{"id":173,"date":"2013-07-13T01:26:23","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=173"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:26:23","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:26:23","slug":"42-the-maid-in-the-mill-act-1-sc-3-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07\/42-the-maid-in-the-mill-act-1-sc-3-vol-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","title":{"rendered":"-42_The Maid in the Mill Act-1 Sc-3.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n

\n
\nSCENE III<\/b><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nIsmenia’s chamber.<\/i><\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBrigida lingers. <\/b> O he has denied me<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd therefore she is loth to come, for she<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nKnows she will bring me death. It is not so.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nHe has detained her to return an answer.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYet I asked none. I am full of fear, O heart,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nI have staked thee upon a desperate cast,<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhich if I win not, I am miserable.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n‘Tis she. O that my hope could give her wings<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nOr lift her through the window bodily<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo shorten this age of waiting. I could not<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nDiscern her look. Her steps sound hopefully.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nEnter Brigida.<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

\nDearest Brigida! at last! What says Antonio? Tell me quickly.
\nHeavens! you look melancholy.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSanta Catarina! How weary I am! My ears too! I think they
\nhave listened to more nonsense in these twenty minutes than in
\nall their natural eighteen years before. Sure, child, thou hast
\ncommitted some unpardonable sin to have such a moonstruck
\nlover as this Antonio.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut, Brigida!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd his shadow too, his Cerberus of wit who guards this poetical
\ntreasure. He would have eaten me, I think, if I had not given
\nhim the wherewithal to stop the three mouths of him.<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhy, Brigida, Brigida.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 856<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSaints! to think how men lie! I have heard this Basil reputed
\nloudly for the Caesar of wits, the tongue and laughter of the
\ntime; but never credit me, child, if I did not silence him with a
\nfew stale pertnesses a market-girl might have devised for her
\ncustomers. A wit, truly! and not a word in his mouth bullet-head Pedro could not better.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDistraction! What is this to Antonio? Sure, your wits are
\nbewildered, Brigida. What said Antonio ? Girl, I am on thorns.<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI am coming to that as fast as possible. Jesus! What a burning
\nhurry you are in, Ismenia! You have not your colour, child.
\nI will bring you salvolatile from my chamber. Tis in a marvellous cut-bottle with a different hue to each facet! I filched it
\nfrom Donna Clara’s room when she was at matins yesterday. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTell me, you magpie, tell me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat am I doing else? You must know I found Antonio was
\nin his garden. Oh, did I tell you, Ismenia ? Donna Clara chooses
\nthe seeds for me this season and I think she has as rare a notion
\nof nasturtiums as any woman living. I was speaking to Pedro
\nin the summer house yesterday; for you remember it thundered
\nterrifically before one had time to know light from darkness;<\/font>
\n<\/font>and there I stood miles from the garden door \u2014<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nIn the name of pity, Brigida \u2014<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSaints! how you hurry me. Well, when I went to Antonio in
\nhis garden\u2014There’s an excellent garden, Ismenia. I wonder<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 857<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nwhere Don Beltran’s gardener had his bignolias.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tISMENIA <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOh-h-h!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWell, where was I ? Oh, giving the letter to Antonio. Why, would
\nyou believe it, in thrust Don Wit, Don Cerberus, Don Subtle-
\nthree-mouths. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWill you tell me, you ogress, you paragon of Tyrannesses, you
\nshe-Nero, you compound of impossible cruelties?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSaints, what have I done to be abused so? I was coming to it
\nfaster than a mail-coach and four. You would not be so un-
\nconscionable as to ask me for the appendage of a story, all tail
\nand nothing to hang. it on ? Well, Antonio took the letter.<\/font> 
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYes, yes and what answer gave he?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHe looked all over the envelope to-see whence it came, dissertated
\nlearnedly on this knotty question, abused me your handwriting
\nfoully.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDear cousin, sweet cousin, excellent Brigida! On my knees, I
\nentreat you, do not tease me longer. Though I know you would
\nnot do it, if all were not well, yet consider what a weak tremulous thing is the heart of woman when she loves and have pity
\non me. On my knees, sweetest.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nWhy, Ismenia, I never knew you so humble m my life, \u2014save<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 858<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nindeed to your brother; but him indeed I do not reckon.
\n<\/b>He
\n<\/b>would rule even me, if I let him. On your knees, too! This is
\nexcellent. May I be lost, if I am not tempted to try how long I
\ncan keep you so. But I will be merciful. Well, he scanned your
\nhandwriting and reviled it for the script of a virago, an Amazon.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tISMENIA <\/font><\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBrigida, if you will not tell me directly, without phrase and
\nplainly, just what I want to know and nothing else, by heaven,
\nI will beat you. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNow, this is foul. Can you not keep your better mood for fifty
\nseconds by the clock? O temper, temper. Ah, well, where was
\nI? Oh, yes, your handwriting. Oh! Oh! Oh! What mean you,
\ncousin? Lord deliver me. Cousin! Cousin! He will come!
\n<\/b>He
\n<\/b>will come! He will come!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nDoes he love me?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMadly! distractedly! like a moonstruck natural! Saints!<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDearest, dearest Brigida! You are an angel. How can I thank
\nyou?<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nChild, you have thanked me out of breath already. If you have
\nnot dislocated my shoulder and torn half of my hair out \u2014<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHear her, the Pagan! A gentle physical agitation and some
\nrearrangement of tresses, ’twas less punishment than you de-
\nserved. But there! that is salve for you. And now be sober,
\nsweet. What said Antonio? Come, tell me. I am greedy to
\nknow.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 859<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nI’ll be hanged if I do. Besides I could not if I would. He talked
\npoetry.<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut did he not despise me for my forwardness?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTut, you are childish. But to speak the bare fact, Ismenia, I think
\nhe is most poetically in love with you. He made preparations to
\nswoon when he saw no more than your name; but I build nothing
\non that;<\/font>\u00b9<\/font> there are some faint when they smell a pinch of garlic or
\nspy a cockchafer. But he waited ten minutes copying your letter
\ninto his heart or some such note-book of love affairs; yet that was
\nnothing either; I doubt if he found room for you, unless on the
\nmargin. Then he began drawing cheques on Olympus for
\ncomparisons, left that presently as antique and out of date, confounded Ovid and his breviary in the same quest; left that too for
\nmediaeval, and diverged into Light and Heat, but came not to
\nthe very modernness of electricity. But Lord! cousin, what a
\ncareer he ran! He had imagined himself blind and breathless
\nwhen I stopped him. I tremble to think what calamities might
\nhave ensued had I not thrown myself under the wheels of his
\nmetaphor. The upshot is, he loves you, worships you and will
\ncome to you.<\/font>  <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nBrigida, Brigida, be you as happy as you have made me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTruly, the happiness of lovers, children, with a new plaything and
\nmad to handle it. But when they are tired of the game \u2014 ah, well,
\nI will have nothing of it. No, I will be the type and patroness of
\nspinsters, the noble army of old maids shall gather about my <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\u00b9but there was nothing in that;
\n<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 860<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\ntomb to do homage to me.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd he will come tonight?<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tB<\/font>RIGIDA<\/font><\/p>\n

\nYes, if his love lasts so long.<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n\tI<\/font>SMENIA
\n\t<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFor a thousand years. Come with me, Brigida, and help me to
\nbear my happiness. Till tonight!<\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 861<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCENE III     Ismenia’s chamber. ISMENIA Brigida lingers. O he has denied me And therefore she is loth to come, for she Knows she…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-07-collected-plays-part-ii-volume-07","wpcat-6-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}