Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays
Chapter 231 : Florio, my Florio--draw down your arm.... No longer need you fear to look on me-- It w

Florio, my Florio--draw down your arm....

No longer need you fear to look on me-- It was a test, my love, a cruel test!

[_She draws aside her veil, the other women in back of her, Florio obliquely in front. Her face is seen to be one of surpa.s.sing loveliness._

_Florio, groaning, keeps his face cloaked and does not speak._]

OLIVIA

Look, my beloved, or I shall go mad!

[_Olivia tugs at his arm. He lowers it. He exposes a sightless face._]

LIZZIA [_breaking in on the awful pause_].

Self-blinded, my poor master!

VIOLANTE

Oh, Florio, what is this that I have done!

[_Olivia has dropped slowly back, stricken dumb with voiceless terror. Her throat works convulsively with a scream which now rushes forth._

_Florio falls to his knees, again covering his face and bowing his head. Olivia comes and kneels, grief-stricken, beside him, putting one arm about him in support._]

OLIVIA [_sobbing_]

There is ... no one ... that's ... uglier ... than I!

FLORIO [_convulsively_]

You were the glory of the world, Olivia!...

And now ... your beauty ... that is ... dead ... will always be ...

to me ...

The glory of ... the world!... forever and forever!...

OLIVIA

Oh, if you could but see my ugliness-- I think there's nothing like it in the world!

O G.o.d, why did I not die an hour ago!

VIOLANTE [_crazed anew with jealousy_]

Florio, Florio--Olivia lies!

Her beauty floods the very room with light-- You are deceived most horribly!

OLIVIA

Command that woman hence; She is the source and cause of all our ill.

FLORIO

What does this mean? My soul is sick to death!

VIOLANTE

I tell you, Florio, that she lies to you.

[_To Lizzia._]

Tell him the truth, old woman, and beware, As you have fear of h.e.l.l, belief in G.o.d, And hope of Heaven, to perjure not your soul!

LIZZIA [_at first frightened and irresolute, then quietly determined._]

G.o.d help me--she is surpa.s.singly--ugly!

[_Returning Violante glare for glare._]

Her ugliness--!

[_Breaking down, she goes to altar and drops on knees before it._]

FLORIO

Go, Violante!

VIOLANTE

I could curse G.o.d for this!

[_Violante staggers toward the great black curtain in doorway, where she supports herself by clinging to it._]

FLORIO

Olivia, come back to me from the great Dark-- All life is but a ghost. Where are you, Olivia?