THE MESSAGE AND JEHANNE

THE MESSAGE AND JEHANNE

The interior of a goldsmith’s shop in the Paris of the Renaissance. The tops of the windows are just above the level of the street, and through them we see the procession of shoes, any one of them a novel or a play or a poem. In the workshop one finds not only medals and salad forks for prelates, but unexpected things, a viola d’amore and folios ruled for music.

[Tullio, the apprentice, enters from the street and confronts his master, Charles of Benicet. Tullio stands with his back to the door and lets his breath out slowly, as one who has just accomplished a great work.]

CHARLES

[Rubbing his hands.]

So you delivered the rings?

TULLIO

Yes, master.

CHARLES

And what did my little brown Jacquenetta say?

TULLIO

She twice read the verse you had written in the ring. Then she looked at me. Then she looked at the ring. “It is too cold,” she said.

CHARLES

Too cold?

TULLIO

She said: “But ... but I suppose it’s what must go inside a ring!” Then she kissed the ring and bade me tell you she loved it.

CHARLES

[Arrested and puzzled.]

Too cold, the verse!—But I’ll make her another. We forget how they love us. And the other ring? Did you deliver the Graf’s ring to the Lady Jehanne herself?

TULLIO

Yes, master. Into her very own hand. Her house is very old and in a bad part of the city. As I crossed the court and stood in the hall a great German, with fierce eyebrows, came in from the street with me.

CHARLES

Yes, that’s the one she’s to marry.

TULLIO

He asked me loudly what I had there. And I said, a box for the Lady Jehanne, and that it was for her hand alone, and I ran to the landing on the stairs. Then she came out herself. He cried out upon her: What gift was she receiving? And was it from a certain English student at Padua? And she said: “No, Baron, it is the wedding ring you have sent me.” And when I gave it to her she went in, very white, and without speaking to him. Then I went to Jacquenetta’s with the other ring, and she gave me some supper.

CHARLES

Too cold, the verse! Start putting up the shutters; I must go and see her.

[It has been growing darker. Suddenly a pair of shoes, a poem these, descends from the crowd, and Tullio opens the door to a knock. A beautiful lady gives Christian greeting, and a seat is made for her among the littered chairs. She sits in silence until Tullio has lighted the candles and retired.]

JEHANNE

You are Charles of Benicet, master in precious metals?

CHARLES

Carolus Benizentius auro argentoque magister, and composer of music to God and to such men whose ears He chooses to open.

JEHANNE

You are a composer too?

CHARLES

They are callings like two sisters who have ever their arms about the other’s neck. When I have made a wedding ring I compose a motet thereto. The boy who calls to see if the candlesticks are done takes back with him a Mass.

JEHANNE

[Without a breath.]

Oh!

CHARLES

Can I serve you with music or with metals?

JEHANNE

You have served me to-day. I am the Lady Jehanne.

CHARLES

Ah, yes! The ring was unsatisfactory? I can make another to-night. I shall set about it at once.

JEHANNE

No, master. The ring is very beautiful.

CHARLES

[After a pause, pretending to be embarrassed.]

I am overjoyed that it pleases you.

JEHANNE

[Suddenly.]

The verses that you put in the rings—where do you find them?

CHARLES

Unless there is a special request, my lady, I put in nothing but the traditional legend: fidelitas carior vita.

JEHANNE

[Without reproach.]

But there are liberties you allow yourself? Master, what meant you when you wrote within my ring?

CHARLES

My lady!

JEHANNE

[Giving him the ring.]

Graf Klaus addresses me thus.

CHARLES

[Reading around the inside of the ring.]

“As the hermit his twilight, the countryman his holiday, the worshiper his peace, so do I love thee.” It was the wrong ring that was delivered to you, my lady.

JEHANNE

It has broken my will. I am in flight for Padua. My family are truly become nothing but sparrows and God will feed them.