied giving Marguerite a weary look " But I swear if it's more fruit!-" she began as she walked into the bed chamber
Marguerite sighed letting her shoulders fall in relief then she rushed to the banister.
"Roxton!"
"My dear?" he managed to groan as he pulled himself from the balcony beams back to the tree.
She helped him over to the tree and then continued to hold his hand.
"At what o'clock to-morrow shall I send to you?"
"At the hour of nine." Roxton replied smiling in happy anticipation
"I will not fail: its twenty years till then. I have forgot why I did call you back." She smiled ironically
"Let me stand here till thou remember it." Roxton grinned
"I shall forget, to have you still stand there, remembering how I love thy company." Marguerite smile sweetly with a chuckle.
"And I'll still stay, to have you still forget, forgetting any other home but this." He said truthfully
"Its almost morning; I would have you gone: And yet no further than a wanton's bird; Who lets it hop a little from her hand, Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, And with a silk thread plucks it back again, So loving-jealous of his liberty." She whispered playfully pulling on her arm
"I would I were your bird. " he grinned tilting his head looking at her beautiful face.
"Sweet, so would I: Yet I
should kill you with much cherishing. Good night, good night! Parting is such
sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow." She whispered
withdrawing her had slowly and quietly reentering her bedchamber.
-------------
Marguerite stops suddenly upon entering her bedchamber walking in on a strange sight.
Veronica and Deanna are both standing on their heads on the bed leaning against the wall for support.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Veronica! All I'm seeing is red, from the blood rushing to my head!!" she said frustrated tilting forward back onto the bed.
She sits up attempting to steady herself as all of the blood rushes from her head back to the rest of her body.
"What were you doing?" asked Marguerite awkwardly
"Don't ask!" said Deanna tersely holding her head
"At least it didn't have to do with fruit-" said Veronica flopping forward from her headstand onto the bed.
"This is true," Deanna remarked standing "Now Marguerite what is going on? I know the two of you are hiding something,"
"Hiding something?! Well-Well I am offended that you would say so beloved Deanna I-"
"Veronica said you were upset by the news of a Challenger at the party today, how so?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"How so were you upset?"
"I-I-I suppose just as much as the rest of us, it
was rude of them to come to the gathering as they did, not being invited or of
good merit."
"Uh-huh" said Deanna who then looked at Veronica and Marguerite and sighed. "Ok I give up, I'm to exhausted for this I say we all retire, we are do for some good rest." She sighed getting up and kissing each of her 'sisters' on the cheek and then exiting the room.
Marguerite and Veronica both released their breath feeling a great weight lifted and fell onto the bed.
-----------------------------
"Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in your breast!
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,
His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell." Said Roxton merrily jumping down
from the tree to the ground and running off into the dark.
Deanna watched from her balcony window as the young Challenger ran from garden.
"Be quick young Challenger for if yee sumbl'est thou will be sorry to find me there when you pull thy face from the dry earth. There, watching you as now I will always be, so long as thou trys to consort with my family. Most of all my cousin." Deanna whispered into the night "She needn't experience the pain that men like you can conjure, for I know it only to well to let that happen." She frowned old memories stirring up from her soul a small tear of regret and a new oath running down her cheek.
End of Scene Two
