“To wash our sins off nor require the rain?”
Violante gave my hand a timely squeeze,
Madonna saved me from immodest speech, (470)
I kissed him and was quiet, being a bride.
Of Guido—“Nor the Church sees Christ” thought I:
“Nothing is changed however, wine is wine
“And water only water in our house.
“Nor did I see that ugly doctor since
“The cure of the illness: just as I was cured,
“I am married,—neither scarecrow will return.”
“And Tecla smile and Tisbe laugh outright, (480)
“Were it not impudent for brides to talk!”—
Until one morning, as I sat and sang
At the broidery-frame alone i’ the chamber,—loud
Voices, two, three together, sobbings too,
And my name, “Guido,” “Paolo,” flung like stones
From each to the other! In I ran to see.
There stood the very Guido and the priest
With sly face,—formal but nowise afraid,—
While Pietro seemed all red and angry, scarce
Able to stutter out his wrath in words; (490)
And this it was that made my mother sob,
As he reproached her—“You have murdered us,
“Me and yourself and this our child beside!”
The Guido interposed “Murdered or not,
“Be it enough your child is now my wife!
“I claim and come to take her.” Paul put in,
“Consider—kinsman, dare I term you so?—
“What is the good of your sagacity
“Except to counsel in a strait like this?
“I guarantee the parties man and wife (500)
“Whether you like or loathe it, bless or ban.
“May spilt milk be put back within the bowl—
“The done thing, undone? You, it is, we look
“For counsel to, you fitliest will advise!
“Since milk, though spilt and spoilt, does marble good,
“Better we down on knees and scrub the floor,
“Than sigh, ‘the waste would make a syllabub!’
“Help us so turn disaster to account,
“So predispose the groom, he needs shall grace
“The bride with favour from the very first, (510)
“Not begin marriage an embittered man!”
He smiled,—the game so wholly in his hands!
While fast and faster sobbed Violante—“Ay,
“All of us murdered, past averting now!
“O my sin, O my secret!” and such like.
Something had happened, low, mean, underhand,
False, and my mother was to blame, and I
To pity, whom all spoke of, none addressed:
I was the chattel that had caused a crime. (520)
I stood mute,—those who tangled must untie
The embroilment. Pietro cried “Withdraw, my child!
“She is not helpful to the sacrifice
“At this stage,—do you want the victim by
“While you discuss the value of her blood?
“For her sake, I consent to hear you talk:
“Go, child, and pray God help the innocent!”
Violante, with eyes swollen and red enough,
But movement on her mouth for make-believe (530)
Matters were somehow getting right again.
She bade me sit down by her side and hear.
“You are too young and cannot understand,
“Nor did your father understand at first.
“I wished to benefit all three of us,
“And when he failed to take my meaning,—why,
“I tried to have my way at unaware—
“Obtained him the advantage he refused.
“As if I put before him wholesome food
“Instead of broken victual,—he finds change (540)
“I’ the viands, never cares to reason why,
“But falls to blaming me, would fling the plate
“From window, scandalise the neighbourhood,
“Even while he smacks his lips,—men’s way, my child!
“But either you have prayed him unperverse
“Or I have talked him back into his wits:
“And Paolo was a help in time of need,—
“Guido, not much—my child, the way of men!
“A priest is more a woman than a man,
“And Paul did wonders to persuade. In short, (550)
“Yes, he was wrong, your father sees and says;
“My scheme was worth attempting: and bears fruit,
“Gives you a husband and a noble name,
“A palace and no end of pleasant things.
“What do you care about a handsome youth?
“They are so volatile, and teaze their wives!
“This is the kind of man to keep the house.
“We lose no daughter,—gain a son, that’s all:
“For ’tis arranged we never separate,
“Nor miss, in our grey time of life, the tints (560)
“Of you that colour eve to match with morn.
“In good or ill, we share and share alike,
“And cast our lots into a common lap,
“And all three die together as we lived!
“Only, at Arezzo,—that’s a Tuscan town,
“Not so large as this noisy Rome, no doubt,
“But older far and finer much, say folks,—
“In a great palace where you will be queen,
“Know the Archbishop and the Governor,
“And we see homage done you ere we die. (570)
“Therefore, be good and pardon!”—“Pardon what?
“You know things, I am very ignorant:
“All is right if you only will not cry!”
From when, at the word, she kissed me hard and hot,
And took me back to where my father leaned
Opposite Guido—who stood eyeing him,
As eyes the butcher the cast panting ox
That feels his fate is come, nor struggles more,—
While Paul looked archly on, pricked brow
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