Three plays : Balboa, Xilona, The victorious duchess

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XlLONA 107

I

Scene II

A wUd spot in a wood: tall fantastic crags rising amidst riotous tropical •verdure. A steep slope rises across the background the rocky crest of which forms the skyline, the Pacific ocean lying beyondy invisible. Rough camping outfit^ Indians busy with fire wood, a pot boiling over a fire. Spaniards reclining in extreme weariness and dejection, or occupied with the dogs. Fulvia, carrying her baby, is seated with other Indian women to one side, where stands her mule. Comogre stands with Balboa, Pizarro, Arbolancho, Gara- BiTo and BoTELLO ; it is evening and the gorge where the camp is lies in gloom, but beyond the skyline of the slope the sky is ablaze with a tropical sunset.

[Pointing to the ridge.^ From there, Captain, you will see the great waters.

From there, from there. . . . Always from somewhere else than where we are. I am sick of this aimless struggle through the jungle and so are the men.

[Eagerly.] Far beyond?

Not far beyond; just beneath the cliff lies the sea.

The same old yarn, the same old lies ; it is never far, this accursed sea, but we never get there.

[Enthusiasticallt/.'] I thought my forces spent and my legs unable to carry me another step, but this news is like wine in my veins . . . the wine of success that banishes weakness and revives strength. I'll not sleep till my eyes have looked upon the ocean ; I must have fresh food for dreams to-night.

Take heart, Garabito ; we touch our goal.

I'll take heart when we touch our gold.

The gold will be ours in good time ; for myself 'tis glory I seek ; then will gold come to me.

One more struggle and we shall be at the top: let us be off then.

Francisco, old friend, begrudge it me not, but I must look upon the great South Sea first . . . and alone. Stay thou here with the others. Comogre will lead me to the top and when I have looked my fill, thou shalt follow me.

The right of the discovery is thine.

[CoMOGRE guides Balboa up a rocky path and they disappear.']

[^Sneeringly.] Generous — our captain, heh ? We may toil and fight and starve in this wilderness where he has lost us, but when it comes to the great discovery we are not worthy to share it. " Domine non sutn dignus.'' (He beats his breast.)

You are hard to please, Garabito.

But a moment since you were tired out and could go no farther. The cliff path is steep.

Balboa is our leader and the discovery is by right his. Rest your bones and hold your tongue.

He'll be the same when we come to divide the treasure, — if there ever is any. You'll see how we shall fare.

Your snarl is becoming chronic.

But not every barking cur bites. {They move off, Garabito approsiches Fulvia.)

Come with me.

No. I am to be Spanish lady and this muchacho is Vasco's son.

[Sneeringly.^ You little fool ! You a Spanish lady ; you are an Indian camp woman like the others ; your brat is a bastard half-breed.

[Serenely. ] You think so? When I go with Don Vasco to Spain, then you will see.

Vasco will never take you to Spain, for he will never go himself. If ever we get back to Darien,

Vasco will go to prison; then you will belong to me again ; better come now.

You thinlc so. (She begins to sing to the baby.)

Drop the brat and listen to me. [FuLviA sings heedlessly.^

[Angrily.^ I'll pay you out for this, you hussy. (He moves away.)

[CoMOGRE emerges on the crest of the ridge, followed by Balboa, who staggers wearily; their figures sharply outlined on the fiery sky. ]

Behold, captain, the great South Sea.

Thank God for this celestial vision. {He falls on his knees with arms outstretched towards the ocean.)

Is it not as I told you ? Comogre never lie.

The Southern Sea ! the unknown ocean ! Francisco ! Comrades, come all and gladden your eyes with the most wondrous sight ever yet shown to man. [The Spaniards start up the cliffs, pulling and pushing one another, uttering exclamations. PiZAREO is first to join Balboa.]

Wonderful I Waters without end. Balboa ! A vast uncharted sea that reaches away into the very sunset; no keel has ploughed its waters nor ground the sands of its virgin beaches. It shall be my glory to explore its splendours.

l^One by one the others arrive, all exclaiming and shouting. From the dense shrubbery near wliere Fulvia sits, her brother, Careta, stealthily emerges; he is a young, lithe Indian, nearly naked, wearing an eagle's feather in his hair.^

[Cautiously.'] Fulvia.

[Rising.] How come you here? Go 'way.

I come to take you back, back to our people.

No.

CAEETA

You stay here, then you die.

No, 'tis here I live.

All great chiefs : Pacra, Poncha and many warriors are now ready and they will. kill these foreign devils.

When?

To-night. The sun now sets and, behold, it sets in blood, for before the moon lights this spot, every Christian shall die.

I am a Christian ; I will not go back. Tell oui people it is their blood the earth will drink. Bid them beware, for these Spaniards are as gods. For them the thunder speaks and the lightning strikes. How has it always been?

It will not be so this time, for our people are read}* and have arms. Rather than be slaves under these strangers, we will all die. Come.

No.

You no longer love your brother?

I love my boy and his father Vasco.

The curse of our gods will fall upon you, for you forget your people and turn against your blood : then you die.

\_He tries to seize her, but she eludes him. With a menacing gesture he disappears. Balboa and the others clamher down, all in high spirits, laughing and embracing one another. ~\

This news will ring through all the Spains. 'Tis a discovery rivalling those of Columbus and da Gama.

He too was called Vasco. Thou art not named amiss, 'twould seem.

Well, I never heard that Columbus got much by / his discoveries ; he spent most of his time in the law courts or in gaol and he died a pauper.

Columbus was not a Spaniard. Whatever we ask, we'll get. Leave that to me.

[^ A side to one.~\ He may be trusted to ask enough for himself, our cheerful captain; but what shall we get?

Now then, my men, to supper. How is it with the pot?

For God's sake don't tell us what is in that stew! I am hungry and I want to eat.

I had a three days' appetite before we saw the great ocean, now a very famine is crying within me. {They go to the cooking-pot ; rations are served out amidst talking and laughter, Fulvia approaches

BAI.BOA. )

PULVIA

[Stealthily.^ Vasco.

Well, little one.

There is danger.

From what? Hast thou seen a serpent or heard a panther's cry?

Nay, but this place is now all around full of Indians. The great chiefs Pacra and Poncha with many, many warriors gather near to kill you this night while you sleep.

Who told you this?

My brother Careta.

When? Where?

Now, here.

Where is he?

Gone. Careta, him love me and come to take me to safe place because our people come this night to kill all Christians. Many, many — like leaves of the forest, and you so few.

And you did not go to your people?

No. You are my people now. This Chachito my son ; him Spanish baby and mother now Spanish lady, so she stay with him and Vasco. {He embraces her.)

You are made of the right stuff, Fulvia. Now we must make ready for our unexpected visitors. {He calls PizARRo.) Well, Francisco, what sayest thou of this day's work? Sawst thou ever a fairer sea?

Ah, 'twas a wondrous, stirring vision.

And I have stirring news . . . news to make us stir.

What news is that, Vasco?

The Indians are upon us.

Sacramento! Sayest thou then so?

Hush! Shall we tell the others?

Needs must. But the men are played out.

[Balboa signs to Arbolancho, Garabito, and

BoTELLo to join him and Pizarro ; they advance.']

What is moving, captain?

Hush! I must speak with you.

I thought we were called to supper.

I'll give better counsel on a full stomach than on an empty one.

The moment is serious. 'Tis not to give you counsel or to take yours, but to warn you, that I call you. We are surrounded by Indian tribes, led by the chiefs Pacra and Poncha ; they are now closing around us. {Exclamations quickly stifled.) Hush! don't alarm the men, poor devils let them eat a bite.

Much good may that stinking stew of mangy cur and palm shoots do them ; they are fagged to death and there is no fight in them.

There is always fight in a Spaniard, Garabito.

Whence have you this news, captain?

Fulvia's brother has been here to carry her to a place of safety during the attack.

Well, we must do the attacking.

Right, Francisco ; we must strike first and strike hard. We fight or we die.

It will be both.

Perhaps you will be safer with the women.

This is no time for wrangling, Botello. We know Garabito for a grumbler, but no one has ever seen him shirk. Now get the men in order, for fight we must.

Without quarter.

We'll ask none nor give any. 'Tis the Indian fashion.

[They separate amongst the men: instantly

58 ~^^M BALBOA

great activity 'prevails: men take their arms, dogs are put into their armour: different groups, each with a leader, are formed ready to march. Pizarro approaches Balboa, who holds his great dog, Leonci/no, fully ca^ parisoned, in lea^h.~\

God grant this fight may be quickly over. Our fellows are in a desperate plight : they won't hold out long.

If it is to be our last, then our bones will bleach on this new-found strand. Is yon hill my Pisgah to which I was led to view the promised ocean.'' No, Francisco, I can't believe it. God has led us so far for inscrutable purposes of His own. Are we not crusaders as well as soldiers? Upon ever}'^ foot of land we win for Spain, we plant the cross of Christ. That southern ocean shall bear the message of salvation in Spanish ships to unknown races that people its virgin shores. Ah, no, Francisco, God has not led us thus far to quench now the flame of hope in the bitter waters of disappointment. (Turning to the men.) Comrades, one last fight before we descend to the shores of the ocean I have claimed for Spain. We fight under a holy and glorious standard. Keep well together and let there be no straggling. Obey 3^our leaders. Make every shot tell and send every thrust home. Victory hovers above us, ready to descend once more upon our consecrated banner. Now forward. For God, St. James and Spain !

[Subdued repetition from the men: all march cautiously off, leaving the Indian zeomen and porters behind.'\