title: Love enchained, and other plays,
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AN 17 1924 ‘Cl A7 7706 3 iM V LOVE ENCHAINED Comedy in Five Acts TO MY VERY DEAR FRIEND ARTURO TOMAIUOLI TO CEMENT MORE SECURELY THE FRIENDSHIP THAT BINDS US, I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS MODEST WORK G. M. P. Love Enchained CHARACTERS Arthur Grant — poet. Helen — his wife. Walter Davis — painter and sculptor. Portia Parke — his fiancee. Richard Pratt Gloria Miner — his fiancee. Dana Lee Annette Martin Alice Franklin Countess Ghigioni Miscellaneous Characters First and fifth acts: in New York City. Second, third and fourth acts: in Italy. Time: the present. Act I Arthur Grant’s study. The walls are lined with well- filled bookcases. At the center-back is a tall clock. A table in the center of the room is heaped with newspapers, maga¬ zines, etc. In the right foreground is Arthur’s desk. There is a door at the left and one at the right of the scene. As the curtain rises, Arthur is seated at his desk, lost in reverie. From time to time he jots down something on a paper before him. The clock chimes twice. It is 2 a. m. Arthur (Starting abruptly): Two o’clock! (He glances toward the partly opened door at the right) And Helen has not come in yet. (Picking up a book, he turns its pages idly, half-absorbed in his own thoughts, then stops suddenly at a page and reads aloud): “And when wind and winter harden All the loveless land, It will whisper of the garden, You will understand.” Ah! (Sighing) Poor Wilde, you knew what it meant to be unhappy. (He turns the page and continues reading): “And all men kill the thing they love, By all let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word, The coward does it with a kiss, (He throws the book aside impatiently.) Bravo! but I [ 5 ] LOVE ENCHAINED couldn’t do it. (Rising, he paces the room nervously.) No, not I, although the love that bums in my breast is hotter than Hell’s fire. Oh Helen, poor vain, frivolous creature, how can you neglect me so in your mad pursuit of worldly pleasure? I love you, (despairingly) but you — I can hardly bear it any longer. Some day you’ll beg on your knees for my love and perhaps then it will be too late. (Helen enters in time to hear Arthur’s last words.) Helen (Glancing at the clock): Late? Why, it is only two o’clock. Arthur: I wasn’t referring to the hour, although it is late for a respectable woman to be coming home. Helen: I didn’t expect to find you up. You should have been in bed hours ago, my dear hermit. Arthur : Helen, you can’t realize how much your actions hurt me. Helen: What do you expect? that I should shut myself up like a snail? Thank you, I haven’t the least tendency toward becoming a misanthropist when the world is so beautiful. Arthur: You will learn in time that worldly pleasures are only temporary; when the roses have faded from your cheeks you will look back with regret to these days. Helen: Philosophy, always philosophy. You literary men pretend that everyone should think as you do. Arthur: Your words are as offensive as your actions. Helen: What do you mean? I am always careful to keep within the bounds of propriety. [ 6 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Arthur: I doubt it. Helen (Pettishly): Go on, add insult to injury. You are angry, and if you have nothing more interesting to discuss I think I had better go. Arthur (Tenderly): Helen, I want to talk to you. Do you realize that it is hardly a year that we have been married ? Helen (Indifferently): A year? It seems a century. Arthur : And ours was a marriage of love — at least on my part. Helen : I hope you don’t think I would have married you if I hadn’t loved you. Arthur : No. I believe you did love me then, but, some¬ how, it seems that all my golden dreams have vanished. Helen : It is all your fault if they have. Arthur: What have you found in me that has caused your love to cool? Helen: Your temperament. Arthur: Isn’t my love just as ardent as it was in the beginning? Helen: Too much so, in fact. Arthur: Have I neglected my duty, or failed to show you the attention you expected of me? Helen: I haven’t said so. Arthur: I have given you my life’s devotion, my heart and soul. [ 7 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Helen: Yes, but it needs more than that to make me happy. Arthur : My every thought and desire is inspired by my deep love for you, still, you are neither happy or satisfied. What more do you seek? Helen (Vehemently): What do I seek? What do you give me? I have your love, your devotion, but not you. Your life is among your books. You shut yourself up in this gloomy room and no power on earth can draw you away from it. Arthur: Helen, this is my vocation. Helen: While mine, on the contrary, is to enjoy life while I may, to live without care. Why should you compel me to suffer — Arthur: Suffer? Are you suffering? Helen: Yes. We have wealth, could enjoy the best of everything, and we don’t do it. Arthur : Does your happiness depend only on such trivi¬ alities? Helen : They mean a great deal to me. Arthur: Is your life based only on vanity? Helen : Vanity? I don’t think you should call my de¬ sire to live in the midst of joy and happiness vanity. Your passion for secluding yourself, your nose ever between the pages of a book, is worse than vanity, it’s downright selfish¬ ness. Arthur : Ah, Helen, your frivolous mind is incapable of [ 8 ] LOVE ENCHAINED understanding the sentiment I feel for you. Your search for pleasure has altered your feeling for me. Helen (Shrugs her shoulders without responding). Arthur: You can’t understand the joy of living ab¬ sorbed in your own spirit, feeling the exaltation of your mind to the supreme sweetness and idealism of true love_ Helen: Pooh! Philosophy, idealism! Beautiful flights of fancy. Arthur: Don’t mock, Helen. You insult me, laugh at my love, my ideals. Helen: What are you going to do about it? Arthur: You take me for a fool, eh? Well, before you succeed in destroying the last shred of affection I feel for you, before you force me to hate you altogether, I think it best — Helen (Alarmed): You don’t mean that, your mind is disturbed — Arthur: I mean it, every word of it. Helen: You mean that you despise me? Arthur (Not trusting himself to answer, nods his head and flings himself into a chair and rests his head on his hands with an air of utter dejection.) Helen: So! you despise me? my man of ideals, the one who pledged me eternal love, who lived only for his Helen. I knew it, you are no different from the rest. It is always those who pretend to be the most idealistic who are really the least sincere and dependable. Bravo! my poet, whose [ 9 ] LOVE ENCHAINED poetry survives only the intoxication of the first embraces. Today you love one, tomorrow another. Arthur (Brokenly): My poor, wasted, love. Helen (Fiercely): When the beautiful, fragrant, flower attracts you, your senses are intoxicated, you pluck it and, after you have satisfied yourself with its perfume, you crush it and cast it aside with disgust. Arthur: Helen, you don’t know what you are saying. Helen: I have been but one more flower in your life. You have taken the best of what was concealed in it, now it has no more fragrance for you, no further attraction. Arthur: You are talking without reason — Helen : I have reason enough left to recognize my duty. I shall leave you free to follow your inclinations, to seek other flowers, other interests, to enjoy your philosophy, your idealism, without the burden of my presence. Arthur: What do you mean? Helen: I am going to give you your freedom. Arthur: You mean that you are going to leave me? Helen: Yes, the only remedy for the situation is sepa¬ ration, and later — a divorce. Arthur (Leaving his chair, he strides toward his wife): Ah! that is what you want. How artfully you had pre¬ pared your ground, how cunningly you led up to the point. Helen : You told me with your own lips that you hated me. Arthur (Gripping her tightly by the wrists, he places [ 10 ] LOVE ENCHAINED his face close to hers and seeks to compel her to meet his gaze). Look at me! See what you can read in my eyes. Helen (Trying to pull away from him): Let go, you are hurting me. Arthur: Look at me, look at me. Ah! your eyes don’t dare to meet mine. Look, and you will find sincerity, love and not hate. Oh, I have been a fool — Helen : Let me go, let me go! Arthur: A fool to believe in you, to waste my love on one whose only aim is unbridled liberty. You were tired of so much love, so much devotion. And you call me a brute, accuse me of casting aside the flower because it has lost its fragrance. Ha-ha-ha. Helen: Let go! Arthur (Bitterly): No. The rose is still beautiful to me, but the serpent’s venom has killed its perfume. Helen : Ah! Arthur: That is all. Go, follow where fancy leads, but before you leave I am going to give you the last taste of my passion for you, my last kiss. May it bring you eternal remorse and rob you forever of your peace of mind. (He crushes her violently to him. Helen struggles hut is help¬ less in his hands. Arthur bends over her and hungrily seeks her lips. He kisses her passiotmtely while Helen screams, then loses consciousness.) (The curtain falls.) [ii] Act II Five years later. Helen’s villa at Sorrento, on the Bay of Naples. At the rise of the curtain, Portia Parke, Gloria Miner, Dana Lee, Annette Martin and Alice Franklin (Helen’s friends from America) are making a tour of inspection of the villa and the grounds surrounding it. Time: Late afternoon. Portia (Clapping her hands ecstatically): Sorrento! What a beautiful place; it seems like a spot in fairyland, doesn’t it, Dana? And such a darling villa! Dana: Wonderful! The sea flowing so near adds to its beauty. Portia: Did you ever see a sky so blue? Dana : It reminds me of that of Florida, only it is clearer and brighter. Portia : Helen must lead a very peaceful and happy life here. Dana : A carefree one, at least. (Glancing at Gloria who is spellbound by the beauty of the place.) Gloria, what do you think about it? Portia: See how quiet she is. Alice: Lost in profound meditation. Annette : She’s thinking about her Richard, eh, Gloria ? [12] LOVE ENCHAINED Gloria : You guessed it exactly. I was thinking of him. Annette: With such a melancholy expression? Alice: That’s the effect love has on one, Annette. But it will never affect me that way, I wouldn’t lose my peace of mind for anyone. Gloria: Alice, you don’t know what you are talking about. I suppose we can help our feelings. Alice: You should be strong, resist — Annette : The strongest are the ones who fall the easiest. The lightning always picks the highest oak. Dana: What kind of a conversation do you call this. From the sea and the blue sky we pass to oaks that have been struck by lightning. Gloria: Brrr! Ugly things to talk about. Portia: Sad, I should say. But we were talking of love; who changed the subject? Dana: Why, you did. Portia : I did not, it was Annette. Annette: I only made a statement and strengthened it with an example. Dana: Yes, and a gloomy example at that, out of keep¬ ing with the place and the time. Gloria: I was absorbed in my own sweet thoughts and Annette had to come and disturb them. Annette (Teasingly): There, there, don’t cry, dear I Portia: Poor child, are her feelings hurt? [13] LOVE ENCHAINED Gloria: Alright, enjoy yourselves. Just wait, you’ll find yourself in the same fix someday. Alice: We hope so. Annette: Hear! hear! the quiet little mouse who pre¬ tends to be immune from love is beginning to have hopes. Alice: You don’t want me to be an old maid, do you? Annette (Clasping her hands in mock fervour): Lord keep us from getting old. Dana: It seems that we just can’t get away from un¬ pleasant subjects. (A hell rings.) Oh, a visitor. Who can it be? Alice (Peeking through the gate): It’s a man. All (In chorus): A man! a man! Gloria: Yes, but he belongs to me. (Richard enters the gate.) Richard: Ah! a cheerful group. The Italian skies seem to have a happy effect on you. Portia: Yes, at least it has raised our spirits, if you only knew — Richard : Speaking of spirits, I know you can find plenty in the villa, and any place around here. The idle life you lead here has made you all really nice looking. All: Thanks for the wonderful compliment. Gloria: Don’t act like a clown, Richard. Portia: Those compliments are only meant for you, Gloria. Richard : Not for her alone, the rest of you are included. [14] LOVE ENCHAINED Alice (Mockingly): My, but aren’t you generous. Annette: Yes, he seems to be full of “spirits.” Richard: I got that one, Annette. I don’t deny it — two little glasses of Vermouth. All: Oh!oh! Richard: They certainly did a lot toward making me cheerful. Portia: You talk like you could never get anything to drink in America. You always had your share. Alice: But it didn’t seem to have the same effect over there, did it Richard. I think it is on account of the hos¬ pitality, the lightheartedness of the people here; they are always happy. Richard: Especially in Naples, the “Paradise on earth.” That’s the reason we come here so often; they inspire us with some of their joy of living. Oh, speaking of inspira¬ tion, do you know that Walter has placed a picture on exhibition that is really a masterpiece? Alice: Really? Portia: Walter is very enthusiastic about Italy. Richard: He has been here two weeks and has already become famous. Gloria : I met him the other day and he promised to be here this evening, but asked me not to mention that I had seen him. Richard: I have some more news, too. Arthur Grant arrived yesterday. [15] LOVE ENCHAINED All (Surprised): Arthur? Dana: For Heaven’s sake, don’t shout! If Helen should hear us — Richard : Helen would be glad to see him again. Alice: Did you see him? Richard: What a silly question! I met him at Walter’s studio. Annette: Is he travelling alone? Richard: He is, as far as I know. Portia: I’ll bet Walter will bring him here. Just wait and see. Alice : Impossible! Gloria: And why shouldn’t he? Dana : Helen and Arthur have neither seen or spoken to each other for over five years. Gloria : But that doesn’t mean that they won’t meet now. Richard: I know that he is going to be in the vicinity tomorrow. Portia: Really? Then he is coming to visit in the neigh¬ borhood? Richard: At the home of Tasso. Alice : For the love of Heaven, Richard! Richard: Let me make myself clear: I mean he is com¬ ing to visit the house where Torquato Tasso was born. Annette: Oh! thank Heaven! [16] LOVE ENCHAINED Richard: I suppose you thought I wanted to send him to Mount Olympus'? Alice: You would be capable of sending him to visit Pluto. Gloria: Oh no, Richard isn’t that bad. Richard (To Alice): Arthur is one of my closest friends and when it’s time to go there I’ll go with him. Alice: A pleasant trip! Richard: Thank you. If you would like to accompany us — Alice: No, thanks, I would rather remain here. Richard: All alone? Alice: Do you think the earth is going to be depopu¬ lated after you have gone? Dana: What a stupid argument! Alice: Yes, isn’t it. I make a motion that we change the subject. Dana: And I second it. Let’s talk about something cheerful. Richard: Good! That suits me to a tee. (Helen enters from the path at the right.) Helen: Hello, everybody! Richard: Good evening, Helen. All (Surrounding her): Oh, Helen, Helen! Helen: How are you, Richard? Richard: Very well, thank you. [ 17 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Helen: Have you been here very long? Richard : No, I came just a short while ago to surprise these little doves. All: Listen! He calls us little doves. Ha-ha. Helen : I would call them little sirens, instead of doves. Richard : Nymphs would be more appropriate. Portia: Earthly ones, Richard. Alice: And Richard shall be the Faun! Richard: No, thanks, not I. Helen : That wouldn’t be very pleasing to Gloria. Richard (To Gloria ): Do you think so? It seems to me that I am more like Apollo among the Muses. Alice: If you had said Mercury you would have come nearer to it. Richard: Mercury? Why I have never even stolen a pin in all my life. Dana: The only thing you have stolen was perhaps a kiss from Venus. Helen: Represented by Gloria, of course. Gloria: You flatter me — Annette: Oh my, such erudition. This seems like a council of ancient Gods. Richard : I feel like Ulysses on the island of Circe. Dana: Which one of us is Circe? Helen: Not I. Alice: You have first choice. [ 18 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Helen : Thank you, I renounce my rights. Richard: Are you afraid of Ulysses? Helen : To the contrary. You couldn’t fool me in spite of all your Olympian protection. Annette: And you would transform him into — Portia: A pig. Dana: A donkey would be better. Alice: A bat — Richard : Thank you; how you must like me to wish me such wonderful transformations; I should even make Pro- theus jealous. Annette : You could be a fortune-teller. Helen: Let us have a sample of your ability in that line, my dear Protheus. Richard (Looking at her with an air of comic serious¬ ness): Let us see! (Taking Helen’s hand and inspecting it carefully.) Ah! A long life, to begin with. Helen : That doesn’t interest me. Portl\: It must be some satisfaction to know that you are going to have a long life. Alice: Yes, if it would be always free from worry. Dana: Shh! let’s see what he will say next. Richard: You will travel a great deal. Helen : Yes, yes, go on! Richard: Your father will leave you a great fortune. All : Oh! [ 19 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Helen: I don’t care about that. Richard: You will be very happy. Helen: In what way? Richard: A love — All: Oh! Dana: Shh! shh! Richard: A great and noble love — Helen : That can’t be. Richard: Oh, yes it can. Two eyes are constantly seek¬ ing you — Helen : I don’t believe that. Richard: Protheus never makes an error. Helen: Who can it be? Richard : I am not permitted to reveal that — I can only say that this love will make you very happy. Helen : Impossible! Richard: It is possible, it is your golden dream! Helen: What do you know about my dreams? Richard : Oh, what sort of a fortune-teller do you take me for? I promise that your wish shall be fulfilled when you least expect it. Helen: Must I wait very long? Richard: No, it will be within a very short time. Helen (Believing Arthur to be in America, is disap¬ pointed and quickly withdraws her hand.) I don’t believe a word of what you have told me. [ 20 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Richard : You will soon have proof that I am right. All: Bravo! what a wonderful fortune-teller. Gloria : But Protheus of old never predicted the future by reading palms. Alice : Neither was he as gallant as Richard! Portia : Richard isn’t gallant, he’s just a plain flirt. (To Gloria) You had better keep an eye on him. Gloria (Starting toward Richard): I’ll fix him. Richard : I’ve got myself into a fine fix now. I have to flee like Protheus did. (He starts to run with Gloria at his heels. The rest all laugh, with the exception of Helen who remains thoughtful.) Annette: A fine excuse to get away from us. Alice: Cleverly done! Helen: Let them enjoy themselves. (Richard and Gloria return, arm in arm and laughing merrily.) Richard: Walter is coming. I just saw him coming down the road. (Enter Walter.) Walter (Removing his hat): Good evening, my dears. Were you expecting me? Helen : Yes, but it seemed a little early. All : Yes! Helen: Have you been to the city? Walter: Yes, I have had an unexpected visitor — Helen: Someone from the States? [ 21 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Walter: No— er—yes. A conventional call. Dana : Professional ? Annette: I’ll bet it was an adventure. Walter: How curious you are, would you really be in¬ terested to know? Helen: You can imagine! If he comes from the States. Walter: Well, my visitor was — Arthur Grant. Helen: Oh! Richard: What did I tell you? Walter: Are you satisfied now? Annette: Is he going to remain here long? Walter: I can’t say; he should be in New York by the beginning of the Winter season for the opening of one of his plays. Alice: That will be interesting. Walter: Everyone is waiting anxiously for its produc¬ tion. Dana: Are you going back with him? Walter: Perhaps. Richard (Looking at Gloria): We will return then, too. Gloria (Nodding her head): Yes. Walter: And now, I beg to be excused. All: Oh! going so soon? Walter: I have an appointment with Arthur this eve¬ ning. Richard: Where? [ 22 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Walter : In Naples, at the Galleria Umberto Primo. Richard (To the girls): Good! What do you say to us taking a little trip to Naples? All: That would be just fine. Richard (To Walter): Would it be of inconvenience to you? Walter: No, but perhaps Helen — Richard (To Helen): Will you come, Helen? Annette: Do come, Helen, then we can go into the Gal¬ lery and listen to the orchestra. Walter: Good, I shall lead you — Helen : I would rather not come. All (Surrounding her): Please, please. Walter (To Helen): You can come without being afraid that I will betray your presence if you don’t wish it. Helen: Oh, it isn’t for that. Richard: That’s no excuse. You must come, Helen. (To Walter): Let’s start, Helen will come. Walter: Alright, let’s go. Helen: Well, if you insist — All: Hurrah! we are going to Naples. (They exit laughing and chattering gaily , pulling Helen half-reluct¬ antly after them.) ( Curtain.) [ 23 ] Act III Next morning. In Helen’s boudoir. At the rise of the curtain Helen is seated before the dress¬ ing table, her back toward it, and facing Portia who lounges in a deep, cushioned armchair placed near the center of the room. Helen : I didn’t sleep a wink the whole night through. Portia : I slept like a top the few hours I passed in bed. Helen : I wish I could be as indifferent to things as you are, I certainly envy you. Portia : It all depends upon one’s will power. If I should let myself go to pieces at every little thing I would be a nervous wreck before very long. Helen : That is certainly a virtue to be proud of. Portia : Call it a virtue, or whatever you will, but I do admit that I know how to control my feelings. Helen : There is no reason in the world why you should have to do so. Portia: Oh, you think there isn’t. Have you noticed how indifferent Walter has acted toward me lately? Helen: Nonsense! Why, we all know that Walter is madly in love with you. Portia : He has a wonderful way of showing it, if he is. Helen: What chance do you give him? You treat him with the most pronounced indifference. [ 24 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Portia: My dear, that is the only way to treat a man; if you show him too much condescension he is very liable to take advantage of you. Helen: Why complain, then? Portia: I want him to show me more attention and not be such a flirt. Helen : He isn’t any such thing. Portia: Oh yes he is. Helen : But his profession demands that he be pleasant to everyone. Portia: Admitting that, but it does not require that he should make love to every coquette he meets. Helen : Portia, you exaggerate. Portia: No, that is not exaggeration. Have you seen the portrait he is painting at present? Helen: What about it? Portia: Haven’t you noticed the extreme pains he is taking with it? Why, it is so life-like that it seems almost to palpitate, it appears like a living thing instead of a portrait. Helen: Wonderful! And you dare to find fault with him for that? Portia (Rising): And those eyes, those lips with the corners slightly curled as if — (clenching her fists) oh! I could tear it to pieces! Helen : Come, come, do not get so excited, you see malice in things that are done only for artistic effect. [ 25 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Portia: He may be a master in bis line, but he does not have to paint the portraits of women. I will not have it. (She paces back and forth, nervously.) Helen : Calm yourself, Portia. Don’t be so foolish. You know the price I paid for being unreasonable. Portia: That was your fault; you had no provocation. Helen : But I thought I had, and only realized, when it was too late, what a mistake I had made. Portia: There is yet time to rectify it. Helen : Even if I were dying of love, it would be of no use. Oh, you can never realize the sorrow, the bitterness I have passed through; the nights of sleepless anguish. Portia: A reconciliation would repay you for all of these. Helen: It seems silly to talk of reconciliation when he avoids me completely. Do you know that five years have passed since our separation, five long years without a word, without the scratch of a pen on which I might build my hopes. Portia: But you could not really expect him to make any overtures when you left him in such a brutal manner. Then, a short time later you left New York, and he could not have reached you even had he wanted to do so. Helen (Nods her head without responding). Portia: You were the one at fault and, after all, he is but human. Helen: Yes, but he could at least have tried to regain my love. [ 26 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Portia : Perhaps he feared to be hurt again. Helen (Is silent). Portia: Have you ever offered him any encouragement? You seemed to have built a wall of pride around yourself after your separation. Helen: Enough! Do not remind me of it. Ah! it all comes back (pressing her fingers against her lips), that kiss, like a brand — I still feel the sting of it. Like molten lava it seems always to sear my soul, my heart. The nights of vigil through which my tortured being seemed to wait in vain for the dawn; a dawn that might be the herald of a happier day. Illusion. One sleepless night followed another, one dawn was followed by countless others, still I waited, half-frenzied with grief. From my window I would look out onto the thoroughfare scanning the face of each pass¬ erby, starting at the sound of every footstep that seemed to halt before my door, trembling every time the doorbell rang. A hundred times during the day I would glance long¬ ingly at the telephone, and often I would say to myself: 'Ah! it is ringing/ and in my excitement I even went so far as to take down the receiver, to be met by the buzzing of the empty wire. Then I would realize that it was a trick of my imagination, and would cry myself sick with dis¬ appointment. Portia : Poor Helen! To suffer so when a little yielding on your part, a little sign from you and everything would have been alright. But you would not listen to your own heart. [ 27 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Helen : I could not bear to bumble myself. Portia: Do you think you would be humbling yourself by asking pardon of your own husband? Do you find any¬ thing shameful in following the impulse of a heart thirst¬ ing for love? I believe it would be, on the contrary, a praiseworthy action for in performing it you would have assured the happiness of yourself and the one you loved. Helen (Sighs). Portia: You were suffering, so was he, yet neither of you had the courage to face and overcome the demon: Pride. It seems unbelievable that you have voluntarily bound your love in the chains of stupid pride that should have been banished for the sake of your happiness. Helen: I confess I have been too proud. Portia : Pride is alright in its place, for instance, in one’s dealings with the world in general, but when it is permitted to come between you and the one you love, it becomes mere stupidity. That reminds me of the fable of the members of the body who rebelled against the stomach. What was the result? They all perished — Helen (Smiling): That is true. Portia: In other words, ‘you cut off your nose to spite your face’. Helen: I admit the truth of everything you say, but theory does not correspond to fact. Portia : Bah! nonsense! After all, what have you gained? Pain and unhappiness. What a little fool you have been. [ 28 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Helen (Is silent). Portia: It is not yet too late to recover what has been lost. Helen: What would you advise me to do? Portia: Just this. Satisfy yourself that Arthur still cares for you — but why should I say that when you know it to be a certainty? Helen: Heaven grant that he does. Portia: What makes you doubt it? Helen (Passionately): What proof have I that he still cares for me? Portia: Ninety-nine million proofs. Helen: Name them. Portia: Do you want me to enumerate them one by one? Helen (Smiling): Heavens, no! One alone will be sufficient. Portia: Very well, here it is: Arthur has never given his heart to anyone else. Is that not convincing? Helen : How do you know he hasn’t? Portia : I know positively that he has not done so. Helen: Then all that gossip about his being in love withr— Portia: All bosh, talk that was made up to hurt your feelings. Helen: Really? Portia : The work of those who envied you. [ 29 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Helen : Then you assure me — Portia : That Arthur loves you. Helen (Sighs). Portia: That you are as dear to him as the light to his eyes. You were his inspiration; he owes his fame to you. Helen (Goes to Portia and throws her arms impulsively about her): Oh! Portia, if it were only so, — how happy I should be. Portia (Drawing her close): I know it is, I found out through Walter. Helen: Walter told you? Portia : Not exactly. You don’t know how secretive that young man is. It would be easier to make a dumb person talk than to get a word out of him, unless one knows how. If he hides anything from me, I pretend to be very dis¬ pleased with him, then he tells me what I want to know, to square himself. Helen: And you have done all this for me? Portia: He has even permitted me to read parts of Arthur’s letters — Helen (Eagerly): Yes? yes? Portia: One of them read: ‘My heart is never at ease. My thoughts continue to turn to that creature who was so dear to me. The angelic beauty of her face still haunts me, and the harder I try to forget her, the stronger my love seems to burn — Helen (Hangs breathlessly upon her words). [ 30 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Portia : -until it has become a flame that is con¬ suming me, enlivening my every thought. The love that I feel for her has been a source of inspiration to me. I owe everything I have created to her whom I hope to hold in my arms once more before I die/ Helen (Rugs Portia ecstatically): Oh! Portia, and you never told me. How happy I am! How can I ever repay you for the pleasure you have brought me ? I feel as though I had been born over again. Portia: Now you can be calm, I hope. Helen : I have the strength now to face anything. Portia : Good! Let’s go then and see if we can find him. Helen: We will go to Walter’s studio first. Portia: Not I. If I step inside of that place I am sure I will end up by tearing that monster of a picture to pieces. Helen: See how inconsistent you are. Only a moment ago it was you who were urging me not to give way to my feelings, and here you are doing the thing you advised me not to do. Portia : There is a great deal of difference between your case and mine. You are still the wife of your husband, even though you are parted, while I have never been a wife, in¬ deed, I am only an aspirant to that place. Helen: All the greater reason why you should exercise better control of your temper and not be so capricious. Portia : One would have to be made of stone not to lose their temper with that man. [ 31 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Helen : Don’t you love him ? Portia: Oh, surely. Helen: Then do not allow yourself to become the vic¬ tim of jealousy. Portia : It is not jealousy, but natural resentment. Helen: Portia dear, let me be an example for you. I was — and perhaps I am yet — jealous, and I tell you that jealousy is an ugly thing that prompts you, at times, to do and say things that border on insanity. Portia: I guess I must be insane, then. Helen: It hurts me to see you so stubborn, and almost brings back my old fears and doubts. Portia: There is no cause for comparison between the two cases. Helen : Bravo! How do you expect me to practice what you preach when you place such a bad example before me? Portia: Alright then, I will be good and come along, but not into the studio. Helen : You will change your mind before we get there. Portia (Rising): Perhaps. Are you ready to go? Helen : It is a little too early, and beside we promised to wait for Gloria and Richard. Portia: Oh yes! I had forgotten. Helen : I think they have arrived, I hear someone com¬ ing. (A maid enters.) Maid: Miss Miner and Mr. Pratt! (Exits.) (Enter Gloria closely followed by Richard.) [ 32 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Gloria (Kisses Helen and Portia). Richard (Poetically): ‘Quale colombelle dal disio chi- amate’— Gloria: Richard, for Heaven’s sake leave Dante alone! You don’t know what you are talking about. Portia: What was wrong with that? Gloria: He ruined the whole verse, didn’t he Helen? Helen : I don’t know, I can’t remember it very well my¬ self. Gloria (To Richard): When a person does not under¬ stand poetry he should not recite it. Richard : There are no poets here to criticise. Gloria: It hurts my ears, though. Portia : Repeat it correctly, Gloria, so we can see Richard’s error. Helen: Yes, do! Gloria: ‘Quale colombe dal disio chiamate.’ Richard: Well, didn’t I say that? Gloria : No! Richard: The deuce I didn’t. If there had only been a recording phonograph handy — Gloria: You would have recorded an absurdity. Richard : I could kick myself if that wasn’t what I said. Gloria : My dear, you said ‘Colombelle’ instead of ‘colombe’. Richard: What difference does a little thing like that make? [331 LOVE ENCHAINED Gloria: Oh! doesn’t? It only adds another foot to the verse and completely ruins its beauty. Portia: Gloria is right. Helen : Absolutely! Richard: Oh well, Dante meant adult doves; I meant the little baby ones. Helen and Portia: Ha-ha-ha! Gloria : I think it stupid to laugh at anything like that. Richard : I can answer you with another verse of Dante: Amor che al suo amato perdona.’ Portia: Don’t be angry with him, Gloria, can’t you see he is only joking? Gloria : I don’t like to see him act like a clown, especially when he feels that he must recite verses, particularly those of Dante. Helen: But there are no strangers present. Richard (Unchastened): I will not speak of ‘Things of which silence is better.’ Gloria (Exasperated): Another one! Richard: Is there something wrong with that one, too? Gloria: There certainly is. Portia : He remembers what he reads, at least. Helen: While I can’t remember a thing. Gloria : It is better not to learn anything than to learn it badly. Richard: Oh, Gloria, ‘Much ado about nothing.’ [ 34 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Portia: You said it! Helen: Fine, Richard! You certainly have a memory. Gloria: At least when he sticks to English he doesn’t cut such a ridiculous figure as he does when he attempts to recite in Italian. Richard : Phew! I call it a struggle for life. Helen: Exactly! Richard: And freedom! Gloria (Angrily): You can be free whenever you wish it. Richard: There! I knew it! Helen (To Gloria): You know you are not in earnest. Portia: Lover’s quarrels vanish like smoke before the wind. Richard: Don’t be angry, Gloria. Gloria: Go away! Helen: Come on, now, kiss and make up. Richard (Drawing closer to Gloria): Not one but a thousand. Gloria : Go ’way, I said. Portia: We won’t look. Hurry up! Richard (Blows a kiss to Gloria, kissing the back of his hand noisily): It’s done. Ah! Portia: Good! Did you really do it? Richard : Certainly! Helen: Hurry on, it is getting late, and if we intend to go out we had better be starting. [ 35 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Richard: That’s what I say, it’s a shame to stay in on a morning like this, (looking at Gloria) what does my little one say? Gloria: Your little one says that if you don’t quit act¬ ing like a clown you can stay at home. Richard: Very well, I will be as sober as the sphinx, I won’t say a word even if a pumpkin should fall on my head. Gloria : You will have two then, with the empty one you already have. Richard: Don’t say that. It is true that there is not very much in here (tapping his head) but still there must be something, it feels so heavy. Gloria (Meaningly): Lead, perhaps. Portia: Gloria, don’t be so severe with Richard. Helen: Remember he is your fiance. Richard (Aside, knocking on the side of his head): Lead? No, I don’t think so. Gloria (To Bichard): What are you doing? Richard : I wanted to find out if what you said was true, and I think you are mistaken. Gloria: Why? Richard: For this reason: Lead is a heavy mineral, a poor conductor of heat, also of sound; now, if I knock like this on one side, I can hear the noise on the other, which shows that it is not lead. Helen and Portia (Laughing): Ha-ha-ha! [ 36 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Richard (Without smiling): And it can’t be a pumpkin because there are no seeds in it, and if there were, they would be seeds of wisdom. Gloria: Yes, the wisdom of a fool. Portia: You two are certainly amusing. Come on, it is time to go. Gloria (To Richard): Try to act as if you had a little sense and don’t embarrass me. Richard: As you like it. Gloria: Where are we bound for? Helen: Naples. Gloria : Splendid! Richard: Tres bien, tres bien! (They go out laughing merrily.) ( Curtain.) [ 37 ] Act IV The afternoon of the same day. Walter Davis’ studio in Naples. Everything in disorder, with canvases, statuettes, busts, palettes and brushes scattered in every corner. The portrait of a very beautiful woman rests upon an easel near the right-front of the scene. A door at the left and one at the right. At the rise of the curtain Walter is standing before the portrait adding the finishing touches. He stops from time to time as though preoccupied. Walter (Plying the brush): There! (Addressing the portrait.) How much trouble you have caused me! (He lays aside the palette, and seems lost in reflection.) Portia is wild with jealousy and creates a scene whenever she finds the opportunity. She is petulant and hard to please — (smiling) but so beautiful, even when she is furiously angry at me; a most fascinating ‘Fury’. At times she seems the very spirit of Beauty and I can hardly restrain the desire to crush her in my arms and cover her soft lips with kisses. She has a temperament like that of the sea that is beau¬ tiful and alluring when calm, filling the mariner with a consuming desire to navigate it, but, when the tempest rides it, the foaming waves rise mountain-high with seeth¬ ing whirlpools between them that engulf the unfortunate mariner and drag him down to oblivion. When Portia is in the grip of jealousy she is just as untamable as the waves, [ 38 ] LOVE ENCHAINED still, I cannot overcome my passion for her, and, good or bad, I have made my choice. Like the mariner I shall navi¬ gate the uncharted seas of love, and if the whirlpool draws me under — I am willing to risk it. (The door at the left opens and Arthur enters.) Arthur: Walter! (He crosses the room and grips Wal¬ ter’s hand.) You seem worried, has anything happened? Walter: Nothing has happened; I was busy thinking. Arthur: By the expression of your face I imagine you must have been thinking of a shipwreck as a subject for a canvas. W alter : No, no! Arthur: I can’t remember that I have ever seen you so gloomy in all the time I have known you. Walter: I have been a little nervous lately, that is all. Arthur: A quarrel with Portia, I’ll wager. Walter: Well, you could not exactly call it a quarrel, but something very close to it. Arthur: Some woman is always at the bottom of our troubles. Walter: And our pleasures, also. Arthur : That’s true. Walter: And a sensible man will accept the bitter as well as the sweet. Arthur: Spoken like a sage, although you must admit that we accept the latter with much more enjoyment than the former. [ 39 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Walter: Of course; who would wish misfortune upon his own head. Arthur: Why worry, then? Would it be out of place to ask what the trouble is? Walter : Just this: Portia is jealous. Arthur: A common failing of her sex. Walter: In fact, she is the personification of jealousy. Arthur: Perhaps you have given her cause. Walter: No, Arthur, I haven’t. Arthur: What is the reason, then? Walter (Indicating the portrait on the easel): Do you see that portrait? It is of the Countess Ghigioni. She will be here very shortly. Arthur: But — I don’t understand. Walter: Very well, I shall explain. The Countess, ac¬ cording to the agreement between us, will pay me ten thou¬ sand dollars for this portrait as soon as it is completed. Arthur (Astonished): Phew! lucky devil! Walter: Do you think that’s too much? Arthur: Well, no, not for the work of a painter as well- known as you are. But, I can’t see what connection the portrait has with Portia’s jealousy; the fact that you are to be so well paid for it should please her. Walter: Ah! that is what puzzles you, eh? Portia is not jealous of the picture. Arthur: Of what, then?. [ 40 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Walter: Nothing easier to understand; of the Countess herself. Arthur: But you must have given her some cause to be jealous. Walter (Frowning): No, I haven’t. Arthur: Perhaps she has surprised you, at some time, with the original — Walter: There has been nothing between the Countess and myself to warrant such a suspicion. I have devoted more than ordinary care to this painting because I am seek¬ ing to establish myself and build a reputation here in Italy, the seat of all the recognized arts. Portia had never seen me so enthusiastic over any other work, and, in the be¬ ginning, bantered me over the length of time consumed in finishing the portrait, then, little by little, the suspicion grew upon her that I might be falling in love with the original. That is the whole thing in a nutshell. Arthur: If that is all that is causing the trouble, finish the picture and get it out of the way as quickly as possible. That will put an end to Portia’s jealousy. Walter: It is finished. The Countess is coming today to see it, and tomorrow, when it is completely dry, I shall deliver it to her home. Arthur: Good! Walter: Now, let’s talk about ourselves. Where in the devil did you disappear to last night? I waited in the ‘Galleria Umberto Primo’ until two o’clock, and you didn’t show up. [ 41 ] LOVE ENCHAINED Arthur (Earnestly): It seems that you didn’t under¬ stand the appointment I made with you. Walter: I certainly did! Arthur: Why didn’t you come as I told you? Walter: Good Lord, I did. Arthur: Yes, but how did you come? Walter: With my feet, of course! Arthur: Yes, with your feet, and several other pairs of feet in the bargain. I expected to see a bi-ped, not a centiped. 