Comic Tragedies — Norna, Part 1
"Those Concord days were the happiest of my life.
Plays in the barn were a favorite amusement."
_L.
M.
Alcott.
_] NORNA; OR, THE WITCH'S CURSE.
CHARACTERS.
Count Rodolpho .
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_A Haughty Noble.
_ Count Louis .
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_Lover of Leonore.
_ Adrian .
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_The Black Mask.
_ Hugo .
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_A Bandit.
_ Gaspard .
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_Captain of the Guard.
_ Angelo .
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_A Page.
_ Theresa .
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_Wife to Rodolpho.
_ Leonore .
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_In love with Louis.
_ Norna .
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_A Witch.
_ COMIC TRAGEDIES.
NORNA; OR, THE WITCH'S CURSE.
SCENE FIRST.
[_A room in the castle of_ Rodolpho.
Theresa _discovered alone, and in tears.
_] Theresa.
I cannot pray; my aching heart finds rest alone in tears.
Ah, what a wretched fate is mine!
Forced by a father's will to wed a stranger ere I learned to love, one short year hath taught me what a bitter thing it is to wear a chain that binds me unto one who hath proved himself both jealous and unkind.
The fair hopes I once cherished are now gone, and here a captive in my splendid home I dwell forsaken, sorrowing and alone [_weeps_].
[_Three taps upon the wall are heard.
_] Ha, my brother's signal!
What can bring him hither at this hour?
Louis, is it thou?
Enter; "all's well."
[_Enter_ Count Louis _through a secret panel in the wall, hidden by a curtain.
He embraces_ Theresa.
Theresa.
Ah, Louis, what hath chanced?
Why art thou here?
Some danger must have brought thee; tell me, dear brother.
Let me serve thee.
Louis.
Sister dearest, thy kindly offered aid is useless now.
Thou canst not help me; and I must add another sorrow to the many that are thine.
I
came to say farewell, Theresa.
Theresa.
Farewell!
Oh, brother, do not leave me!
Thy love is all now left to cheer my lonely life.
Wherefore must thou go?
Tell me, I beseech thee!
Louis.
Forgive me if I grieve thee.
I will tell thee all.
Thy husband hates me, for I charged him with neglect and cruelty to thee; and he hath vowed revenge for my bold words.
He hath whispered false tales to the king, he hath blighted all my hopes of rank and honor.
I am banished from the land, and must leave thee and Leonore, and wander forth an outcast and alone.
But--let him beware!
--I shall return to take a deep revenge for thy wrongs and my own.
Nay, sister, grieve not thus.
I have sworn to free thee from his power, and I will keep my vow.
Hope on and bear a little longer, dear Theresa, and ere long I will bear thee to a happy home [_noise is heard without_].
Ha!
what is that?
Who comes?
Theresa.
'Tis my lord returning from the court.
Fly, Louis, fly!
Thou art lost if he discover thee.
Heaven bless and watch above thee.
Remember poor Theresa, and farewell.
Louis.
One last word of Leonore.
I have never told my love, yet she hath smiled on me, and I should have won her hand.
Ah, tell her this, and bid her to be true to him who in his exile will hope on, and yet return to claim the heart he hath loved so faithfully.
Farewell, my sister.
Despair not,--I shall return.
[_Exit_ Louis _through the secret panel; drops his dagger.
_ Theresa.
Thank Heaven, he is safe!
--but oh, my husband, this last deed of thine is hard to bear.
Poor Louis, parted from Leonore, his fair hopes blighted, all by thy cruel hand.
Ah, he comes!
I must be calm.
[_Enter_ Rodolpho.
Rod.
What, weeping still?
Hast thou no welcome for thy lord save tears and sighs?
I'll send thee to a convent if thou art not more gay!
Theresa.
I'll gladly go, my lord.
I am weary of the world.
Its gayeties but make my heart more sad.
Rod.
Nay, then I will take thee to the court, and there thou _must_ be gay.
But I am weary; bring me wine, and smile upon me as thou used to do.
Dost hear me?
Weep no more.
[_Seats himself.
_ Theresa _brings wine and stands beside him.
Suddenly he sees the dagger dropped by_ Louis.
] Ha!
what is that?
'Tis none of mine.
How came it hither?
Answer, I command thee!
Theresa.
I cannot.
I must not, dare not tell thee.
Rod.
Darest thou refuse to answer?
Speak!
Who hath dared to venture hither?
Is it thy brother?
As thou lovest life, I bid thee speak.
Theresa.
I am innocent, and will not betray the only one now left me on the earth to love.
Oh, pardon me, my lord; I will obey in all but this.
Rod.
Thou _shalt_ obey.
I'll take thy life but I will know.
Thy brother must be near,--this dagger was not here an hour ago.
Thy terror hath betrayed him.
I leave thee now to bid them search the castle.
But if I find him not, I shall return; and if thou wilt not then confess, I'll find a way to make thee.
Remember, I have vowed,--thy secret or thy life!
[_Exit_ Rodolpho.
Theresa.
My life I freely yield thee, but my secret--never.
Oh, Louis, I will gladly die to save thee.
Life hath no joy for me; and in the grave this poor heart may forget the bitter sorrows it is burdened with [_sinks down weeping_].
[_Enter_ Rodolpho.
Rod.
The search is vain.
He hath escaped.
Theresa, rise, and answer me.
To whom belonged the dagger I have found?
Thy tears avail not; I will be obeyed.
Kneel not to me, I will not pardon.
Answer, or I swear I'll make thee dumb forever.
Theresa.
No, no!
I will not betray.
Oh, husband, spare me!
Let not the hand that led me to the altar be stained with blood I would so gladly shed for thee.
I cannot answer thee.
Rod.
[_striking her_].
Then die: thy constancy is useless.
I will find thy brother and take a fearful vengeance yet.
Theresa.
I am faithful to the last.
Husband, I forgive thee.
[Theresa _dies.
_ Rod.
'Tis done, and I am rid of her forever; but 'tis an ugly deed.
Poor fool, there was a time when I could pity thee, but thou hast stood 'twixt me and Lady Leonore, and now I am free.
I must conceal the form, and none shall ever know the crime.
[_Exit_ Rodolpho.
[_The panel opens and_ Norna _enters.
_] Norna.
Heaven shield us!
What is this?
His cruel hand hath done the deed, and I am powerless to save.
Poor, murdered lady, I had hoped to spare thee this, and lead thee to a happier home.
Perchance, 'tis better so.
The dead find rest, and thy sad heart can ache no more.
Rest to thy soul, sweet lady.
But for _thee_, thou cruel villain, I have in store a deep revenge for all thy sinful deeds.
If there be power in spell or charm, I'll conjure fearful dreams upon thy head.
I'll follow thee wherever thou mayst go, and haunt thy sleep with evil visions.
I'll whisper strange words that shall appall thee; dark phantoms shall rise up before thee, and wild voices ringing in thine ear shall tell thee of thy sins.
By all these will I make life like a hideous dream, and death more fearful still.
Like a vengeful ghost I will haunt thee to thy grave, and so revenge thy wrongs, poor, murdered lady.
Beware, Rodolpho!
Old Norna's curse is on thee.
[_She bears away_ Theresa's _body through the secret door, and vanishes.
_ CURTAIN.
NOTE TO SCENE SECOND.
The mysterious cave was formed of old furniture, covered with dark draperies, an opening being left at the back wherein the spirits called up by Norna might appear.
A kitchen kettle filled with steaming water made an effective caldron over which the sorceress should murmur her incantations; flaming pine-knots cast a lurid glare over the scene; and large boughs, artfully arranged about the stage, gave it the appearance of a "gloomy wood."
When Louis "retires within," he at once arrays himself in the white robes of the vision, and awaits the witch's call to rise behind the aperture in true dramatic style.
He vanishes, quickly resumes his own attire, while Norna continues to weave her spells, till she sees he is ready to appear once more as the disguised Count Louis.
SCENE SECOND.
[_A wood.
_ Norna's _cave among the rocks.
_ _Enter_ Louis _masked.
_] Louis.
Yes; 'tis the spot.
How dark and still!
She is not here.
Ho, Norna, mighty sorceress!
I seek thy aid.
Norna [_rising from the cave_].
I am here.
Louis.
I seek thee, Norna, to learn tidings of one most dear to me.
Dost thou know aught of Count Rodolpho's wife?
A strange tale hath reached me that not many nights ago she disappeared, and none know whither she hath gone.
Oh, tell me, is this true?
Norna.
It is most true.
Louis.
And canst thou tell me whither she hath gone?
I will reward thee well.
Norna.
I can.
She lies within her tomb, in the chapel of the castle.
Louis.
Dead!
--it cannot be!
They told me she had fled away with some young lord who had won her love.
Was it not true?
Norna.
It is false as the villain's heart who framed the tale.
_I_ bore the murdered lady to her tomb, and laid her there.
Louis.
Murdered?
How?
When?
By whom?
Oh, tell me I beseech thee!
Norna.
Her husband's cruel hand took the life he had made a burden.
I
heard him swear it ere he dealt the blow.
Louis.
Wherefore did he kill her?
Oh, answer quickly or I shall go mad with grief and hate.
_Norna.
_ I can tell thee little.
From my hiding-place I heard her vow never to confess whose dagger had been found in her apartment, and her jealous lord, in his wild anger, murdered her.
Louis.
'Twas mine.
Would it had been sheathed in mine own breast ere it had caused so dark a deed!
Ah, Theresa, why did I leave thee to a fate like this?
Norna.
Young man, grieve not; it is too late to save, but there is left to thee a better thing than grief.
Louis.
Oh, what?
Norna.
Revenge!
Louis.
Thou art right.
I'll weep no more.
Give me thine aid, O mighty wizard, and I will serve thee well.
Norna.
Who art thou?
