Love in Umbria; A Drama of the First Franciscans (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912. Excerpt: ... ACT II (lady Viviana and her duenna are walking in the garden. Felice, the gardener, approaches with a bouquet of golden asters for his mistress. Innocenza is waiting bashfully at the gate.) Duenna WHY are you not content? I've heard you praise This garden, call it "Joy in Quietude," "Dream o' the Heart,"--more names than I remember; Yet now it irks you. Viviana I 'll not be content With terraced lawns and cypress shade and urns Of cactus, whilst the fields are pied with flowers. Look where that line of white doth cut the green Of corn-fields 'Tis acacia making sweet The highway to Assisi. Every hedge Is twined with honeysuckle; cyclamen, Campanula swinging its bells, pale clematis, Rosemary, violets perfume every hedge. Noticing Felice.) Ah, lad, thou knowest what I love My flower That with the nightingale doth bring in May. Where didst thou gather them? Felice It was not I--Viviana 'T is not thy gift? Felice Dear lady, I told her how I bring thee every May the earliest blooms. She 'll watch too for the earliest poppies. Viviana Then I know who found these. Felice She's to be my bride. Viviana Thy bride Hear, Madam, this boy I'm wont to tease To blushes--how the olive glows--this boy Would have a wife Duenna Most foolish Viviana Nay, secure For all their love is hoarded for each other Since first he sighed to the moon, since first she blushed To her glass. Felice My Innocenza bade me say She prayeth every night that joy will come Unto the Lady Viviana. Viviana Tell her To burn her candles for another wish. I have no lack of joy. I 'll pray for her. But was she grown? Felice pointing to Innocenza) Look again Viviana Fetch her hither (Felice runs to fetch Innocenza. They approach their mistress hand in hand, waiting for her to notice them. Viviana ...