Book of love and dedication
11.
.If there was way to quantify love it’s probably by looking at them with
a microscope to see if there was any new sparks in them. Some of us believe we
can count them but the one who held the microscope daily would attest they
never seen it at all.
Tell that to the young lovers.
“Christine, you moved.” Raoul raised his brush from the canvas before he
took a step to the side. They were at the side of the pond with his subject of
painting seated on the grass by the pond. The painting was near completion
saved for the finer strokes on the lady dress. The lady in the painting was
dressed in a gingham dress with her legs stretched out in the front.
“Well, I have to. The ants were crawling up my legs.” Christine stood up
before bowing down to brush at her legs but for the painter it was his excuse
to approach the lady. He crouched down to assist her but she stepped back with
giggling.
“Raoul, you are getting naughty.” Christine remarked to the man while
she smoothed her dress.
“None like yours to show me more of your bosom.” Raoul laughed out. He
could not resist the look then.
“Raoul, you are insufferable.” Christine hid her blush with her hands
and then pranced off to the shade of the tree. “I am sure you …”
Raoul had held the other into his arms from the back and laid his lips
on her hair. He inhaled the sweet smell of his love while she leaned back into
his arms.
“My love, I wish…” Raoul words were stopped by the lady.
“I would love to but there are so many things I need to consider. You
are the Viscomte and myself….”
“The perfect lady for the Viscomte.” Raoul cut in. “I don’t see why your
status and mine have to be our …consideration. Love is between us and not of my
estate and your family.”
“Raoul, it’s not that…I have ….No, we have much to consider. You … and
me are both…” Christine tried to explain and then she gave up to be direct
which was her nature.
“You and myself are still not ready for it. You have your military
career and myself, my dancing and my other love for the singing.” Christine
turned to look at the man she was sure held her love. “I need time to work on
my dreams as you for your promotions.”
“Promotions? I cared not it. I am happy to with my men on the parade
fields than those pompous officers seated under the shade. They are …” Raoul
saw the look in her eyes before he changed his words. “And I love you too much
to be away from you. It hurts here.”
“And there?” Christine asked with a grin.
“Only for you.” Raoul declared to her.
“And you lie. I knew of men like you. You hold no loyalty there. It
moved with whatever offered.” Christine told him. “I am not your naïve lady who
does not leave the home without a protective matron.”
“And you are …” Roaul struggled to find the definitive word without
offending his love but Christine cut in with her melodic voice.
Il faut partir, hélas!
Il faut quitter ces bras
Où je te presse
Et t’arracher
À cette ardente ivresse !
Ah ! que le sort
Qui de toi me sépare
Plus que la mort
Est cruel et barbare ! etc..
Il faut quitter ces bras
Où je te presse
Et t’arracher
À cette ardente ivresse !
Ah ! que le sort
Qui de toi me sépare
Plus que la mort
Est cruel et barbare ! etc..
( Alas,
we must part!
You must leave these arms
in which you clasp me,
and tear yourself
from this passionate joy!
Ah, how much
more cruel and barbarous
than death is the fate
which severs me from you! Etc )
You must leave these arms
in which you clasp me,
and tear yourself
from this passionate joy!
Ah, how much
more cruel and barbarous
than death is the fate
which severs me from you! Etc )
(Romeo and Juliet Act
Four Scene One) http://www.murashev.com/opera/Rom%C3%A9o_et_Juliette_libretto_French_English
Christine danced her steps as if she was on stage. Raoul stood there
looking for the reply. He knew her words were from the play of Romeo and
Juliet; which was one of his favourite. He then replied with his arms extended
before he fell to the ground clutching his heart.
Ni larmes, ni prière,
Rien, rien ne peut les attendrir !
À la porte des cieux !
Juliette, à la porte des cieux ! et mourir !
Rien, rien ne peut les attendrir !
À la porte des cieux !
Juliette, à la porte des cieux ! et mourir !
Hélas !
Je te croyais morte et j’ai bu ce poison !
Je te croyais morte et j’ai bu ce poison !
( Neither tears nor entreaty,
nothing, nothing can soften them!
To the gates of heaven,
Juliet, to the gates of heaven and to die!
nothing, nothing can soften them!
To the gates of heaven,
Juliet, to the gates of heaven and to die!
Alas!
I thought you dead and I drank this poison! )
I thought you dead and I drank this poison! )
(Romeo and Juliet
Finale Act )
Christine turned to look at the man she loved on his knees still
clutching his chest then. Raoul then extended his arms once more with the hands
painted red with the brush.
“Before you go, take my heart and hold it close to you.”
“That was not in the play…” Christine frowned on his acting.
“Then it’s not an act but the true nature of my feeling for you.” Raoul
placed on the stern expression before he split into laughter. Christine
returned to her lover’s arms and then she whispered to him into ears.
Va ! ce moment est doux !
(Ah! this moment is sweet!)
She laid her lips on
his.
Ô joie infinie et suprême
De mourir avec toi ! Viens ! un baiser !
Je t’aime !
De mourir avec toi ! Viens ! un baiser !
Je t’aime !
( O
infinite, supreme joy
of dying with you! Come! One kiss!
love you! )
of dying with you! Come! One kiss!
love you! )
The young lovers embraced then for their time
were soon to depart. One to each of their career and it will years before they
were to meet.
12.
“I will not have that as my child.” The man hollered out before he
glared from the child to the midwife holding the child..
“He is of the …devil offspring. How could you birth this child to me?”
The man stormed across the room. They were outside the sleeping chamber. “Have
I not taken care of her when she needed it?”
“I set her up, love and blossom her to now. For what mis-deeds have I
done she birth me the devil’s child?” The man glared at the midwife. “Tell me,
old lady. Have you seen one that so…. Hideous?”
The midwife glanced away from the staring eyes of the man.
“Have you no reply then you must agree to me.” The man looked to the
door that will open to his lover waiting there. He felt the pain to tell her
and yet in him, the child was her doing. He took the courage to see her and
told her his words. .
“Margot, I am a man of fame and wealth. I cannot be seen with that
child. Do what is needed and let me be on my way.”
With that the father of the child stormed from the room pushing aside
the mid wife who held the child. The elder lady had performed many deliveries including
still born but never had she seen so deformed. They may have come with a
twisted leg or arm but that child was unique. He brought the crying child to
the mother and laid the child by the side.
“My child? Can I see my child? Is it a boy or girl?” The mother then
still pain was longing for her child. She reached for the child to look.
“It’s a boy, Madame.” The midwife adjusted the cover on the child. The
mother pulled back at the cover to look at her boy’s face and then she reeled
back in fright at the sight but the love of a mother for her child overcame her
fright.
“It’s head ….. Its deformed.” The mother tears flowed form pain for the
child.
“Lady, I could take it outside.” The midwife stared at the young mother.
“It would be painless.”
The young mother looked towards the midwife. Her mind then was confused
but her love for the child was of a bond. She shook her head while her hand
held the new love in her life
“No, …you may leave now. I will send you the money soon when I am able
to move.” The mother spoke ever gently. “The child stays with me.”
Two weeks later, the mother stood on the living area watching the last
of her servants taking leave of the house. They cited excuses of many kinds but
none was as true like the one she knew of them. They feared the child and more
the tales that the Devil will come to collect the child.
“Madame, please do not be hard upon yourself. The child is …”
“Madame Gerr, there is nothing wrong with my child. He aches in his ears
and sleep evades him.”
“Yet he sleeps sound in the day. He is not a child of …I would know for
I am a mother of five…..though I lost three in their younger days but none of
them though sick ever does what…”
“Speak no more, Madame Gerr. You have your dues paid in full now please leave.”
The mother sent her last and devoted then servant away. She stood there looking
at the departing Madame with her two surviving children following behind.
Her
woes were not long for she saw the carriage that turned into the garden path.
“It’s Papa…” The mother whispered out. She smoothen her skirt and stood
poised for her love. The carriage stopped before the entrance and the man
stepped out. It was not the lover she was expecting but his servant bearing a
small case.
“Madame Valerian.” Her maiden name adopted during the distressing time.
“I am …”
“Girard, speak your master’s words and then be gone.” The mother
disliked the aide which followed the master like a docile pet. The mother
turned to step back into the house before the aide could explain his visit.
“Stay, madame. My words are few.” Girard cleared his throat before he
continued. “The master wants you to vacate the house and there is your
compensation for your current needs. More will be send over when you have
established your new home.”
“Au revoir.” Girard left the case on the ground before he mounted the
carriage to leave. He stood on the carriage steps.
“Madame, if I may persists
to you. He has returned to his ailing mother.”
The mother gasped in fright. She recalled her first meet with the ailing
lady in the house then. The lady had visited her there assisted by the personal
servant. She arrived on the carriage and then made her way to the library where
Margot was seated.
“You are Margot.” The ailing lady stumbled into the library catching the
other who was exploring in the books. The ailing lady gave the younger lady a
look from head to toes.
“You are a younger catch. I have seen his previous ones but none as
paled then you.” The ailing lady took a seat that was offered to her by her
servant. “Not his usual retinue but I guessed he may have found his need to get
them unspoiled.”
“Are you a virgin? Have you lain with him yet?”
“Madame! I deplore your line of questioning. I am ….”
“Please shut your trap on your vanity. I lost mine a long time ago and
honest with you, I felt no loss for it. I much enjoyed opening my legs but the
one that got in between it could only do for me one son and no more after that.
His wealth stopped me from forming new lovers.” The ailing lady looked at her.
“So are you the same like me?”
“I implore you, my lady. I am not what or who you may think of.” The
mother defended herself. “Your son rescued me when I was in need and he did not
demand of me any ….vile request.”
“Then he is a fool.” The ailing lady laughed. “I shall have to speak to
my son.”
That was her recollection of her meet with the mother but she was not
prepared for her own when she returned to her own home holding her child.
“My home is gone. My parents gone.” The mother wailed her woes with her
child in her arms. She regretted the day she had wandered off to search for
food and then battle that was started then caused her to run further away. She
ran in fear and soon found herself lost. She called for her parents until her
voice was hoarse. Her woes were not over by far, with more events that was to
give her fright.
“Young lady, you need not fear me. I will protect you.” The mother then
found herself cornered in the abandoned barn with a soldier holding a rifle
levelled at her.
“I have here food and I can share with you.” The food was enticing but
the expression on the soldier’s face was most distressing. The mother then
stepped back with her stomach and her head having conflicting thoughts. She
would have sacrificed her virtue then but there were shame to it. Her mother
had once told her, a harlot even holds a price for her body. Her delays irked
the soldier who charged at her. She was thrown back to the flooring and was set
upon. She struggled and fought with her hands but the soldier was stronger. He
grabbed her bodice and tore it open. She screamed and fought ever harder but it
was only aggravating her pain. The soldier punched her and all her resistance
went limped. She felt his hands tearing at her clothes and was resigned to her
fate. It was not to happen then for she heard him scream and yet it was not of
pleasure.
The soldier rolled off her body holding the back of his left torso where
a dagger had pierced there. He was to reach for the dagger when he felt next
was the booted leg that slammed his throat to kill him.
Margot was saved and soon she was to be the real mother of the child but
not of the love she was to get.
A mother with a deformed child was not welcome by any.
She will learn it the harder way.
No comments:
Post a Comment