Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-24
A scene From Tennyson'. Play.

Regarding Lord Tennyson's poem from O
stage point Of view it has the disadvantage
OF presenting two centers OF interest between
which there is no genuine connection. one being
the great historical or Observation-Disclosures scene
of Rosamund visited by Queen Eleanor in the
bower. and called upon to say whether she will die
0y the dagger OF by the bowl; the other the
great historical scene of BecSets murder in the
transept of Canterbury cathedral. This how
ever, is how they are cOnnected-in a manner
which we cannot but consider forced aud arti-
fcal Summoned to choose between poison and
mortal stab, poor Rosamund rejects both al
ternatives and prolOnes discussion on the SUBJ
ect until suddenly the Queen and Fitzurse, her
accOmplicn and slave. are surprised by Beckett.
who arrests Elcanors hand. and after upbraid-
ing her for the crime she has so nearly commit
ted advises ner to retire to q convent. Beckett
having saved the life of Rosamund. the latter
seeks in return 70 rescue him from the men who
have sworn his destruction, and tie presence of
Fair Rosamund in the cathedral is tit counter
part to that of Beckett in the maze. 1t is not,
OF course, from love for ROsamund but from de-
yOtion to King Henry that the archbishop
Watches over the kings mstress-whO is repre-
sente1 as believing herself to be his lawful
W;fe-2ad the monarchs ingratitude to his pow
eriul counselor is thus made all the blacker. He
prompts the murder of the man who has saved
The finest scene in the play. that be-
tween R0samund and the Queen. is too long to
quote IN its entirety. Here however, are some
portions Of it,
pray vow then 70 take my sleeping draught!
But II u should not care TO take it-see
(Draars a daqger.)
What, have scared the red rose from your face
Into your heart? But this Will find 1t there,
And dig 1t from the root forever
RosAMUND.
Help! helpi
ELEANOR
they say that walls have ears but these, 1t see ms,
Have none. and have none-to pity thee.
RosAMoSD.
| do boSeech yOu-my child IS so young,
So backward too; cannot leave him yet
! am not so happy could not die myself.
But the child Is SO young. You have Children
his,
And mine is the Kings Child; 50, if you love him
Nay, II you love him, there Is great wrong done
somehow: but If you Go DOt-there are those
VINO say you do not love him-let me go
With my young boy. and VIII hide my face,
Blackel and gipsify it; none shall know me;
The King shall never hear OF me again,
But will beg my bread along the world
With my young boy, and God Will be our guide
never meant YOU harm in any way.
See, | can SHY no more.
VIII you not say that you are not married to him?
RosaMUND.
aye, Mauam, can say IL, II you Will.
ELEANOR.
Then is thy pretty boy a bastard?
ROsAMUND.
And thou thySelf proven wanton?
RosAMUND.
am none such. never loved but one
have heard OF SUCH that range from love to love,
Like The Wild belSt-1f you car cali 1t love.
have heard OF such-yca, even among those
VINO sit on thrOneS-I never saw any such,
Never knew any such, and hOwSOevr
leu Go nliSname me, nnatch'd with any such
ain snow TO mud.
ELEANOR.
The more the pity then
That thy true h0me-the heavenS-cry out for thee
VINO art too pure Tor earth.
FItzurse 1.-The Judas traitor in our Passion
Piay. as the Queen calls him. then comes in,
ana proposes to elope with Rosamund on which
she eXclaims: Give me the poison; set me free
c1 hlm- Eleanor offers tine vial, but Rosamund
REJECTS 1t. Then" says Eleanor this other"
The wiser choice, because my sleeping draught
May May oloat thy beauty out OF shape, and make
my body lCathSone even to thy child:
W lille this but leaves thee with broken heart
a doll-face blanch'd and Dloodess, over which
II pretty Godfrey do not break his own,
Ii must be broken for hun.
RosAMuNp
OF see now
Your purpose IS to fright me-a troubadour.
You play with words. You had never used so many.
NO mercy. No. tKneels)
ELEANOR
Play! that bosom never
Heaved under the Kings hand with such true pas
sion
As at this loveless knife that stirs the riot,
which 1t tllquench IN blood! Slave, II he love
thee,
Thy life is worth the wrestle for 1t: arise
ana cash myself against me that may Slay theei
Inc worm. shall l let her go? But ha! what's
here?
By very God, the cross gave the King!
HIS village darling In some rude careSS
has Wheedled 1t off the Kings neck to her own
BY thy leave. beauty. Ay, the same. warrant
JnOu mast sworn on this my cross hundred times
Never 10 leave him-and that merits death
False oath on holy croSs-for thou must leave him
To-day, but not quite yet My good F1tzurse,
Inc running down the chase is kindiier sport
EVn imam the death. Who knows but that thy
lover
May plead so pitifully that may spare thee?
come hlther, man; stand there. 10 ROsdnlund.)
Take thy one chance:
eaten at the last straw. Kneel 10 thy Lord Fitz-
UrZe:
Crouch even because thou latest him; fawn upon
him r
For thy Life and thy sons
ROsamund is about to die but to die with
courage. when suddenly Beckett appears; and
Rosamund having now been saved. the interest
Is concentrated in Beckett alone who in the next
act-that depicting his DEATHS altogether the
leading figure This may be said to Justify the
name given to the play. which. nevertheless.
deals much more with the fortunes of Fair
Rosamund than with the fate of the great Arch
bishop.